Chapter 2 Bonnie Dimou

• Bonnie Dimou
• I look at myself in the mirror once again, admiring the red hair I love so much. A trait I inherited from my mother. Just like my short stature.
• I was getting ready for another day of work at the museum, where I’m one of the supervisors. I’ve managed one of the wings for nearly five years now, having returned to work in the city where I was born after graduating from the University of Cincinnati. I’m knowledgeable about a vast portion of human history, but my specialty is Greek history.
• The Santorini Museum is magnificent, with a massive collection, and throughout these years, I’ve been trying to find a way to stand out and become the director of the place I love so much. Unfortunately, the museum's representatives believe women are weak and don’t deserve high-ranking positions in any government institution, which is extremely frustrating.
• My father, Murilo Dimou, owns a marketing and publishing company. He always tells me I’ll only be heard when I start a family, but I’ve already told him I don’t want to get married. My superiors need to accept that, as a woman, I’m more than capable of making myself heard.
• I leave my apartment for another day at the museum, and upon arriving, I already have a huge list of things to resolve. My assistant stands beside me, and I decide to ignore her for at least the first five minutes while I settle into my office. I try to understand what could be so urgent that she had to wait for me at the employee entrance.
• I started thinking about my mother, Paula. She can’t see me arrive at her house without creating a whole dramatic scene to try to convince me to move back in. That is completely out of the question, since I left my parents’ house precisely because I couldn’t stand hearing my mother say I should stop working and try to meet a good suitor.
• I don’t understand why they all insist that I must get married. I’m twenty-five years old, and as Jenna Rink’s character from the movie 13 Going on 30 would say, success comes at thirty, not twenty-five.
• "Are you going to pay attention to me?" my assistant said.
• "Not yet. Come back in five minutes..." I said with a laugh, watching her leave with an eye roll.
• I sat down in my chair and turned on my computer to start the day, but my mind was still on my family.
• Something I can’t understand is why I’m torturing myself with these thoughts so early in the morning.
• I know that at some point in my life I’ll probably get married, but I’m not in a rush. I love what I do, and I know that if it’s the will of some higher power, I will fall in love. However, I will never accept my parents’ idea of arranging a marriage for me.
• Especially not with the son of the Motor’s CEO.
• I don’t know him personally, but some say he’s an arrogant man. And after hearing my mother talking to other women about how she’d love to see me married to him, I decided I needed my own space.
• What I didn’t expect was that the idiot would start spreading rumors that we’re engaged. A complete lie, and one I couldn’t even deny properly. I sigh again, adjusting my blouse, and mutter a curse under my breath, remembering the headache my mother gave me.
• Today I was invited for a snack at my parents’ house in the evening. I’m sure it’s just another way for my father to try to convince me to attend one of the events he’s organizing. I know that if it were up to him, I’d already be married to the son of one of his best friends, Mr. Spanos.
• I barely remember Marius and Maitê’s son. He lived in Brazil for a long time, and after childhood, it was rare to see him around the mansion. And as soon as high school ended, I was sent to America to study.
• So, as a single woman from a wealthy family in Santorini, I’m always considered as a match for some rich, single young man in our country. Luckily, I always manage to avoid whatever gossip the media spreads or even the matchmaking attempts my parents try to set up.
• I don’t want to get involved with any of them. I want to fall madly in love. I want to discover love in a simple way and find my whole world in the smile of someone who sees me and then, yes, get married.
• I smile as I realize I’ve already finished what I needed to and can now call my assistant to find out what she needed to tell me so urgently.
• "Silvia, you can come in!" I say on the phone as I begin reviewing some spreadsheets.
• "Bonnie, Mr. Pappas asked you to go to his office." From her look, I can tell it’s not good news.
• "I’m on my way. Thank you, Silvia."
• Great!
• Couldn’t he have called me a bit later to avoid the unpleasant tension that always arises between us?
• I leave my office, annoyed that I have to put up with the museum director, a man whose character I seriously question.
• Before entering his office, I feel my phone vibrate and see a message from my mother asking if I’m going to the mansion for dinner with them.
• Bonnie: "Yes, Mom, but I’ll probably arrive a bit later. We can reschedule if you prefer."
• Paula: "No way, I miss you and I have something to tell you."
• I smile, imagining the excitement in my mother’s voice. As much as she tries to set me up with someone, I love them in a way I can’t put into words, and I would give my life for them if it were ever asked of me.
• It’s already Friday, and I’ll spend the weekend without having to see the museum director’s face. I walk to his office and, before entering, take a deep breath and count to five, hoping my expression will soften.
• I knocked on the door and asked for permission to enter, since I didn’t hear him say anything.
• "Good morning, Mr. Pappas. What can I do for you?"
• I ask as I see him sitting behind that beautiful mahogany desk. The dream of one day being in that office consumes me, it’s the desire of my heart to give this museum I love the chance to shine far more than it does today.
• "Have a seat, Miss. I’ve just been informed there will be an auction of some private collection pieces. We want to use this opportunity to auction off one of our own items, which is why I called you."
• I narrow my eyes, not understanding the need for an auction.
• "You’re here because I’m giving you the mission of choosing one of the pieces we have..."
• I see a smile forming on his lips, and I don’t like it.
• "We need to raise funds, or we’ll have to close the Egyptian wing!"
• I’m shocked to realize that the museum is not doing well financially, which makes me question what he’s doing with the money that’s supposed to keep everything in order.
• But then again, this might be a wonderful opportunity. Maybe this way, the people responsible for hiring will realize that I know how to manage this place just as well, or even better, than Nikolai.
• Over the years I’ve been here, I’ve watched the museum deteriorate, and Pappas doesn’t seem to be making any real effort to improve the situation.
• Now having to close an entire wing, especially the Egyptian one, fills me with even more questions about how we reached this point. I regain my composure and leave my thousands of questions behind, looking at the man who is clearly hiding something.
• "Don’t worry, Mr. Pappas. I’ll catalog the best pieces and bring them to you as soon as possible so we can select the best one!" I said before standing up.
• However, curiosity is stronger, and before I can stop myself, the question slips from my mouth.
• "What’s wrong with the Egyptian wing?" I saw him take a deep breath.
• "I know you won’t disappoint me with your choice. As for the Egyptian wing, what we’re receiving isn’t enough to keep it running, that’s all. You may go now..."
• He gives me a smile and waves his hand for me to leave his office. I turn my back and roll my eyes.