Chapter Two #2
He surveyed her exquisitely tailored designer jacket and silk blouse, far better than her usual clothes.
She’d chosen to wear this outfit because her father had insisted on buying it for a family celebration at a renowned restaurant, knowing they’d be under public scrutiny.
He’d been happy with her that day and she’d wanted to please him today by looking as good as she could. Like an up-and-coming executive.
‘I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised,’ he continued. ‘You came to us late. Maybe you don’t understand what family means and how we all pull together for the common good.’
He made her sound selfish!
Could he honestly expect her to marry a stranger to improve the company’s balance sheet?
Stella knew her father was a ruthless businessman but she’d never imagined he’d suggest something like this. It was on the tip of her tongue to blurt out that she’d never marry for anything less than love. That she valued herself too highly.
Instead she made herself think. Maybe, with time, she could make him see how appalling the idea was.
‘How long would you see such a marriage lasting?’
There. The hard glitter in his eyes mellowed. Perhaps he meant a marriage on paper only. Perhaps—
‘It would be permanent, of course. That’s the point. We need a solid connection. But don’t worry, you’d still be able to run your hotel, at least until the first baby arrives. Then we’d have to consider…’
There was a screech as Stella’s chair scraped the floor. She shot to her feet and felt the weirdest sensation, as if the walls and floor undulated around her. Or maybe that was the waves of nausea rushing through her.
She put a hand to her mouth and spun away from the desk. Stella didn’t know what horrified her more. The suggestion she give herself to a stranger to boost company profits. Or her na?veté.
All those times when her father had escorted her to a restaurant or opera or some glamorous event, praising her appearance and showing her off to his acquaintances…
She’d thought he was proud of her. Had he instead been parading her like a farmer showing off a broodmare, looking to seal a deal with someone in the market for—?
‘Stella! Come back here instantly!’
But she ignored him, stumbling from the room, one hand to her mouth and the other to her churning stomach.
* * *
‘I’m sorry to bother you, Signor Valenti, but something unusual has happened and I think you need to know.’
Gio employed only the best, so when the manager of his new flagship hotel in Rome said he needed to know, Gio took him at his word.
‘Go on.’
‘A woman just checked in. A young woman who gave her name as Stella White. She had no booking, just turned up.’ The manager sounded shocked, as well he might.
The place was booked up for six months ahead and, given the feedback they’d had from satisfied clients, that would only continue.
‘One of our guests had to change their travel dates so we had an unexpected vacancy.’
Gio waited. The name Stella White meant nothing. Given the hotel’s high-end luxury, guests were often older, but there were plenty of rich young women about.
‘She spoke English so our receptionist thought she was a foreigner, but I happened to be in the foyer and recognised her. I couldn’t believe it so I came back to my office and checked. She’s not who she says she is.’
Gio was intrigued. Who could unnerve the most unflappable man he employed? ‘She isn’t?’
‘No. Her name’s not White but Barbieri. Stella Barbieri, Alfredo Barbieri’s daughter.’
Gio’s half-formed smile fell away. He’d been expecting a revelation that she was an incognito royal or famous star. Now instead of amusement and mild interest, he felt a wrenching twist in his gut. A rancid tang filled his mouth.
After all these years the Barbieri name still had that effect. Though he prided himself on putting the past behind him, that didn’t mean all scars were healed. Some wounds lasted a lifetime.
‘You’ve met her?’
‘Not to speak to but I’ve seen her. About a year ago, in Sicily. She was with her family, her father and brothers and their wives, going into a restaurant. They’d stopped so her father could talk to someone. Alfredo Barbieri is hard to miss.’
‘Maybe you’re mistaken about the daughter.’
‘That’s what I thought at first. I remember being curious about her on that day because a colleague had said good things about her work in the family business. But it was a year ago and I wondered if my memory was faulty. I’ve checked online and it’s definitely her.’
Gio frowned. ‘The question is why she’s checked into my hotel using a false name, pretending to be a foreigner.’
‘Exactly. I thought you should know.’ The manager cleared his throat. ‘Her father has a reputation for being a hard man. He’s ruthless and…’
‘And you think he’s not above planting his daughter in a rival hotel for a bit of spying.’
He heard relief in his manager’s voice as he said, ‘Perhaps there’s an innocent explanation. But some of the stories I’ve heard about Alfredo Barbieri…’
Were probably correct. As Gio knew too well. His hackles rose and his grip tightened on the phone as he thought of Barbieri daring to mess with him.
‘It’s okay. You did the right thing.’
Barbieri wasn’t above commercial espionage. Or actual sabotage.
While Gio had tried to put the past behind him, deciding a fulfilled life was better than the bitterness of dwelling on old pain, Barbieri was the sort to harbour hatred for a lifetime. And to cause untold damage, even to innocents. Gio’s gut spasmed as he remembered.
Barbieri probably kept a detailed dossier on him and his business interests, which was one of the reasons Gio’s security was second to none.
Gio certainly kept tabs on the older man, but only as a commercial competitor.
He didn’t stoop to spying and certainly had no idea what his family looked like.
That didn’t mean he’d sit back and let Barbieri target him in a dirty tricks campaign.
‘I’m on my way back from Venice. I’ll be there this evening.’ His suite at the hotel was always ready for when he chose to stay in Rome. ‘I want to see this Stella White for myself. But put the word out amongst the staff that I’ll be incognito. I don’t want them referring to me by name.’
If his suspicions were right, it wouldn’t make any difference. Stella Barbieri would already know exactly who he was. She’d have been briefed by her father.
And if she didn’t recognise him? He shook his head. It could mean she was innocent and it was coincidence that she’d chosen to stay in the hotel of her father’s greatest rival.
But Gio didn’t believe in coincidence. When it came to Barbieri, innocence was an impossibility.
* * *
Gio watched the woman cross the foyer, pausing as she frowned over her phone.
It was her, Stella Barbieri. He’d looked her up online and there was no mistake.
He should be pleased that he was onto Barbieri’s ruse. Yet he felt no satisfaction. The knowledge sat cold and unpalatable in Gio’s belly. Even now, watching her loiter in the lobby, he didn’t want to believe she was Barbieri’s daughter and, it seemed, as deceitful as he.
Because he didn’t want to be dragged back into Barbieri’s orbit?
Or because she had big brown eyes and an air of vulnerability? That had to be an act.
He’d recently moved his headquarters to a building behind the hotel, connected by a glassed walkway. It was the hub of his operations, not only in Italy but across Europe and North America. Was that her target rather than the hotel? Or was it both?
What was her plan? To latch onto one of the hotel employees? Persuade them to part with sensitive information?
Something stirred deep within at the thought of her trying to persuade his staff to be indiscreet. Obviously she’d target a man. In her white jeans and lemon-yellow shirt she looked summery and attractive. More, she looked…innocent.
Gio’s lips twisted. Innocent!
That had to be an act. Every photo he’d found of her showed her soignée in designer fashion, her hair up, emphasising the elegant line of her slender throat.
She favoured ultra-feminine dresses or crisply tailored jackets and skirts, with high heels that drew attention to the seductive lines of her legs.
Stella Barbieri stopped again, this time near a cluster of huge potted plants. She looked the epitome of casual sexiness with her low sandals, high ponytail and glowing natural beauty.
Too deliberately casual?
Adrenaline pumped in his veins, and anger too.
His family had paid an impossibly high price for knowing Alfredo Barbieri. Gio refused to let his family’s nemesis take any more.
It was time to turn the tables. He might have decided not to waste his life pursuing a vendetta. But Barbieri had gone too far, sending her into his territory.
And she… Soon she’d discover her father wasn’t the only dangerous man in this business.
Gio stepped out from the shadowed area beyond the sweeping staircase, crossing the marble floor towards her. She moved too, head down, focused on her phone.
Then out of nowhere came a flash of bright red hair, a small body hurtling out of the lift towards the bright sunlight beyond the glass entry doors.
Gio lengthened his stride but it was too late. The little boy collided with her, grabbing at her bag as his feet went from under him and he hit the floor.
A second later there was a wail. ‘Mummy! Want my Mummy!’
Gio stepped across a lipstick and other scattered items to hunker next to the child. Stella Barbieri was already there, kneeling by the kid, murmuring soothing words, assuring him she’d find his mummy straight away.
As if sensing Gio’s presence, she turned her head and wide, velvety brown eyes met his.
For a second everything stopped. The kid’s cries. The sound of hurried footsteps across the lobby. Even Gio’s pulse. Time stretched, like elastic pulled almost to breaking point.
Then the illusion shattered. She was his enemy’s daughter and therefore his enemy. Meanwhile the child had frightened himself and needed care.
Gio turned towards the lift to see a woman pushing a stroller, hurrying towards them. ‘It’s okay,’ he murmured. ‘Here comes your mummy now.’
He glanced at Stella Barbieri and saw relief in her expression as the wailing eased. And something else as her gaze met his again and clung. Something that told him this was going to be easier than he’d thought. Feminine interest.
Gio’s mouth curved into a smile.