As it happened, the walls of Hotel Fortuna were decently thick.    While Anna could discern the occasional vocalization, or other audible consequence of passion, it wasn't to any degree that was a big deal.   She wondered if Dean actually possessed any real skill in the sack.  While that seemed beyond unlikely, stranger things had been proven to be true.   He had so little else going for him... she hoped, for her sister's sake, that it might actually be so.   The sounds issuing from their room were moderately encouraging, at least.<br/><br/>And they couldn't help but make her think of Alex, her last boyfriend, from whom she was recently separated.   As of his having returned to his ex-wife.   She wished him well.  Didn't work out for shit the first time around...but hey, why not on the second go?    And too, there was the little fact that her family was loaded, and his career was sort of on the skids.  The result of losing a few too many cases, and of too much partying.  In which he'd been much assisted by herself, yes...<br/><br/>Well, it had been fun while it lasted.   And there were no hard feelings.<br/><br/>Almost none.  Not so much.   She didn't really think about it, at least.  Sure...<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Fuck!  I wish had a joint, to help me relax.  And to take my mind off Alex. </span><br/><br/>There was no way she was going to ask Dean. Especially not now.  And, anyway, it wasn't exactly the best idea the day before her interview with Mr. Tuono.   And thus she sighed, arose from where she'd been sitting, unbound her hair from the high pony she'd had it done in, and proceeded to shake it out.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Mmm...needs a little conditioner,</span>she noted, glancing at her reflection in the full length mirror off to one side.  Fortunately, she had brought one of the very best --- Paul Mitchell "The Conditioner" -- which she liked to refer to as "<span style="font-style: italic">the</span>the conditioner."    Yes, she was pretty easily amused.  And quite unashamed about it.<br/><br/>Her attention then went to the window, and the gorgeous view, again.  It would be fun to explore a bit, once business was done.  Ancona had once been a part of ancient Greece, she recollected reading.  It was one of the goads she'd utilized on Sophia, to urge her to come too.  She knew well the big thing her sister had for all places and things Greek.  Why...she didn't understand.  Sophia wasn't otherwise exactly a history buff.   But, she had so few strong interests, that Anna tended to encourage it.   Even if it did give her a small headache, sometimes, listening to Sophia carry on about it.<br/><br/>Anna turned, stretched, and then went to her purse to retrieve her phone.   Having done so, she went back to the bed, made herself comfortable, and got caught up on facebook and twitter. Coming soonish, she promised to friends and followers --  would be the obligatory travel photos, posted to her Instagram page.   To which she shortly received the obligatory "you go, girl!" 's, and "oh, can't wait!" 's, as well as some nearly two dozen likes.<br/><br/>Including one from Alex.   Which was accompanied by a bland<span style="font-style: italic">"sounds fun, hope your well". </span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Really-?   Was that really necessary?  Was it?   </span><br/><br/>"Fuck you, too," she whispered, with more than a little venom, as she placed her phone over on the nightstand.    She took in its place the TV remote, flipped it on, and started to channel surf.   Finally settling on the movie "Wicker Park," which she'd seen before, but loved enough to watch again.<br/><br/>Perhaps there was some analogy, here? Just like the movie's protagonist, Matt, had to find out what that crazy-ass bitch (who's name happened to be Alex...ugh!) was all about...so too would her sister's eyes be opened to what a douche Dean really was?<br/><br/>Next door, Dean's best efforts abruptly punctuated that thought with a resounding cry from Sophia.  Anna sighed, rolled her eyes, and continued to watch the movie.   Not long after it concluded, to the bitter sweet strains of Coldplay's "The Scientist", she realized she actually probably could sleep.   And so she got up, got undressed, then removed what little makeup she was wearing.  And set the alarm, and went to bed.<br/><br/>And awoke quite suddenly in the early AM hours.  Not from any noise her sister and Dean were making.  It was all quiet on that front.   No --  she'd had a nightmare.  One that<span style="font-style: italic">really </span>rattled the bejeezus out of her:<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">A city...a Grecian looking city....  under siege.... pillars of smoke, fires, inky black shadows that seemed to move of their own volition...   </span><br/><br/>She shook her head, let go a breath.<span style="font-style: italic">Weird.  What was that about-?   I didn't watch any cheesy ass adventure movies!   </span><br/><br/>Was the Greek bit because she'd been thinking about her sister's interest in it, before she'd gone to bed?<span style="font-style: italic">Well.  Who cares!  </span><br/><br/>Anna did manage to fall back asleep.   Yet it took her some little while, to do so.<br/><br/>* * * * * * * *<br/><br/>She roused from sleep, as the alarm on her phone woke her.   At last...the big day, and all that.  Slowly, she sat up, drew a hand through her hair, and took personal inventory, trying to establish whether she was hungry for any sort of a real breakfast, or more in the mood for something light.     She kind of felt more inclined toward the latter of those, she decided.   Plus, she wanted that "lean & mean" feeling, when she went in to see Mr. Tuono, not "bogged & bloated."<br/><br/>She already knew exactly what she was going to wear to the interview.  So, no stress there.  It was merely a matter of prep time.  Yawning once, arising from the bed, she made her way to the window, to allow in the mellow, mid-morning sun.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Okay, Mr. Zachaios Tuono.</span>.. (god, what a mouthful that name was...hopefully she could get away with calling him 'Zac'?)<span style="font-style: italic">...you're on!    Let's see how you might change this slightly stagnating life of mine...</span>