Chapter 6
Lorenzo
ISIT AT THE TABLE, WAITING FOR TONY. HE’S LATE, AND SO IS THE CANDIDATE.
HOW hard is it to find someone to look after a child for God’s sake?
You would think that a Nanny Agency would be the perfect place to look for suitably qualified individuals.
Fifteen nannies’ later and no such luck.
I’m at a breaking point now. We’ve had to leave the lodge after three months.
Unfortunately, I had to get back to the office and fix the shit show I left behind.
Liana was helping take care of Angelo and things were fine, until she got sick.
A weak heart, mum had said. Something about a murmur and an irregular heartbeat.
I want her to get better because I truly care for her, she’s like a second mother to me but, I also want her to get well for selfish reasons.
Apart from my own mother, Liana is the only person I trust to take care of Angelo.
Fate played its hand and won – yet again.
So now I’m here, sitting in this dark restaurant listening to crappy jazz, waiting for a candidate I know is probably going to be a no show; the other girls from the agency have most likely scared her off.
Fuck! I’m really in the shits. Mum can’t come over every day so I’ve had to stay home more often that I’d like to take care of Angelo.
I even took him to the office with me a few times and he upchucked all over my desk.
I love my boy, make no mistake about that, however having a spirited toddler running around the office is quite challenging.
I’m busy sipping my whiskey while I wait for Tony when I hear something about a ‘knob shine’ from the table behind me.
The unusual terminology gets my attention.
I haven’t heard the start of the conversation and I am not disappointed.
Without turning to look, judging from the incessant chatter, I gather that two females are engaged in rather unladylike conversation.
I try my best to tune out the females and they seem to have quieted down a bit…
I try hard not to hear what they’re saying as I clear my throat in an attempt to bring their attention to the fact that their loud conversation is being heard by unwilling patrons.
I think it works as they move off the topic of knobs and flow into serious banter.
Something about looking for job listings in Chicago.
Great just what we need here, foul mouthed rebellious females.
‘Fuck me sideways, I want to live here.’ Followed by something about ‘bouncing a quarter of his ass’ and being ‘defiled wherever, whenever.’ I clear my throat louder this time just as Tony comes into view and takes a seat across from me, he has a mischievous glint in his eyes and it all makes sense.
Charming Tony turning heads everywhere he goes.
‘Fuck me to heaven and back its Adonis?’
I almost choke on my whiskey, Jesus Christ who are these people?
I make a little harrumph in annoyance but it came out as a gruff snort, almost animalistic, such is my annoyance, then a shrill voice shouts from behind me, suggesting I take a drink of water.
The fucking nerve. I try to keep calm, squashing the urge to storm over to their table and tell them to shut the fuck up.
I won’t do it though, my parents raised us to be gentlemen and I am a gentleman.
Tony however, is a gentleman and a charmer. He could charm the rattle off a snake.
The table behind me goes quiet for a while and Tony and I get down to discussing business.
He seems to think that the problem lies with me.
I admit I am set in my ways and I have a strict schedule; I like things done a certain way and there are things that I will not stand for nor will I compromise on.
Case in point, Allison, all golden hair and baby blue eyes, bent over the kitchen counter, reaching for a cutting board that she could have easily reached had she had the IQ to walk over to the other side, wearing a pair of cheeky shorts that looked to be two sizes too small and more cheek than shorts while my little boy sat on his playmat watching the daft hottie reach for a cutting board even a dwarf to get to.
So yes, I told her this is my home, not a back-room showdown in a strip club.
I didn’t think a person could run away that fast. Not that I’m complaining, saved me the trouble of having to fire her.
It’s like the trash taking itself out. A win-win situation really.
We are still discussing candidates when I feel her presence next to me, this is confirmed when Tony looks up and offers, “Can I help you Bellissima?” That’s all it took and she goes off like a bullet train in a flea market rattling on about shady business and calling the cops.
I turn my gaze towards her, staring right at her, I see her tense a little and I know she’s feels me looking at her.
Stubborn as she is, she refuses to look at me, keeping her attention on Tony.
Looking up at her I have to admit, she’s absolutely stunning.
Tony wasn’t just being charming. This woman is a vision and she’s passionate.
A feminist it seems. I see how she had gotten the wrong impression now.
Tony’s choice of words was… questionable, submissive, orders, learn from scratch.
Tony manages to calm her down, while her friend appears at her side.
This female also ignores me. What am I, invisible?
Admittedly, both women, although foul mouthed, are stunning, however the brunette firecracker is hot as fuck and watching her walk away with Tony towards the booth sends a little quiver down my spine.
She walks gracefully allowing him to lead her with his open palm pressed against her lower back.
Why is this scene making me uncomfortable?
Female number two retreats to her table and settles down.
I turn to look at her but her eyes are glued on her friend, a look of concern etched on her features. The girls stick together.
I too, watch the exchange at the booth from my seat, Tony is all smiles and I know he’s charming the crap out of her but she still remains stiff, tense, wary. Smart girl I think to myself.
A short while later I see him hand over what I assume to be our business card after which; she stands up to leave.
He rises immediately, moving across in front of her and offers her his hand in assistance.
Ever the gentleman, smug prick I snort. That earns me a look from female number two, I turn to face her and I am hit with a – “The fuck you looking at?” Before I can respond she’s up and at her friend’s side.
The two of them make to leave the restaurant and I can’t help but stare as she walks away.
She must sense me looking because she stops abruptly, mid stride and turns towards me.
I turn away before she can catch me ogling her.
“Well, that was certainly entertaining.” Tony says as he takes his seat across from me.
“I’d say. The female in the green just asked me what the fuck I was looking at?”
“Yeah, they’re both feisty as hell, I’ll give them that much. Fucking gorgeous too, especially the brunette.”
“You didn’t get her name?” I ask in my usual non interested way.
“Nope, I introduced myself but she didn’t allow me the honour.”
“She’s cautious, a good trait to have although I don’t see anyone taking advantage of those two anytime in the near future.”
“Hah! You think? I did manage to fish some info out of her though, she’s a newbie author, here for a few days to attend a book signing event.”
“Well, that’s definitely interesting, she must be a smart woman.”
“She’s a woman now huh, not female?” I shrug and feign ignorance.
“Okay, Enzo, crisis averted, back to the task at hand.”
“What do we do about this nanny situation? We’ve tried fifteen candidates now, this last one didn’t show up and I’m sure the agency put us on the naughty list. What do we do now?”
“The girl, the one in the black dress, the author, she’s having financial issues back home in Michigan and she wants to live here in Chicago. Find her and offer her the position; she needs the money and she wants to move here. Double the offer if you must.”
“What! Are you crazy? That lady was going to call the cops on us, she’s never going to work for you, and how do you know all this anyway?”
“They talk…” I say. “Really, really fucking loud. I heard her tell her friend that she loves Chicago and she would love to move here but that would require money that she doesn’t have. She also mentioned filling out job applications in Chicago from Michigan. They stay in Michigan.”
“Alright but may I ask why her? She’s beautiful but she may not be the right fit for you and for Angelo.”
“She’s perfect for the position. She’s strong, affirmative, she seems like the type that would offer her protection to Angelo without question.
If she’s passionate enough to confront two rather large Italian men about suspected sexual abuse against women, can you imagine how protective she would be over a child?
Plus, I won’t have to worry about her showing up at my place with her ass hanging out, judging from what I saw tonight she seems to be classy and proper, in her dressing anyway. ”
“I see your point, but I don’t have any details for her. How on earth am I going to find her?”
“You mentioned a book signing event? I would start there.”