A/N Next Chapter up. Hope you enjoy!
Chapter Two
Outside, the sun was bright, waking Holly before her alarm. She had always been an early riser so got up and began her routine. She fixed her long brown hair into a bun and applied minimal makeup to her face. She knew she was quite pretty, large brown doe eyes and a splatter of freckles covered her face. She looked a lot like Bella, except she was a few inches taller, curvier and knew how to work what she had.
She was about to get changed into her clothes when she heard a knock on her door, pulling a green silk kimono on she went to the door. When she saw who was on the other side she fought back a groan.
"Jonathan, what a lovely surprise," Holly spoke in fluent nice. Jonathan lived across from her, he wasn't bad looking, and at first she saw him as a friend. Before he decided his new goal in life was to persistently follow her, talk to her and make her go out with him.
He scratched the back of his head before speaking, "Yeah, well, erm. I fetched your mail!" He thrust a handful of letter into her face and she smiled at him.
"Thank you, Jonathan. I would stay and chat but I have to get ready for work you see." She started to close the door but he didn't move. Instead his eyes began to travel down her, at that, she slammed the door.
She rifled through the letters, bills, overdue credit card payment, a postcard from her friend in Greece, finally she got to the one Charlie had sent her. She opened it and sat down in confusion.
Dear, Miss Swan.
My company would like to invite you to Volterra, Italy, to interview for the position of head secretary to the Volturi Company. We have been aware of your success at Crown Industries for some time and would be delighted for you to work with us. The interview will take place on the 23rd of this month; all expenses will be paid for. Flights are included in this envelope and travel from the airport to Volterra will be included. Should you be successful in your interview, we would wish for you to start immediately. Salary will be negotiated in person.
Please correspond by the 21st to our company number.
Kind regards, Volturi.
Holly was shocked, to say the least, she knew she was a good secretary but for her skills to be known as far as Italy, now that was something else. Blinking, she saw a first class ticket from New York to Italy at the bottom of the envelope.
She also felt uncertain, she'd never heard of the company and she hadn't been given a name. A quick Google search in her phone revealed they dealt in the arts and owned a castle where you could book a tour. The town itself looked lovely, just outside of Florence. According to this, they were a legitimate business, although again there were no names of the company directors.
It was a gamble. The flight was in four days, hardly enough time to prepare, especially when the letter said she wouldn't get to go back home. Where would she live? What about her belongings? What if she decided she didn't like the job?
Her quick mind answered these questions, she'd get a hotel, put her belongings in storage, come back to New York. Holly wasn't a risk taker, she was independent for sure but she never took a risk. She played her life on the safe side, boring job, mediocre apartment, no relationship. Maybe this was a chance, a message from God that she needed to start living. Her life was dull, lonely and boring, this could finally be it.
She picked up her phone, an international call would be pricy, but it would hopefully be short. Dialling the number it took several seconds before she heard a dial tone.
The voice that answered was female and Italian. "Buon pomeriggio. Questa è la compagnia Volturi. Come posso aiutare?" (Good Afternon. This is the Volturi Company. How may I help?)
Luckily for Holly, Grandma Swan was Italian and her Auntie Kate had made sure to preserve the woman's memory by teaching Holly.
"Ciao, sono Holly Swan. Mi è stata inviata una lettera per un colloquio per la posizione di capo segretario. Vorrei solo confermare la mia presenza," Holly answered fluently. (Hello, this is Holly Swan. I was sent a letter regarding an interview for the position of head secretary. I would just like to confirm my attendance.)
The woman responded quickly, "Ovviamente! Farò sapere alle persone necessarie. Buon viaggio!" (Of course! I will let the necessary people know. Have a safe journey!)
The call ended and Holly felt no more at ease with the situation, but it was different and she was bored, so she got dressed for work with the plans to book the time of for her trip. It would be fine, she was old enough now to handle herself.
Bella knew that Alice had told everyone about her sister, the little pixie could hardly ever keep a secret. She also knew that Alice had told everyone as Esme's first comment was, "I can't believe you have a sister!"
"Look, we don't speak; I've only met Holly a handful of times. She was raised by my Auntie Kate and my mum and Charlie never regained custody. She lives in New York and earns loads of money and is really successful, that's all I know. Oh, and she's in her early twenties."
Carlisle, the voice of reason, spoke gently, "Bella, if you're choosing to be turned this may be your last chance to see her. I know you said you don't have a relationship with Holly but it also seems like you've never had chance to form one."
Bella felt annoyance rising, "And make it even harder on her when I get turned? No. She can come to the wedding but that is it. No sibling reunion."
Edward pulled her close, "At least invite her to stay for the week approaching the wedding. I don't want you to have any regrets."
Bella glared 'inviting Holly was a regret' but in the end she sighed, pulled out her phone and dialled what was probably the most unused number in the contact list.
"Bella?" the irritatingly perfect voice of her older sibling asked.
"Holly, I'm getting married; you'll receive an invitation soon. I wanted to invite you to spend the four days upcoming to my wedding in Forks with me and my fiancée's family. Dad will of course love to see you, and mom and Phil are coming up a day early. "
There was a sigh, very much like Bella's, on the other side. "I'll try Bella; I might be starting a new job abroad so I'm not entirely sure what the next six months are going to hold for me." Bella wasn't surprised, Holly always had other priorities.
"Okay, I understand. Good luck in your new job,
The call ended and Bella looked around at her vampire family.
"See, she doesn't care."
The flight to Italy wasn't as bad as Holly had expected, considering how much she hated and avoided flying, and the first class seats had certainly helped ease her suffering. She had allowed herself a small gin to pass the time and send her to sleep, which had worked and she'd got at least four hours during the flight.
As she walked through customs, Holly felt the increasingly familiar sense of nervousness, she had no idea what to expect and her worry was increasing. Before collecting her luggage she went to the toilets and changed out of her jeans and into a smart but casual blue dress and flats, not knowing who was picking her up, she wanted to make a good impression and had packed before hand in hand luggage.
She grabbed her suitcase and once through, began to look for a sign with her name or the company name on; failing to see one panic began to rise in her chest. That was until a dark haired, pale, violet eyed woman approached her. Next to this goddess, Holly felt rather meek.
"Miss Swan?" The accent wasn't Italian like Holly had expected, but harsher, more Nordic.
Holly nodded, "Yes, please call me Holly."
"Very well, I am Heidi. You'll see me quite often, I run the guided tours around the castle , you'll help me arrange and book them."
Holly was half running as she tried to keep up with the woman, "I don't know whether I have the job yet."
Heidi smirked, "Don't worry about that, I heard that the job is practically yours."
"Isn't it a little unprofessional for such rumours in a workplace?" Holly asked, slightly breathless.
There was a laugh from Heidi, "I don't think anyone could stop the guard from gossiping. Well, maybe the masters could if they cared."
Guard? Masters?
"I'm afraid I don't understand."
They arrived at an expensive black SUV, Heidi helped her load her things before getting into the back seat beside Holly. The driver in the front had dark skin and dreadlocks, and was impeccably dressed in a suit.
"Let's go, Santi," she said to the driver and then turned to Holly. "There's going to be a lot you don't understand in Volterra." Heidi said, he voice taking on a darker side. "A word of advice, don't ask questions."
Next chapter will be Holly meeting the rest of the Volturi, I wonder what will happen? ;)