20 #2
Jerome’s mind went into overdrive. This was a complete turnaround from the moody frosty Liz of recent months. He was hoping it was the recent developments in her career but his gut feeling screamed out something entirely different.
“Okay, that’s good? I mean, it’s the possibility of work, right?”
“Fingers crossed.” He could hear her grin down the phone and he instantly felt better.
So maybe her good mood was connected to her work after all.
“I’ll know in a day or so. I won’t tell you anymore.
I don’t want to jinx it. But I’ll be spending a lot of time up at the agency.
Graham’s really pushing for me to get some high profile jobs. ”
“Well that’s great news. I’m really pleased for you.”
“Thanks,” she replied softly.
“Okay, I’m off. Shall I let Nina know?”
“Sure, I’m just in with Graham now.”
“Oh sorry I didn’t mean to interrupt. Send him my regards. I’ll call her then, and Liz thanks for being so understanding about work. I know I said I’d try and spend more time with you. It’s just one of those things.”
“It’s fine really. I’ll speak to you later.”
“Bye then.”
“Bye.”
Jerome hung up and looked at his phone for a moment unable to grasp what was going on. The change was too quick, a complete one eighty. He hit the speed dial for Arsenio feeling decidedly uneasy at both Liz’s reaction and his consequent one.
“Hi, Jerome, how are you?”
“Could be better. Peter’s off with a throat thing and I’ll be splitting myself four ways.”
“Bummer.”
“Pretty much. Tell me, when’s the P.I. starting?”
“He started already. Well, when I say started, he’s got all the information and he’s going to be starting surveillance today. Why?”
“Just wanted to know. Do you think you could get to him to report Liz’s movements to us on a daily basis, rather than weekly?”
“Has something happened Jerome?”
“No, well not as such. I’d rather not explain at the moment, Seni. But just see if he can, will you and get back to me?”
“Sure. No problem. I’ll ask him to email it directly to you.”
“Okay, I’ll see you later, at La Casa, then.”
“Sure. See you then.”
Seni put down his phone and frowned. Something wasn’t right. He picked up his phone again and dialled up Scott.
“WHAT DID HE WANT?“ Jonathan couldn’t even say his name.
“He’s just busy because of staff problems,” Liz answered, running her hand over his bare chest. Jonathan huffed.
“Which means he’ll be busy over the weekend.” Her hand smoothed southward over his tight abs. “Which means he won’t care what I’m doing, where I’m doing it and with whom I’m doing it with.”
Jonathan lazily closed his eyes relishing her soft small hands smoothing over him.
He wasn’t going to be able to hold on to his control for much longer.
Suddenly Liz straddled him and rested her hands on his chest, her hair spilling over her bare shoulders covering her breasts, as she bend down to look at him.
“I’ll just take the kids down after lunch on Saturday, so he won’t suspect anything, then the rest of the time I can spend most of it here.
” She bent down and kissed across his chest until she reached the flat disk of his nipple.
Jonathan groaned grabbing her hips. Liz softly bit his nipple and Jonathan jerked.
“That’s if you like.” She smirked against his hot dark skin.
“Oh, I like. I like very much.” And in one smooth manoeuvre Jonathan flipped her on her back and stretched out over her. The air mattress squeaked under them and Liz giggled.
“We really need to get a bed and some other bits and pieces.” Liz’s eyes flitted around the stark large room with their clothes scattered all over the carpeted floor.
“Just a bed, nothing else.” Jonathan held her wrists above her head with his left hand and he guided himself into her with his right. “Because we’ll only be fucking in here. From the minute you walk in, to a few minutes before you leave.” He thrust hard into her and she moaned loudly.
“HELLO, MR FERRETTI.”
“Hello, Scott. Just wanted to know if you’ve started on the job.”
“I’m actually on surveillance now.”
“You mean you’ve followed her?” Seni couldn’t keep the surprise out of his voice.
“Yes. Mr Ferretti. Mrs Ferretti has been at Prime Model Agency for the last three hours.”
“And that’s the only place she’s been to this morning?”
“No, she took the children to school, then passed by Starbucks and collected some coffees and water and then she came to the agency.”
“Oh. Good.”
“I’ll keep with her until eleven this evening and then I’ll switch to the tracker for the night surveillance. I shouldn’t imagine she goes out at night, but if she does the tracker will record her movements.”
“Great. Do you think you could do a daily report?”
“No problem. I can email you the report in the morning. Would you like me to email it to you or directly to Mr. Jerome Ferretti.” Scott was a no nonsense kind of guy. Arsenio had told him exactly the nature of what was going on and he’d grasped the delicacy of the situation.
“Send it directly to Jerome but also send me a copy, separately.”
“You’ll have a full daily report by ten every morning.”
“Thank you. Good bye.”
“Good bye Mr. Ferretti.”
THE LUNCHTIME RUSH THANKFULLY ran smoothly and Gia sat down heavily at the table with a rather large glass of Barolo and waited for Cosimo and Arsenio to arrive.
It was days like today she realised how much Peter did.
They’d coped very well without him, mainly due to Jerome stepping in and Dani sacrificing her morning off.
But it was becoming abundantly obvious to Gia that she was getting tired a lot more easily.
She loved La Casa but without Jerome or Peter being there, she knew she couldn’t manage it alone, not anymore.
She stared blankly at her glass and sighed to herself.
She wasn’t ready to give it up yet. Gia knew it wasn’t hers to give up anyway but La Casa filled a void that the loss of her beloved Alessandro had left.
La Casa and her sons were her life now. She knew her sons were on a different path that didn’t include her as much, she’d lost them little by little, but La Casa was her constant and being without it was unthinkable to her.
“Mama? Are you alright?” Cosimo’s gentle voice pulled her out of her depressing thoughts.
“Si. Just a little tired,“ she huffed to herself. How many times had she used that excuse to cover up what she was really feeling? Lonely, sad, old, depressed and a whole host of other unpleasant feelings, but tired was the word she always used to disguise them.
“You need a holiday Mama. You work too hard, you never have any fun.”
“I have fun. It’s fun here at La Casa.” She smiled widely at him hoping it would brush away the concerned look on Cosimo’s face.
“It’s work Mama. I mean you need to get out more. When have you booked to go to La Garda?”
“January third. For a month.”
“Good. The break will do you good, spending time with the family.”
Gia nodded and kept her smile fixed for the sake of Cosimo.
PETER’S THROAT INFECTION KEPT him off on Saturday too, which meant Jerome stepped in to help out Gia.
Cosimo had expressed his concern for her well-being to Jerome at their weekly get together and Jerome was in total agreement that she needed to work less but whenever he suggested she take more time off, she just wouldn’t hear of it.
Jerome quickly scanned through the monitors in Peter’s office before jumping into the shower.
He let the steaming hot water wash off his sweat after his work out and tried to relax his tense muscles.
He was worried that after promising he would spend more time with Liz the very next day he was basically neglecting her.
It looked like he’d be spending the whole weekend at La Casa.
What with Peter ill and his mother showing signs of fatigue, he really had no choice.
He rubbed himself down vigorously and dressed, anxious to focus on something other than the negative aspects of his life.
At least once he was dealing with the smooth running of the restaurant he’d be able to shelve his disturbing thoughts, at least for the moment.
By the time Jerome entered the restaurant Dani was already making coffees for the kitchen staff. Her presence had an unexplainable calming effect on him. Dani looked up from the coffee machine sensing him and she gave him a radiant smile.
“Buongiorno. I seemed to have timed that well.”
“Buongiorno. Yes you have. Double?”
Jerome nodded quickly pacing towards the bar, his face softening instantly into a smile.
“I’ll take them through for you.” He quickly lifted the tray and took them into the kitchen. Within a minute he was back at the bar where his coffee was waiting and his eyes spotted the open reservation book. “Have you been looking over the bookings?”
“Uh-huh.” She nodded, turning around to face him.
She took a sip from her cup and placed it on the bar.
“It’s going to be tight again, but I’ve managed to juggle the tables, I think.
” Dani rounded the bar, then proceeded to explain where she had placed the various reservations.
Jerome watched her fiddle with a loose piece of hair that wasn’t secured in the French pleat she’d styled her hair into.
He became totally mesmerized by her and how she was totally focused on what she was saying.
“So, unless a few tables linger, there shouldn’t be a problem.” Dani turned back to look at Jerome. He cocked his head to one side and nodded.
“That’s made my job easier today.”