Page 43 of Giorgio

“We are friends.”

He had been the one to laugh. “I seriously doubt he can be friends with a female below the age of ninety.”

“I can take care of myself.”

“Can you?”

Now standing here in the middle of the room, she was wondering the same thing.

*****

He was bored. This was his scene or usually it was. The room was packed with their guests and the live band that had been hired was doing a very good job. He circled the room, smiling charmingly and listening to the various conversations.

He had even danced with a few of the women he had been intimate with, some had even hinted that they should retire to his suite and have a private party. He had declined, without giving an explanation.

It had been two days since he had seen her, and it was killing him. He missed her. Missed their conversations.

She had called and he had been polite and distant. He knew he had hurt her with his cool tone, but he wanted distance.

The night he had undressed her, he had come perilously close to taking advantage. Images of her naked body were still etched on his mind and no amount of alcohol or cold shower were able to dislodge it. He wanted her so much; he was aching from it.

So, he stayed away. But in doing so, he was punishing himself. He should suggest she leave – board a plane and go home. But even the thought of that was making him panicky.

“Hi.” His reverie was interrupted by a husky female voice.

“Hi.” He had been avoiding Sofia and knew she was one of the invitees. His father had stopped hounding him about marrying her, which was a relief. “How are you?”

“Very well, thank you.”

She had always been a very polite young woman and a beautiful one. Her blonde hair was caught at the nape of her neck in an elegant chignon and her ivory skin was flawless. The dress, an emerald green, made her hazel eyes sparkle.

“Would you like a glass of champagne?” He had no idea what to say to her, he never did.

“Thank you.”

He snagged a glass and handed it to her. “Uhm – how is the project coming along?”

She was heavy into charitable work and her latest was helping to restore a museum in the downtown area. He applauded her effort and the fact that she was doing something.

“We are onto stage two.”

“Stage two?” People eddied around them, giving them curious looks.

“Getting rid of the debris from the areas that were torn down. You should come and see what we are doing.”

“I just might.”

She eyed him for a few seconds as she sipped her drink. “I know you are not interested.”

“Pardon?”

She shrugged slender shoulders, a faint blush stealing over her face.

“In me. You are not interested in having a relationship with me.”

“Sofia…”

She shook her head. “We are not suited.”

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