Found: Take a Hint, #2

By Mariam Harb

Talia always finds herself in situations she can't seem to comprehend how she got herself in, this time, she found herself involved in a crime as she went on a road trip.

 

she constantly wonders "Why is that always happen to me?!"

 

But...did she really done nothing wrong? or is she ignoring something important?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mariam Harb
• Release date: Aug 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223672487

Book preview

On the road

While Talia was driving, she glanced at the fuel indicator, then she said to herself

This won’t last me for long, I must stop at the nearest gas station

Then she noticed that her phone battery was about to die, so she said to herself in a sarcastic way

Great! And that is exactly what I was missing

Then she pulled over and started to search for her powerbank in her backpack, then she said to herself while sighing

Am I surprised now?! Nope, not at all, I have forgotten it at Edda’s place

Then the low-battery warning appeared on her phone screen, and she said

I must go to the gas station real quick

Then she said as she drove off

Thankfully, I have my charger, I will charge it in the convenience store there...

Two days ago

––––––––

Talia walked through a gate into a courtyard, then she saw old model cars on both sides of the entrance, then she noticed a room at the end of the left row of the cars, so she walked towards it while scanning the cars with her eyes, then she walked into the room and found no one, so she asked out loud

Hello, Is anyone here?!

Then she heard a voice coming from behind her asking

Come posso aiutarti?

Sì, umm...do you speak English?

Talia asked.

Yes, how can I help you?

The man said it.

I want to rent a car

Talia replied.

Do you have a specific model in mind? Or do you want to look around?

The man asked, and she replied

I have, but looking around sounds good

Okay, Ms...?

The man asked, and she replied

Talia

Paulo, alright, let’s go

He said it while shaking hands with her, then he walked out of the room as she followed him...

Paulo asked her as she began to look around

How did you know about me?

Talia stopped in her tracks and said

Excuse me?!

I mean, film companies are usually the ones who would like to rent my cars for obvious reasons, but common people rarely do, so I was wondering about how you found my rental center

Paulo explained.

Oh! Umm...a friend of mine led me to it

Talia said it hesitantly.

Hmm...okay, well, did any car catch your eyes?

Paulo said it as he nodded slightly before asking her.

This one

Talia said it as she pointed at a car.

Alright, for how long?

Paulo asked, and she replied

For a day

Are you going to return it on the same day or the day after?

Paulo asked.

I will drop it off in Zermatt on the same day, I will rent it for umm...four..five hours or someth...

Talia said it, but she got cut off by Paulo as he said while looking surprised

Drop it off where?! Zermatt? Switzerland?!

Y..yeah, do you have a problem with that?!

Talia asked him confused.

I rent my cars only if you are going to return it back here, I don't have any place in Zermatt or any place in general other than here to drop it off at

Paulo said it, and Talia stood in silence while looking at the car and thinking about what she should do now, then after a few seconds, she looked at him and said

Okay, I will return it back here

Alright, let's go inside and finish the renting process

Paulo said it, then he started to walk towards the room while Talia followed him, then as they were about to enter the room, a car that is parked behind the room caught Talia's eyes, so she stopped him by saying

Wait!

What?!

Paulo asked confused.

I changed my mind, I want to rent this car

Talia said it while pointing at the car.

Paulo looked at the car, and then he said

No, you can’t rent this car

Why?!

Talia asked as she looked devastated.

Umm...someone already rented it

Paulo replied.

But it is...right here?!

Talia said it confused.

Yes, it is because...the expected date of renting it is after a couple of days

Paulo explained.

Can't I rent it and then return it back before that date?!

Talia asked desperately.

No

Paulo replied strictly.

When you asked me if I have a specific car in mind, it was this car, and when I couldn’t find it, I settled for the other one, I promise I will bring it back before their...

Talia said it desperately.

I SAID NO

Paulo yelled it, and Talia was taken aback by it, then she said while looking slightly afraid

O..okay

Then Paulo asked her strictly

Are you going to rent the first car or what?!

Y..yes

Talia said it quietly, then both entered the room...

Paulo handed her a paper and said

Fill it in

Talia took it from his hand and started to fill in the blanks while Paulo looked at her in silence, then he cut off the silence by asking

Why were you pretty insisted on renting that car?!

Chevrolet corvette C3, for a person who isn’t that passionate about cars, the only car that has ever caught my attention was this car, I just liked it, and I always wanted to do a road trip with it, and when I looked around and didn't find it, I chose the closest looking one, and when I found it...you know what happened after that

Talia explained while continuing filling in the paper and looking at Paulo simultaneously.

Yes, they definitely resemble each other, so you shouldn’t be that upset about not being able to rent the second car, am I right?

Paulo said it, and Talia looked at him without saying anything, then she continued filling in the form in silence, then Paulo cut off the silence again by asking

Umm...instead of Zermatt, can you drop off the car at another city in Italy?

Yes?!

Talia replied as she raised her eyebrow confused at his sudden question.

Okay, wait a minute here, I will make a call, then I will be right back

Paulo said it.

OkAy! I will just continue filling it!

Talia said it while pointing at the paper and looking at him confused.

Alright

Paulo said it, and then he walked out of the room...

––––––––

After a few minutes, Paulo entered the room and walked towards Talia while saying

I have good news for you!

Talia looked at him confused while asking

What news?!

and he replied

You can rent the car that you liked

How?! I mean, why is this sudden change of your plans?!

Talia asked confused.

Umm...it is just the way you talked about the car, and how much you want to do your road trip with it, so I called a friend of mine who lives in Milan, he will take it from you there

Paulo explained.

And what about the person who already rented it?

Talia continued asking, and he replied

Don’t worry about that, my friend will return it back to here before the due date

Talia looked at him in silence for a few moments before saying

"Mr. Paulo, I appreciate your effort, but I don't want to mess up your plans, I totally understand the situation, and I will rent the first car,