“Yes, it sounds lovely. You certainly speak English very well,” Mandi commented to Diedre.
“I studied in the states for years,” she replied.
“Well that explains that,” Mandi said. “I must admit, I am looking forward to a shower and changing out of my travel clothes.”
“Good, just come on down to the pool in back when you are set. The kids want to go swimming and I am going to enjoy some fresh air with them.”
“I’ll see you down there in a bit,” Mandi said. Diedre shut the double doors that entered into her room and was gone. Mandi chuckles softly, hoping that she would indeed be able to find the pool when she was ready to go down. The place was huge. She also wondered how far away Sergio’s room was from hers.
Mandi looked out at the ocean for a moment and could see the pool off to the right. At least she’d know which direction to head. Her mind was on overdrive and she was admittedly disappointed that Sergio had taken off so quickly, but she didn’t want to act like a twit about it. He had business that needed to be done. She’d take her chances and wait to eat with him when he got home tonight so she could wind down from the day with him.
The shower was heavenly and Mandi enjoyed it thoroughly. The shampoo and soap smelled so good. She wondered what she should wear when she went out sightseeing around the town, and decided to wear a pair of jeans, fun sandals, and a t-shirt. It was casual, not too dressy, and comfortable, plus she liked the way her butt looked in those jeans. Maybe Sergio would too.
The tour with Diedre, Angelica, and Frederic was very fun and it was exciting to see how people in the Italian culture shopped, spent their days, and enjoyed life. They had a passionate and exuberant quality to them that Mandi found endearing. Mandi got to meet many people who worked at the factory too and was introduced as Mr. Sergio Leon’s friend from the States. Mandi thought to herself that friend seemed so unfitting. She didn’t know what she was, but she knew that she wanted to be more than just friends. Even though she’d told Sergio it was physical she was quickly beginning to realize that she’d lied only to herself in order to connect with him on some level. He’d probably seen right through it and that’s why he wouldn’t actually have intercourse with her. Was he avoiding her now?
By 5:00 that day Mandi was somewhat toured out and rather sick of the nagging thoughts in her mind. She wondered how Sergio could have gotten under her skin in such a short amount of time—barely 48 hours. It was crazy. She passed on dinner with Diedre, Marcel, and the kids in order to dine with Sergio later.
Just to pass some time waiting for Sergio to arrive home Mandi decided to give her sketching a go and she tried to draw the beautiful statue that was standing majestically in the corner of the veranda. She looked at it and then down at her sketch, commenting aloud. “Not too bad considering how long it’s been since you’ve tried.”
“I’ll say, it’s very good,” a voice from behind said. Mandi jumped up and turned around. It was Sergio.
“Oh my gosh. I didn’t hear you.”
“Obviously, you were into your thoughts, and your conversation,” he said, laughing. Mandi blushed. She did talk to herself on occasion and couldn’t stand when someone busted her doing it.
“Are you ready to eat?” Mandi asked.
“I’m starving.”
“How was your day? Hopefully you took care of all your business.”
“In my life you take care of one thing and then something else happens right away. It’s never ending, but it is part of the responsibility.”
Mandi looked at Sergio and she was pretty sure that she was indicating that she’d gladly accept a kiss, embrace, or anything to get some assurance that Sergio hadn’t regretted what happened on the jet. She didn’t get it, but he was very friendly and polite—just like a business dinner. Hmm…
Sergio’s smart phone was sitting on the table next to him while they ate and it kept buzzing. Instinctually, he’d pause from what he was saying and lean over to look at who it was.
“Are you expecting a call?” Mandi finally asked, not appreciating being second fiddle to a phone.
“No, sorry. It’s just a habit and I like to dress things proactively rather than listen to a plethora of messages and whatnot. That’s not as efficient.”
“I suppose that efficiency is…” Mandi stopped midsentence because Sergio’s phone buzzed again and she had lost his attention. This time he answered it though.
He got up and walked away, going out into the hallway so he was just out of earshot. Mandi sat there, wondering how long he’d be. She sighed and took a sip of her wine, delighting in its crisp flavor, but not delighting in the feeling of isolation that was developing in the pit of her stomach.
Sergio came back into the room and covered his hand with the phone and whispered, “This is going to be awhile. You just finish without me and I’ll see you at breakfast tomorrow.” Without so much as another word he affectionately patted Mandi’s shoulder, grabbed his plate, and took off somewhere.
Well, that was that, Mandi thought. If being in a relationship with a workaholic was like this she was beginning to understand why that Olivia may have strayed after all. It seemed like it might be pretty lonely. Were a few passionate moments really worth it? Yet to be determined!
The next day brought Mandi new hope of a more enjoyable day with Sergio, but it turned out that he was out the door way before breakfast started and Mandi was once again left to be entertained by Diedre. She was nice and most lovely, but she was not Sergio.
Chapter 10
The next day Mandi and Diedre went to have lunch together because everyone else was busy. Mandi wasn’t exactly sure what was going on, but she had a hunch that Diedre wanted to share something with her. Hopefully she didn’t think Mandi was a gold digger like Olivia had been. She didn’t even know if Sergio had ever taken Olivia to Rome and didn’t want to ask. Thoughts of her, someone who’d had Sergio’s heart and more, were like poison in her thoughts, ruining what should be an exceptional adventure. Of course, having Sergio by her would have helped.
When the waiter came over to take their order, Diedre asked him for a few minutes and he quickly turned around. Mandi was impressed, reflecting on how a waiter in New York would treat a customer who said that. They’d probably spit in their food and make the service exceptionally lousy. Not in Italy though…the land of gentle grace and reassuring patience.