Amore (29 page)

“He only wanted to talk about you,” Shae teased with a smile.

“What?” Marietta frowned.

“You heard me. He kept asking me if I was a dancer like you, how I knew you, stuff like that. Seemed quite interested in where you came from,” Shae said. “You and Carlo close?”

Marietta glanced to the left when she heard voices. Two of her husband’s men walked past them. Neither looked up. She knew Shae. Even a direct answer would lead to more probing questions, and ultimately Marietta would say more than she intended.

“Stay away from them, Shae. Cut the bullshit. I won’t say it again.”

“Sorry. I’ll keep my distance.” Shae reached over and touched her hand. She squeezed it. “What’s going on with you, Mae?”

“I’m trying to get pregnant,” Marietta confessed. Relieved to change the subject.

“No shit? You and a kid? What’s our number one rule, Mae? No fucking brats to get in our way. Remember? I can’t believe you turned on me,” Shae teased. The truth was Shae had a very bad ectopic pregnancy when they were teens. Doctors removed her fallopian tubes. She was barren. Though Shae made it seem like she hated kids, Marietta knew differently. Her friend was always dismissive of her pain.

“Trust me I fought it, girl. I’ve been sneaking birth control behind Lo’s back for two years. I decided last night to stop taking them.”

“Sneaking? Why are you sneaking the pill?” Shae asked.

“Lorenzo, all of these men here, they’re real funny about birth control. Catholic and all. And I wasn’t sure I wanted a kid.”

“But you do now?” Shae asked.

“I want to make my man happy. This will make him happy. I’ll do anything for him, Shae.”

“Oh honey. That sounds pathetic,” Shae sighed.

“You’ve never loved anybody but yourself so how would you know?” Marietta snapped.

“Ouch,” Shae said.

“Sorry. Lorenzo is my heart. Don’t talk smack about him.”

“Okay. Make your man happy. But be careful, Mae. Honey, we from the Chi. We both know the truth. The fastest way to get rid of a man is to give him a kid. He’ll lock you up in some golden tower and creep out the back door at night.”

“I wasn’t married, in love, and living in paradise back in the Chi. My life is different here. And my man… he’s different. You’ve seen them. That’s why you all hot in the panties for Carlo.”

Shae chuckled but didn’t deny it.

“Motherhood is in the marriage contract. Took a minute for me to accept it, but I have. I can do this. I can be a good mother,” Marietta said.

She looked over. Shae reclined in her chair. She closed her eyes as if relaxing. And then Shae spoke. “Carlo is interesting.”

“Stay away from him. Agreed?”

“Yes. I got it. I’ll stay away.”

“Good. And no smoking. Not because it’s not allowed, it’s just not… a good habit. Take care of you, Shae. You’re the only friend from home I got.”

Shae smiled. She reached over and extended her hand. Marietta took it in hers and they held hands watching the sunset.

**

“Sweetheart? You down here?” Mirabella asked. She put her hand to the wall and braced her hand there as she stepped carefully down the stairs. She heard the moving of crates. Leo told her he went to the wine cellar.

“Giovanni?”

“Over here, Bella,” he said.

“Turn on the light. It’s dark down here.” She reached and flipped the switch. More light flooded the dank musty wine cellar. There were rows and rows of shelves. Possibly stocked by the previous owner. Giovanni was at a crate opening it.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Looking for something to celebrate.” He glanced up at her. “How did everything go?”

“It went good. Very well. The interview was a success. Dominic will see the footage with the lawyers, as agreed, before anything airs.”

“Ah! Here it is.” Giovanni pulled out the vintage label he was searching for. He charged Mirabella and scooped her up against his chest with one arm. He spun her around and she laughed. She hugged his neck afraid he’d drop her or the bottle of Merlot.

“I’m so fucking proud of you!” he lowered her to her feet.

“You are?” she laughed.

He smiled down at her. “I had a short tour on my way out. You’ve done it grand, Bella. I had no idea.”

“I thought… I thought you might have been upset about the interview.”

He laughed. He kissed her brow. “Fuck the reporter. She did what reporters do. Tougher interrogators than her have questioned me. And tonight we celebrate!”

“You seemed to like her though,” Mirabella said.

“Like her?” Giovanni frowned.

“She flirted with you. And you encouraged it.” Mirabella said.

Giovanni let go a roar of laughter. Mirabella frowned and then smiled not sure what was funny. He kissed her and spun her around again. “I have never seen it! Never!”

“Seen what? Stop before you drop me!” She forced him to put her down.

“I’ve never seen my wife jealous.” Giovanni grinned.

“I am not!” She pushed back from him.

“Yes you are!” He nodded.

She laughed. She was aggravated the rest of the day. Especially when Margot asked if she could get another exclusive with Giovanni. She politely put the bitch in her place. “Okay, maybe a little.”

“Come here, woman,” he pulled her close. “I was being nice. Charming. I wanted your fans to like me. To give their approval of my love for you.”

“You don’t care what people think.” she frowned.

“No. I don’t. But you do, Bella. And all I care about is making sure you have everything you want. Especially if it is within my power to give.”

Mirabella grabbed him by the face. She kissed him. “I love you, Giovanni. With all my heart!”

“I love you too, my sweet sweet Bella.” He swept her up with his tongue this time and the bottle nearly slipped from his hands. She couldn’t believe how beautiful he had made their life.

**

Catalina looked away from her computer screen when the phone rang. She was left to tend to all of the last minute details. Mirabella and Marietta had left over an hour ago. Dominic was just down the hall dealing with legal matters. If he didn’t love working for her brother, she swore his job should have been as a lawyer. They made a hell of a team. She glanced over her computer monitor past her office walls to the conference room where he sat with three other men. He looked up and their eyes met. She winked at him. He winked at her. Though she told him she was ready to marry, she hadn’t shared the news with Mira or Marietta. Between the fashion show and the birthday party there was too much to do.

The phone rang.

“Pronto,”
Catalina said. She tucked the phone between her face and shoulder. She kept typing. Silence greeted her. “Hello?” she said.

“Catalina?” a man’s voice answered.

“Who is this?”

“Armando.”

Catalina stopped typing. “Why are you calling?”

“To thank you,” he replied.

“Me? Why?”

“I met with Giovanni today. He gave his consent. I am sure I have you to thank,” he said.

“Oh? Okay. Well I’m glad for you. Do you have the details? The date and everything?” she asked. She glanced to Dominic who was standing and shaking hands with the men.

“I do. I have one more request,” he said.

“Look, I have to go.”

“It’s the gift. A special gift I am having made for them. Something my sisters won’t expect.”

“What do you need from me?” she asked.

“I want to show it to you. To be sure that it’s appropriate before I bring it to Bellagio.”

“No. I can’t,” she said. Dominic was walking straight toward her office. “Thank you for calling. See you at the party.”

She hung up the phone. Dominic smiled as he came through the door. “Are you ready, beautiful?”

“I sure am. Let me get my purse.”

She couldn’t stop her heart from racing. She’d be lying if she didn’t admit Armando Mancini had crossed her mind a few times since he came to visit her. The strange attraction she felt was unlike her. She made a mental note to put an end to his niceties. If he ever called her again she would tell Dominic. That would stop it for sure.

**

Marietta threw her dress on the bed. She decided to change for her husband. The dinner planned for the evening was going to be a celebration. All of it was Mirabella’s idea. She wanted the Battaglias gathered for the fashion show. A real event.

The phone rang.

Marietta walked over and picked it up off the base.
“Pronto?”

“Marietta, it’s me, Armando,” the voice answered.

“Oh, hi. I was going to call you.” She sat on the edge of the bed.

“We must think alike. I needed to call and thank you,” he said.

“For what?” Marietta smiled.

“For convincing Mirabella to allow me to come to your party.”

“So Giovanni agreed? You’re coming?” she asked.

“I am.”

Marietta breathed out a sigh of relief. Lorenzo didn’t think Armando could be trusted. And she agreed on some levels. To be honest none of them could truly be trusted. Everyone had agendas.

“So will you make sure to save me a birthday dance?” he asked.

Marietta chuckled. “Ah, no. My husband would not like that.”

It was Armando’s turn to release a soft laugh. “Then maybe when everything is over we can meet. For lunch.”

“You’re in Italy?” she asked.

“I have some business here in Milano. I’m staying for a while.” Armando informed her.

“Oh, wow. You must come to the fashion show. Please say you will come.”

“I’ll be there.”

“Great! See you tomorrow,” she said.

“Ciao.”

The phone line disconnected. Marietta set the phone back on the base and stared at it for a moment. Things were changing. She could feel it. Change would be good for all of them.

There was a knock on her door. She walked away from her nightstand and opened it. Carlo leaned in the frame. The moment she looked into his eyes her heartbeat slowed. She felt calm. Relaxed. “You told Umberto you wanted to see me?”

“Yes. I want to talk to you,” she said.

“Really? Can I come inside?” he teased her with a smile.

She glanced back into her bedroom. Then she looked up into his eyes. She stepped out of the room and closed the door. He didn’t move much. He was closer than appropriate. “There’s a study down the hall. Let’s go in there.”

“After you,” he said.

Marietta had no choice but to lead the way. Carlo walked behind her. She wore a long maxi dress that draped around her hips and ass. When she looked back at him she noticed where he was staring. She shook her head. She opened the door to the study and held it for him. He walked inside. Marietta decided to keep the door open. Though Lorenzo wouldn’t find anything wrong with her speaking to him, she would never disrespect her husband by having a closed-door conversation with another man, friend or foe.

“You look beautiful, Mae,” Carlo said. He moved the toothpick around in his mouth and lowered his gaze to her hips. She crossed her arms in defense.

“Don’t call me Mae.”

“Why not? It’s what they call you back home. Friends. We’re friends right?” he asked.

“So you’ve been speaking with Shae?”

“Strawberry,” Carlo smiled. “I’ve always had a fondness for strawberries.”

“Not funny. You know the rules. Gio is very clear on his men not flirting with women in this family.” Marietta reminded him.

“She’s not in the family. She’s a stranger.” Carlo said.

“She’s a guest. And I consider her family. It’s wrong and I want you to be respectful. My friend is off limits,” she said. “Please.”

“She reminds me of you,” Carlo said. “I find her interesting. Maybe I should travel to the ‘Chi’ and meet my own woman?”

“Carlo, stop it okay. Seriously this isn’t cute. You’re Lorenzo’s best friend. The comments. The winks. The looks at my ass. I want you to stop. It stresses me out. I feel bad that I encouraged it that one time. But I’ve done nothing to make you think that this is okay.”

Carlo sighed. “I’ll stop. I don’t want to upset you.”

Marietta sighed. She ran her hands back over her head and through her curls. “Can you answer a question for me? A very personal one about Lorenzo?” she asked.

“Depends,” he said.

She looked into Carlo’s eyes. It was something she tried to avoid doing but could no longer. She stepped toward him. “Fabiana. When they were together. He was in love with her. Right?”

Carlo nodded.

“Do you think he would have married her?” she asked.

Carlo shrugged. “Lorenzo does what he feels. I didn’t think he’d marry you and he did.”

“Why? Why didn’t you think he’d marry me?” Marietta asked.