His Two Hidden Masks: Steamy International Billionaire Romance

Chapter 16

Affe di Bacco was a family-owned pizza place with fabulous cocktails and a heated outdoor patio overlooking the lagoon.

In the summertime, Leo and I would bask in the late afternoon sun enjoying an Aperol Spritz. I loved the bitter and sweet of those gorgeous orange drinks.

On impulse, I switched my shoes before going outside. My thigh high red suede boots clicked on the cobblestones as I walked to the restaurant. I could no longer look at those boots without thinking of Dylan fucking me on the marble countertop wearing nothing else.

I replayed the memory of his body drilling into mine. I walked across San Marco Square, arms crossed, my merino wrap embracing me like a blanket. If Dylan was destined to someday live on only in my memories, I was going to enjoy every single one of them. Running late, Leo texted me.

Outside table saved you a seat the girls can’t wait to meet you.

I stopped walking. Wait, what? The girls? How was I going to get the lowdown on David if Leo turned our night into a party. It wasn’t unusual for Leo to invite women from his tours out to join us.

Leo didn’t want to sleep with women, but he loved them. He flirted and forged real friendships with people. I was used to being added to his impromptu parties. Sometimes it was to power a big sale. Other times, Leo genuinely wanted to add a little bit of Venetian magic to someone’s trip.

I took a deep breath and responded. This was Leo’s night, and I was committed to rolling with his plans.

On my way

People crowded the piazza. Tables at all the restaurants were full up. In the center of the piazza, stood a stone pillar decorated with Carnival masks.

A mask wearing violinist played “Con te Partiro” by the edge of the water. I walked towards the white lights that sparkled above the awning at Affe di Bacco.

“Bella!” Leo waved, stood up from a table, and walked to the patio entrance to meet me.

I reached up and pulled him into a fierce hug, pressing my face against his chest. “That asshole,” I said. “I’m so sorry, Leo.”

“I’m fine,” he said. “So fine. I just can’t believe it, but it’s true. David has been fucking a new ‘it’ boy in Paris.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes,” He looked skyward. “David sent me a dick pic.”

“Wait, what?”

“David sent me his lover’s dick pic.”

I put my hand up to my mouth. “You’re joking.”

“I wish,” he said. “And let’s just say, I know what my boyfriend’s dick looks like, and that was not it.”

“Why would he do that?” I said, leaning toward him.

“Um, because he’s a dipshit who doesn’t know how to use his phone? He probably had a folder called ‘Dick pics’ and maybe he was drunk? I don’t know.”

“Are you sure you want to have dinner with a crowd tonight?” I asked. “I am sure Terry from Tucson or Marianne from Medford would understand. If you need to debrief on dipshit David, we can go.”

“Oh, please,” Leo said. “I don’t want to talk about him anymore. I do not want to think about his lying ass. What I need is to be surrounded by love and beauty and to drink my face off. And you are going to love these American girls.”

He slinked his arm in mine and leaned down to kiss my cheek. “You look gorgeous, Bella. Narrowly being arrested looks good on you.”

“You have no idea,” I said. “Narrowly arrested and possibly recorded.”

Leo gripped my arm. “No.”

“Yes,” I said. “I’ll tell you later. Come on, I don’t want to be rude to your friends.”

Leo pulled a chair out for me across from his guests and sat down beside me. “Aren’t you all the most beautiful creatures Venice has ever seen.”

Leo wasn’t lying; these women were beautiful.

“Hi, I’m Shea,” the woman with strawberry blonde hair said, extending her hand. She was so friendly, so American with an adorable spray of freckles on her nose.

“Nice to meet you,” I said. “I’m Isabella, Uzano. Bella.”

“Oh, you are a bella, Bella,” Shea said, grinning. “I have never been to Italy before, and I just love it already.” Her gaze moved around as if she couldn’t soak in enough of the detail. “I love the food, the accents, your names.”

I laughed. This woman had a joy and a smile that was contagious. Shea wore a black leather jacket and a checkered scarf. I caught a glimpse of her red cowboy boots under the table. She looked like she might know a few cowboys.

The woman beside her extended her hand. “I’m Odessa,” she said, her voice calm and collected. Long eyelashes framed her enormous dark eyes.

The peacock blue of her coat perfectly set off her olive skin and black hair. “It is lovely to meet you, Bella.” She matched Shea’s beauty and had a quietness to her that was balanced by her bubbly friend.

Leo leaned across the table and picked up a bottle of Prosecco, pouring me a glass. “The girls are traveling together. They are in town for the ball at Doge”s Palace, of course. And they took a tour of the factory yesterday. I was lucky enough to be their guide.”

“Which was amazing,” Shea said, breathless and grinning.

Odessa was more aloof, and I noticed that she had a more subtle smile than her friend. “And you both are Americans?” I asked, taking a sip of my Prosecco. The bubbles felt heavenly going down my throat.

“That’s right,” Shea said. “Born in the USA.”

Odessa said. “I was born in Ukraine, but my mother and I moved to the states when I was a baby.”

“My bad,” Shea said. “I always forget that.”

“I do, too, sometimes. Seattle is my home now.”

“We live in the same building, the Holiday Apartments,” Shea said. “Very close to the UDub.”

“Nobody knows what that means, Shea,” Odessa said, smiling as she sipped her Prosecco.

“Oh, my gosh. So rude of me. It’s near the University of Washington,” Shea said.

“No need to apologize. I think it’s lovely you both live in a place called the Holiday. That is what we call vacations here,” I said. “We go on holiday.”

“Such a better word,” Shea said. “I wish we said ‘holiday.’”

“Well, you could,” Leo said. “You can say any word you want.”

“He’s right,” Odessa said.

The easy way these women spoke to and over each other made it clear they were good friends. Shea told Leo and I all about her business as a personal trainer. She worked at a club in downtown Seattle, but was looking to open her own gym.

Odessa reluctantly told us about her job at the Seattle Children’s Hospital after Shea bragged about how brilliant her friend was. Odessa worked as a pediatric oncologist, which was as impressive as it was heartbreaking.

“It must be so challenging,” I said, thinking of my sister and how quickly my family had lost her. I could not imagine working on a regular basis with families dealing with illness. “How do you handle it when…?”

“When I can’t save a child?” Odessa completed my question.

“Yes, I’m sorry. I couldn’t even say it.”

“It’s hard.” Odessa said. I could tell she’d been asked this question before. “But when we do help a child, it’s everything.” Her dark eyes lit up as she spoke.

I liked the confidence and purpose in her voice. She spoke as if she knew what she wanted out of life. She sounded grounded with an unshifting purpose that I envied.

Leo sat beside me, his hands crossed under his chin. He looked delighted by our conversation. He was quiet, but filled everyone’s glass with more bubbly on a regular basis.

I understood now why Leo had not canceled this dinner in the wake of David’s betrayal. The positivity and confidence of these women was magnetic. I was glad I was here. They reminded me there was a world outside of Venice. Perhaps it was a world I should explore.

Shea took a piece of bread and dipped it in a dish filled with olive oil and balsamic. “Leo says your family owns the Mia Sorella and Andiamo. We are in a hotel right off San Marco, but your family’s place sounds so lovely.”

“Thank you,” I said. “My family started with the restaurant before I was born, and they’ve had the hotel for twenty years. It’s been my life for so, so long.”

“Like the apple orchard,” Shea said. “My family has apples in Salishan, Washington. Well, we have wine now, too, which has been a game-changer for my family. I grew up surrounded by apples.”

“It sounds delicious,” I said, smiling.

“Carnival is spectacular,” Odessa said, leaning across the table. “I know it lasts for a few more days, but the costumes, the people. I didn’t know it could get so crowded here.”

“Oh, you should come back some time when it is quiet,” I said. “Carnival is beautiful, but Venice is so different when the streets are empty.”

“I can’t imagine that right now,” Odessa said, gesturing to the masked crowds in the piazza.

“We should come back,” Shea said. “This trip was Odessa’s idea, and I already want to come back.”

Odessa shrugged. “A friend told me to go to Venice. We both had time off and here we are. We only booked a week ago. It was rather spontaneous.”

“Is your friend meeting you?” I said.

“We will see.” Odessa raised her eyebrows.

Heaters flanked our table, giving off a comforting warmth. White lights sparkled overhead, and candles flickered beside baskets of bread. The waiter came by and we each ordered a pizza.

“Carnival usually sells out months in advance,” I said after the waiter left. “I’m amazed you were able to get a hotel. I think Mia Sorella was sold out by the end of summer.”

“We were lucky to find a room, and a tour guide like Leo.” Shea reached out and squeezed Leo’s hand. “I loved seeing how the glass was made.”

“Did Leo tell you that he not only sells the glass at the studio, but that he is an artist himself?” I said, knowing full well he hadn’t.

“Leo,” Odessa said, playfully swatting his arm. “You didn’t mention your art at all.”

Leo put both elbows on the table and leaned forward like a conspirator. “And did Bella tell you that while her family runs a restaurant and hotel, she makes the most delicious candies, glorious caramels dipped in fine chocolate. They are called Bella Baci.” He beamed.

My cheeks burned scarlet. Bringing up Bella Baci reminded me of all the things I hadn’t shared with Leo yet. “They don’t want to hear about that right now,” I said, taking a big swig of Prosecco.

I ripped off a piece of bread and took a bite. I did not want to get tipsy on an empty stomach and look like an ass in front of these gorgeous and composed women. I also did not want to risk crying by bringing up my decision to close down Bella Baci. Tonight was about distracting Leo, not me unraveling.

“That’s ridiculous. Of course, they do,” Leo said, eyes narrowing. “Bella is so talented. One bite of her candies and you will feel like you are in a gondola, floating down a canal filled with caramel.”

“Oh, I want to try that,” Shea said, clapping her hands.

Mercifully, the waiter arrived with our pizzas. The conversation drifted away from me and toward life in Venice. Soon, everyone’s walls came down, the bubbling Prosecco helping us all to relax.

“I so want to purchase something for my apartment, Leo,” Odessa said. “I just moved into a new two-bedroom and there is an old, dumpy chandelier in the center of the room. I want to replace it with a piece from Venice.”

“Oh, that is such a good idea,” Shea said. “Do you think Billie will let you switch it out?” For Leo’s and my benefit, she added, “She’s the building manager and our friend. You would love her.”

“I think I already love everyone in the Holiday,” I said, wondering what it would be like to live among friends, instead of family.

“I think we can find you something spectacular for your apartment,” Leo said, eyes dancing. Odessa and Leo chatted about different price points and options. I loved that Leo might end up making a sale, but I knew that hadn’t been his goal this evening.

At some point in the night, I realized that Leo had succeeded in distracting me from my problems. I wasn’t thinking about my failing business, my father’s anger, Roberto’s threats, or the touch of a man that I was pretty sure would break my heart.

Leo also didn’t seem actively heartbroken over David. I knew the heartbreak was there and it would come to the surface when he was ready. For one night, I hoped we were both getting a much-needed break from our real worlds.

As if reading my mind, Leo whispered in my ear. “Glad you came tonight, Bella.”

“Me, too. Thank you for this.” I squeezed his hand under the table.

His bright green eyes swam with tears. I was so grateful for his friendship, grateful for his support. This dinner offered me more than just a view of life beyond the city of Venice. It was showing me another beautiful friendship. It was good not to be alone in this world.

“Do you have a favorite place to travel?” Odessa asked Leo in between bites of pizza.

“Impossible to choose,” Leo said. “I travel to the U.S. every year, once, sometimes twice. But it depends on my clients’ schedules.”

“What Leo means,” I said, teasing, “it all depends on whether he can manage juggling the multiple invites he gets to stay at gorgeous homes with gorgeous women free of charge.”

Leo gasped in mock surprise and laughed along with me. “You are terrible. She’s right, but still terrible.”

“Leo has an army of women in America, willing to give him a free bed for the week,” I said. “Look at him, he’s irresistible.”

Leo shrugged, looking pleased with himself. “It’s true, true. Women love me. What can I say?”

Odessa leaned forward, a mischievous smile on her lips. “Leo, I didn’t think you and women danced to the same music.”

“Oh, darling,” Leo said. “I may not fuck the women I meet in Venice, but that doesn’t mean I don’t sleep beside them. My strong arms wrap around their beautiful bodies. I am the best snuggler in the world.”

“Oh, snuggling is the best,” Shea said, giggling. “Sometimes, it is better than sex.”

Odessa raised an eyebrow.

“Wait, no,” Shea said. “Nothing is better than sex, good sex, but you all know what I mean.”

Good sex. Dylan sex. I thought of his body hovering over me, his muscles taut as his hips rocked forward, pushing his hard dick deep inside me. Yes, nothing was better than good sex.

“Bella,” Leo said, snapping his finger in front of me. “Earth to Bella.”

“Sorry.”

“What were you dreaming of?” Leo said in a sing-song voice.

“I was thinking about men and sex and men,” I said, my voice trailing off.

“Men, yes. We love to fuck them, to ride them,” Leo said, his voice tipsy and giggling. “Trust me, ladies. I love men. I love women. I love life.”

“What about you, Bella?” Shea said. “Do you have a favorite?”

“Position?” Leo butted in.

“No.” Shea swatted his arm. “Place to travel. I was going to ask her about her favorite place to travel. Everyone knows cowgirl is the best sex position, Leo.”

“In the U.S.?” I said, still flushed from my lust-filled vision of receiving Dylan’s enormous cock.

“Oh, my Bella is a true Venetian,” Leo said, leaning into me.

“Is that like a degree?” said Shea.

“What he means is, true Venetians often don’t travel outside of Europe,” I said. “I’ve been up and down the Mediterranean, and I think my favorite place is Lagos, Portugal. It’s quite beautiful and I found the loveliest cocoa beans there one trip.”

“It sounds so dreamy,” Shea said. “Lagos, Portugal and cocoa beans. You know, it sounds better than Maui. Maui. Maui. You say a word enough times and it just gets super weird. Maui. Maui.”

“The truth is, I have never made it to your fine country,” I said, embarrassed by my admission.

“Oh, you would love the Pacific Ocean,” Odessa said. “And some day, you will see it.”

“I would love that,” I said, feeling wistful.

“Isn’t it funny how things that are different seem so exotic right from the get-go?” Shea said. “Here I am, feeling so small town since I’ve never been to the Mediterranean, and you’ve never been to our oceans.”

She sighed. “I think it’s all so beautiful. And what’s important is when you have the chance, you grab that ring. You bite that apple.”

“Listen to you,” I said, laughing. “I can tell you are a great personal trainer. I would follow you anywhere.”

“Oh, you should,” Shea said. “You should come visit us, Bella.”

“I’ll drink to that,” Odessa said, raising a glass to me.

“You two are so kind.” I wondered what it would be like to get on a plane and disappear across the ocean. “I am sure you are both very busy.”

“Nonsense,” Shea said. “You could come after Carnival, or the spring? You, too, Leo. We always have loads of room.”

“I love the states,” Leo said. “I love all of them.”

“You should think about it,” Odessa said, dotting the corner of her lips with a napkin. “We will host you both.”

“Before we make travel plans, we have dessert,” Leo said. He reached into a bag at his feet and placed two of my Bella Baci candy boxes on the table.

“Leo,” I gasped, shocked to see the new design. The two masks of Carnival were overlaid across a map of Venice. It was a jewel-toned masterpiece. “When did you get these boxes printed?”

“I picked them up today. I wanted to surprise you.” He pushed the boxes toward our guests. “Ladies, have a Bella Baci, a beautiful kiss from Venice.”

Odessa’s eyes lit up, her manicured fingers dancing above the lids. “I’d love one.”

Shea opened up a box and inhaled the chocolate, popping a caramel in her mouth. “My God,” she said, chewing. “You know, you could sell these. In fact, I would buy, like, four boxes, five. So delicious and beautiful.”

“Thank you,” I said.

“And sold,” Leo said, “along with one spectacular chandelier from the Lido Glass Factory, of course. Bella and I will book tickets to hand-deliver your purchases. Now which of you gorgeous creatures is ready to go dancing.”

Shea clapped her hands. “I want to dance, really dance. Yes, please, can we?”

“Of course,” Leo said. “This is Carnival and you are in Venice.”

“That sounds amazing,” Odessa said.

I wasn’t ready for the night to end either, and it had been at least thirty minutes since I’d obsessed on Dylan. This night was proving to be a solid distraction.

Leo stood up. “Chop-chop. Bundle up. It’s a bit of a walk, but the music is fantastic and I promise you the dancing is worth it.”

We walked across the piazza toward San Marco Square heading toward the train station and a series of nightclubs and bars. Crowds of costumed tourists swarmed the streets.

Leo led the way, one arm linked with Odessa and the other with Shea. I walked behind them, enjoying the warmth of the Prosecco and the easy feeling of being out with new friends.

Carnival-themed dance clubs showed up once a year in Venice. Like mythical creatures, they appeared in the middle of the night outside the old city limits.

The number and themes of the clubs changed every season, but once established, they became places for Carnival celebrants to don masks, drink, dance, and fall in love or lust for a few hours.

“Normally, Bella and I would take you to Tanti or Vida,” Leo said as we crossed over the Grand Canal. “I promise you, this time of year, Eros is the only place to be.”

As we rounded the corner, Leo raised his hand, pointing to a white tent glittering in the distance. I felt the steady thump of the bass, before hearing the music as we approached. A crowd of people stood in line behind a rope waiting to be let inside.

“Eros, the highest form of love,” Leo said, with a flourish, pointing to the name of the club overhead. Odessa, Shea, and I stood wide-eyed in front of the glittering lights.

Leo wrinkled his nose. “You know what? Tonight, I disagree. Tonight, I say, ‘fuck love.’ I hope we all find beautiful, naughty, hot-as-fuck lust inside those glittering doors.” Leo waved us forward. “Let’s fucking dance.”