“He lost interest in the property.”
“So it’s still yours?”
“Mine and my sister’s, yeah. And we still intend to sell.”
“Of course.”
“I was wondering if you were still willing to buy it.”
“Yes. Yes!” I exclaim, leaping up from my chair, wide-eyed. “Of course I’m interested! I’ll buy it!”
Charles nods. “I was pretty sure, but I wanted to confirm. Now, you and I have known each other all our lives, and I know you’ve put your heart into this place. I really would like for the estate to be yours. I won’t play games with you on this, but I can’t sell below market. Bogdanovic was going to give me five million—do you think the bank would give you that much?”
Ouch. “They said they could do four, according to their appraisal.”
“That’s a bit low. I know you know the value is there.”
“Wait!” I exclaim. “I’ll be right back.” I fly to the kitchen, where I confiscate Foliero’s laptop and return to Charles. “Look, we just got this. It’s an order from the Prince of Wales himself for a supply of our wine. Maybe if I show this to the bank, I could get four and a half.”
“Four and a half could work. My sister also has to give the okay, and she’s more careful than I am when it comes to money. She’d rather look for another buyer than accept an offer that’s too low.”
“But four and a half would be okay?” I ask.
“Should be fine.”
“Oh, thank you! Thank you!” I shout, throwing my arms around his neck. “You’re an angel! I’ll request an appointment with the bank for this afternoon.”
“You’re in a bit of a hurry, huh?”
“Like my ass is on fire,” I say, jumping up and down. “Of course, let me just say you gave me a shock. You could have called me. There was no need to come all the way to Italy.”
“But there was. I didn’t come just to sell the estate,” he replies with a sweet smile and a dreamy look.
Oh boy, do I hear violins in the air and rose petals falling from the sky? “Oh no?”
“I’d like to see Giada again. I think we had a big misunderstanding that made each of us think we’d lost interest in the other, but instead we were both too afraid to speak up. As long as she’s still interested in me ...”
“Is she interested? She dreams of you every night! Stay right there,” I order him. “I’ll go wake her up and send her down! Last night she did a hen party mani-pedi session for twenty people. She didn’t come home until just before sunrise.”
“It’s okay, let her rest.”
“She’ll be wide awake as soon as she sees you. I’ll be right back. Ah, Carletto,” I say, standing at the door. “Thank you again, truly. Buying the estate is going to change my life.”
“Don’t thank me,” he replies, crossing his arms over his chest. “Thank Michael.”
Bang. One shot, one target. “Michael?”
“He’s going to kill me for telling you, but if it weren’t for him, Bogdanovic would be here, standing in my place today.”
I want to know more, but instead I just nod wordlessly.
“Aren’t you going to ask me how he is?”
“How is he?” I repeat, petrified.
“Well, first, how are you?” Carletto looks at me as if he were a detective conducting an interrogation. “You know what I’m talking about. Don’t be cryptic.”
I swallow dryly, terrified. Of course I know. “Not good.”
