A Proposal From The Italian Count

But the last year of her father’s life had been the saddest she had ever known. She still wept when she remembered his suffering.

Vittorio thought money was the answer to everything!

And yet she knew there was another reason for her rage. When she remembered how her hopes of winning Vittorio’s feelings had risen, and then been smashed to the ground, she felt capable of murder.

He had just been playing a game until he had what suited him. He hadn’t spared a thought as to what it was doing to her.

So accept the money, said a voice in her head. He offered you a million—more than a million with interest.

Because he thought it would put right what his father had done. If he wasn’t such a heartless monster he’d know that nothing could ever make it right.

What would her father have done? If he were still alive it would be so different. Then of course they would have accepted the money. It would have been his due. But now he was gone would it be right for her to accept it on his behalf?

She closed the laptop and went back to bed. At last she managed to nod off, sinking into a deep and dreamless sleep.

* * *

Vittorio’s night had also been troubled. He’d fallen asleep easily, but found his dreams haunted by Jackie’s contempt until they were practically nightmares that woke him in a cold sweat.

He rose out of bed. He had no desire to go back to sleep lest the alarming female return to torment him. Day was breaking and he felt the need of a fresh air. Dressing hastily, he went downstairs and out into the street.

His thoughts were full of the promise he’d made to his beloved father. Come what might he had to make this right—for everyone’s sake.

Almost at once the shop came in sight. It was time for it to be open, so he went closer and looked through the glass door, but he could see no sign of anyone. Moving quietly, he opened the door and slipped inside. At once he heard the sound of voices coming from deep within. One was Jackie’s, and the other he recognised as the weasely boss who had appeared during his first visit. His voice was raised in annoyance.

‘Jackie, you’re mad. You should have got all you could out of the Count and then invested in this place. I could do with some money to cover the debts. You could have helped me out and you just turned it down? How could you be so stupid?’

She replied in a voice filled with rage that reminded Vittorio of the way she’d spoken to him with equal fury during last night.

‘You think I should have taken his money and used it for your convenience?’ she raged at Rik. ‘I’m not that stupid.’

Vittorio stepped a little closer, careful to keep out of sight but wanting to hear everything.

‘You just can’t recognise reality when it’s under your nose,’ came Rik’s reply. ‘You had the chance of a fortune. You could have taken it. But perhaps your fantasies are fixed on something else.’

‘What does that mean?’

‘It’s him, isn’t it? You refused his money because you’re hoping for a better offer! You think you can lure him into marriage, but you’re wasting your time. A man like that wouldn’t marry you in a million years.’

‘And I wouldn’t marry him in a million years. He’s cold—and arrogant enough to think that money can solve anything.’

Vittorio made a wry face. A wise man would have slipped away at this moment, but he didn’t feel wise. He felt as though Jackie had seized him and was holding him at her mercy in whirls of confusion.

‘It can solve a great deal,’ he heard Rik say. ‘It could pay a lot of my debts—many of which are your fault.’

‘How can you say that?’

‘If you did a better job this shop would be doing well, instead of sinking into debt.’

‘The shop was in a bad way when my father sold it to you. That’s how you got it so cheap. I heard you—beating him down on the price when he was too weak to fight you.’

‘Don’t try to blame me for your father’s failings. Luckily it’s not too late. You’ve still got time to find this Italian Count and tell him you’ll take the money.’

‘You think I’d—? You’re mad.’

‘I’m telling you to do it.’

‘And I’m telling you to go to hell.’

‘I warn you, Jackie, you’re walking a very fine line. Perhaps I’d better see him myself—’

‘Perhaps you should,’ Vittorio said, stepping out so that they could see him.

Rik noticed him first, and the shock on his face alerted Jackie, so that she looked behind her, also appalled at the discovery.

Rik assumed a severe manner. ‘We have business to discuss,’ he said.

‘The only business we have is for you to listen to what I have to say,’ Vittorio said bluntly. ‘For you—not a penny.’

‘But you have a debt to pay,’ Rik squealed.

‘Not to you.’

‘Jackie, tell him,’ Rik whined. ‘Tell him he’s got to pay you what he owes you.’

Jackie looked intently at Vittorio, but did not speak.

‘Do it now,’ Rik snapped. ‘Let me hear you say it.’

‘I have nothing to say,’ she replied coldly. ‘The Count’s debt is impossible to repay.’ She met Vittorio’s gaze and said emphatically, ‘Ever!’

Rik looked from one to the other, scowling.

‘So that’s it,’ he raged. ‘You two are in this together. As soon as I’m out of earshot you’ll take the money and cut me out.’

‘You can’t be cut out because you were never in,’ Jackie said fiercely. ‘You bought this business fair and square, and any debts are now your responsibility. Besides, I will never take a penny of his money.’

‘You’re insane!’ Rik seethed. ‘What kind of fool turns down that sort of money? Well, if money’s of no importance to you then you won’t be needing this job. Or the accommodation I’ve provided for you. You’re fired. I’ll give you one hour to clear out your stuff from upstairs.’

Rik stormed out, pausing at the front door.

‘One hour!’ he yelled. ‘I mean it.’

Then he was gone, slamming the door behind him.

Vittorio turned swiftly to Jackie. ‘Good riddance.’ he said. ‘Forget him. He isn’t worth bothering with.’

Jackie was shaken, but determined to maintain her dignity. ‘How long were you there, listening?’

‘I came to see you and arrived just as you were telling him what had happened.’

‘I never meant to tell him, but he made me so angry that I said it to knock the smile off his face. I could have strangled him.’ She gave a bitter laugh. ‘I’d have enjoyed that.’

‘Don’t worry. He’s bound to give you another excuse. He’s a pig, Jackie, and you’re better off without him.’

‘But this isn’t just my job. I’ve lived here all my life and now I’ve lost my home, too.’

‘Then we must find you another one. Get packing and we’ll be out of here—fast.’

‘I’ve nowhere to go.’

‘Trust me to arrange that.’

She knew an instinct to rebel against him. This catastrophe had happened only because he’d come to England and caused trouble. Now she’d lost her job and her home, and he was to blame.

But was he really? If she hadn’t been silly enough to tell Rik about the money this wouldn’t have happened. When was she going to learn to control her temper?

Never, she thought fiercely.

‘Let’s get you out of here,’ Vittorio said. He took her arm and ran up the stairs with her and began opening drawers and cupboards, working hard to help her.

‘Is that your only suitcase?’ he asked, regarding the one she had produced.

‘Yes, but I’ve got some plastic bags.’

Luckily the bags proved enough to take her few possessions.

‘Anything else?’ he asked at last.

‘No, that’s all.’

‘You have nothing else?’ he asked, looking astonished.

‘This is all I need,’ she said defiantly.

He gave her an odd look, as though wondering what madness had made her refuse his money when she seemed to own so little, but all he said was, ‘Then let’s go.’

She looked around nervously as they went downstairs, but there was no sign of Rik.

‘Where are we going?’ she asked as they went out into the street.

‘I’m staying in the Davien Hotel, a couple of streets away. We’ll get you a room there for tonight, then make our plans.’

She knew the hotel. It had a reputation as being costly.

‘I don’t think it’s quite the right place for me,’ she said uneasily.

‘If you’re worried about the money, don’t be. I’m paying. I landed you in this mess and it’s my responsibility to get you out.’

Suddenly she recalled Rik’s warning to her. He’d suggested that Vittorio was hoping to lure Jackie into bed with the empty promise of a great fortune.

Suddenly she was uneasy. Was that why Vittorio was taking her to his hotel at his own expense? Did he mean her to share his bed?

Only recently that thought would have excited her. Vittorio attracted her powerfully. The thought of lying with him in bed would have been a pleasure. But now everything was different. Was he trustworthy? Could she be sure?

A short walk brought them to the hotel. Vittorio went to Reception and chatted with the woman there as she typed something onto the keyboard. Nodding to her, he headed back to Jackie.

‘I’ve managed to secure you a room on the second floor.’

He escorted her upstairs, leading her to a door for which he had the key. She held her breath.

But when the door opened she knew she’d done him an injustice. There was only one single bed.

‘Th-thank you,’ she stammered.

‘If you need me I’m three doors along the corridor.’

He departed at once, leaving her standing alone, trying to take in everything that had happened. Only yesterday she had quarrelled with this man, and today he had come to her rescue and she had accepted his help gladly.

It doesn’t make any sense, she mused.

But nothing had made sense since she’d met him. Perhaps nothing ever would again.

He returned just as she finished putting her things away.

‘They do a good lunch here,’ he said. ‘I’ll have some sent up.’

‘Couldn’t we eat downstairs in the restaurant?’

‘Do I make you feel nervous, Jackie? Are you afraid to be alone with me?’

‘Of course not,’ she said uneasily. ‘I have no feelings about you one way or the other, actually,’ she lied bravely.

‘So you didn’t mean it when you said you wouldn’t marry me in a million years? Or the bit about me being cold and arrogant and a person who thinks money can solve anything?’

For a moment it was as though her worst nightmares were coming true. But then she saw he was grinning, and that his eyes were full of friendly humour.

‘Forget it,’ he said. ‘People say things in the heat of the moment. And it’s not far different from what you said to me yesterday. But it’s time we drew a line under that. We have to work matters out between us and be friends—if that’s possible.’

It was still embarrassing to know that he’d heard her, but his unexpected humour made it bearable.

‘So—can I have some food sent up?’ he asked.

‘Are you asking my permission?’

Again he gave her a cheeky grin. ‘Isn’t that what you prefer a man to do?’

‘Stop trying to make me sound like a bully.’

‘Not a bully. Just a woman who knows her own mind—as Rik would tell us after the way you stood up to him. He’s a nasty bully, but you really dealt with him.’

‘Yes—and that was so successful that now I’ve got to start looking for another job and a home.’

‘But where? You’ll never get another job around here. He’ll make sure of that.’

She groaned, recognising that Vittorio was right. Rik would spread the word that she was unreliable, destroying her prospects.

‘I still feel that I owe you any help I can persuade you to accept,’ Vittorio said.

‘You have a job to offer me?’

‘Not here, but in Italy. I could find many opportunities for you there. Why not come back with me?’

CHAPTER THREE

JACKIE STARED AT him in disbelief. ‘Italy? Did I hear right?’

‘Dead right. I want you to work for me in my family’s department store in Rome. Your talents will be valuable.’

‘But I’ve only ever worked in a little shop. I’d be useless in a department store.’

‘Not in our glass and china section. It’s a new department, and it isn’t doing brilliantly because nobody really understands it. But you could bring it to life and make it profitable.’

‘According to Rik, I was lousy at making profits.’

‘Were you? Or did he make a lot of stupid decisions?’

‘Yes, he buys all the wrong stuff.’

‘So I can rely on you to buy all the right stuff?’

‘Mightn’t the language be a problem? I never got to finish my Italian course at night school. I had to stop when Daddy became ill.’

‘A lot of people there speak English. Some of our customers are tourists, and your English would be a blessing to them. Your Italian seems already pretty good, and you can work to improve it.’

‘It’s very kind of you—’ she began uneasily.

‘No, it isn’t. I’m not being kind. I’m a businessman and I’m doing what any sensible businessman does—turning the situation to my own advantage. I could make a lot of money out of you, and I’m not passing up the chance to do that.’

‘But how—?’

‘You won’t just have that one department. I want you to cast your expert eye over the whole store and tell me how it looks to you—because that will tell me how it looks to our customers. Tourists are profitable, and you can help me attract plenty of them. And it could open some new doors for you, Jackie. I’ll pay you a decent wage—far more than Rik paid you—and you’ll have a position of authority.’

Authority. The word seemed to sing in her ears. This would truly be a new, more satisfying life—exactly what she had longed for. Again she had the mysterious feeling that Vittorio could read her mind.

‘Authority?’ she echoed. ‘Do you really mean that?’

‘You’d be in charge of your department. You’d have a team that would take your orders. Or don’t you feel up to giving orders?’

‘Oh, yes, I do. That was always my problem with Rik. And with my father too sometimes. He complained that I argued with him too much.’ She gave a brief laugh.

‘Don’t worry. When you’re working for me you can give all the orders you want. I’ll make it clear to the team that you’re the boss. You need never fear another bully like Rik.’

It sounded too good to be true, she thought, trying to suppress a flicker of confusion. Knowing the terrible truth about how her father had been treated had made hostility flare between them, but there were other feelings too—some warmer, some interested, all confusing.

But what else could she do? Where else was there for her to go? What other life was possible for her? It was as if all other doors had slammed shut and fate was driving her irresistibly into this man’s power.

Surely she could take advantage of the situation, just as he planned to do?

Here was a chance to learn new skills and gain new experiences that might open up a world of fresh opportunities for her.

‘All right,’ she said in a daze. ‘I’ll go to Italy with you.’

‘Good thinking. I knew I could rely on you.’

She ventured to say, ‘You mean because I’ve agreed with you?’

‘What else? That’s my definition of good thinking. So, now there’s nothing to hold you back we can go tomorrow. I’ll book two tickets.’

After booking the tickets Vittorio ordered a meal and a bottle of wine from room service.

‘After this I must attend to some business matters. I suggest you relax for the rest of the afternoon, and then I think we should both get an early night,’ he said, adding in a teasing voice, ‘In our separate rooms, I promise.’

‘Stop teasing,’ she said cheerfully. ‘I wasn’t thinking that.’

‘Good. Then we can both relax.’

‘Of course. We agree to be friends. That’s all.’

‘Friends...’ he mused. ‘What kind of friends? Best friends?’

‘We’ll have to wait and see.’

She was right. Friendship was their only hope. Had she really feared lest he come to her door? After their argument the day before he could well believe that she didn’t want him. His own feelings for her were less clear.

Officially they were enemies, and his instinct to protect her was troublesome.

She was becoming important to him in ways that confused him. Perhaps soon he would understand them. For the moment he preferred to wait and see what fate had in store.

He lifted his glass of wine in her direction.

‘Here’s to you,’ he said. ‘You don’t know how much I’m going to rely on you.’

And it was true, he thought. She didn’t.

It was a quiet meal, with very little talk. Instinctively they both knew that for the moment enough had been said. Perhaps too much.

At the earliest moment they finished eating.

‘And now I really must get on with some work. I’ll head back to my room, but if you think of anything else you need today please call through.’

He bade her a polite good day, and left.

Returning to his room, he recalled something he’d meant to say to her, and hurried back to see her.

A surprise awaited him. He looked out into the corridor just in time to see her getting into the elevator and the doors closing.

Where on earth could she be going? he thought frantically. Surely not to talk to Rik?

There was no hope of catching up with the elevator. He went to his window and looked down. There she was, walking away along the road, and then turning through a large gate that he knew led to a church.

Every cautious instinct told him to stay where he was—not to follow her. But something about Jackie always overcame caution.

In a moment he was out of the door, hurrying until he reached the church gate.

Inside was a cemetery. As he watched she approached a tombstone and knelt before it. He was too far away to make out the name, but he could hear Jackie saying urgently, ‘I’m sorry, Daddy. I really am.’

So this was Benton’s grave, and she had come here to talk to him. Vittorio backed away, unwilling to invade her privacy, but he couldn’t help hearing her next words.

‘I don’t really trust him. I’d like to, but he doesn’t understand what a terrible thing was done to you, and that makes him almost as much of an enemy as his father. But I must go to Italy. I’ll come back, I promise. Only forgive me. Please, please forgive me.’

As watched she pressed her lips to the stone, then leaned against it, sobbing.

Torn by the instinct to comfort her, he took a step closer—but stopped just in time. Whatever happened, she mustn’t know he was there. He had an unnerving feeling...as though he’d been suddenly stranded on a desert island. He hadn’t expected this, and the sensation of being caught unprepared was alarming.

He backed off and hurried away, haunted by her words—

I don’t trust him... Almost as much of an enemy as his father...

If that was how she thought of him he supposed he couldn’t blame her. But it hurt more than he would have expected.

Back at the hotel, he returned to his room and went to the window, hoping to see her return. But hours passed with no sign of her and his heart sank. Where had she vanished to now? What trouble might she have fallen into? Had she changed her mind about accompanying him to Italy?

Then a noise from the corridor made him hurry outside. She was there, turning the key in her lock.

‘There you are,’ he said with relief.

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.