4. VALENTINO
4
VALENTINO
I arrive at work early in the morning, an old habit I’ve clung to no matter how wild the previous night was. It’s my way of staying ahead of the curve, knowing that nobody else is working as hard as I am.
And a small part of me hopes Dad notices my dedication.
Inside the vineyard office, Micah, our vineyard manager, and Devina, the facilities manager, are already poring over documents. I offer a quick nod as I step in.
Micah smiles at me. “Valentino, perfect timing. We were just discussing the latest batch of wines. They’ve gone out, and the initial reviews are fantastic, revenues are up, and the feedback is overwhelmingly positive.”
I pick up a folder from the desk. “That’s great news. How do the numbers compare with the last three quarters?”
Micah smiles. “Night and day. Business really took off after Silvano’s antics three years ago.”
I wince at the memory. Silvano, my father’s bitter rival, tried to sabotage our operations, but no matter what damage he tried to cause, we bounced back.
I scan the figures in the files inside the folder I’m holding. “Wow. These numbers are even better than our projections.”
Micah grins. “Your dad’s going to be thrilled. And here’s something else, word on the street is that Silvano’s vineyard has officially closed down. They were pretty much operating in a deficit for the last two years, and now the last of their investors have pulled out.”
My interest spikes. “That means the land might soon be up for sale.”
“Exactly. We should keep a close eye on it and make an offer as soon as it’s available. Acquiring their production capacity could double our revenues.”
My mind instantly races with expansion possibilities.
I’ve dreamed of taking our business to new heights, tapping into markets we haven’t even considered yet. This acquisition might be enough to prove to Dad that I’m the one capable of taking over and carrying on his legacy.
Devina’s eyes light up. “Imagine what we could do with that land, Valentino. We could expand operations, boost our yield, and cement our reputation as one of the best vineyards in the region.”
I nod, the wheels in my mind turning. “We need to look into this further. If we can move on Silvano’s vineyard, it could be a game-changer.”
Micah’s grin widens. “I’ll start gathering more information right away.”
“And I’ll draft a proposal outlining the benefits and how we’d integrate the new land with our current operations,” Devina adds.
“Fuck yeah!” Excitement courses through me.
The possibility of this acquisition has me buzzing, it might be the final piece of the puzzle. This move has to cement my role as CEO without resorting to the ridiculous compromises Dad seems to push.
My actions and decisions, not my dating life, will speak for themselves.
“Keep me updated on any developments. This is top priority.” I turn and head to my main office to set the day’s agenda.
Later in the day, I step out into the vineyard to meet some of our key buyers. A convoy of sleek black cars pulls up, and I greet the group with a warm smile, shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries.
“Welcome to our vineyard.” I gesture to the sprawling landscape behind me. “I’m Valentino Marchetti, and I’ll be your guide today. We’re honored to have you here.”
The group, prominent investors from Asia, exchange intrigued glances.
“Great to meet you, Mr. Marchetti,” one of them says.
Soon, Micah joins us as we begin the tour.
As we walk, I explain, “Every inch of this vineyard is a labor of love. Our winemaking started in the family. My mother had the original idea, and my father built it into the company it is today. It’s even named after her.”
The buyers nod appreciatively.
“Very interesting. It’s always inspiring when passion underpins a business.”
Seizing the moment, I add, “My mother, Valentina, was the heart and soul of this vineyard. She passed that love along to all of us.”
A lump forms in my throat at the mention of her, but I force a smile.
“Have you named any of your wines after her?” a middle-aged woman asks, her eyes warm with curiosity.
“Our most special, aged wine is named after her. But I like to think every wine in our catalogue carries a bit of our family history. It’s our legacy, brewed from our land straight to your table, with a personal touch in every bottle.”
As the tour continues, the buyers grow increasingly engaged, asking questions and absorbing every detail.
We stop at the fermentation tanks.
“This is where the magic happens.” I inhale deeply as the rich aroma of fermenting wine fills the air. “And here, you can sample some of our flavors.”
Micah pours samples, and murmurs of approval ripple through the group. Our product, known for its impeccable quality, leaves no doubt. When it comes to taste, we never disappoint.
Just then, a middle-aged buyer approaches me. “I have to say, we were weighing this investment against another opportunity. But hearing your story, and knowing the passion that goes into every bottle, has me leaning heavily toward you. It’s that labor of love that seals the deal for me.”
A smile breaks over my face. “I’m glad to hear that. My parents poured their hearts into this company. It’s like their child.”
The tour winds down, and as the investors prepare to leave, one of them approaches me. “Your parents set such a great example. Are you dating or married?”
I pause, recalling the many times Dad’s insistence on a “settled life” has haunted me.
“I… I’m dating, actually. She’s someone very special to me. She shares a similar passion for the craft, and we talk about continuing my parents’ legacy,” I reply, trying to sound confident.
The buyer claps her hands together, pleased. “That’s wonderful. It confirms to me that the company is in good hands.”
“Our secret ingredient is love.” The words feel almost too cliché.
Still, the buyer nods vigorously.
Another buyer chimes in, “It’s that personal touch that sold me on your product. Anyone can make a wine, but it’s the story behind it that makes the difference. The fact that this is a labor of love, and for me that is something only a family man can deliver.”
Micah looks over at me. “Mr. Marchetti is very dedicated to the business, and to the special women in his life.”
The investor frowns.
I shoot him a glare. “My sisters and stepmom included.”
She smiles and joins the others.
That was close…
Later, in the office, Dad is already waiting with a stack of files. He looks tired, the bags under his eyes a silent testament to sleepless nights.
He looks up when we walk in. “What’s up?”
Micah chimes in with a laugh. “Your son here was a total rockstar when it came to impressing the investors today.”
Dad smiles, shaking his head. “I can see that. But I also wanted to invite both of you to a dinner party Quinn and I are hosting this week. It’s a chance for us to reconnect.”
Micah nods. “Fun! I wouldn’t miss one of your dinners for the world.”
Dad turns his attention to me. “Valentino, you must come. In fact, I was thinking this would be the perfect moment for you to introduce us to your girlfriend as well.”
Micah snorts. “Girlfriend?”
I shoot him a glare. “Yeah, um… of course.”
Dad smiles broadly. “Great, it’s settled, then.”
My stomach twists.
“Wait, since when do you have time to date?” Micah’s tone is laced with genuine surprise.
“Since when do I need to update you on every detail of my life?” I retort before turning to Dad. “She’d love to be there.”
“Excited to meet her.” Dad’s eyes twinkle.
Silence falls.
My mind races as I realize that now I must find a “girlfriend,” fast. I’ve promised my father, and I can’t back out easily. How the fuck am I supposed to find someone by the end of the week?
Then, as if from a long-forgotten memory, a face surfaces, a face I haven’t seen in years, yet have thought about more times than I care to admit.
“Oh, I almost forgot to ask…” Dad’s voice cuts through my reverie.
“Y-yeah?” I rub the sides of my arm.
He smiles warmly. “What’s her name? I don’t think you mentioned it before.”
Both Micah and Dad fix their gaze on me, expectant.
Without thinking, the words spill out, “Layla. Her name is Layla.”
For a moment, I freeze.
Then Dad’s face lights up. “Layla. Beautiful name. Quinn and I can’t wait to meet her.”
“Count me in too,” Micah teases. “I’d love to see who finally got Valentino to settle down.”
I look away, cheeks flushed with embarrassment and frustration.
This fucker’s asking for it, but I know I’ll deal with him later.
Dad beams. “Great.”
Now there’s only one thing left. I have to find Layla and persuade her to agree to my plan before the dinner party.
The thought of any kind of relationship fills me with dread. But with Layla, things feel different.
Possibly because there’s still unfinished business between us.
I leave the office with Micah’s enthusiastic pat on my shoulder echoing behind me, my mind churning with both business plans and personal dilemmas.
The vineyard awaits my next move, a move that could redefine the future of the Marchetti Empire and, hopefully, my own life.
Now I just have to bring Layla on board.