It was the third guy that intrigued Mandi and she didn’t have to wait long to find out more. Leroy saw her and immediately went up to her and gave her an affectionate hello. It was far more intimate sounding than what their relationship was, but at that moment she was glad to accept any affection that soothed her stung pride.
“It’s so great to see you,” Leroy said.
“You too,” Mandi agreed.
The unknown guy approached Leroy and Mandi. “So, you are Mandi. I’ve heard a lot about you.” Mandi smiled, not sure what to say. “I’m Benjamin Ferrante. It’s great to finally meet you. I’ve heard quite a bit about you.” Benjamin was smiling and Mandi was trying to process that name. Where had she heard it before? She halted. Benjamin was the guy that Olivia had cheated with. No wonder why Sergio was not thrilled to see him.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Mandi replied. “I’ve also heard quite a bit about you.” She smiled, causing Benjamin to pause for a second. She was a bit shocked at her boldness and protective instincts over Sergio. He certainly didn’t need her to do that for him.
Leroy started laughing, almost too much, and Mandi looked at him and winked. She was going to flirt her way to feeling better right now and nothing was going to stop her.
“So, why are you guys here in Italy?” Mandi asked.
“We’re here to go to the Venice Film Festival. Marshall has a film entered into it and we’re all pretty excited,” Leroy replied.
“I’m an investor in the company and definitely curious to see how one of our films competes on this level,” Benjamin added. Mandi looked at him and saw that he was more structured and serious than the other guys. He was good looking, but in more of an academic way with his tight features, serious glasses, and poised attitude. He was the exact opposite of Sergio in the sexiness department and Mandi wondered what his draw was to Olivia. Oh, that’s right—money.
Sergio and Marshall came up to Leroy, Mandi, and Benjamin to join the conversation.
Sergio looked to Mandi and announced, “Change of plans. We’re going to the Venice Film Festival.”
Mandi smiled. It was good that Sergio wasn’t treating her like poison any more. There was safety in numbers and that must have reassured him that she wouldn’t say the toxic words, “I love you,” again.
An hour later the five of them were all on Sergio’s private jet and heading toward Venice. It would only take an hour or so to get there this way compared to a four and a half hour drive. Mandi could get used to this…for convenience sake if anything.
They all stayed in one penthouse suite that the Leon family owned in Venice and they each had their own room. It stung that Mandi wasn’t sharing a room with Sergio, but so be it. This film festival was the crème de la crème and Mandi was going to fully take advantage of the experience. For the second time in one week, Mandi found herself getting very dressed up. This time it could be a more fun and flirty dressy outfit though, not overly formal like the factory anniversary celebration dress requirement had been.
Mandi put the final touches on her outfit and assessed herself in the mirror. She was wearing an ankle length aquamarine silk sheath with a slit up the front center. It clung to every curve of her body and had a strap over one shoulder with a decorative clasp of intricately woven silver on the top of the strap. Small delicate strands of silver thread were woven through the fabric at random and Mandi smiled as she looked at herself. The color reminded her of the ocean and she was its mermaid, ready to go and draw attention. She wore her hair down in loose tendrils that caressed her face and accented her tanned skin. Her heels were some fun sparkly silver ones with open toes and laces that strapped around her ankles. It was classy, fun, and festive. “Venice, here I come,” Mandi whispered. Then she walked out into the living room of the penthouse.
There were four men standing there, laughing and talking casually, enjoying a glass of scotch, and they all stopped talking abruptly to look at her. Mandi’s cocky confidence suddenly made her feel a bit awkward and thankfully Marshall came up and saved her.
“You look exquisite. I think you should be in one of my films. Ever acted before, Mandi?”
“I’m not too good at acting. If you need someone to handle the business aspect I may be able to help you out,” Mandi replied, laughing.
“I just might take you up on that,” Marshall said. Then he turned to Sergio and said, “You were very lucky to get auctioned off to such a lovely woman.”
“Lucky I was, but I thought you had eyes for my sister, Sophia?” Sergio was looking at Marshall and Mandi saw that he was assessing what was going on. Was he jealous? No, stop thinking you are more to him than what you are.
“I think it would be in poor taste to date the younger sister of one of my very best friends, don’t you? Plus, Sophia and Andre are having a rather adventurous time of it lately. Nobody’s seen the two apart.”
“Really?” Sergio asked. He looked at Mandi. “Did you know that?”
“I had an idea, but it wasn’t my information to share.”
“Oops,” Marshall said, laughing off the fact that he’d just told Sergio that his sister was having some fun with another BBBBCer back home. Mandi saw a spark in his eyes and could tell that he enjoyed creating a bit of drama. That’s probably what made him such a good actor and from the sounds of it, director now.
Sergio walked over to Mandi and whispered in her ear softly. “You look absolutely beautiful. I think you could have any man’s heart you wish.” Then he kissed her cheek softly, sending a shiver down Mandi’s spine that she wasn’t so sure she was welcoming. It appeared that Sergio was set to be territorial by his friends and she wasn’t sure how to respond to that. She didn’t want to read into it too much and make any more emotional mistakes that allowed her heart to get trampled on.
* * *
Mandi felt like a queen as she was escorted by four men to the film festival, making people turn their heads to wonder what was going on when they walked down the red carpet. She’d never been involved in such a thing before at this high of a level. Part of her was star struck with the sight of some of her favorite actors and actresses, but she kept her poise, realizing that she was being escorted by celebrity of a different sort—both in the looks and money department. Her dates were considerably wealthier than most of the celebrities there.