The Journalist

How I got home I don't even remember, my mind was in total confusion. How was it possible that in just a few hours I would be flying off to Brazil. I stood in front of my mirror in the bathroom and said to myself “You would have been so dumb to have quit your Portuguese lessons” despite myself I laughed I had to, to relieve some of the tension I was feeling. The hours sped by so fast, i couldn't believe it was already 9pm. As I lay in my bed trying to sleep my phone rang, it was Robert , What if he had changed his mind? I took a deep breath and answered the call "Hello, Robert" i said. "Hey, Alex I hope i didn't disturb you, Were you sleeping?" "No, i just got into bed now, Why is something wrong?" I said wanting to know any bad news quickly. I heard Robert smirk as if knowing my thoughts and said "No, no bad news only good news in fact, just wanted to let you know everything is ready for your trip to Brazil, your ticket has been brought, you'll fly 10am tomorrow morning, my driver will come and pick you up at 8am sharp so please be ready. And we've also booked your hotel for you, it's for a week but if for any reason you need an extension just call me up and I'll make it happen". "Ok, Robert, Thank you". "Any questions? he asked. There was a moment of silence then I said "Yes, just one, Why did you change your mind?". He didn't hesitate as I thought he might "Because I believe in you like someone believed in me some years ago, I know you have the potential now it's time for everyone else to see it". Thank you, Robert " was all I said but I wanted to say so much more. "Now get some sleep, Good night" he said and cut the call before I could even respond. I tossed and turned in my bed for hours before getting all but three hours of sleep, my mind was racing too much, Robert believed in me I couldn't let him down. 6:30am my alarm rang but I was already awake, now I'm not one to get nervous but i was pretty sure that was the feeling i was having when I heard a knock at my door at precisely 7:59am on the dot. ”Good morning Miss Alex, Are you ready to go?” Asked Greg , Robert’s personal driver and right hand man. ”I’m ready Greg” “Then where are your bags? , I will get them for you. “They are in the living room” without further direction he came into my house and located the living room, before I could ask him anything “Hey Alex are you trying to miss your plane? Anna’s voice rang from the car. ”Anna you came” Of course, you didn’t think I would let you go to the airport by yourself did you”. “Anna won’t you just come with me to Brazil please?” She just smiled i knew her answer even without her saying anything then she said “This is your moment, Alex own it’. Greg came out with my bags. ”Time to go Miss”he said and held open the car door for Anna and me. As i locked my front door and got into the car i finally felt ready and more sure of myself than i have ever been before Anna was right this was my moment. At the airport Anna kept giving me encouragement and holding my hand wouldn’t stop tell me that everything would be ok and that I had nothing to worry about and just do my best. She sounded more nervous than I felt “Anna” I finally interjected “Thank you, I’ll call you when I arrive, Ok?” “ Your going now?’ Is your plane ready to depart?” “Yes it is”. We exchanged our final goodbyes “If anything call me, and I mean anytime of day,ok?, promise me!”she said to me with almost tears in her eyes “l promise” my stomach felt so tight and I felt I might cry so I quick hugged her and walked away without another word. I hadn’t noticed before but my ticket was first class so I enjoyed a very peaceful 11+ hours of smooth flying with very little turbulence which is one of my biggest fears when on a plane. Finally we had arrived, as soon as I got off the plane it was baking hot and that was just after 6:30pm in the evening. It seemed like Robert had dealt with everything because it was an absolute breeze through customs and within like twenty minutes I was outside waving for a taxi. My Portuguese wasn’t perfect but I knew enough to help me survive so barging with taxi driver would be fun I told him I was going to A Senhora classica he seemed to know it after a bit of back and fourth on price I was on my way. Now the map on my phone had told me the hotel was twenty-five to Thirty minutes away but looking at my watch it had been fourty so I asked the driver “When will we be there please?” Small time was all he said so I waited another 10 minutes and asked again “Will we be there soon?” he said nothing but looked at me through his rear view mirror. Suddenly I felt uneasy it’s like he sensed it and said “Don’t worry pretty lady we will be there soon” I said nothing but nodded. Then I thought I should ring Anna maybe I was just being paranoid as soon as I picked up my phone he pulled the car over hard which threw me forward a bit stunning me he then grabbed my hand and said in really good English “I wouldn’t do that if I was you”.