He paused a beat before answering. ‘That was Luigi’s department. It became Carlotta’s after his death. She was an effective marketing director, but Luigi won her over to his side and she grew to love discovering new products.’
Grateful for that morsel of information, Faye felt a lump rise in her throat. ‘Thanks for telling me. It sounds like they had a lot in common?’
Eyes that saw far too much rested on her. ‘You really knew so little about your own stepfather?’
It sounded like an accusation. But she was still a little too wrung out after that breakfast incident to indulge in another skirmish.
She shrugged. ‘We lost touch when he returned to Italy.’
The gleam in his eyes said he wasn’t buying it. ‘Italy is hardly the other side of the world. How old were you when he left? Thirteen? Fourteen?’
‘Eleven.’
Some people experienced life-changing events that lasted a moment. She’d experienced two years that had given her a glimpse of what a true family looked like. Luigi’s complete silence after leaving her and her mother had thrown everything into question—including her own worthiness. Learning of her mother’s harrowing secret and her own genesis had thrown up further questions.
It had been a burden she’d resigned herself to living with.
Until Matt’s declaration.
Until Carlotta’s persistence had opened the box she’d strived to keep shut.
As much as Faye despised the need to confront her emotional wounds, she knew it was part of the arduous process towards gaining a semblance of sanity, including exorcising the ghosts of Luigi’s desertion.
She took a deep breath. ‘He turned his back on me when I was a child. So why should I have made any moves?’
Dark shadows flicked over Maceo’s face. ‘Perhaps he had his reasons?’
Pain seared deeper. ‘Everyone has their reasons. Perhaps he should’ve been man enough to explain his to me instead of—’
‘Instead of...?’ Maceo coaxed icily.
‘Doesn’t matter now.’
‘I beg to differ. You seem overly...emotional.’
‘And you pride yourself on having no emotions at all. So why do you keep pushing me?’
‘Contrary to your belief, I care about Luigi and Carlotta’s memories. I push you as a warning to you not to consider soiling them.’
‘You care so much about Luigi that you married his wife?’ she blurted, before she could stop herself. Then knew immediately she’d gone too far.
He grew statue-still, perfectly emulating the marble masterpieces that littered his homeland. ‘Don’t stray into territory you don’t understand.’
What was there to understand? And why couldn’t she leave it alone?
‘Enlighten me, then. Surely I’m not the first person to wonder at your...interesting match.’
He surged upright, and despite his calm breathing his eyes blazed volcanic fire. ‘This meeting is over. You may leave.’
She took her time to gather her papers, stand and face him across the conference table. ‘Of course, signor. But before you accuse me of prying, remember I’m trying to find out about my stepfather. And you factor into that. So tell me what I want to know. Or don’t. But I’m not leaving Italy until I have a few answers of my own.’
Including to that mysterious picture someone had hidden between the pages of an obscure book.
* * *
Faye Bishop was well and truly underneath his skin.
Distancing himself from her, as he’d done these past three weeks, had simply thrown up more questions. More intrigue. He’d hoped the evaluation meeting might provide clarity. Or, if he was being completely truthful, expose glaring flaws that would justify his assumptions about her.