Chapter Twenty-three
NINA
Present Day
ITALY
“Am I seeing correctly?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, disbelief gripping me at the unforgiving hour of eight in the morning.
“I should be wondering if I’m counting right,” Inaya replied, her shock mirrored in her tone.
Laid out before us were ten extra-large boxes of assorted heart-shaped chocolates from my favorite chocolate factory, Tuscani Cioccolato S.r.l, each one seemingly mocking my ability to process this early surprise.
A fuchsia envelope lay atop them, the handwriting unmistakably his and infuriatingly perfect, as always.
“This is…”
“Extravagant?” I ventured, my pulse quickening, hoping we were thinking the same word.
“Romantic,” she whispered, her eyes wide, as if the world had stopped spinning.
I didn’t bother responding. With a swift motion, I grabbed the note, tore off the perfectly placed seal with the kind of care that felt almost sacrilegious, and braced myself, knowing full well the sweet words I was about to read would leave me utterly speechless.
“A few of these won’t hurt, right, Ro?”
Nina Moretti.
Love, RR
My eyes immediately watered as I understood the reference he made.
How the fuck did he remember?
The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow over Parco dei Fiori in Arezzo, where Ronan and I sat on a weathered wooden bench, surrounded by blooming flowers and the gentle rustle of leaves.
We’d stumbled upon this hidden gem during one of our explorations of Florence, a quiet oasis away from the bustling streets.
It felt like our own little world—no prying eyes, no interruptions, just us. After all our late-night texting, lingering calls, and constant flirting that had carried me through weeks, having him here felt surreal.
I reached out to touch a cluster of lavender, savoring its scent as I closed my eyes. “You know,” I murmured, “I was almost too happy when you were back in Italy. You actually flew out here during winter break to meet a… friend?”
“A friend?” he echoed, a playful glint in his eye. “Friends? That’s what we are?”
I smirked, meeting his gaze. “You tell me, Dr. Romano.”
He chuckled, taking my hand in his. “I like the sound of that,” he murmured, squeezing gently. “And you… You’re my favorite person. My girl.”
I laughed softly. “Well, you’re my guy.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said, his voice low and warm. He paused, studying me, and then asked, “So… would you like to make my lab coat for my coating ceremony?”
I blinked, the surprise bringing an instant smile to my face. “Are you serious?”
“Of course I am,” he said with a grin. “What better way to get coated than to be in the design of my love?
He paused, studying me, then reached into his coat pocket. “I also have a surprise for you.”
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What is it?”
With a mischievous smile, he handed me a small, beautifully wrapped package. As I unwrapped it, my heart skipped a beat. It was my favorite chocolate from Tuscani Cioccalato S.r.l.
My smile widened as I looked up at him, feeling my heart swell. “You remembered?”
“Of course,” he replied, his eyes softening. “I picked it up on my way here.”
I picked up a piece of chocolate from the box, handling it carefully, and caught Ronan watching me with a soft smile. His warm gaze held a touch of admiration, making my cheeks flush with both pleasure and a hint of embarrassment.
“A few of these won’t hurt, right, Ro?” I asked, trying to lighten the moment with playful innocence.
Ronan chuckled softly. “Have as many as you’d like, amore.”
My laughter filled the air like the petals of the nearby flowers. I reached over, offering him a piece. “Here, try this one. It’s milk chocolate… my favorite.”
He took it, his fingers briefly brushing against mine. “If it’s your favorite, then it must be worth it,” he remarked before taking a bite.
“Is it worth it?” I asked.
He dipped his head down to kiss me. “Everything you want me to do is always worth it.”
“A few of these won’t hurt, right, Ro?” I reiterated, a few teardrops running down my face.
“Huh?” Inaya asked, and I quickly wiped the tears.
“Uh, nothing,” I stuttered. “Just remembering something.”
I retreated to my office shortly after, carrying my ten boxes of sweet heaven with me. Sitting on the edge of the sofa, I placed a box of chocolates in my lap and picked up a piece, letting the taste flood my senses. It brought back memories of that day in Parco dei Fiori.
Moisture gathered at the corners of my eyes as I realized that, despite everything, part of me still hoped, or even believed, that there was a chance for us.
I looked up and saw Alejandro standing awkwardly in the doorway of my office, his expression sheepish.
I could still hear his harsh words from the other night echoing in my mind, each syllable a sharp sting.
“I’m sorr—”
“It’s fine,” I reacted, managing a small faux smile as he approached me cautiously.
He reached out, brushing a strand of hair away from my face with gentle fingers. Concern etched his features as he studied me. “Are you okay?” he asked softly, his voice carrying genuine worry.
Internally, I felt a chill in the air; a sense of betrayal lingered at his very touch. Stepping back slightly, I nodded. “I’m fine,” I managed to say, my voice steadier than I felt inside.
Before he could say anything else, there was a tentative knock on the door. Inaya peeked in, her presence thankfully breaking this awkward as fuck moment.
“Someone’s here to see you,” she announced in her usual cheerful tone.
“If it’s Ronan…” I started, my voice trailing off uncertainly.
Inaya shook her head, a hint of excitement dancing in her eyes. “No, it’s a representative from Eminence Models NYC,” she said, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm.
I felt a jolt of shock, my mind racing. “Eminence Models NYC?” I repeated, trying to process someone from one of the largest, if not the largest, modeling agencies was in my fucking boutique and requested to see me.
Inaya nodded eagerly. “They want to discuss a venture with you,” she explained, her words tumbling out in a rush. “And they mentioned how much they loved the digital publication of your behind-the-scenes feature with Vogue.”
Overwhelmed and elated, I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “Send them in.”
Inaya disappeared for a moment, then I asked Alejandro to leave, giving me space for my meeting.
She walked in with effortless confidence, her sleek brunette bob framing sharp features and a Prada designer suit that screamed power. My breath stopped for half a second.
Julia Mendez.
The Julia Mendez.
I’d read about her, seen her name attached to some of the biggest fashion deals.
Before I could fully process my fangirl moment, she smiled warmly.
“Ms. Moretti, it’s a pleasure to meet you.
I’m Julia Mendez, Director of Talent & Partnerships at Eminence Models IMG,” she said, her tone polished yet inviting.
“Your recent fashion show and the behind-the-scenes feature with Vogue have incredibly impressed us. We’d love to discuss having your collections featured at our upcoming events and next year’s New York Fashion Week on our models. ”
My lips parted slightly, but I quickly masked my excitement with a professional smile. Julia Mendez was standing in front of me, speaking about my work. If my younger self could see me now, she’d be screaming.
“We usually have prior correspondence before meetings like this,” Julia continued, crossing one leg over the other as she settled in. “But given our referral and the fact I was already in town for fittings, I thought it would be best to speak in person.”
I let out a breathless laugh. “Don’t worry. This is amazing.”
Julia detailed the offer: Eminence Models IMG wanted my collections at exclusive events, top models wearing my designs at next year’s New York Fashion Week, and collaborations for high-profile editorials and red-carpet appearances. It was everything I had worked for.
After a brief pause, Julia leaned forward slightly. “However, we’d want you to open a boutique or establish a space in New York City. It would make access easier for our models and streamline future collaborations.”
My mind drifted to New York City—a city of dreams, opportunities, and… Ronan. The thought of him living there gave me pause, but I pushed it aside. This was my moment, my dream, and nothing—especially not a man—would stand in the way of making it a reality.
I nodded, processing the suggestion. “That sounds like an exciting opportunity. I’m definitely open to exploring it further.”
Julia smiled, standing up as she extended her hand. “Fantastic. I’ll have our lawyer reach out by this evening to formalize things.” She handed me her business card. “We’ll be in touch soon.”
I shook her hand, my pulse racing. “I’m looking forward to it.”
After she left, I stood there for a moment, still in disbelief at what had happened. Walking to the back of the boutique, I found Francesca and Inaya discussing fabric deliveries and upcoming stitch tests by the racks.
“We need to have an impromptu meeting,” I said, trying to steady my voice. They both turned to me, eyebrows raised.
“We’re expanding to New York City!” I exclaimed, watching their faces light up with enthusiasm.
“Cosa?36” Francesca asked, settling into the sofa. “Sei serio?37”
I took a deep breath, barely able to contain my excitement. “Sono serio38. Eminence wants to partner with us.”
Her eyes widened, and Inaya let out a small whoop. “è incredibile!39” she exclaimed.
I nodded, smiling broadly.
Inaya clapped her hands together, a huge grin on her face. “What’s the plan?”
“We need to set up a boutique in New York City,” I explained. “Julia said it would help with managing fittings and preparations. We’ll also need to coordinate travel and accommodation for the team, start working on the new collection, and prepare for the show itself, even if it’s next year.”
Inaya’s excitement was palpable. “When do we start?”
“Right away,” I replied. “But for now, we need to find a suitable location for the boutique and handle all the legalities regarding this expansion.”
Francesca was already taking notes. “We should make a list of potential locations and reach out to a realtor in New York.”
“Perfect!” I explained. “Once I have our legal teams speak, we’ll start boutique searching.”
After, I called my mom to share the news. “Mamma, indovina un po?40” I began, unable to keep the excitement from my voice.
“Cosa c’è?”
“Eminence wants to partner with us,” I said, the words almost magical as they left my lips. “I have to open a boutique in New York City!”
There was a pause before her voice came through. “Oh, Nina, that’s wonderful! Sono così orgogliosa di te.41”
“Grazie, Mamma,” I whispered, a lump in my throat.
We spoke a while longer, her words of encouragement bolstering my resolve before she hung up to take a walk on the beach.
I let out a loud squeal, popping one of the chocolates into my mouth, overwhelmed with joy.
New York City called my name, and I answered.