“Hmm, I’m surprised.”
“What?” I asked, looking at the image.
“She’s more refined than I imagined a cleaning lady to look like. I mean, my maid isn’t pretty. She’s older and round, but she keeps me fed and my apartment spotless.”
“You think Cyndee is refined?” I didn’t see it.
“Who’s the woman next to her?” Zia asked.
“Her older sister.”
“Interesting. The sister lines her eyes with black liner and her lips in two different colors. Latinas tend to do that. But Cyndee is more natural and actually looks Italian. What’s her last name?”
“Canellas. She’s not Italian.”Unfortunately. If she was, it would help to convince my family we were a couple.
“Are you sure? I’d swear she was Italian. At least half given her features.” Zia picked out a couple of handbags and waved Mary over to collect them.
I studied the image more. Now I was curious about Cyndee’s heritage.
“She looks about my age. She’s very attractive. Are you sure you can pretend to be a couple and not let the lines get crossed. If she’s not even half Italian, there’s no way the family would approve of her.”
“I feel not for her.” How could I? We’re from two different worlds and we’re nothing alike.
“Wow, that’s harsh. So, how’s your pretend relationship supposed to end?”
“After Lettie’s gala, the final event, Cyndee will break up with me, and I’ll be heartbroken.” I rolled my eyes. “Hopefully, that will buy me a few more years before Mom and Dad try to set up an arranged marriage.”
“Sound like you thought of everything. What happens if she falls in love with you and the glamorous life she’s entered?”
“She won’t.”
“How do you know she won’t? You’re easy on the eyes Fabio and a billionaire. Women fall all over you.”
“And that’s why I picked Cyndee. She doesn’t see me that way. She’s my cleaning lady and nothing more.” I knew my parents’ expectations. A woman who wasn’t Italian and didn’t come from money or ran in our circle would never get their approval. That was why I needed a person I would never look twice at.
“Okaaay.” She waved to me to follow her. “I can’t wait to meet her Friday night.”
“Yeah, I’m sure it will be great fun. Do you think you can call your spa and tell them what to do for Cyndee? I told the receptionist to give her the works when I made the appointment, but is that enough?”
“I’ll handle it.”
“Thank you.” Relief washed over me. Zia would make sure Cyndee wouldn’t be snubbed by my family. “One more thing.”
“What is it, Fabio?”
“Will you be nice to her? I don’t want her to feel like an outcast.”
My sister placed her hand on my arm and looked up with her big green eyes. “For you, absolutely. But I have one little warning for you.”
“I’m listening.” I probably wouldn’t like what she had to say. Zia had a knack for calling people out on their bullshit. She was most like our father out of us eight kids.
“Cyndee is about to step into her greatest fantasies coming true. Money. The lap of luxury. Fancy up the wazoo. And a handsome Italian prince. It would be hard for any woman to keep it all straight in her head, much less keep her heart out of the picture.”
“I’ll keep things platonic.”
“You say that, but I’m just as worried about you.”
“Me? You don’t need to be worried about me. She’s my cleaning lady.” I shook my head at her ridiculousness.
