With Stella gone, Marco paused, awning latch in hand. Taking one final look at the incomplete mural through the front window, he sighed. Calculating the time before April second, he knew it would fly by.
Before he could turn and face Via dei Giubbonari, he placed his paint-stained hand across the middle of his chest and cast a wish to the heavens.
Please. Find a way to keep her here.
ventiquattro
Carlotta stared into her glass of Montepulciano red – aged and aired – and waited for the signal. By way of an inconspicuous head nod, Giacomino communicated that the test photo over the bar was clear and the lighting was adequate.
She took another mouthful of wine and gave him a wry smile. Giacomino, with his shaved head, pierced ears and tattooed arms, was a giant with a warm, soft centre. He gave her a wink in return and began polishing glasses.
They were ready.
Vincent noticed Carlotta as soon as he entered the bar moments later. How could he not? She looked the pillar of style; confident, yet understated. Her long, blonde hair was gathered over one shoulder, perfectly accented by her black turtleneck jumper and dark rinse skinny jeans.
‘What a great place,’ he said, approaching the table.
‘It is.’ She rose to meet him, planting a kiss on either cheek.
‘You look beautiful,’ he gushed. ‘What are you drinking?’ He slung his jacket on the back of his chair and joined her.
‘I’m not sure actually, thesommelierrecommended it.’ She gestured to Giacomino behind the bar, who immediately came over to take Vincent’s order.
‘Buonasera. Would you like something to drink,signore?’ Giacomino was the perfect host, all smiles, placing a napkin across Vincent’s lap.
‘I’d love a glass of whatever she’s having.’
‘Certo.’ He nodded. ‘Can I bring you a fewantipastito share?Supplì, peppers, olives?’
‘Absolutely. Whatever you recommend.’ Vincent made a point of passing Giacomino the menus without having so much as glanced at them.
Giacomino disappeared behind the bar, never taking an eye off the pair.
‘So, how did everything go with your boss?’ Carlotta took a long swig of wine, needing the strength it brought to placate her nerves.
‘My boss?’
‘Yes. This afternoon you left the bar because your boss called.’ Her bright eyes beamed genuine concern.
Vincent’s gaze scanned the table. ‘Ah, yes. All fine. Some lost files. That’s all. The place would crumble to the ground if I weren’t there to mend the cracks.’ Thankful that his wine and some olives had arrived, he changed the topic of conversation.
As the night carried on, Carlotta noticed Vincent becoming increasingly cagey. The more questions she asked, the shorter and simpler his responses became. She noticed Vincent becoming tense, knotting himself with loose ends, trailing thoughts and unfinished sentences.
After their second glass of wine, which went down easier than the first, Vincent turned the tables. ‘Enough about me. I want to know more aboutbellaElisabetta.’ As he spoke, he leaned in closer, gently stroking the back of her hand.
Carlotta immediately felt ill. A little voice inside her head reminded her that this was all for the greater good. Vincent was clearly in the mindset to cheat on Stella, and this was likely not the first time. She was in a powerful position to turn him inside out and empty his pockets of lies and dishonesty. This was about protection; it was about looking after Stella.
From the corner of her eye, Carlotta noticed Giacomino in the same spot where he had taken the test photo, so she assumed he was capturing Vincent’s first move. Not wanting to coax him further, Carlotta glanced down at his hand on hers.
‘Does that make you uncomfortable?’ He gestured to their entwined fingers.
Carlotta wanted to scream and jump out of her chair. She wanted to slap him and pin him against the wall. If it weren’t for the opportunity this set-up would bring, she might have done all those things, and more.
‘No. Not at all.’ She smiled, trying not to look disingenuous.
He stood up and moved across the table, now standing beside her. Dropping to one knee, took her chin in his hand and kissed her softly. ‘How about that?’ He pulled away slowly, playing with a lock of her blonde hair as he did so. ‘Wanna get out of here?’ His gaze was meaningful and direct.
Carlotta froze. She hadn’t thought it would come to this so quickly. Glancing across the bar, she spotted Giacomino. He nodded inconspicuously, giving her a sly thumbs up to indicate that he got the photo. As far as she was concerned, her job was done.
