Unexpected wonders

The low sun was painting the city coral hues by the time Anne and Zee made their way through the metal gates of Enrico Bianchi's holiday home. The ping pong table was open out front, waiting for the boss' return.

"How long do you think we have?" asked Zee as she slid her hand through the nook of Anne's arm.

"Until tomorrow. There's no reason for anyone to find out tonight, so... we might as well have a little fun."

"I can't believe we're doing this." Zee's voice trembled with excitement, though dread threaded through her words like the silver snake wrapped around Anne's wrist.

"Me neither. But I've been waiting for this moment for six years."

They headed straight to the bedroom, and it wasn't long before Anne had deftly took down the large painting that hid Enrico's not-so-secret safe. The passcode—which he had revealed to her in a drunken soliloquy—was his late wife's birthday, which Anne found rather ironic given how he had treated her while she was still alive. Inside the safe, they found piles and piles of $100 bills neatly stacked next to one another, as well as a handful of expensive jewels—ruby-encrusted rings, emerald necklaces and sapphire earrings. "Expected... and unexpected wonders." She delicately picked up a heavy diamond riviere and placed it around Zee's neck. "Beautiful."

They adorned themselves with the other jewels, giggling all the way through, then clicked their heels to the terrace overlooking the Eternal City. Anne found herself reaching for Zee's waist, and Zee found herself leaning her head on Anne's shoulder. This was new. But they both felt it.

"Have you ever taken a bath with nothing but one million dollars worth of jewelry on?" Anne asked as she turned the faucet on with a teasing smile.

They slipped out of their party dresses and shared a rose-scented bubble bath. Their legs touched beneath the pink water, but neither moved them. After their bath, they sat on the bed and sifted through the Bianchi's holiday photos, which they had found lying on the bedside table.

"Cute."

"Yeah. They look like a happy couple on these."

Zee lifted a curious eyebrow. "They weren't?" She had only worked for Mr. Bianchi for a few months and didn't know much about his past. Mrs. Bianchi was already dead when she took her position as house manager. Anne knew a whole lot more about the couple's little secrets, for having worked as Enrico's personal assistant for years.

"Oh, no. He treated her like shit. Bossed her around like she was his subordinate. Humiliated her in public. He was horrible to her."

Well, that made Zee feel a little less guilty about what they were doing... and what they were going to do.

"What now?" Anne asked, glancing around.

"We dance."

And so they swayed and twirled under the painted ceiling, music erupting from their imagination. When Zee spotted the grand piano in a corner of the room, she begged Anne to play something.

"I can only play when no one is watching."

She blushed at that confession, and Zee wanted to pluck the cherries from her cheeks and taste them. The next morning, she heard a timid melody seep through the walls as she was climbing up the spiral staircase from the kitchen. She stepped into the adjacent room and listened as Anne played. The tune made flowers bloom in her heart. They enjoyed their lavish surroundings for a few more hours before packing. The jewels and piles of cash were carefully transferred into leather suitcases and thrown in the trunk of Anne's car.

"You sure about this?" Zee asked as she secured her sunglasses in her hair.

"I've never been so sure of anything in my life."

Yes, she had been waiting for the moment that Enrico Bianchi would draw his last breath, and it had finally happened, after yesterday's meeting. When Anne went up to his hotel room to give him his wallet—which he had forgotten on the dinner table downstairs—she had found him lying on the carpet floor, a hand clinging to his tie. His eyes were glassy and his arm icy cold when she touched it. Heart attack, presumably. She had sighed with relief and paused for a while, as a plan took shape in her mind. She had already gone through the details countless times, but the adrenaline coursing through her body muddied her thoughts. She needed someone to do this with her. She needed the cool-headed, poised Zendaya Coleman, who always had a solution for every problem. That's when she had called her. It didn't take long for Zee to accept the deal. After all, she had spent her life trudging along, struggling with money, working as a cleaner and maid to make ends meet until she finally secured that position as house manager. This had to be fate. This was finally her moment to flip the coin. Poor, rich, poor... rich. The girls had picked Enrico up from the floor and laid him on the mattress, covering his body with a warm blanket, like two mothers tucking their son into bed. It would buy them some time. The cleaner would think he was asleep and wouldn't bother to clean his room the next morning.

Zee gave a sharp nod and got into the car as Anne sat next to her in the driver's seat. They exchanged a smile as their fingers brushed... accidentally, of course. Then they were on their way. Where to? That's another story, for another time. But remember: there are no endings; only new beginnings.