Chapter 46
Floella was obviously enjoying herself, quizzing Natalie about the palazzo, the filming session on the Rialto Bridge, the climb to the top of the tower on San Giorgio Maggiore, the galleries they’d visited and the places where they’d eaten. Natalie was on the verge of flinging her coffee across the room in frustration. When was Floella finally going to explain what had possessed her to show up in Venice?
Floella set down her cup and folded her hands in her lap. ‘So, you like Venice. I so hoped you would – and that the two of you would get together. That truly gladdens my heart.’
‘But now Natalie is leaving.’ Eraldo’s voice was flat. He too seemed to find Floella’s upbeat tone rather out of place.
‘She will be back soon, I hope.’ Floella smiled.
‘What are you doing here?’ Eraldo asked.
‘Business meetings all day yesterday. I caught the earliest flight out – exhausting! It was only the promise of the Danieli’s sumptuous breakfast that got me out of bed this morning.’
‘You’re staying there?’ The five-star hotel was a far cry from Natalie’s simple three-star bed and breakfast.
‘I had a couple of meetings in my suite: got to make a good impression.’ Floella spread her scarlet nails. ‘Well, aren’t you curious?’
‘Yes!’ Natalie almost shouted.
‘I’ve been in meetings for…’ Floella paused dramatically. ‘For finalising Flo-Go Productions’ new show. And it’s thanks to Eraldo that I first had the idea. Do you remember a conversation we had a long time ago when you told me how over-tourism was killing Venice? People flitting in for the day, causing all the wear and tear to the delicate structures but spending just a few euros on a Chinese-made mask and an industrially produced gelato shipped in from elsewhere?’
Eraldo nodded. ‘I remember.’
‘You were too polite to say but you were probably thinking that shows like Luxe Life Swap added to the problem by encouraging more visitors.’
‘It is not the number of people but what they do when they are here. We welcome those who spend money thoughtfully, supporting the museums, the real Venetian restaurants and the old crafts.’
‘Exactly!’ Floella thumped the table. Cups rattled. ‘That is what Flo-Go and our new partners want to showcase. We are going to produce a series that takes a forensic look at Europe’s most visited cities. I’m thinking Vienna, Paris, Rome. But first of all, Venice. We’ll dive deep into the culture, the artisan traditions, following the lives of a handful of inhabitants over the space of a whole year.’
‘Wow, that’s a big project,’ Natalie said. A year in Venice: could she somehow get involved?
‘It’s a huge undertaking which is why we’re partnering with a Canadian company. This is the real deal! This is going to be even bigger than Luxe Life Swap ! The Canadians have got a popular presenter lined up; we’ve got more funding than I could have dreamt of. Everything’s coming together.’
‘Doesn’t Mandy Miller want to do it?’
‘I shouldn’t really tell you this.’ Floella dropped her voice to a stage whisper. ‘Mandy’s not signed up for any more shows with Flo-Go. Rumour has it, she’s lined up to present a new dance competition on Sky set to rival a certain prime-time, Saturday-night show. So, letting the Canadians have first dibs on the presenter has enabled me to insist I have one of my best people out in Venice full-time. We’ve still got things to thrash out, paperwork to sign but it’s yours, Natalie, if you want it.’
‘Oh yes!’
She glanced at Eraldo, fearful she’d been too hasty, until she saw the smile on his face.
‘Did you arrange for me and Natalie to meet just because of this?’ Eraldo shook his head in disbelief.
‘It was all a happy coincidence,’ Floella said breezily. ‘I had no idea Mandy was going to get rushed into hospital but when that happened, it gave me the perfect opportunity to get things in motion for Natalie to come out to Italy. I knew you’d love Venice, Nat; who doesn’t? But then I thought it would be nice if you had another reason to stay.’
‘That is why you sent her out with the package of watch parts? I thought it was odd you did not just send them by post. There was nothing very valuable or irreplaceable.’
Natalie gasped. ‘You told me they were rare one-off antiques!’ she exclaimed.
‘I thought they were – my mistake.’ Floella grinned. ‘I did take a risk putting you in front of the camera, though. There was a chance you might have loved it so much, you’d be off looking for another presenting role.’
‘Mandy Miller could be looking for a co-presenter. I’ve always fancied myself in sequins.’
‘You wouldn’t!’
Natalie laughed. ‘No, I don’t want to do a dance show, and not just because I’ve got two left feet. I think I’m going to be very, very happy with the job you’ve lined up for me. Fingers crossed it all falls into place.’
‘Do not worry, Natalie,’ Eraldo said. ‘Floella would not mention this plan if she had any doubts.’
‘And I would not have been matchmaking two of my favourite people if I thought you had to go your separate ways.’
‘But I did not want to meet anyone; I was happy in my workshop all day.’
‘And I wasn’t interested either.’
‘It was intuition, what more can I say?’ Floella laughed. ‘Now, what are we going to do today? I’ve no more meetings and we can’t just sit around here. So, I’m thinking, climbing the campanile in St Mark’s Square, drinks at Harry’s Bar and dinner at the Locanda Cipriani – all on me. But first, a gondola ride. Are you in?’
Eraldo took Natalie’s hand and pulled her to her feet. ‘Why not? I live here so I never do these tourist things.’
‘Sounds good to me,’ Natalie said.
‘Come on! What are we waiting for?’ Floella clattered down the stairs, waved goodbye to Pietro and flung open the door to the street. ‘We’ll do Venice in style! We’ll feel like we’re contestants on Luxe Life Swap !’
‘Except there’s nothing about my life that I want to swap,’ Natalie said.
‘Nor me,’ Eraldo said.
He took her hand. Together, they walked towards the Grand Canal.