‘Great memory.’
‘I’m trying.’
‘He was the last heir. At the time that the D’Adamo trust was passed to him, Alberto was the youngest married D’Adamo male in the line of descent.’
‘Which is why your grandfather Andrea didn’t qualify.’
‘Yes. Alberto’s wife died young, and they never had the chance to have children.’
‘He never met anyone else?’
Matthew’s shoulders shrugged. ‘She was impossible to replace.’
Sarah gave a gentle knowing smile. ‘That’s tough.’
On an inhale, he said, ‘Alberto wants to retire and step away. And that’s how the lineage has found me. Well,us. There’s no one else who meets the criteria.’
‘And this is why you rushed to . . .’ she rolled her wedding band over her finger.
‘Exactly.’
‘When did they first explain all this inheritance business to you?’
His lips bundled. ‘I’ve always known. I can’t pinpoint a moment. It’s been a point of discussion forever. The greatest irony of it all is that on paper I’m actually well-equipped for the job.’
‘How so?’
‘My legal background. Risk management. Negotiations. My intimate knowledge of the properties and how the Trust works. The business side of it all I’m sure I’ll learn as we progress.’
‘I’m certain you’ll do a great job.’
‘Speaking of, how do you feel about having left your job to be here?’
Sarah’s eyes hit the table. ‘Iwillmiss it. And the people. But I know in my heart they will have me back when I’m ready. In the meantime, this is going to be a lovely break for me. Time to soak up culture, language. Eat myself into oblivion. Travel around with you as we visit all the properties. It sounds like an adventure.’ Sarah shimmied her chair forward to further tuck herself under the table. Out of sight her hands came to rest securely on her middle, and she gave herself a gentle caress. ‘This is a year off to think and plan for my future too, Matthew,’ she said. ‘Time and space to work out my next move.’
‘Fair enough.’
Sarah sat up straight in her chair. ‘There’s no point being stressed. We’ve got this. They want a marriage, so a marriage we’ll give them . . .darling.’
Matthew grinned. ‘Thank you.’
‘Can I ask a non-carded question?’ Sarah’s lips pursed in a pensive pout.
‘We’ll see.’
‘If your legal name is Matteo, why do you go by Matthew?’
He stifled a little laugh. ‘I was teased mercilessly in primary school.Matt-hey-yo!’ He tried his best bad-boy dance move, reminiscent of a 90s rapper. ‘No one could ever say it right. Most of the kidschosenot to. I just anglicised it. Even my parents call me Matthew. Everyone here, you’ll notice, will call me Matteo.’
‘Actually, what do you want me to call you?’
Matthew wasn’t sure. ‘Matthew is fine. Whatever feels natural for you?’
‘And terms of endearment? Love? Babe?’
‘Babe?’ His cheeks warmed a little.
‘You know what I mean. What about you?’
