Chapter 5
Fabio
It was a huge risk to bring my baby sister, Zia, into my latest crazy idea. But if there was anyone in my family that I could trust, it was Patrizia. I needed a woman to help me shop for Cyndee, someone who knew the latest fashions and brands to make my cleaning lady appear anything but hired help.
My beautiful sister was a professional ballerina in the San Francisco Ballet. Like many of my siblings, she wanted to call the shots in her life. At twenty-five, she wasn’t ready to fall in love and have a family. She had goals. Dreams. A mind of her own.
My sisters were luckier than me and my brothers. Papa didn’t seem as concerned with them as he was with us boys.
I checked the time on my watch as a couple of saleswomen salivated at me. Zia was five minutes late and I was growing impatient. The last thing I wanted were women staring at me like I was their ticket to a better life.
Over the phone, I’d told Zia I needed help shopping for a woman and if she could meet me at Union Square, where there was a variety of high-end stores like Louis Vuitton, Valentino and Neiman Marcus.
Naturally, my request intrigued her. She most likely thought I had a new girlfriend and wanted to hear all the details.
The door opened and my beautiful sister blew in like a commanding breeze.
“You’re late,” I told her as I gave her hug.
“Stop it. Only a few minutes.”
“Six minutes and fifteen seconds.”
She pulled back. “Of course you’re counting seconds. Can you never relax, big brother?”
“No, I guess I can’t.”
“Well, then. Let’s get started. What do you need and what does she look like? Is this a special present or for Christmas?” Zia rattled off her questions as she strolled toward a fur coat.
“She needs everything for three events. She’s a few inches shorter than you, brown hair and eyes, curvy.
” I pictured Cyndee in her cleaning uniform.
The first time I saw her wearing it I thought of that purple dinosaur kids loved.
I had no idea how long her hair was since she always wore it in a bun.
“So you’re outfitting her for some events?” My sister took the fur coat off the rack and tried it on.
I noticed some of the saleswomen whispering. They didn’t seem to like Zia handling the fur.
“Can I help you?” one woman had the audacity to ask.
“No. I’ll call you when I need you, Mary.” Zia smiled and went to mirror to admire herself.
I shouldn’t be surprised that my sister knew the employees here. She loved to shop.
“Can you imagine this coat on you new woman?” The way she phrased her question made me feel weird. “It’s gorgeous and perfect for holiday events. Where are you taking her first?”
“To your performance.”
Her eyes went wide. “All the family will be there.”
“I know.”
“Okay, I need more information about this new woman.” She took the coat off and gestured to Mary to take it.
I checked the price tag of one hanging on the rack out of curiosity.
I’d suggested a hundred thousand shopping limit and wanted to know if that was realistic or not.
Nineteen thousand dollars. Well, that was embarrassing.
Cyndee might have only been able to dress for one event.
Then again, I doubted she’d ever stepped foot into Valentino’s. She could never afford to shop here.
“You need to promise not to tell another living soul what I’m about to confide in you,” I whispered behind my sister. She was heading toward a wall of handbags.
“Obviously. I’m a Ferrari and know the drill.” She sounded annoyed. “Do you want her to have a big bag or small one? One she used for all the events or a different one for each?”
“Whatever you think.” I moved closer to my sister. “She’s my cleaning lady.”
Zia spun around to face me. “Are you crazy? Don’t joke about such things.”
“I’m not.”
“You’re dating your cleaning lady. I don’t believe it.” Her mouth popped open.
“I’m not for real, but I need us to convince the family that we’re a real couple.”
“Why, Fabio? Why would ask your cleaning lady to be your what…”
“Fake girlfriend.”
“Oh my God. I can’t believe I’m hearing this. Are you too busy that you can’t find an appropriate woman to be your date to our family’s annual events? I hope you’re paying her well.”
“A million per event.”
Zia shook her head. “She’s your hired help. What’s she going to do with that kind of money?”
“Maybe buy a luxury car and retire from cleaning houses.” I snorted, recalling what Celine had said. But the thought of not seeing Cyndee a few times a month didn’t sit well with me. I trusted her in my home, and she was meticulous just as I liked.
“I’m being serious, Fabio. Three million is a lot for an average person. If you didn’t notice, we are the furthest thing from average. She could make a fool of you.”
“She won’t. Have every confidence in her.” Suddenly, I felt a little protective of Cyndee.
Zia arched her perfect brow and considered me a brief second. “Do you have a picture of her? It’ll help me select items for her.”
“Only the one from her business website.” I pulled it up for my sister. “Her hair is always up like that.” Now that I was looking at the photo, she was wearing some makeup and didn’t look so bad.
“Hmm, I’m surprised.”
“What?” I asked, looking at the image.
“She’s more refined than I imagined a cleaning lady to look like. I mean, my maid isn’t pretty. She’s older and round, but she keeps me fed and my apartment spotless.”
“You think Cyndee is refined?” I didn’t see it.
“Who’s the woman next to her?” Zia asked.
“Her older sister.”
“Interesting. The sister lines her eyes with black liner and her lips in two different colors. Latinas tend to do that. But Cyndee is more natural and actually looks Italian. What’s her last name?”
“Canellas. She’s not Italian.” Unfortunately. If she was, it would help to convince my family we were a couple.
“Are you sure? I’d swear she was Italian. At least half given her features.” Zia picked out a couple of handbags and waved Mary over to collect them.
I studied the image more. Now I was curious about Cyndee’s heritage.
“She looks about my age. She’s very attractive. Are you sure you can pretend to be a couple and not let the lines get crossed. If she’s not even half Italian, there’s no way the family would approve of her.”
“I feel not for her.” How could I? We’re from two different worlds and we’re nothing alike.
“Wow, that’s harsh. So, how’s your pretend relationship supposed to end?”
“After Lettie’s gala, the final event, Cyndee will break up with me, and I’ll be heartbroken.” I rolled my eyes. “Hopefully, that will buy me a few more years before Mom and Dad try to set up an arranged marriage.”
“Sound like you thought of everything. What happens if she falls in love with you and the glamorous life she’s entered?”
“She won’t.”
“How do you know she won’t? You’re easy on the eyes Fabio and a billionaire. Women fall all over you.”
“And that’s why I picked Cyndee. She doesn’t see me that way.
She’s my cleaning lady and nothing more.
” I knew my parents’ expectations. A woman who wasn’t Italian and didn’t come from money or ran in our circle would never get their approval.
That was why I needed a person I would never look twice at.
“Okaaay.” She waved to me to follow her. “I can’t wait to meet her Friday night.”
“Yeah, I’m sure it will be great fun. Do you think you can call your spa and tell them what to do for Cyndee? I told the receptionist to give her the works when I made the appointment, but is that enough?”
“I’ll handle it.”
“Thank you.” Relief washed over me. Zia would make sure Cyndee wouldn’t be snubbed by my family. “One more thing.”
“What is it, Fabio?”
“Will you be nice to her? I don’t want her to feel like an outcast.”
My sister placed her hand on my arm and looked up with her big green eyes. “For you, absolutely. But I have one little warning for you.”
“I’m listening.” I probably wouldn’t like what she had to say. Zia had a knack for calling people out on their bullshit. She was most like our father out of us eight kids.
“Cyndee is about to step into her greatest fantasies coming true. Money. The lap of luxury. Fancy up the wazoo. And a handsome Italian prince. It would be hard for any woman to keep it all straight in her head, much less keep her heart out of the picture.”
“I’ll keep things platonic.”
“You say that, but I’m just as worried about you.”
“Me? You don’t need to be worried about me. She’s my cleaning lady.” I shook my head at her ridiculousness.
“When I’m done shopping for her and call my girl at the spa, she’s going to look like royalty when I’m finished. You’ll forget all about her scrubbing your floors in that ugly purple shirt.” She nodded toward the shoe department and zoomed away.
Royalty? Could my sister change Cyndee’s appearance that much? If she could, I might be in trouble.
I wasn’t into flashy, boldly dressed women. I liked subtle yet classy. Zia knew what kind of women I found attractive and beautiful.
Maybe getting my sister involved had been a mistake.
If she transformed Cyndee into the woman of my dreams, how would I survive the next three weeks?
Of course, I saw through beautiful exteriors.
I cared more about a person’s heart and their trust and loyalty to me.
No amount of beautiful clothes and facials could hide an ugly personality.
But Cyndee wasn’t an awful person. She’d been kind and trustworthy.
She was easy to talk to.
Oh man. Perhaps I had made a mistake.
Would I be able to resist a new and improved Cyndee? God, I hoped so.