Build Owner…
**…in all sizes.**
The station and the city of Milan slowly receded through the window.
After the city had been far away, there were flowering fields and green hills. The train headed north, passing through adorable small towns. It was like being in a movie, but Sunny Hirsch didn't have headphones to provide a nice soundtrack. Instead of music, her mind was filled with memories of her escape attempt. Sunny was running to the airport. She was busy sneaking out of Moonstone when she heard the sound of a motorcycle.
And just like the citizens of Palermo, Sunny also shivered at *that* sound. She didn't need to look to the side to know he was standing right next to her.
"Mr. Blaze," Sunny Hirsch said forcing a smile.
Thiago Blaze didn't get off his bike or take off his helmet. He was dressed all in black. Jacket, boots, t-shirt, and even gloves. There was something sinister about him that the helmet couldn't hide.
"If you run away, you'll die," said Thiago Blaze. "If Antonio finds out that your sister has run off with a lover, she will die too."
He was telling the truth, but she got mad anyway.
"Then what? Either I stay here and die fast by Enzo Blaze's hands or I lest try."
"I'll deal with Enzo," said Thiago Blaze. "But you need to do what he says, okay?"
Sunny Hirsch blinked.
"You mean..."
"Yes. Please him. I trained you well and you are..." Thiago Blaze bit off the words.
Sunny Hirsch's breath hitched. She looked at her reflection in his black helmet.
"What am I?" Sunny Hirsch whispered softly.
"You'll know what to do" replied Thiago Blaze, finally.
Sunny wanted desperately to know what she was. What did he think of her? But instead, she murmured,
"Ok. I guess."
Thiago Blaze got ready to leave. The motorcycle purred like a savannah cat.
"But I'll try anyway," Sunny Hirsch said. "Let fate decide. Should I stay or should I go?"
"I don't like that song. You are betting your life on a game that you know you won't win." pointed out Thiago Blaze.
"Speaking of game... Sir?"
"What?"
Sunny Hirsch stared at him for a moment, but she couldn't even see him behind the helmet. It was useless. She knew. He would never answer her — a maid and his slave.
"Never mind," said Sunny Hirsch.
BACK ON THE TRAIN
Everything flashed past Sunny Hirsch's window. Old houses, historic churches, and medieval castles stood out among rice, corn, and wheat plantations that stretched across a river. Two hours later, the train started to climb the mountains of the Alpes and there was a change in temperature and atmosphere. The air became fresher and purer.
*Luna would love this place*, thought Sunny Hirsch.
The train arrived at Aosta station at 10:45 a.m.
Very tired from the journey, Sunny Hirsch looked for a taxi. She arrived at the winery 20 minutes later. It was an elegant old building, with a large iron gate and a well-tended garden. Next to the winery was a luxury residential condo.
“20 euros,” said the driver.
Sunny Hirsch offered him the American Express Black credit card, but the man pushed her hand away.
“Money” repeated the driver.
Nervously, Sunny Hirsch tried to hand the driver her credit card again, but he only accepted cash. The driver was getting more and more angry. And Sunny was panicking more and more.
"I'm very sorry. I'm sorry” repeated Sunny Hirsch.
“Hey,” shoutout a woman.
Sunny Hirsch looked across the street for the owner of the voice but was not a woman who had spoken. He was a little boy dressed like a little prince in his white silk shirt, black velvet pants, and shiny leather shoes. He crossed the street with an air of superiority but still went around and walked down the crosswalk.
"*Che cosa sta accadendo?*" said the little boy. **(What is happening?)**
"*Lei non vuole pagare il biglietto. Vado a chiamare la polizia.*" **(She doesn't want to pay. I'm going to call the police.)**
"*Quanto è durata la gara?*" **(How much?)**
"*Venticinque!*"**(Twenty Five!)**
The little boy took a 50 bill out of his pocket. He threw it at the driver.
Sunny Hirsch got out of the taxi, still nervous. The taxi driver left grumbling.
“You don't speak Italian? I am better than you,” said the little boy. “I speak English, Italian, Portuguese, German, French, and Mandarin. But don't tell anyone I don't speak French because my mom *hates* French stuff.”
Sunny Hirsch smiled at the little one's petulance.
“What are you here to do?” asked the boy. “This is my territory. I can call my dog Solo to pee in here if you're having second thoughts. He's good at marking territory. He is a Cocker Spaniel. What did you come here to do anyway? You don't seem like the type who would live here. This place is very exclusive, you know?”
"I’m grounded here to work.”
The boy's blue eyes sparkled.
“I also have to work when I'm grounded, believe me? They made me make my bed once. I felt like a servant.”
*He looks so familiar* Sunny Hirsch thought.
“Listen, everything is fine, but I need to find the person in charge of the winery. The owner sent me here and I…”
"This is impossible. The owner didn’t send you anything here.”
"Why?"
“Well. Because I am the owner.”
“That's impossible,” Sunny Hirsch said. “This winery belongs to… Oh, my God. You're the youngest of the Blaze's, aren't you? What was the name…”
“Otto” completed the irritated little boy. “I thought you were someone sent to play with me but you're just a maid. I'll call the manager Rocco.”
Abramo Rocco was a middle-aged man with a Fred Mercury mustache. He was surprised to see Sunny Hirsch arrive so early. In his truck, Abramo guided her along a winding road that cut through the vineyards. The vines are laden with ripe grapes ready for the picking. Sunny smelled earth, fruit, and herbs in the air.
“What is my job?” Sunny Hirsch asked.
“There isn't much work here,” said the Italian with his heavy accent. “Have you ever worked on a plantation before?”
“I did not, sir” replied Sunny Hirsch.
Abramo Rocco was disappointed with the response but found a simple job for her.
“You need to pull out all the weeds that are growing between the vines. They compete with the grapes for water and nutrients and can disrupt the harvest. After you fill the cart, you take the weeds over to that incinerator over there” Abramo Rocco pointed to a counter next to an apartment building “and burn them. Did you understand?"
“Yes, sir,” Sunny Hirsch said, trying to sound cheerful.
“Good work,” said Abramo Rocco, leaving.
Sunny Hirsch sighed and reached down and pulled a weed by the root. She felt twinges of pain in her back. This was going to be hell. She tossed the weed into the cart and moved on to the next one. She repeated the process for hours, sweating in the blazing sun and clawing at the thorns on the vines.
“You Ipay me, Enzo Blaze” she muttered to herself. "I swear my name is not Sunshine Hirsch if you don't pay me for it."
"What are you doing?" asked Otto Blaze.
Otto Blaze was driving a miniature car. He was behind the fence between the condo and the winery. That car was a very cool realistic miniature Ferrari. Sunny wanted one like it when she was a kid. She never had one. It was too expensive. But apparently, a suffering maid was more entertainment than any toy for Otto Blaze.
“Inventing the Cure for Curiosity,” Sunny Hirsch replied.
"What?"
“Nothing” she replied.
Sunny Hirsch pushed the cart away from Otto Blaze.
"Hey! I asked you a question” said Otto Blaze driving alongside Sunny Hirsch.
“I'm working, little guy,” Sunny Hirsch replied, sweating in the sun.
Otto Blaze followed Sunny Hirsh to the counter where the incinerator was. It was a kind of metal oven with a chimney that belched gray smoke. She opened the oven door and saw that there were some weeds already burned inside.
“Can I help put it on?” asked Otto Blaze.
"No."
"Why not?'
"*Ehi ragazzi! Cosa pensate di fare*?” **(Hey! You kids! What do you think you're doing?)**
Sunny Hirsch turned and saw a woman coming out of the apartment building. She was an elderly lady, with gray hair tied back in a bun, round glasses, and a flowered dress. She was holding a broom in her hand and had an angry expression on her face.
*Oh, great* Sunny Hirsch thought.
An Italian Karen.
"Who do you think you are? What are you doing here?" asked The Karen.
“Hi. I don't speak-” Sunny said, trying to be polite, but the woman yelled in English.
“You think that just because you are in Europe you can invade my property?!”
*Is that woman a Blaze?* Sunny Hirsch wondered. But Otto whispered "I don't know her" to her. As expected.
“Listen, ma'am. I'm just pulling weeds.”
"You are messing everything up! Look at all that smoke! You are polluting the air! You're bothering the villagers and ruining the scenery!” shoutout The Karen.
“But I'm just doing what the manager asked me to do,” said Sunny Hirsch, confused.
"He said? This place is mine! I've lived here for years! I take care of this!” said The Karen in fury. She waved the broom with aggression that made Otto and Sunny cower in a corner.
“Run,” whispered Otto Blaze.
“You guys come back here!”
But Sunny Hirsch and Otto Blaze weren't going to wait around for her to hit them with that wood. The two of them got into Otto's car; Sunny curling up on the toy. The Karen ran after them.
"Can't you go any faster?" shouted Sunny Hirsch.
"We're at full speed," said Otto Blaze in terror.
At that moment, the old woman swung the broom at them. Otto Blaze looked back and the broom was going to hit him in the face with all the force in the world. But Sunny Hirsch protected him at that moment, putting his body between the broomstick and Otto. Sunny whimpered in pain.
Startled, Otto Blaze took his hands off the steering wheel. The car was at a considerable speed and they overturned over the grape plantations. But Karen didn't give up, of course. She picked up a piece of wood from the floor and came screaming with rage in every step of her body.
Sunny Hirsch got on top of Otto Blaze and the two locked eyes, cowering on the floor in fear.
"Who are you?" spat Karen.
Sunny looked up only to see a hand gripping the wood with unwavering strength in the face of Karen's fury.
Alessandro Blaze.
"What are you doing?" asked Alessandro Blaze.