14
Birthday Blues
Gia sat on a bar stool sipping her espresso, talking with Nicole as the lunch time rush was easing up a little.
She was feeling a little tired today. Her eyes scanned the restaurant and they gravitated to the rear where Dani was serving.
She was talking warmly to a table of four men.
She recognised one of them as Adam Holmes, a regular.
It was approaching three and Dani would be coming off her shift. The restaurant was still busy and Gia realised that they would be short-staffed. The rear was still busy with four of the tables only just seated. She spotted Peter also clock watching, then he paced over to her.
“Still busy. We’re not going to manage with just three staff.” Peter’s eyes ran around the restaurant. “I’ll ask Dani if she can stay on.”
Gia nodded. “Yes. You’re right. Jerome will be back within the hour too, so we should be fine, if she stays on.
The children are coming down later and so are Arsenio and Cosimo for Jerome’s birthday.
” The Ferretti weekly get together had been moved to the early evening because of Jerome’s birthday.
Gia sighed, pleased she’d have all her family together.
“You go off, then. We’ll manage.” Peter patted her arm and she slipped off the stool.
“We’re full again tonight. I left the bookings at the desk.”
“Leave it to me, you just go and relax,” he added warmly.
Gia nodded and headed up to her apartment.
She took the elevator up to the first floor to collect her bag from her office.
As she walked down to her door, she heard Jerome talking.
She paused a moment. She was sure he’d left to go to Level One.
She entered her office and gathered up her bag, then decided to pop her head round the door.
But as she approached Jerome’s office, she heard him raise his voice in frustration and she stopped just outside, the door slightly ajar.
“Seni, don’t start with me… of course, but I need to be one hundred percent certain…
Exactly, that’s why I’m talking to you. I need to get as much information as possible, so when I’m ready, everything will be in place.
I can’t fuck this up. There’s too much at stake, personally and financially.
I need your word that whatever goes on is between you, me and Cosimo…
I know, but you’re gonna have to control yourself…
I appreciate that… Yes, get on to it ASAP…
I don’t care about the cost, it’s my sanity that’s suffering.
Yes, I’ll see you later on… about six… Yes, sure, see you then. ”
Gia stepped away from the door, feeling decidedly uncomfortable about her eavesdropping.
She quietly walked back down the corridor and headed for the elevator.
She mulled over what she’d heard, and deep down she knew it was to do with Jerome’s personal life.
Gia clenched her jaw. If Liz was causing him problems again, she didn’t know if she could carry on her pretence.
Gia stepped into the elevator and pressed for the second floor. Her dislike for Liz had just increased.
Jerome put down his phone, then immediately called Cosimo. He knew Arsenio would be ringing him so he felt he needed to warn him.
“Happy birthday.” Cosimo’s calm voice made Jerome relax a little.
“Thanks, Cos. How are you doing?”
“Just winding down for the weekend. Thank God it’s Friday.”
“Good for you. Look, I spoke to Seni. I told him about Liz.”
“Everything?” Jerome heard Cosimo’s voice shift from relaxed to focused.
“Pretty much. I’ve asked him to get a private investigator, so I can have concrete proof.
I want to be able to get out of this marriage without her being able to make it hard.
I want primary custody of the children and I’ll only get that if she willingly gives it.
So I have to be able to pay her off and have some serious leverage to be able to secure that. ”
“So Seni’s looking into every legal loophole?”
“More that he’s going to see how far he can bargain with her legally.”
“I’m not sure I follow.”
“If she’s continuing the affair…”
“You think she is?” Cosimo interrupted.
Jerome paused a moment. “Yes,” he sighed deeply, confirming his thoughts out loud.
After ten years of struggling to keep Liz happy, he couldn’t believe he was having this conversation.
He didn’t know how much of the blame was his.
He knew his work had taken over a large portion of his life.
Had his marriage broken down because his work had taken over, or had his work filled in what was seriously lacking from his marriage?
He couldn’t be sure. What he did know was that Liz had never made it easy for him and in the last five years especially, he was perpetually trying to find the balance. He’d obviously failed.
“I want to make sure, though. That’s why I need a private investigator. The most important thing for Liz is that she maintains her lifestyle. That’s where I can bargain.”
“She can’t claim on any of the businesses, Jerome. You’ve Mama to thank for that.”
“I know, and once she realises that, that’s when we’ll be able to negotiate. If she can’t get a payoff legally, I can offer her one privately. That’s when I’ll be able to push for custody.”
“You’re telling me she’d sell out her own children?” Cosimo’s voice became higher, betraying his disbelief.
Jerome rubbed his face as he processed what Cosimo had asked. Would she? Could she? Or were his feelings of hurt and anger clouding his judgement? “I’d like to say no but to be honest, I’m really not sure.”
“Jesus, Jerome, how have you been putting up with this for so long? Why the hell have you never spoken to me about it before? Look, I know Liz is difficult and self-absorbed, but what you’re saying is that she’s willing to trade off her own children.
What kind of a person is she? And why have you endured it? ”
Jerome sat back in his chair as the overwhelming feeling of devastation washed over him. He was talking about his wife and the mother of his children. Someone he had loved once. Sadly he knew he didn’t feel the same way now.
“Sorry, Jerome. I don’t mean to judge, it’s just you must have been – or rather, you must be living through hell.”
“To be honest, I didn’t even realise it.
I buried my head in the sand, or work in my case,” Jerome scoffed.
“I don’t like thinking of her in that way, but I’ve got to be realistic.
My children are worth more to me than any of my businesses and I’ll take a serious hit to secure them.
You asked me why I put with it? I put up with it for them. ”
“I THOUGHT YOU WERE off this afternoon.” Adam looked up from his empty dessert plate.
“I was asked to stay on. It’s pretty crazy here today.” Dani quickly cleared the table and moved to the next one to take a dessert order.
Jerome entered the restaurant and walked over to the bar. Kuch had stayed on too. “Want an espresso?” he asked as Jerome leaned up against the bar.
Jerome shook his head. “I’ll have a whisky.” His face was set hard as he spoke. “Actually, I’ll have a Jose Cuervo instead.”
“Sure.” Kuch’s eyebrow arched as he replied, sensing his boss’s anxiety. He quickly poured a generous measure and placed it by Jerome. “It hasn’t eased up today and we’re full tonight too.” Kuch started to put a drinks order together that came through while he continued to speak to Jerome.
“Um.” Jerome ran his fingertips around the rim of his glass, staring blankly at it.
Kuch eyed him and scrunched up his brow.
He didn’t like seeing Jerome so pensive.
Over the couple of years he’d worked for him, he’d gotten to know Jerome well and if something was eating at him, work was the only way to drag him out of a black mood.
“Your friend Joseph’s in. He’s at the back in Dani’s section. ”
Jerome’s eyes jerked up to Kuch, then he turned around to look over to where Dani was now placing Joseph’s order in front of him.
Joseph commented on something that made Dani laugh softly.
Jenny was also there, and the three of them spoke for a moment.
He remembered he was supposed to pass by and see Joseph’s hotel.
With everything going on at home and trying to get Level One in some sort of order, it had totally slipped his mind.
“I’d better say hello.” Jerome picked up his glass and took a deep drink, leaving less than half of the measure. He turned to head up to where Joseph was, when he was greeted by Adam coming towards him.
“Hello, Jerome, nice to see you again.” He held out his hand to shake.
Jerome smiled warmly at him. “Adam, good to see you too. Was everything okay?” The rest of Adam’s party was heading for the door.
“Perfect. And the service was excellent.” He grinned and his eyes sparkled mischievously behind his glasses. Jerome’s smile broadened. He liked Adam. He’d only met him within the restaurant, but he was always friendly and genuine.
“Well of course it was.” Jerome chuckled at Adam’s comment and what it implied. He looked up to where Dani was. “Did you sort out her car, then?”
“Yes. The dealer’s going to part exchange it and she’ll get another car.”
“A Smart?”
Adam’s eyebrows rose. “Yes, she told you?” He shook his head, indicating that a Smart wouldn’t be his first choice.
“Yes, we kind of discussed it.” Jerome’s mouth twitched, remembering their rather highly charged conversation.
“Well, it’s what she wants and she can be quite headstrong when she wants something. I hear it’s your birthday today. Many happy returns.”
“Yes it is. Thanks. Her cake made my day.” He motioned with his head to the direction of Dani.
“Dani made you a cake?” Adam turned to look at Dani and she smiled nervously.
“Yes. She seems to have been cornered into making the staff’s birthday cakes, from now on.”
Adam turned back to Jerome. “Well she certainly knows how to bake. One of her many talents.”