33 #2
"So you've asked her, then?" Jerome's familiar raspy voice caused Dani to gasp.
She sharply retracted her hand from the settee as though it had burned her and her eyes shot up to where Jerome was leaning casually against the archway.
His light grey, large checked, three-piece suit matching the stylish decor perfectly.
He'd paired it with a white shirt, open at the collar, showcasing his Mediterranean colouring, looking so at home in the exquisitely decorated apartment and positively delicious.
There was no doubt that the interior design was a reflection of his particular taste.
Everything was well thought out, very masculine, yet with an extreme attention to detail that made the space seem more homely, intimate even.
A smile curved over his sculptured lips as he straightened and stepped forward.
"Oh Jerome, you're here. Yes. Just now." Gia walked over to him and kissed both his cheeks.
"So? Do you like it?" he asked once he'd released his mother. His gaze focused on Dani.
Dani huffed. "Like it? It's amazing… too amazing for me." Her voice drifted off, almost talking to herself.
Jerome tilted his head to one side, puzzled at her comment. "Why do you say that?"
"It's a little out of my league.” She looked around the room nervously.
Jerome stepped closer, stopping a few feet from her. "You won't feel comfortable here? Is that what you're saying? Is there something you want to change? Because we can do that, the maintenance team start on…” his spectacular eyes suddenly marred with concern.
"Oh God! No, I didn't mean it like that. It's perfect, more than perfect, really. I'm just a little overwhelmed and anyway its only temporary, isn't it?"
Jerome shrugged. Now that Dani was walking around in his apartment, touching its furnishings, looking around his old home with wonder, the idea of her being there only temporarily didn't sit well with him.
He could vividly visualise her making coffee in the kitchen, stretched out on the settee, laid out on his bed…
Jerome cleared his throat and shook his head, ridding himself of his wandering thoughts.
"Did Mama tell you that it'll be ready by the thirtieth?"
"Yes, she did. Really, that's fine. I'm still trying to get to grips with the idea of moving in here.
The time frame really isn't what's worrying me.
" Dani turned to look around again not wanting her gaze focused on Jerome for too long.
The place looked immaculate and Dani wondered what on earth needed to be done.
"So, that's it? It's settled?" asked Gia expectantly. Dani gave a half-hearted shrug.
"So what is worrying you?" Jerome perched himself on the back of the settee casually.
"I still feel like I should be paying you rent or something."
Jerome immediately stood back up again and Gia shook her head.
"No!" they both answered in unison causing Dani to laugh.
"You do so much extra work here, it's the least we can do." Gia stepped closer as she spoke, then turned to Jerome who nodded in agreement. "To make it easier for you."
"But it’s temporary, just until I get my own place.
I don't want to take advantage," Dani repeated, determined they both understood.
She was caught between not wanting to be beholden to the Ferrettis and being totally flattered that they were trying to make her life easier.
It was a dilemma she'd found herself in before and no doubt would find herself in again.
Jerome licked his lips and narrowed his eyes, then answered wryly, "I think maybe it's us taking advantage of you. You're making yourself quite indispensable. I think this is my mother's way of keeping you close by, so you don't up and leave us anytime soon."
"I'm not going anywhere," Dani muttered quietly, repeating what she'd told him once before. "Thank you, both of you."
“I'm so pleased." Gia clapped her hands together and laughed softly. "It'll be nice having a female neighbour for a change. Come on, let's go and have our lunch. Peter will be wondering where we are."
ARSENIO REREAD SCOTT’S LATEST report on Liz's movements since she'd got back from Spain.
She'd spent almost four hours at her agent’s office on Friday morning, again arriving in her gym clothes and leaving in one of her designer outfits.
Gary's report also confirmed that Jonathan was in the agent’s building, but neither he nor Scott had managed to find out which of the offices they were using.
He just knew they were missing something, something important.
Arsenio flicked through the photos again hoping something would jump out at him.
They were ingrained into his memory and he knew he was obsessing, but he couldn't face the fact that Liz seemed to be getting away with cheating.
He wanted to nail the bitch and make her pay.
LIZ STOOD ON THE scales again and waited for the screen to settle on the correct weight.
Damn! She thought. She'd gone up two pounds since she’d come back from Spain.
Liz gritted her teeth and stalked naked across the hallway to Jerome's empty bedroom.
Her gaze ran around the immaculately kept room, checking every surface for the brown bottle of pills.
There was nothing. She paced over to the bathroom and checked in the cupboards and the surfaces.
Nothing! Her eyes caught the dustbin by the toilet.
She flipped open the lid and looked inside.
To her relief the bottle was sitting at the bottom of the bin, she reached in and pulled it out and immediately her heart dropped, it was empty.
Shit! He must've flushed them down the toilet!
Liz stalked back to her room. How was she going to get hold of some more?
She'd already told Jonathan she'd quit them yesterday, so there was no way he was going to get her any more.
If she asked anyone at Level One, it was bound to get back to Jerome.
Liz slumped on the bed. The only way was for her to seek out Jonathan's supplier.
Liz looked at the time. It was almost three.
Jerome and the children would be home from Alessandro's football match at any moment and then they were going to do some last minute Christmas shopping.
She'd have to wait until Monday now. Liz rummaged through her drawers looking for a packet of cigarettes she kept for the odd occasion that she wanted one.
She flipped open the packet, glad to see it was almost full.
Hopefully these would suppress her appetite until Monday.
DANI SAT IN HER car watching the rain splash down on the bonnet.
It was four o'clock and she’d an hour or so before she needed to be back at work.
She was supposed to have had the afternoon off but they were busy and she'd stayed on until four.
It wasn't worth going back home, seeing as she needed to be back for five.
Things would certainly be a lot better for her once she'd moved into the apartment upstairs.
Dani peered up at the building. Or maybe not.
She had a feeling she'd be eating, living and breathing La Casa once she moved in.
The thought made her smile. It really was a great place to live, she shook her head unable to believe her luck.
Dani had come out to her car for some privacy.
She was determined to call Jez once she was off her shift and back home, but because she'd stayed on, her car was the only place she could go where she wouldn't be disturbed.
She looked down at her phone and swiped the screen to search for Jez's number.
He should be getting ready to go down to the bar around about this time.
If she didn't ring him now she'd have to call him late on Monday.
She pressed on the call icon and waited for it to connect.
Her heart raced at the thought of hearing his familiar smooth voice again.
"Dani?"
"Hi, Jez."
"Oh my God, I don't believe it! It's so good to hear your voice.
" He sounded as if he'd just woken up, his voice still had a croak in it and Dani felt her stomach clench.
Two thoughts sprung into her mind; the first was that she missed being the one who heard his first croaky words when he woke up, and the second was she hoped that there wasn't anyone else who'd heard them since.
"How are you?" Dani cringed. Her question was automatic and she hoped it didn't make him start his usual tirade.
"I'm better. Much better now."
Dani heard a rustle of sheets and she knew he was propping himself up against the pillows.
"Thanks for the letter. I passed it on to Adam."
"Oh. Yes well, the bank said it would've been earlier but with Christmas and all, it's taken a week or two longer." There was an awkward silence, then Jez continued, with a tentative lilt in his voice. "How are you? I mean you've a job now, right?"
"Yes. It's a good job. A restaurant."
"A restaurant? That's um… good."
"I'm just a waitress. But the people who own it are really good to me. I didn't want anything more… I couldn't face any more responsibility. I'm happy just turning up and then leaving it behind."
Jez huffed, "Yeah, it can take over your life. Well, you know it can."
Dani sighed, it felt weird talking about work, tiptoeing around each other. It was awkward, there was so much to say, yet they were purposely avoiding any sensitive subjects.
"I'm sorry about what I said, about you having found someone else. I was angry, and I know that's no excuse, but I know you're not like that."
Dani took in a deep breath, unsure of what to say. The last thing she’d expected was an apology.
"And the messages I sent, the bad ones I mean. I was angry then too. To be honest I've been angry most of the time these last six weeks," he snorted. "But angry at me though and the situation I've found myself in. Losing you."
"I'm not sure what to say. I…”