I told you not to call me that!
Any stunts you attempt to pull will be answered with equal punishment.
You’re thousands of miles away. What’s the worst you can do?
Try me.
Eye-roll.
Attempt that when I’m standing in front of you.
Double eye-roll.
Your fearlessness is commendable. If extremely foolhardy. Eat something, Principessa. You’ll need your strength to repeat this feat of daring you’re suddenly brazen enough to attempt.
Bring it.
Carla realised she was grinning as she stopped at a crossing. Curious glances from strangers had her straightening her features as she crossed the street onto Fifth Avenue. The sights and sounds of New York City buffeted her as she walked in the spring sunshine. On impulse, she stepped into an exclusive boutique of a designer whose work she was familiar with. She browsed until Antonio’s solid presence outside the door began to draw attention. Smiling at the attendants, she quickly exited only to stop outside when her phone rang.
Her heart performed a crazy somersault, but the number displayed on her screen wasn’t familiar. Or the one she’d texted Javier with minutes ago.
‘Hello?’
‘Hi, Carla, it’s Darren.’
Her stomach dipped. Swallowing what she refused to acknowledge was disappointment, she injected lightness into her tone. ‘Ciao, how can I help you?’
‘I know Javier is out of town, but I’ll be scouting the three nightclubs we shortlisted for the shoot tonight, and wondered whether you’d like to come along. The earlier we nail it down, the quicker we can move things along.’
Carla opened her mouth, an automatic refusal rising out of habit. Socialising for anything but her career had been struck off her list after her one and only life-changing time in Miami. But slowly, she closed her mouth. The idea of spending another evening alone in the penthouse drew a grimace. Besides, this wasn’t really socialising. It was work-related.
‘Uh... Carla?’
‘Sì, I’m here. I don’t know much about nightclubs, but I’d like to come along.’
‘Great! I’ll swing by and pic
k you up at seven? We can get something to eat beforehand if you want?’
Eat something, Principessa.
‘I want. I’ll see you at seven.’
She hung up with a different smile on her face. The break for independence was a tiny one, but it felt good. She glanced at her phone again, her smile dimming at the thought of her father.
Pressing the buttons, she dialled.
He answered after several long rings. ‘What do you want?’
A cloud floated past the sun, echoing her mood as her chest tightened. ‘You know what this is about. I’ve left you several messages.’
‘You can’t summon me like a lapdog. You forget who is the father and who is the child here.’
‘I just want to talk, Papà. Find a way to resolve this.’
He laughed, an overloud, slurred rumble that made her frown. ‘Are you drunk?’
‘Watch yourself, ragazza. You may think you suddenly hold all the cards, but I’m not averse to bringing you down a peg or two.’