14 #3
Dani moved to her section and started to get her tables ready. She was working with Richard and Pino again. They were already setting up. Dani spotted Rosa at the bar talking to Nina. She waved, seeing as they hadn’t spoken today. Rosa had taken the morning off.
Dani made her way down to the bar and after greeting both Nina and Rosa, Dani asked, “How was your morning off?”
“I stayed home and did housework – joy!” huffed Rosa. “I heard about your cake. Capo saved me some.”
Dani scrunched up her nose and Nina looked puzzled.
“Dani made Jerome a birthday cake. Apparently he was blown away,” Rosa explained.
Nina’s eyes widened as she looked at a blushing Dani. “How nice of you.”
“She’s going to make one for everyone’s birthday,” added Rosa.
“That’s a lot of cakes,” Nina mused.
“Yeah, it’s Silvanna’s birthday next Thursday.”
“Oh, well, I better ask her what cake she likes, then,” Dani giggled. “Nice to see you again, Nina. I’ll see you later.” Dani quickly went back to her work station and made a mental note to ask Silvanna what she’d like.
“So Liz, what’s new?” Arsenio’s eyes twinkled at her and Jerome tensed.
“What do you mean?” she looked up from her salad.
“Well, you’ve got yourself a… what’s the word… um, a new… gig.” Jerome’s eyes bored into Arsenio’s as he continued to talk. A smile twitched around his mouth. “A fashion show, right?”
Liz nodded coolly.
“Anything else brewing, something else other than that, maybe?”
“Well, I was with my agent today, and he’s put me forward for an advertising campaign.”
“Really?”
“Yes, it’s for a holiday brochure.” She felt Jerome shift in his seat and she turned to look at him.
Jerome tried hard not to look agitated that Liz had forgotten to tell him and he was only now hearing about it.
There was a time he’d been the first to know of any good news.
He sighed inwardly, realising if Arsenio hadn’t asked, he would have probably found out at an even later date.
The thought saddened him but he wasn’t about to let it show.
“That’s great news,” Jerome said softly, “I’m pleased for you. ”
“If I get it, it’ll mean I need to fly out on location. Spain, I think.”
“Sounds very glamorous,” Cosimo chipped in.
“Talking of glamorous, that Dani’s looking better every time I see her.” Arsenio licked his lips, shifting his focus to her.
“Arsenio!” Gia scolded and she signalled that he should keep his mouth shut in front of the children, who were in fact oblivious. “Don’t talk like that about the staff,” she hissed.
“I’m just saying. I can look at the menu, but it doesn’t mean I’m going to order, Mama.” He stifled a smirk and she pursed her lips at him.
“So how’s your birthday been?” asked Cosimo, trying to change the subject.
There was so much tension at the table between everyone and Arsenio was just making it worse.
Jerome’s face was stony and tense, Gia was flustered and Liz was cool and indifferent.
He sometimes wondered why they had these family gatherings.
Weren’t families supposed to enjoy each other’s company?
Everyone was just so uncomfortable, it made Jerome sad just thinking about it.
Thank goodness the children were there to lighten the atmosphere.
“It’s been good,” he lied, and Arsenio sniffed.
“Dani made him a birthday cake. It was a lovely surprise,” Gia gushed.
“Really?” Arsenio cocked his head to one side and lifted his eyebrow.
“Yes, she made one for Carmen on her birthday too. Capo saved some for us. I’ll go and get it.” Gia moved back her chair and headed for the kitchen, taking Kara and Alessandro with her. Liz, glad of an excuse to also get up, excused herself and went to the bathroom.
“So she knows how to cook too. She’s really making this very hard,” joked Arsenio as his gaze found Dani again.
“Seni, watch it,” warned Jerome, his jaw flinched as he spoke. “And what’s with the twenty questions? I asked you not to rock the boat.” He sat forward so no one could hear.
“I was being polite. I didn’t ask anything unusual. Christ, Jerome lighten up. What is this? The birthday blues? Since when have you been so uptight?”
“Give me a break Seni.” Jerome rubbed his face roughly. “This isn’t easy for me and you’re not helping.”
Jerome leaned back in his chair and Arsenio instantly felt bad.
He knew this must be hard for Jerome, but he’d never really liked Liz, and now that he had good reason not to, he was pleased he could be less guarded around her.
Cosimo frowned at Arsenio. “Okay, okay, I’m sorry.
I’ll ease up. I was just joking around.”
Jerome sighed deeply and nodded at Arsenio.
Gia came back with cake for everyone. Arsenio took a forkful and popped it in his mouth.
“Jeez, that’s delicious.”
Cosimo nodded in agreement.
“And to think that it was delectable Dani’s hands that made it. Somehow it makes it so much more delicious.”
“Arsenio!” scolded Gia again.
Arsenio chuckled as he lewdly raised his eyebrows in quick succession and licked the spoon, causing Cosimo to stifle a grin and shake his head. Jerome’s face softened and he smiled at his brother who winked at him, then took another deliberate spoonful.