I groaned and opened my eyes. As I woke up against Ivo’s chest, scenes from the previous night came rushing back.

I cautiously picked up his arm that was around me and rolled onto my back.

Then I turned to him and watched him sleep, admiring his face. He looked completely relaxed and innocent. The corner of his mouth twitched into a small smile. He was kind of cute. I unconsciously ran a finger down his cheek, making him wrinkle his nose slightly in his sleep. I couldn’t help but chuckle.

He was beautiful, and he was a gentleman too. His movements last night had been slightly reserved and cautious as if he did not want to hurt me or cause me discomfort. I blushed, I didn’t know why. I shook my head and shoved away thoughts that threatened to overcome me. I got off the bed and quietly tiptoed around the room to find my clothes.

I heard him groan. I froze. I didn’t want him to see me leave and explain anything, exchange numbers with him or have a second night. I never want things to go too far, or for us to end up in a serious relationship. I’d always been like this. I think ahead of time. I never want that kind of intimacy. I enjoyed being casual, liberal, and free.

I looked back and saw Ivo sleeping peacefully. He looked really handsome while he was sleeping. I leaned in closer to his face and watched him sleep for a couple of minutes because I may not see him again.

I left before dawn, whispering a goodbye.

I went back to the hotel hoping that my brothers were still sleeping. I tried my best to unlock the door of my room as quietly as I could, but when I managed to open it, I came face to face with a visibly angry Heineken.

“Where have you been all day and all night?” he hissed. I opened my mouth to speak but was interrupted. “You didn’t return here at the hotel last night. You weren’t answering your phone. No one knew where you were!” He was trying very hard to keep his voice low.

I did not answer.

“Do you know how worried we were? We were worried sick, Brandy!”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “I’m here now, aren’t I?” Saying that made him look even more irritated. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that.

“You don’t even know this place.”

I sighed and my shoulders slumped. “Fine! I’m sorry!”

“I know damn well that you were drunk last night. You did, in fact, made yourself a worthless bitch and screwed guys around Verona!” Ken shouted.

“Ken!” Gin came out from his room.

I wasn’t shocked, being so used to this kind of conversation with Ken. “It’s okay bro,” I told Gin then turned to Ken. “I assume you were referring to my sleeping accommodation last night, and I just want you to know that it’s none of your concern.”

“It’s my concern when my little sister jumps in bed with some guy she’s only known for less than twenty-four hours.” Ken glared at me.

“I don’t give a damn! Just stay out of it!” I hissed.

“You’re gonna keep spiraling, keep screwing around. How do you think that looks, huh?”

“Well, maybe, I don’t care! Maybe when this genetic disease hits me, that’s the time I’ll stop!”

We all fell silent.

“Brands, sorry, I didn’t mean to—”

“It’s okay. You already made that part clear when you called me a bitch, brother dear. Well, I’m Brandy Curtis, I’ll suck it up I guess.” I turned my back on them and walked into my room.

I heard my brothers debating outside. I hate and love them for being my brothers and how overprotective they are to me, but sometimes I just want them to leave me alone.

I took a bath. Hot baths were such a rare treat, and so I always took such delight in it.

Just when I was relaxing, my phone buzzed.

“Hello.”

“Hey, Brandy. This is Chief.”

“Hey, Chief. How is it going? What made you call me at five in the morning?”

“Brandy, what you submitted are all Adult heart problems. You know the drill. Monday is all about Teenage heartaches, Tuesday is Adult heart problems, Wednesday is Singles, Thursday is Marriage, and Friday is Fan Mails. Now, what do we have for today? Nothing!” he shouted.

I jerked my ear away from my phone. “Chief, I don’t have much time left, and you know that. I was preoccupied these past few days. The wedding came so fast. Those letters will have to do,” I said in my sweetest voice, hoping he’ll let me get away with it.

“No! You will email me a letter today about Marriage and so on for the coming days. Do you copy me, Brandy?” he asked in his stern voice.

“Yes, Chief.”

No fuckin’ way! My brain was screaming in objection.

After a refreshing bath, I opened my PDA and started scanning letters from anyone who had marriage problems. I had tons of letters in my inbox, but none of them seemed to come from anyone with marriage problems.

There has to be one, but I couldn’t find any! Damn! I had three interns back in the firm. They’re the ones sorting mails from our mailbox that’s why I don’t have a hard time writing a different topic for each day. They literally read almost all my mails and they actually enjoy it. What’s with them?

I thought of formulating my own letter… write my own responses. Maybe I’ll just write myself and send it to myself. Ugh, that’s crazy! That was a good idea though but who am I kidding?

I kept scanning all my mails. Please… please… please… even just for today.

Dear Juliet... My problem is very complicated and difficult. I am in love with a missionary nun...

Dear Juliet... I had to break off with my boyfriend because he could no longer put up with me dating other men.

Dear Juliet... I have a very primitive way of expressing love…

Please just one! Wait… primitive… Primitivo… Ivo.

Brilliant!

I immediately put on my clothes and rushed to the door.

“W-wait! Where do you think you’re going this time?” asked Gin.

“Gin, I am going to the Secretaries of Juliet. I have a deadline with chief, and he is going to kill me if I fail to send him what he wants.”

“So? What does the Secretaries of Juliet got to do with that?”

“They sort and write love letters you idiot! They are the only ones who could help me.” I was about to go out when Gin called.

“W-wait, be sure to come back tonight. I don’t want to argue with Ken anymore, and besides Scotch is always looking for you.”

I turned around to face him and saw a sad look written on his face. Gin was my favorite brother. He has always been very supportive. He would always cover for me and my mistakes, even tolerated all my pranks. I loved my brother even though he chose to move out of our house to move in with Renee. I always missed him, especially every time Ken would nag at me. He’s always there to rescue me.

“I’ll come back early Gin, trust me.”

I went back to Casa di Giulietta. I needed to get it all done because later would be Carl’s wedding rehearsal.

As I walked through the restaurant, the smell of the food made my mouth water and reminded me I haven’t had my breakfast yet. I went upstairs and saw Agata go out of the secretaries’ office.

“Hey Agata.”

“Ciao, Brandy! Mi fa piacere rivederti!” Agata gave me a bone-crushing hug. She was clearly happy to see me again. She asked about what happened the night before. Just the thought of it made me turn scarlet.

“Nothing, I mean we had small talk along while we walked to the hotel then we bid goodbye, and that’s it.”

“That’s it?”

“Yeah,” I answered her with a tight smile. “Agata, listen, I need your help.”

“What is it?” She titled her head to one side and looked at me curiously.

We were talking and walking until we reached the kitchen and again I inhaled the scent of their mouth-watering food. Agata must’ve heard the rumblings of my stomach for she kindly offered me breakfast.

“Just sit down and eat there, okay. I’ll ask the other secretaries if you could use some of the letters and have them published. “Buon appetito!”

As I ate, I heard a heated discussion from the secretaries’ office. Although I could not fully understand the words, I guessed that they would not allow it. The contents of these letters are personal and not meant for everybody’s eyes.

After my sumptuous breakfast, I slowly walked inside the office.

“Ciao,” I greeted once I entered. They all looked in my direction. Genoveva walked up to me and held my hands.

“Cara mia, mi dispiace tanto,” she said. “The secretaries cannot allow any of these precious letters to be used for entertainment. These letters are sacred. These are for Juliet. Even if she is a literary figure, she has become real.”

I nodded my head, and Genoveva squeezed my hand. I smiled at them politely and was about to leave the office when Ivo came in.

“Hi,” Ivo greeted.

I gave him a small smile and turned to leave.

“Hey wait!” He grabbed my arm and asked, “Is there something wrong?”

Agata spoke in Italian. I didn’t know what the hell she was saying, but she looked at me then at Ivo. I could only guess she was explaining to Ivo the reason I was at the secretaries’ office.

“Take her outside, parlare con loro,” Ivo said.

Agata took my hand, and she walked me to the wall where Juliet’s devotees were sticking their letters.

“Ivo will talk it out with them. He is very good at dealing with people. He always makes people agree with him. He is very good at mind games, that’s why he took psychology, I guess.”

“Yeah, hopefully, the secretaries will agree. I just can’t face it today, Agata. I have a wedding rehearsal to attend to later. All they have to do is sort those letters for me and I’ll make the response then I’ll send it to chief. If they want, we can hide the identity of the letter senders.”

“Don’t worry, for sure they’ll say yes,” assured Agata, smiling at me sweetly. She was like the sister I never had.

After half an hour, Agata’s phone rang.

“C’mon, let’s go upstairs. Ivo has some good news for you.”

We went inside the secretaries’ office and saw the familiar beaming smiles of Juliet’s Secretaries.

Clotilde was the one who approached me and handed me the basket of letters. “Brandy, we all agreed to help you. So here are the letters that you need.”

“Ivo told us everything. We already had it sorted for you. It’s a good thing that some of the senders even put their phone number on their letters. We obtained their authorization first to have their letters published, and they agreed. Some are even excited,” said Elena.

“Thank you, Clotilde. Thanks, everyone.”

“Brandy, Agata told us about the upcoming wedding of your brother,” Genoveva said, and all our heads jerked toward her direction.

“Yeah, it’ll be tomorrow. Actually, I’ll be having a rehearsal later. You are all invited to the wedding. Carl will be pleased to meet you all.”

They all smiled and nodded their heads. “I better go. I need to do this now so I can send it to my editor-in-chief later.”

Ivo walked toward me and said, “You don’t have to worry about the letters, Brandy. Those were the ones scheduled to be mailed last night.”

“Which means?” I asked though I already knew what he meant.

“Which means that those letters have been answered already so you need not worry about it.”

I was so happy that I couldn’t even utter a word. I hugged Ivo so tight that I almost choked him. He coughed, and we all laughed at him. “Sorry, I got carried away.”

Ivo smiled brightly and adjusted his glasses back over his eyes.

“Brandy, my brother doesn’t have work tomorrow. How about he goes with you to the wedding?” asked Agata. “Only if you want,” she added.

Oh Jesus, tell me how was I going to refuse her after everything that she did for me?

“Okay,” I turned to look at Ivo. He smiled shyly at me, pushing his glasses up his nose. “I’ll see you tomorrow at the wedding, I guess.”

He walked closer to me until our faces were just inches away from each other. He removed his eyeglasses and said, “Let me think about it first. I’m kind of busy tomorrow.”

I could smell the scent of his breath.

“Brother, I’ll cover for you tomorrow. You can take a day off,” Agata said, teasing.

“I guess I’ll see more of you then.” Ivo flashed his most disarming half smile.

Agata and the Secretaries were smiling at both of us.

“I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

“Okay.” He was smirking, an amused yet self-satisfied smile.

“Gotta go, hopefully, you can make it to the reception.” I waved goodbye to the rest. “Addio signore, grazie.”

They all went back to working on their letters.

“When and where are we going to meet?” asked Ivo.

“I’ll drop by here tomorrow.”

“I’ll be at the university tomorrow. You can drop by there if you want.”

I looked at Agata, and she was wiggling her eyebrows up and down at me. “Sure, I would love to visit the university. It’s actually on my bucket list.”

“Great, I’ll tour you around then.”

I nodded with a shy smile. He gave me one in return and went back over to his desk.