Coming home to him will never get old. “I love you,” I whisper as I kiss the back of his shoulder.
He sleeps on and I smile.
I love this.
I wake to the feeling of my back arching off the bed as I shudder.
What the hell?
I feel a tongue between my legs, and strong hands spreading my thighs wide apart.
“Oh….” I blink as I try to focus my eyes and I pull back the blankets to find Giuliano in all his glory between my legs.
“Morning,” he whispers darkly, his lips glisten with my arousal.
I smile broadly. “Why yes…yes, it is.”
14
Giuliano
I stare at the spreadsheets on my computer screen, these figures aren’t adding up, Lorenzo and I have been working on them all morning. There’s a few hundred thousand dollars missing. “There has to be a miscalculation somewhere.”
Lorenzo lets out a deep sigh. “Fuck knows, it can’t be out by that much.”
“It’s okay, I’ll find it. You go do what you have to,” I say.
Alex puts his head around the door. “I’m going to get some lunch, you coming?”
“No. I’m good.”
“What are you having?” Lorenzo asks.
“Apollo’s.”
“Yeah, I’ll come. I’m out of the office this afternoon, I’ll catch you tomorrow.”
My eyes stay glued to the screen. “Bye.”
Lorenzo stands and they disappear out through reception together.
Mario walks past my office. “Hey.” He stops at my door.
“Hi.”
“I saw a photograph of your old man last night.”
I glance up from what I’m doing. “Really, where at?”
“At the public library.”
“Yeah?”
“My son had a school art show and they had an archived photograph section from past years’ donated art.”
“Hmm.” I nod as I turn back to my computer. “What was the photo of?”
“Him and your mother.”
I smile.
“I noticed it because his wife, Bianca, was also in the photo, she was pregnant.”
I look up from what I’m doing. “What?” I frown. “What do you mean his wife was in the photo? My mother would never go somewhere with him and his wife.”
“That’s what made me notice it, I thought it was weird too.”
I stare at him, confused. “You say his wife was pregnant and my mother was there?”
“Uh-huh.” He nods. “Lorenzo was in the photo too.”
I spin my chair toward him, my interest piqued. “Lorenzo?”
“Yeah.”
“Our Lorenzo?’
“Uh-huh.”
My mind begins to race. “Where was the photo?”
“It was on a display board as you walked into the room at the art display.”
“You sure it was them?”
“Positive. Your dad had his arm around your mother’s waist.”
What?
With his pregnant wife there?
“Milan library?” I confirm.
“Yes.”
I fake a smile. “Thanks for letting me know. I’ll check it out next time I’m there.”
“No worries.” He walks casually down the hall and I turn back to my computer.
What the fuck?
My mother and Bianca at a function together, it doesn’t make any sense.
His two women hated each other…didn’t they?
I grab my keys and head for the door, I need to see this fucking photo.
Francesca
My phone vibrates on the table and I pick it up to see the name Dominic light up the screen, “Hello, Dominic.”
“Hi, Francesca. I was wondering when you’ll be in Milan next?”
I frown, does he already know that I’m here? “I’m actually already in Milan.”
“Good, I have some things I need to go over with you. I’ve been going through the plans and the tile choice for the bathrooms on level four is off.”
“What’s wrong with them?”
“I’m not happy with the way they correlate with the other floors.”
“Oh.” Shit. “Let me try and reshuffle my appointments for this afternoon and I’ll try and fit you in for a meeting.”
“Thank you, that would be appreciated.”
“Where are your offices here in Milan?”
“Ahh….” He hesitates. “My office is being repainted at the moment, let’s meet in the restaurant where we usually meet.”
“Okay.” I pause as I pretend to reschedule appointments. “How’s one p.m.?”
“Good. I’ll meet you there.”
“Great.” I hang up and instantly open my computer in a panic, what tiles did I pick for level four?
I walk into the restaurant right on one o’clock, Dominic stands and smiles.
“Hello, I hope you haven’t been waiting long?” I apologize as I shake his hand.
“Not at all.” He pulls out my chair for me.
“Thank you.” I smile as I push it in.
“I took the liberty of ordering us a bottle of wine, may as well make our meetings enjoyable.” He fills two wineglasses with the wine.
“Thanks.” I fake a smile, why does he always order alcohol as if it’s a date?
Stop it.
I open my large folder and flip through to the appropriate floor divider. “Okay, so let’s talk about these tiles.”
He stays silent and when he doesn’t answer me I glance up at him.
“Are they your guards by the door?”
I frown and glance over to the door to see Nico and Sergio.
How does he know I have guards?
“No.” I smile calmly. “What makes you think I would have guards?”
His eyes hold mine and I know that he knows that I thought that was an odd question.