The couple approached and she shook hands with the elderly man. He looked about a hundred years old, but his handshake was firm, and he had a sparkle in his eye as he smiled at her. His wife was delightfully round, and rather than shaking Sophia’s outstretched hand, Maria enveloped her in a hug, kissing her on both cheeks while whispering something in Italian that she couldn’t understand. At least it sounded welcoming.
Luca’s mobile phone rang. He silenced it, then turned to Sophia with an apologetic smile. “Sorry to cut short the tour, but I have a deal closing this afternoon. I have to make a few phone calls now, if you will excuse me. Feel free to wander around. Do you want something to eat before dinner? Maria will be happy to make you a snack.”
“Perhaps a slice of cake and a coffee?”
Luca translated her request and Maria bustled over to the counter to cut a slice of cake. “Unfortunately, neither of them speak any English. But I’m sure you’ll find a way to communicate. Dinner will be at 8:00 p.m. I’ll see you in the front room then?”
“Okay,” Sophia replied. She took a deep breath to ease the pressure in her chest. Well, he’d warned her that business was his first priority. She might as well get used to it.
Luca kissed her briefly on the cheek before turning on his heel and leaving the room. She smiled at the elderly couple and took a seat at the table. Because she was unable to communicate with her companions, silence loomed long and large in the beautiful kitchen. Their faces were kindly as they sat with her, but she could sense their curiosity. It wasn’t every day their boss went out in the morning and returned with a bride.
Sophia finished the delicious lemon cake and coffee in record time. She needed a few minutes alone to process the day’s events. With a stammered, “Grazie,” she left the room.
She might as well explore. Maybe she should leave a trail of shiny pebbles to find her way back. Wandering back to the base of the stairs, she heard Luca’s deep voice in the room to the left. She poked her head around the door and discovered a massive office with one wall completely covered in bookshelves. A huge oak desk was piled with papers and an array of three monitors. Luca stood looking out the window, his back to the door, a phone held to his ear.
“Chet, I apologize that I did not return your call earlier. I was in London concluding some business there … Three weeks? Excellent. I will make arrangements for us to visit the properties I mentioned to you. Have you received the letter of intent? … Good, as soon as you return a signed copy, I will forward you the details … ”
Sophia retreated and returned to the entryway. Her stomach roiled and for a second she thought she might lose the lemon cake she’d just enjoyed. Their marriage was a business transaction to Luca. The late night phone calls, the flowers, the beautiful wedding dress he’d sent had been the sweetener to seal the deal. She’d started to believe that maybe he cared for her. Now she knew better. She was only another piece in his property portfolio.
Her suitcase sat beside the front door. She lugged it up the stairs as quietly as possible, not wanting to disturb Luca. A house this big had to have a variety of bedrooms. She was going to choose hers. If Luca wanted her in his bed, he’d have to make an appointment.
She left her case at the top of the stairs and started opening doors. The first room she tried was obviously the master. A huge, four-poster king-sized bed dominated the room. She quickly closed the door and strode toward the other end of the hallway. There were several smaller bedrooms, decorated in pale shades of blue, green and pink. She was a bit like Goldilocks, searching for the room that was just right.
At the end of the corridor, she opened a door to a bright room decorated in hues of yellow. A large, shiny brass bed with a white chenille bedspread sat against the opposite wall. Sophia looked around the room in appreciation. It was bigger than her whole flat in London. Double doors led out onto a balcony. On the other side of the room, another door was open, through which she could see a large tub and shower enclosure. This was it. She retrieved her suitcase from the top of the stairs and then unpacked her few belongings.
It was only six o’clock, so she stepped out onto the balcony. The house was so cold, the air-conditioning set on high, it was wonderful to move into the warm, spring evening. The scents of thousands of blossoms wafted up, surrounding her.
Leaning on the deck railing, she checked out the gardens. The flower beds were immaculate, well-loved by Vittore, no doubt. The house and grounds were more than she ever imagined. She couldn’t help feeling, however, that something was missing. It was more than just badly chosen furniture and a lack of personal touches. The villa lacked the very essence of what it took to make a house a home. The word love came to mind, but she pushed it aside. She’d deal with the décor later. For now she had to work out how she was going to tell Luca he wasn’t getting any tonight.
As she washed and changed for dinner she caught sight of her scars in the mirror, a reminder of her past. It was the invisible scars of feeling worthless and helpless that still plagued her, although she hid them as she did her visible marks. But every once in a while they’d surface, and she’d be a frightened girl unsure of her place in the world. So until she was certain Luca saw her as a person, not a thing, she would sleep alone.
At five minutes to eight, Sophia stepped into the front sitting room. She’d changed into a green dress that echoed the color of her eyes. Her hair was still up from the wedding, and by reapplying her lipstick and refreshing her makeup, she felt she made a presentable picture.
The room was empty so she wandered over to the front window. Luca’s car sat in the drive like an exclamation point to the luxury of the house. Seven years ago, when she’d run from her parents’ home, she’d lived on the streets, often sleeping behind a dumpster. This new start would bring no such discomfort. Still, she felt more out of place now than she had as a homeless teen.
The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end and she turned to find Luca watching her. He stared at her for a moment more, and when his gaze fixed on her hands, she realized she’d been pleating the fabric between her fingers.
“Buona sera, bellissima. Would you like a drink?” He walked over to the drinks tray set on the sideboard. He hadn’t changed out of his suit but had removed his tie and undone a couple of buttons on his shirt. He looked sexy and powerful, and she had to clear her throat before she could speak.
“Um, no thank you. Perhaps I’ll have a glass of wine with dinner.” She was already dizzy enough with him near.