Arianna Contos' POV
I breathed the fresh air that my family has been here for generations. I was looking around the city as I was walking down the streets. I was happy as I was smiling to look around at the familiar buildings and the sight of my people.
Tan skin.
Brunette hair.
Brown eyes.
It was nice and I know it because I have been abroad for almost 4 years now. It was because of the works that I have been doing with Lyana Debaux. She was my best friend as well as a very good curator.
And also because of the business that we did together.
I was happy to know that I was having so much fun that I forgot about the real reason why I was in France in the first place. I sighed a relief when I was feeling the heaviness of the Citrine of Greece in my pocket.
I was smiling before I was seeing my relative was smiling down on me when he was removing his sunglasses now.
"Now, where's that smile when I need them?" My relative asked me when I was smiling cheekily at him.
"Hi, Tomas," I said as I was looking at my cousin.
"Hey yourself, princess,"
"Shh, not everyone knows that. And I don't want to be the target for paparazzi," I said as I was glaring at him. Tomas laughed at me.
"And how are the other family members?" I asked him as he shrugged. It's no joke when I asked about my other 8 cousins and they have been abroad around the world, handling the family business that I don't want to know about.
Tomas sighed before he was opening the door for me as I was sliding inside before Tomas was putting my luggage inside the trunk. He closed the trunk before he was sliding into the driver's seat. I smiled at him.
"Well, it was hard to say but I think they will be just fine," he said as I was arching my eyebrow at him.
"Wait, what are you trying to say?"
"Let's just say that Mama wants her grandchildren so soon and I don't think I will be the one that will be giving them first," Tomas said before he put on his sunglasses and we were off from the airport.
I was looking around the city as I was smiling before I was looking around. There was nothing changed but I know it was not me, but the city. I think I changed after that night 4 years ago.
"So, you're ready to be a part of the family again?" Tomas asked me before I was smiling sheepishly at him.
"Hmm, I don't know. I hope aunt Sylvia will not be mad at me for going abroad 4 years ago," I said as Tomas smirked at me.
"Oh, she won't. Besides, she already forgets all about it," he said as he was smiling at me. I smiled at my cousin. But I don't think I was hoping for the right response from my aunt when she learned that I was back in Greece.
I can only pray that she will not be too mad like a mama bear later.
Lucas Dow's POV
I was staring at the officer that was asking some questions about my intention to come to Greece. I told them the truth before they laughed in my face. I don't just get it.
"So, you were to tell me that you will be capturing the elusive Woman in Gold?" The officer asked me as he was filling up the immigration status of my visit. I just smiled at him.
"I believe that's just what I said," I said as I was looking at the old officer. He was slow because of his big body, not to body shaming but I think he needs to get better in shape before he hit his 50s.
Or maybe he was in his 50s.
"Okay, son. Tell you what, you can enjoy Greece and all the things that she has to offer but I know, for one thing, The Woman in Gold or Chrysi Gynaika, was an urban legend. It was only a story that was made up so that the tourists will come to our humble country," the officer said as I was taking my passport from him. I smiled.
"Thank you," I said as the officer was smiling cheekily at me.
"Hey, when you catch that cat burglar, make sure to state it at the front page of the newspaper," he said before the others were laughing at me.
"Good one,"
I took my leave before I was out of the airport before I was taking in the sight that I was in Athens, the land of Ancient Greece. The myths of the Olympus and its gods and goddesses. I don't think I would be stepping here but I was.
I sighed before I was looking at the signs for the pickup and there was no one for Lucas Dow. I was sighing before someone was tapping on my shoulder. I turned around to look before it was a short man that was holding the sign of my name.
"Lucas Dow?" He asked me in Greek before I nodded at him.
"I am your driver at the hotel. Shall we?" He asked me as I was nodding at him before he was picking up my luggage and we were moving through the crowd before I was looking at the minivan that he will be driving.
"Is this for—"
"Us? Yes, I have specific orders that you will not be sharing with the others. I know how much you value your secret identity," he whispered before I was arching my eyebrow at him.
"And which secret will that be?" I asked before he closed the trunk and turned to look at him. Then, my driver shrugged.
"I don't know. But I do know that I will not be doing the guessing game with you. We have to run, I have so many shifts to do after you," he said as he was running to the driver seat and I was sitting at the back.
Good thing if he did not know anything about me then.
"Here we go," he said as he was speeding out of the airport and into the busy streets of Athens. I was looking around for the tourists and locals that were mingling. I was smiling before we stopped in front of the five-stars hotel which I know that Interpol did not cover the expenses for me.
"Um, I think you got the wrong hotel. I was supposed to be sleeping at the…" I said as I was looking at the name of the motel that will be my base in Athens.
"The Hypnos Camp?" I said as I was looking at the driver. He was smiling at me.
"But sir, this is The Hypnos Camp. Don't worry, I'm sure you will find this hotel very nice," he said before I was being left there before my driver was putting my luggage next to me as I was looking at him.
"Enjoy your stay!" He said as he was moving out of my sight, leaving the dust to get all over me. I sighed as I was looking at the hotel.
"Well, he did say to enjoy it so why not," I mumbled before I was pulling my luggage and I was moving toward the front door.
I got inside and the crowd was dispersed. There was no one inside the lobby before I went to the receptionist. The woman was reading a magazine while she was chewing gum. I cleared my throat before she turned to look at me and I smiled at her.
"What can I help you?"
"Hi, I have reserved a room here under Lucas Dow," I said before the woman that was named Alexandra was typing something in the computer that was in front of her. She was chewing the gum before she blew it into a bubble before it popped and she continued to chew again.
"Okay, so your room will be number 413. Here's the key," she said as she was giving me a key and a card for the stay.
"Enjoy your stay," she said as I was thanking her and moving to the elevators. Even though I heard that this hotel was a cheap one, but the facilities were first class. I think I did the right choice in trusting the agency to make the reservation for me.
I punched the button for the lift and waited for a while. Then, it dinged and when the lift opened, I was surprised to see the person that was inside the lift.
It was the woman that I saved at the airport that morning.