“I wonder if she’s still modeling for Alta Visione Talenti,” Ravenna continued. “Maybe she knows about the parties. Do you think we could talk with her?”
Valerio shook his head. “I’m the last person she wants to hear from.”
“Why?”
He described the dinner with Maria and the way it had ended. Ravenna laughed, her eyes sparkling with sudden merriment.
“You called her a prostitute?”
“She was asking for money!”
“Well,” she said, “you’re right. She won’t want to talk to you again. Unless…”
“Unless what?”
“Maybe she hasn’t been able to find another sponsor. She might want to talk to you if she thinks she has another shot at getting you to pay. Send her a text.”
“I can’t,” Valerio protested.
“Sure you can,” said Ravenna. “Unless she’s already blocked you. What’s the worst that can happen?”
Valerio thought for a moment and then messaged Maria:We need to meet.
“Not blocked,” he said.
“What did you write?” Ravenna asked. Valerio showed her his screen. She smiled.
“You really don’t know women, do you?” she said gently. “May I try?”
Valerio surrendered his phone, waiting with a strange anxiety while Ravenna wrote.
She showed him the result:I’ve been an idiot. I met someone beautiful…perfect. A goddess. I should have worshipped her, but instead I judged her, and let her slip away.
At his nod, she pressed Send.
To Valerio’s amazement, only a few seconds passed, and a text bubble appeared.
I’ve been very angry with you, Maria wrote.
Ravenna typed,Punish me. Please. I deserve it.
I should, Maria said.You were a very naughty boy.
What would you do to punish me? To let me prove myself to you?Ravenna wrote.
Another text bubble appeared, then vanished—then appeared again.
Tomorrow night. 7PM. I’ll punish you until you beg.
“There,” said Ravenna, handing back the phone. “You have a date.”
—
Several hours later, Valerio was smiling as he unlocked the door to his building.
He’d taken the kids for dinner before Giorgia picked them up. Despite his intention to part ways with Ravenna, he’d somehow never gotten around to it, and she’d joined them for dinner. Gemma and Davide had seemed unexpectedly comfortable with the arrangement, and laughed at her jokes. He hadn’t wanted to say goodbye. He briefly considered asking her to come home with him before thinking better of it. Ravenna excused herself, saying she needed an early night for work tomorrow.
—
