I pick up a lace teddy and hold it up over my body. “You think he’ll like it?”
Her eyes widen. “I think he’ll love it, but who is he?”
“Well….” I try to think on my feet. “A guy I met through work in Milan has asked me out.”
“Who?”
“Umm…he’s a diplomat.”
She frowns.
“We’ve had this chemistry thing for years and now he knows that I’m single he asked me out.”
“He’s in Milan?”
“Yes.”
“I’m going home this weekend too.” She smiles. “Maybe we could go on a double date with Carlo and him.”
Oh hell.
“No,” I snap way too fast. “I mean…he broke up with someone for me, so…we have to keep it super-secret for a while.”
Her eyes widen. “He ended a relationship for you?”
“Well….” Oh fuck, why did I say that? Now I sound like a home wrecker. “They were on the way out already, this just sped things up a little.”
“Oh.” She listens intently. “Carlo asked me to move home to Milan.”
I frown. “In with him?”
“No, but…he wants to start a relationship and I live in another country.”
Shit.
I go to the fridge and pour us both a glass of wine while I contemplate my next sentence. I need to tell her.
“What does that mean?” she says.
“What?”
“The no answer.”
I pass her glass of wine over, this has been on my mind for a long time but I didn’t know how to approach the subject. “How much do you know about Carlo, Anna?”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you trust him?”
“Of course.”
“Do you know what he does at Ferrara?”
“Not specifics.” She shrugs. “But I’m sure….”
“I’m pretty sure he’s a hit man,” I just blurt out. “He’s one of Giuliano’s personal security team, I know for a fact that Giuliano would only have him there if he was capable and willing.”
She stares at me, shocked to her core.
“Look, I’m not saying he’s a bad person.”
“What are you saying then, Francesca?” she snaps, annoyed.
“I’m saying that he’s like my family, he’s like Giuliano. He is one of them. And if dating one of them is okay with you, then go for it. But you can’t let yourself get two years down the track and then realize that it’s too late.”
She drops to the chair at the dining table and sits down, shocked to silence.
I sit down beside her. “Look, I’m not saying don’t move to Milan to be with him, or don’t pursue this. I just want you to be aware of the entire picture. He’s a powerful man and I want you to know exactly who you’re getting involved with. It’s not going to be all honey and roses. There’s a dark side to his life too.”
She nods sadly and thinks for a moment. “Would you get involved with a man like him?”
“Yes.” I reply without hesitation. “If I loved him, then yes, I would. Nothing would stop me from pursuing love.”
I’m in love with his boss.
She nods as she weighs up my words. “You know, I really wish you and Giuliano weren’t related.”
My eyes shoot up to her, did I say that out loud? “Why do you say that?”
“Because you guys were so great together, seeing him in Ibiza must have been bittersweet for you? Did it bring back any memories?”
I want to blurt out and tell her everything…I don’t want to keep this from her, but I know that I can’t. I can’t risk anybody knowing about us at all.
Not now, not ever.
“He’s just a good friend, that’s all. We have a history and I did enjoy his company in Ibiza, it was great to see him again,” I reply.
She smiles and takes my hand in hers. “Thanks for hanging around with him while I got to know Carlo, the fact that you were prepared to do that for me means a lot.”
Guilt fills me. I’m a terrible person.
I smile sadly. “What are friends for if not to be the awkward wingman.”
She glances over at me as if surprised. “Was it really that awkward?”
I shrug. “Maybe it’s time for me to move home to Milan too.” I sigh.
“So, you can secretly date your diplomat and I can openly date a hitman?”
I giggle. “That sounds very….” I frown as I try to find the right words.
“Ridiculous?” she offers.
“Yeah, that’s it. Ridiculous.”
“Hey, maybe if you’re not going out with your diplomat on Saturday night you could come out with Carlo and me, we could get Giuliano to come. Carlo mentioned inviting Valentino and his girlfriend too.”
A smile nearly creeps onto my face. “Yeah maybe.” I act casual. “Hopefully I’ll be on a date though.”
“What’s his name?”
“Who?”
“The diplomat.”
Oh crap, that’s right, what is his name? “Massimo.”
She raises her eyebrow, her interest piqued. “Hot name.”
I smirk, for a fake guy I guess it is.
I lie in the darkness under the covers, phone in hand, he’ll call me soon to say good night.
He has every night this week and it’s been the highlight of my day, it brings back memories of when we met all those years ago, secret phone calls and stolen kisses.
Young and forbidden love, when we thought we could have it all.
We didn’t just think it, we knew it, or at least thought we did.
I go home to Milan on Friday and I should be having second thoughts and doubting my life choices, but the truth is I can’t wait.
I need to see him so badly.
My phone vibrates in my hand, and I quickly swipe it open. “Hello.”
“Hi, Chesk,” his deep voice whispers, Emotion overwhelms me. How can hearing someone’s voice mean so much?
“Hi.” I smile. “You’re late tonight?”
He exhales heavily. “I had a meeting on, I ended up leaving early so I could call you.”
I smile into the darkness; I like that he left early.
“Two days,” he whispers.
Excitement swirls in my stomach like never before. “I can’t wait,” I murmur.
“What’s the first thing you’re going to do when you see me?” he asks.
“Hug you.”
“Oh.” He acts disappointed.
“Why, what were you hoping I would do?”
“I don’t know, drop to your knees and suck my dick or something.”
I laugh. “Dream on.”
I totally will.
“Is it just me or has this week gone incredibly slow?”
“So slow.” I remember something, “Oh Anna asked me if I wanted to go out with her and Carlo on Saturday night, they were going to ask you and Valentino and his girlfriend.”
“Val won’t go.”
“Why not?”
“Because he’s furious that Anna is with Carlo.”
“What? Why?”
“He’s always had a thing for her, went ballistic about Carlo sleeping with her in Ibiza.”