Total pages in book: 163
Estimated words: 163540 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 818(@200wpm)___ 654(@250wpm)___ 545(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 163540 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 818(@200wpm)___ 654(@250wpm)___ 545(@300wpm)
I look over and frown in surprise. “Speak of the devil. Look.” I wave at Jennifer and her boyfriend Diego who have just walked into the restaurant. They smile, wave back, and make their way over to the table.
“Hi.” I stand and kiss them both.
Enrico politely shakes their hands. “Hello.” He looks them up and down.
Oh shit, he’s going to be snarky.
“Will you join us for a drink?” I ask, a little uncomfortably.
“Yes.” Jennifer smiles and sits down beside me.
Enrico glares at me and sips his wine.
Shit.
Diego orders a bottle of wine. “I’ll have four new glasses, too, please,” he says.
“What brings you here?” Enrico asks.
“We were in the area and thought we’d have lunch.” Jenn smiles. “It’s great that we ran into you. What a coincidence.”
Enrico’s calculating eyes hold Jennifer’s, and he raises an eyebrow. “Yes, it is.”
Oh God, what is he thinking? He can be such an arrogant ass when he wants to be.
Just be nice.
“Did you go to the gym this morning?” I try to break the ice.
“Yes, where were you?”
“I slept in.” I glance over to Enrico who is staring at Diego.
“We need to get working on this party planning.” Jennifer smiles as the wine arrives.
“That won’t be necessary,” Enrico interrupts. “We have it covered.”
“Oh, it’s no bother. I want to.” Jennifer smiles. “I really need something to do.”
“I said that won’t be necessary,” he asserts.
Diego fills three wineglasses, and then when he goes to fill the fourth, Enrico puts his hand over the glass. “No.” He glares at him.
Shit, why is he being so rude?
I begin to perspire.
“The party is already organized.” He sits back in his chair. “I never did catch your surnames, though?”
I swallow the lump in my throat. Earth, please swallow me up.
Jenn and Diego look at each other. Diego laughs. “Are you going to do a security check on us?”
Enrico smiles and raises his glass sarcastically. “Naturally.”
“Enrico, ha-ha, such a joker.” I fake a smile across the table and open my menu in a rush. “Let’s just order our food, shall we?”
Fuck.
“My surname is Rogers and Diego’s is Romano,” Jennifer tells him. “What are you wearing to the party?” she asks me, clearly trying to change the subject.
“Where are you from?” Enrico asks.
Oh hell, what is this? The Spanish inquisition?
I eye the bottle of wine on the table, and I wish to God I could just drain it.
“Sicily,” Diego replies.
Enrico’s eyes hold his. “What do you do in Australia, Jennifer?”
“Ah… um… oh.”
She hesitates, as if she’s being put on the spot. Hang on. Her delay did sound a little suspicious, I do have to admit.
“I told you, I was an events manager.”
Enrico pushes his chair out. “Unfortunately, Olivia and I have to get going.”
My face falls. “What?”
“Now.” He stands in a rush.
“But…” I frown.
He holds his hand out and glares at me. “Let’s go.”
I turn to Jennifer, embarrassed. “Sorry. Something has come up.”
With one last death stare to my friends, Enrico dips his head. “Goodbye.”
“Bye.” I force a smile.
Enrico leads me out of the restaurant, and I have to practically run to keep up with him.
“Why are you being so damn rude?” I whisper.
“They’re up to something.”
“What? That’s ridiculous.”
“Mark my words, I’ll call it in tomorrow.” He looks back up the street toward the restaurant. “Something is off with those two. I can sense it.”
I roll my eyes as we arrive at the car. “I am allowed to have friends.”
“Get in the car.”
I get into the car and slam the door. Damn control freak.
It turns out that finding an engagement party dress isn’t all that easy.
We’ve been at this for hours.
“Okay,” Giorgio says. “Let me see.”
I peek my head out through the dressing room curtain. “Is anyone around?”
“Just me. Get out here.”
I walk out and smirk as I put my hands on my hips. “This dress is ridiculous. I look like a stripper.”
Giorgio’s eyes drop down my body, and he frowns and holds his chin. “Well, that’s not going to work.” He begins to try and tuck my boobs back in as he wrestles with the fabric.
“You think?” I giggle as he tries to stretch the fabric over my exposed breasts. “It was definitely designed for a more petite woman.”
“One without boobs.” He looks me up and down. “Next one.”
I go back into the changing room to try on my tenth dress.
“Giorgio, you need to prepare yourself for the fact that I might not be able to wear Valentino,” I call. “I have a lot of beautiful dresses at home. I can just wear one of those.”
“Nonsense.” He huffs. “If there’s nothing here you like, we’ll be making you something. This is the biggest event in Milan.”
I flick the curtain open and poke my head out. “What is?”
“The engagement party, of course.”
“There’s only fifty people coming.” I frown.
Giorgio laughs at my horrified face. “Darling, have you seen the front page of the paper today?”