18
Plans
After a few days of relatively mild weather, the temperature had dropped and the rain came down relentlessly.
Dani looked out of Adam’s windscreen, the wipers working double time as he pulled into La Casa d’Italia’s car park and as close to the back door as possible.
The doorway was obstructed by a rather flashy gun metal-coloured sports car.
Dani’s heart flipped, focusing on the only car that ever interested her, Jerome’s Maserati, parked up next to Gia’s.
Adam whistled through his teeth, “That’s a very nice car. Whose car is that?”
“I haven’t a clue. What is it?” Dani shrugged.
“Lamborghini. Are you working through again?”
“Probably. I’ll get the work taxi home or Kuch will drop me off.”
“Okay, see you in the morning, then. Remember, we’re picking up your car tomorrow, so we need to set off earlier.”
“I know. I can’t wait.” She was grinning she opened up the car door and shook her umbrella until it sprung open, then slid out under its shelter. Dani quickly tucked her newspaper inside her waterproof coat and bobbed down to say bye. “Thanks. See you in the morning.”
Dani ran to the back door and pushed her way through, eyeing the mystery car.
Shaking off all the remaining water from her umbrella, she closed it and walked downstairs to the changing rooms. After storing her belongings in her locker, Dani restyled her hair into a soft high bun, pulling a few tendrils out.
She applied her lipstick and made her way to the kitchen.
She checked the time. It was nine fifteen.
Just in time to make the kitchen staff their first coffee.
Dani realised that Capo couldn’t be in this morning the moment she heard the dulcet tones of Dean Martin floating out of the kitchen, rather than the standard opera Capo seemed to prefer. Dani pushed through double doors. “Buongiorno tutti.”
Carmen looked up from her work station and grinned. Everyone greeted Dani and she went through the morning ritual of seeing who was in so she could prepare the first coffee of their shift.
“Where’s Capo?”
“He went to see a supplier down at the market. He should be back soon, though,” answered Jamie.
The music shifted to one of Dani’s favourites: “Sway”. She smiled. “I love this song so much.”
Enzo grinned and turned it up so she could hear it in the restaurant, then wedged the door open.
Dani called her thanks to him, then skipped her way through the restaurant, softly singing along to the tune, and got to work on everyone’s coffees. Within a few minutes she had taken them through to the kitchen, and everyone came over for their much-needed coffee break.
“Will you put it on again?” Dani asked Enzo.
“Sway? Sure, you like Dean Martin, then?”
“Yes, but especially that song.” She swayed a little as it started up again and Carmen grinned, joining her and singing along to the song.
It was infectious and before long, Jamie was twirling Silvanna and Enzo held a wooden spoon like a microphone and accompanied Dean Martin.
Carmen spun Dani around one way, then the other, then as she re-spun her, Dani lost her footing and staggered a couple of steps back, slap bang into Arsenio, who had just walked through into the kitchen, having heard the music through the opened door.
“Oops, sorry.” Dani flushed instantly and the rest of the staff stopped.
He took her by the waist in a firm grip and grasped her hand, then swayed in time to the music.
His hazel eyes fixed on her, smiling mischievously down at her.
“Don’t apologise. Believe me, you just brightened up my rather miserable morning.
Don’t stop on my account.” He held her closer, moving in perfect time to the music, then spun her round as the song finished, leaving Dani a little dumbstruck and shaken.
He winked at her, then bowed curtly and she shook her head and dipped a curtsy.
“I wish my place of work was as much fun as here,” he chuckled.
“Well, we all know lawyers are as dull as dishwater, Seni,” Carmen teased.
Arsenio leaned against the doorframe, regarding Dani closely. Enzo had turned down the music to its previous level and the rest of the staff got back to their stations. Dani busied herself collecting the empty cups and putting them on the tray. “Ah, but we make up for it on our time off, cus!”
Carmen huffed at him and started beating some cream. Dani lifted the tray and took it over to the dishwashing area trying to distance herself from the disarming Arsenio.
“Do you think you could make me an espresso, Dani?”
“Sure.” Dani shuffled past him and headed quickly to the bar. Arsenio followed her out and sat on one of the stools. She could feel him watching her.
“I see you’ve settled in here.”
“Yes. I’m really enjoying it.”
“I can see,” Arsenio chuckled. The coffee filtered through and Dani heard the familiar footsteps of Peter walking into the restaurant.
“Morning. Jeez, it’s awful out there today.” He ran his hand through his damp hair as he spoke, then shook off the rain from his overcoat.
“Morning, Chef. Coffee?” Dani felt instantly better, now that Peter was there. She wasn’t sure she could handle Arsenio’s constant barrage of flirting, however flattering it was.
“Please. This is an unexpected surprise, Seni.” Peter’s eyes flitted to the back of Dani’s head as she worked the machine.
“Don’t worry, Peter, I came to see Jerome. But I have been entertained while he’s getting ready.”
Peter huffed at his comment. “He’s back, then?”
“Yeah, he ran in this.” Arsenio motioned to the window where the rain lashed against it and shook his head.
“He’s nuts.”
“Yep, that about sums him up.”
Dani passed the two espressos over, then reached for her newspaper she’d left on the bar and headed to the far end of the restaurant, giving them some privacy. She sat down at one of the unset tables and opened it up at the “Flats for Rent” section, hoping she might find something suitable.
“Daniella, buongiorno.“ Gia’s familiar smooth voice made Dani abandon what she was reading and look up.
“Buongiorno, Gia. Shall I make you a coffee?”
“Si, grazie.“ She leaned to see what Dani was looking at. “Are you trying to find another car?”
“No I bought one already. I’m getting it tomorrow.”
“Oh that’s good news.” Gia seemed genuinely pleased.
“I was just checking for apartments closer to town.”
Gia nodded at her. “Any luck?”
“Not really. All the nice ones are too expensive and all the places in my price range are awful. I only need it for six months, maybe a year. I plan to buy my own place eventually.”
Gia furrowed her brow and mulled over something, then focused on the bar where she heard Arsenio talking with Peter. Dani folded her paper and headed to the bar, following in Gia’s footsteps.
“Arsenio. This is a nice surprise. What are you doing here?” they kissed and hugged each other warmly.
“I had something to discuss with Jerome, but he’s just come back from Level One. I left him showering. I’ll be going back up again in a few minutes. He should be done by now.”
Dani quickly made Gia’s espresso, then proceeded to make a double. She passed Gia hers, then pushed the double espresso in front of Arsenio. Puzzled, he looked up at Dani for an explanation.
“If you’re going up to the office, Jerome will probably want his coffee,” Dani mumbled, then felt herself blush.
“That’s very thoughtful, Daniella. Yes, take it for him, Arsenio,” Gia prompted. Peter smiled stiffly as Arsenio took the cup.
“Sure.” He said his goodbyes and headed for the back of the restaurant.
Peter eyed Dani for a second while she cleared away the empty cups.
“Um, Chef, I was wondering if I could have next Thursday night off. It’s my sister’s birthday and I’d like to babysit for her so she can have a night out for a change. I was supposed to ask you over the weekend, but it completely slipped my mind. I hope I haven’t left it too late.”
“Next Thursday? Sure. I’ll make a note. It’s your first night off since you started, isn’t it?” Dani nodded her response. “Well, I can hardly say no then, can I?” he chuckled.
“What a lovely idea, Dani. It must be hard for them to go out. They have small children, no?” asked Gia sipping her espresso.
“Yes. They have three. It’s the least I can do. They’ve been so good to me.”
“You’re working the afternoon shift today, right?”
“If you need me to.”
Peter nodded, scribbling something in his book. “I think so.” He passed the booking book over to Gia for her to look at. “If you don’t mind, Dani?”
“Not at all.” She smiled at them both, before leaving them to look over the bookings.
By the time Arsenio made it up to Jerome’s office, Jerome was already dressed in a dark blue suit and on the phone when he walked in. He quickly finished his phone call and turned his attention to Arsenio.
“Here I brought you your coffee.”
Jerome couldn’t hide his surprise. “Don’t look so shocked, the delectable Dani told me to bring it up to you.” He dropped himself into the leather couch at the side of the office. “She’s definitely brightened up my morning,” he mused.
Jerome cleared his throat ready to say something, but Arsenio stopped him. “I know, you don’t have to go on about it. I was merely making an observation,” he huffed. “Anyway I thought you’d like to know how the meeting went with Scott. I saw him yesterday.”
“Oh, right. And?”
“Well I was right, he’s got all the right equipment.
He reckons he’ll be up and running by the weekend and he’ll submit a weekly report.
He can do a lot more if we need him to.” Arsenio stopped and waited for some reaction, but instead he was met by a steady stare from Jerome sipping his coffee.
“Anyway, I paid him half his fee and he’ll bill us for his expenses as they occur and then, when we’re done, we’ll pay the balance. ”
Jerome immediately opened up his drawer and pulled out his cheque book. Arsenio waved at him indicated he didn’t want the money.
“He’s billing me, so when it’s all done we can settle then, so just put that away for now.”