Page 2 of Giorgio

Juliana had been the apple of their father’s eyes, and she adored him. He had never minded it because he had been his mother’s favorite. His sister’s face was drawn, the light gone out of her large dark brown eyes.

Her face looked even smaller than usual, making her eyes appear larger. Her hair was cropped short, the natural curls dark and glossy. Her ebony complexion was flawless, her face devoid of makeup. The sweater she was wearing was hanging off her slender body in a shapeless heap. He hated seeing her like this and was determined to do something about it.

“I am booking you on a trip to Italy.”

She blinked at him, not sure she heard him right. “What?”

Picking up the next half of his sandwich, he took a bite. “Three weeks in Italy. You could visit Rome, Venice, and Pompeii. And take a trip to Tuscany.”

“Are you crazy?”

“No. It’s either that, or you are coming to live with me. You need a break, Jules; you have suffered several traumas, and you need this time away to think about what to do next. The lease on that crummy apartment is almost up. I will arrange to put your stuff in storage while you are gone. I will make all the arrangements.”

“I need to look for a job!”

“What you need is time away!” He leaned forward, his expression worried. “You are disappearing before my very eyes, and I cannot very well sit back and allow that to happen. You are going to Italy and that is final.”

“You are not the boss of me.”

He smiled at that childish comment and resumed eating. “Go to Italy, you have always wanted to go. Have an affair with a stranger and do some sightseeing and shopping. I guarantee you will come back a whole new person.”

“I have to think…”

“No. No thinking. You’re going.”

*****

Giorgio Armani Russo straightened his spine as the double doors were pushed open and the daunting figure stepped inside the sumptuous office. Alfredo Russo was intimidating to say the least with his military bearing.

Giorgio had not dared ignore the summons to come to his office, even though he had been in the middle of having drinks with friends. One does not ignore a summons from Alfredo, it was just not done. But he was careful to keep his expression neutral as he waited for the man to take his seat behind the massive baronial desk.

“Good of you to drop by,” the sarcasm was evident in the deep, almost unaccented voice. Like his father, Giorgio had been educated at Oxford and Cambridge and had only a trace of the Italian accent.

“I live to please.” He had a feeling that his droll tone was only adding fuel to the fire but could not help it. He had an idea what the meeting was about and was impatient to get it out of the way.

“How bad was the crash?”

“The hood of the Ferrari was only dented. I was driving on a racing course…”

“That’s the third vehicle in less than three months.” Alfredo pinned him with merciless dark eyes, a small frown etching his brow. His son was spoilt, there was no doubt about that. And he was afraid he was the one to blame.

After his beloved Maria had passed away when the boy was in high school, he had been adrift and devasted to lose the only woman he had ever loved. His wife had been the one to lead the household with her gentle but firm hands, while he was handling a company that took up most of his time.

When she succumbed to her illness, he more or less left Giorgio to his own devices, lavishing him with expensive gifts and allowing him free rein to do whatever he wanted. The boy had inherited his mother’s stunning beauty and was well aware of the impact his incredibly good looks had on the opposite sex.

He was frequently showcased in various magazines and his numerous affairs were often highlighted in the gossip columns.

Giorgio shifted on the padded seat restlessly. He knew this was coming. The crash had happened because he had taken the turn too quickly. But he was in no danger of hurting himself or anyone else. Speed was his obsession, and he did everything to excess, something he was certainly not going to apologize for.

“I am living life to the fullest.” He could not help the resentment in his voice. His papa insisted on monitoring his every move and it was vastly upsetting. “You have chosen my bride for me and in a few months, I will be tethered by matrimony. Until then, I am going to enjoy myself.”

“Marrying Sofia will be such a hardship? She is a beautiful and gracious young lady who will make a wonderful wife and mother.”

“And that’s what this is all about, is it not?” Giorgio’s dark eyes glowered. “The need for me to procreate, to sire heirs to carry on this vast empire.” One graceful hand made a dismissive sweep around the room. The office was decorated in deep ochre, a massive fireplace taking up an entire section of the room.

Windows sparkled with light shining from the sun and the stunning panorama of the jewel-like city was laid out before them. Gold ankle deep carpet complemented the pale-yellow furnishings, and expensive paintings dotted the silken walls.

Alfredo was a king in his own realm, reigning over the diversified company with a rod of iron. He was almost sixty but looked ten years younger because of the rigid discipline he placed on his body.

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