“Yes, he took me there two years ago when we first met.”
“You’ve been together for two years?” Jennifer squeaks.
“No.” I laugh. “It was terrible timing back then. His father and grandfather were killed in a car accident that weekend, and he was too upset to start anything.”
“Murdered,” Nat mutters into her wineglass. “Tell it as it is.”
“Murdered?” Jennifer gasps as she looks between us.
“We don’t know that.” I widen my eyes at Natalie to tell her to shut up.
“He was totally murdered.” Natalie scoffs. “Haven’t you noticed how much security Olivia has around her.”
Jennifer leans in toward the table. “I had noticed that,” she whispers. “I wondered why.”
“It’s just because he’s wealthy, that’s all,” I reply. “It doesn’t mean anything.” I frown over at Natalie. Thank God I didn’t tell her anything. Imagine if she knew the truth. I need to change the subject. “Oh, there’s a problem, though.”
“What’s that?” Nat asks.
“Enrico wants to have an engagement party in two weeks at the Lake Como house.” I shrug, feeling totally overwhelmed. “I have no idea how to organize it in that time. He said he will get a party planner, but I hate the thought. It’s so impersonal.”
“Oh.” Jennifer’s eyes widen. “I can do it. I was an event manager back home. I used to do this all the time. It’s a piece of cake.”
“Really?” I frown.
“Sure, and I’m not working right now. I could just work on it full-time.”
“Oh, I don’t want to impose.”
“It wouldn’t be an imposition. I would love to help out. I’d be happy to have something to do to be honest.”
“That’s a fantastic idea,” Nat says. “Just pay her to do it.”
“Of course, I would pay you,” I say.
“If you like. I can invoice you when we’re done. I won’t charge much.”
“Don’t worry, she’s loaded.” Nat tips her head back and drains her glass.
“If you could send me the numbers and what you want, I can get started today.”
“Really?” I smile in wonder. “That quick?”
“Yes. Thank God my day is looking up. I thought I was going to die of boredom.” She thinks for a moment. “What’s the house like so I can organize flowers and decorations? Would you be able to give me a key so I can go and check it out today while you work? That way, I can start straight away.”
“Yeah, sure.” I go to give her a key, and then hesitate. No, I can’t do that. Enrico would have a fit. “I’ll have someone there to meet you.”
“Oh.” Her eyes hold mine. “Okay, whatever is easiest. I don’t want to bother anyone. I’m used to being in houses alone.”
“It won’t be a bother.” I smile. “The house is guarded all the time so someone will be there.”
“Why is the house guarded?” She frowns.
“That’s the million-dollar question.” Nat raises her eyebrow.
“I told you, his family is rich. It’s just a precaution.” I roll my eyes at her dramatics. “Stop with the conspiracy theories, Nat. You watch way too much Netflix.” I stand. “I have to go. I’m going to be late for work.” I kiss them both on the cheeks.
“Email me the party details and I’ll get to it.”
“Okay, thank you.”
I leave the café filled with relief. Thank God I know someone who knows all about event management. The world is saved.
I’m not going to fuck this up.
* * *
Giorgio smiles as he holds my hand and inspects my ring. We are in my office, pretending to work.
“I knew you were the one for him. From the moment I saw you, I knew you were the one.”
I giggle. “And how did you know that?”
“From the way that he looked at you.”
“How does he look at me?”
“Like you’re the only other person on earth.”
My heart swells because that’s how he makes me feel too.
“So?” He sits back on my desk. “When’s the wedding?”
“I don’t know. Enrico wants the engagement party in two weeks.” Giorgio’s eyes widen. “What are you going to wear?”
“Not sure yet.” I smile nervously. “Something nice.”
Giorgio stands and immediately looks me up and down. “You must wear Valentino.” He taps his finger on his lips. “I’m going to go down to production and find something from next year’s line.”
I roll my eyes with a smile.
“Leave it with me, darling. You will look fabulous.” With a kiss on each cheek, he practically runs from my office, and I drop into my chair.
It is fun being Giorgio’s hobby.
* * *
My eyes flutter open. “Bedtime, Bella,” Rico whispers from behind me.
We are lying on the couch in the apartment in Milan. It’s late now, and the last thing I remember, we were watching a movie. I’m tight in his arms and he kisses my temple.
“Did you fall asleep too?” I ask.
“Yes. This movie is very boring.”
I giggle because I love his accent when he says certain things. This movie is very boring seems to be one of them.
Enrico’s phone dances across the coffee table, and the name Sergio lights up the screen. What does he want? That guy gives me the creeps.
“Yes,” Rico answers flatly, clearly annoyed at being called at this hour. He frowns and listens for a moment. “What?” he barks. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“What is it?” I mouth.
He begins to yell in Italian, screaming at the top of his voice. I’ve no idea what he’s saying but he’s absolutely losing it. He slams his hand on the coffee table in fury, and I jump. Jeez.
Calm down already.
He points to the bedroom. “Get dressed, Olivia.”
“What?” I frown. “Why?”
“Get dressed,” he repeats. He goes back to his conversation and continues to yell in Italian.
“Prepare the jet. We leave in an hour,” he instructs.
“Leave.” I frown. “Where are we going?”
He points to the bedroom. “Get dressed.” He’s furious. The anger radiating out of him is thermonuclear.
“Tell Lorenzo to pick up Olivia and take her to my mother’s. He can stay here with them. I want extra men on the Ferrara house while I’m gone.” “What?” I whisper. “I don’t want to go to your mother’s. That’s just awkward.”
His eyes widen at me. “Do not even think about disobeying me tonight, Olivia. You will stay at my mother’s. Get fucking dressed. Now!”
Oh my God. I storm up the hall and quickly throw some clothes on. He soon follows and marches into his wardrobe.
“What’s happened?” I ask.
He rips his clothes off a coat hanger, and it flings across the room with force. “I have to go to Sicily.”
“What, now? It’s the middle of the night?” I frown. “What’s happened?”
He kisses me quickly. “Nothing that you need to be worried about. I have something that I have to take care of. You will stay at my mother’s house until my return.”
“I’ll just stay here.”
“You will not stay here alone.”
“Okay. Calm down.”
It’s obvious he’s under a lot of stress about something, and I don’t want to add to it.
“Pack a bag.” “Well, how long will you be?”
“I don’t know.” He tears out an overnight bag and begins to throw clothes into it with force. He’s completely losing his shit here.
Fear starts to run through me. “Is something wrong?”
He opens the safe in his wardrobe and removes two guns. He puts one under his jacket.
“Just trouble at one of the brothels. Nothing for you to worry about.”
“Why do you need a gun then?”
He brushes past me and goes into the bathroom to pack his toiletries.
I storm in after him. “Is Sophia there?”
“Olivia,” he bellows. “Do not fight with me tonight. This has nothing to do with Sophia. Pack your fucking clothes.”
“You don’t have to be an asshole about it!” I snap.
I walk back into the bedroom and begin to throw some clothes into the overnight bag he has gotten out for me. I go into the bathroom and grab my toiletries. I stare at the closed bottom drawer for a moment, and then I snatch the pharmacy bag that I picked up today.
“How long are you going to be?” I ask.
“Not long.”