While Vivian stays by Ella’s side in an Italian hospital, Ella appears closer to waking up from her coma. There’s hope. Her breathing tube is taken off with now just manual air so she is breathing on her own, however still “asleep.”
Moments earlier Vivian got the printed scan of the passport of “the guy” Ella was last with before her head was split open. The guy claims it was an accident that Ella did to herself which doesn’t add up. Vivian googles the guy, Nicolas Castis, yet there is no major red flags. Tall, trust fund, son of a real estate developer in Los Hellas. Other than being part of high society in Los Hellas doesn’t seem shady or connected to anything weird.
While Vivian lied to her co-worker Philip about where she was and what she is doing, it seems time to finally tell Luca her Phd mentor and friend of Ella’s what’s going on. Vivian calls Luca
Luca: Hey Viv, what’s up?
Vivian: Hi. Its a rather long story so I am just going to give you the short bits and when I can be back in Zurich can tell you the long story, okay?
Luca: Sure
Vivian: I am in Italy, at a hospital
Luca: Oh! Are you okay?!
Vivian: yes I am fine. I’m at a hospital in Italy with Ella
Luca: What? What’s going on with Ella?
Vivian: to be honest I am not exactly sure myself. She had a bad injury, is currently in a coma, and doctors say she is likely to wake up any day or time now since her brain swelling is down and she can breath on her own
Luca: Viv!
Vivian: Yes, I know. Imagine my surprise too. The circumstances were pretty… mysterious… and some American guy was with her then left.
Can I give you his name? I couldn’t find anything. Maybe you can? maybe Philip?
Luca: absolutely. What’s the name?
Vivian: Nicolas Castis, he is from Los Hellas. Rich family. Real Estate. Good looking… went to Stanford. Can’t find more than that. He told me he was here on a project in Geneva but it seemed like a lie.
Luca: ok. I will see what I can find
Vivian: Great. Also tell Philip what I just told you and tell him I’m sorry for lying to him. I told him I was meeting a professor
Luca: Why would you lie to him?
Vivian: Honestly, I don’t know. I had a weird hunch about Ella but I didn’t know it would turn into THIS. I’m glad I followed my gut though, otherwise poor thing she would probably be here all alone
<Vivian looks with care at Ella in hospital bed>
Luca: okay will do my best. Call me if you have any updates. Ciao.
Vivian: thanks, ciao
Feeling a little bit relieved that SOMEONE knows where she is and what she is doing she continues looking at Ella who seems to be peacefully sleeping, like an angel.
Hard Deals, Hard Bargains
Back in Los Hellas Amy Huang and Mary Poros try to finish up their meeting after Nicolas barged in. He is gone now, Amy is still a bit shook.
Amy: Okay, just so I understand. I will represent the people of Los Hellas against corruption, allowing you access to everything I know. In return you will fund my people and the startups I get to select that I like?
Mary: Correct
Amy: and what is the downside to this? Why is Nicolas so mad at you?
Mary: Oh don’t worry about him. You know how men are, they always get so emotional
Amy: if we are going to work together, I need to know a little more color than that
Mary: There’s an American girl, she works in Europe. She’s a pain in the ass, and unfortunately she keeps putting data and puzzle pieces that she should not.
Amy: Who is she, do I know her?
Mary: Actually, maybe you do. I think you also don’t like her. Ella Taylor?
Amy: Oh that bitch? She’s annoying. She thinks she’s important, as if Los Hellas cares about her. Anything I can help with?
Mary: Nah, it seems like she doesn’t know as much as I thought she knows. Just keep an eye on her and make sure whenever you have a chance to trash talk her?
Amy: Oh that’s an easy one. Consider it done.
Mary: Otherwise our deal is on. I will fund you, you do not ask me where the money came from
Amy: deal
Both ladies smiles in agreement. Amy takes her things and leaves the Poros office to do a podcast across town, as Amy walks passed the reception desk she motions “bye Susan” throwing a candy on her desk. Suzie waits until the glass doors close and murmurers to herself
“It’s Suzie” Suzie grumbles. She does not like Amy, or Mary. A job is a job though.
Sleeping Beauty
Back in Italy Vivian continues to work from her laptop and watch over Ella who is in a coma at the hospital and showing more signs of life each day. She watches over Ella’s cell phone for anything important-ish so far just normal calls. The phone is on silent until a special number calls it making the sounds from a popular song about girls running the world.
Vivian gets up from her seat to take a look at the phone, it says “Hacker Bestie” with some emojis. Vivian picks it up
Vivian: Hello, this is Ella’s phone
Chelsea: SUP BEAOTCH… wait huh, who is this?
Vivian: Hi, this is a friend of Ella’s. I’m answering her phone because you seem to be on her VIP list of sorts
Chelsea: Damn straight, as I should. What was your name?
Vivian: Vivian
Chelsea: Hi Vivian, nice to meet you. I’m Chelsea. You can call me Chelz. What’s up, is Ella driving or something?
Vivian: not exactly. Ella is kinda in bad shape at the moment, I’m with her but she can’t speak
Chelsea: what do you mean she can’t…. speak?
Vivian: Ella is in a coma. She fell and hit her head, had to go to the hospital. You’re not by chance from Los Hellas are you?
Chelsea: Yes I am! Wait what the fuck. I was actually calling because for ONCE my job is sending me to Zurich. Okay, hold on. Say all of that again
<Chelsea is in an uber to Los Hellas airport en route to Europe>
Vivian: Honestly I only know some parts. She went to Italy for the weekend, with a guy I think he’s from Los Hellas, something happened she got hurt. The guy is weird I dunno I met him briefly then he left. Bad vibes.
Chelsea: What was his name? Did you get his name?
Vivian while on Ella’s cell phone talking to Chelsea opens up the camera and takes a photo of the scan of Nicolas passport
Vivian: look at your phone I just sent a picture. His name is Nicolas Castis I didn’t find anything relevant on him
Chelsea: Nicolas Castis!?!?!? Castis?!
Chelsea looks at her phone screen to see the picture of his scanned passport. Moves the phone back to her ear
Chelsea: Isn’t he gay?!?! Like has a husband or boyfriend of forever? I know him from Grad school… what was Nicolas doing in Italy together were they like… hooking up?
Vivian: I don’t know. The hotel people seemed to think they were having an affair or a couple or something. It’s not really clear.
Nicolas told me Ella slipped and hit her head in the bathroom but he didn’t see it himself since she locked him out. I don’t know. I don’t know.
Chelsea: Okay write down my number so you can use your cell phone to reach me. Text me where you are. I’m going to a work conference in Zurich arriving tomorrow. It’s like one day of nerds.
After I finish let’s meet up or I will come to Italy to be with you and Ella. Does that work?
Vivian: yes, sure I guess that works.
Chelsea: Thanks for hanging with Ella. I know she knows you are there and appreciate it. I’ll be flying next half a day, let’s be in touch. Text me ANY updates please
Vivian: Ok
Chelsea: By and see you soon
Vivian: bye
Vivian a little bit relieved realizes she doesn’t exactly know this Chelsea gal either. She goes online and searches Ella’s friends and easily finds Chelsea. She’s a hacker, a technical person like herself, just in American flavor. Vivian ponders some more about where Ella is from and why perhaps all these things seem to be happening.
Italian Awakening
Chelsea sends a text that she has landed in Zurich and headed for her conference. It seems in a day or so she can be in Italy. Ella looks almost normal, well besides her hair. Part of her hair is missing as the doctors had to buzz some off to make her staples and stitches on her scalp. Poor thing.
Out of boredom and curiosity, Vivian goes back to her notes with Ella and the data she was helping her with, with Luca and Philip too. For some reason Vivian is feeling closer to Ella than ever before despite their friendship having been mainly professional. While looking at data and charts on laptop Vivian gets the strange urge to do something girly for Ella. She sets the open laptop on the table next to her bedside chair, and grabs a lotion perfume from her backpack. With the lotion Vivian grabs both of Ella’s hands, which have less needles in them, and massages them lightly applying lotion. Then when done, she takes the tiny perfume bottle from her backpack and sprays just a tiny bit of perfume on Ella’s hospital gown. Every woman deserves respect.
The mood in the room appears to be the quiet before the storm. Nurses bring a tray of cut up fruit for Vivian, give her a hug. Vivian gets back to the data mumbling to herself.
“Come on Ella. What is in this Swiss data? What did we miss?”
Vivian keeps calculating over and over double checking her work when she notices in one of the spreadsheets sent to her there’s an extra tab called “LH” in there are rows and rows of financial numbers. It appears to be in the billions when added up.
Thinking aloud Vivian mumbles “LH, LH, is that Luca….. no… his last name is different… lighthouse software? No that wouldn’t make sense… hrm… LH, LH”
Deep in thought Vivian doesn’t notice that Ella has started to wiggle and move a little bit, rather quietly. She’s waking up. Ella then tries to talk but it comes out like little coughs since her throat is dry and has no practice of speaking for a week.
Vivian drops her open laptop to the ground
Vivian: Ella! Ella! Are you awake! Ella, yes, yay, Ella!? Say something
<Ella slowly wiggles trying to remember how to sit up and still tied. Her muscles have not moved in days?
Ella: gurgling and small dry coughs
Vivian runs across the room to grab a bottle of water, comes back and puts it to Ella’s lips which are dry. Vivian feels bad for just noticing that, she could have applied chapstick too. Ella half swallows the water, half of it goes down the front of her hospital gown.
Vivian: Ella! Say something, if you can. Just anything. Practice a word. Also move slow you have a lot of stitches in your head
Ella shifts a little bit to sit up some more. Tries to lick her lips although her motor skills are still not exactly working. She start to make noises
Ella: sdlfkjsdfljsdfouhsiofns
Vivian: almost Ella, almost. Don’t stress yourself but try to say something. I’m here. I’m here.
Ella: its sdfdksfj Los sdlkjdsflkjdf
Vivian: awesome, getting better, something, Los, Something…
Ella: Data. Its Los sdlkfjlskdfjdsf
Vivian: Okay almost got it. The data is Los……
<Ella is exhausted, she slumps down a bit and motions for more water bottle. Vivian holds it to her lips again so she can half slurp, half get it on her hospital gown>
Vivian: The. Data. Is. Los….
<Ella makes eye contact and tries to read her mind. It works. Ella motions for no more water, Vivian pulls the water bottle back>
Vivian: THE DATA IS LOS HELLAS!!!!
Ella nods confirming. Vivian is in disbelief. The Swiss are sending billions of dollars to Los Hellas??!
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