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Gina thought Marco looked so sincere when he said this that she almost wanted to touch his cheek in response.

Snap out of it, he’s married!

Brad leapt to his feet in a standing ovation as Lucia moved to the centre of the stage and took her bows, revelling in the cheers and the spotlight. She was right where she belonged: an undeniable star, a true diva, in the traditional sense of the word. Gina couldn’t help but admire her – her pure, natural talent, and her evident ambition, which had propelled her to the top of her art. Gina felt safe up here, in the shadows of the box, out of reach of Lucia’s searching gaze.

‘She’s spectacular,’ Brad said, sounding awestruck, as red roses were thrown onto the stage. Lucia picked one up and posed with it, the beautiful flower nestling at her overflowing cleavage. Then she glanced around, as though she were looking for someone, and her feline eyes alighted on their box. Gina instinctively pulled back into the shadows, as Lucia blew kisses in their direction – whether aimed at Brad or Marco, Gina wasn’t sure. The heads of the audience began to swivel in their direction, following La Leonessa’s eyeline.

‘Time for me to go,’ Brad apologized, as the murmurs and pointing began, a ripple of excited chatter running through the theatre. He turned to leave the box, and Gina and Brad followed him.

‘Where are we going?’ Gina asked, as he turned away from the exit and towards an unobtrusive corridor that looked as though it was a dead end.

‘Backstage, of course,’ Brad grinned.

Gina’s stomach lurched. Backstage was the last place she wanted to go, but it was too late to make her excuses now. They walked briskly along the tight corridors; the portieres who looked after the security arrangements simply melted away when they saw Brad Redford.

‘Lucia! Brava! Stupenda! You were truly exquisite,’ Brad gushed, as he spotted La Leonessa amongst a crowd of admirers. She was on the way back to her dressing room, energy and genuine happiness radiating from her.

‘Well, Signor Redford,’ she breathed, batting her long eyelashes. ‘Did I impress you?’

‘You were … indescribable. There are no words to express how exquisite your performance was. Simply sublime.’

Lucia bowed her head, graciously accepting his compliments.

‘And you know what?’ Brad went on, smiling. ‘I think you’re right. No movie set in Venice is complete without La Leonessa.’

Lucia inhaled sharply, sheer excitement breaking through her haughty exterior. Gina understood that opera fame was a very different beast to Hollywood blockbuster fame and, for Lucia, the prospect of her face being seen on movie screens around the world was thrilling.

‘You mean …’ Lucia gasped.

‘Let’s talk tomorrow. I’ll have my people call your people,’ Brad winked, echoing Lucia’s phrase. ‘Guys, it’s been a blast, but I have a five a.m. call tomorrow and I need my beauty sleep. Catch you later, OK?’

‘I’ll come with you,’ Gina offered. ‘You can’t go by yourself, you’ll be mobbed.’

‘My bodyguard’s waiting at the back exit. You stay here and enjoy the rest of the evening,’ Brad grinned, raising his hand in a farewell gesture before turning to leave. Gina was surprised by his hasty exit and found herself wishing she’d gone with him, but now she’d missed her opportunity.

In Brad’s absence, Lucia turned her attention to Marco.

‘Signor DiMaggio, did you like what you saw?’ she asked, turning in a slow pirouette, inviting him to admire her.

‘You were a triumph,’ he smiled, though Gina noticed he kept the same polite but distant tone as he’d previously used with Lucia. Whether La Leonessa was aware of it or not, she didn’t appear to be taking no for an answer.

‘Marco – you don’t mind if I call you Marco, no? We are friends now. Tonight is my special night, and that means I get whatever I want. And I want you to take me for dinner.’

Marco laughed uncomfortably. ‘I’m sure there are far more exciting people to spend the evening with than me. Besides, I already have plans.’

Lucia narrowed her eyes, fury crossing her face. ‘Plans?’ she repeated, a look of disdain crossing her face.

‘Yes. With Gina.’

Lucia’s head whipped across, and she glared at Gina, as though seeing her properly for the first time. ‘I see.’ It was almost a snarl. Then Lucia’s voice became like honey once again. ‘It is a wonderful opportunity for us to get to know each other. Let me take you to my favourite trattoria,’ she offered enticingly.

‘I’m afraid not. Gina and I have urgent business to discuss; we’re on a tight schedule for filming.’

Lucia’s eyes were blazing as she looked from Marco to Gina, unable to believe that Marco had had the temerity to say no to her. Her lips clamped together in a tight line, and she seemed on the verge of an explosion, but then a young man carrying a large bouquet of flowers approached La Leonessa with an adoring look on his face. Lucia couldn’t resist the devoted follower, the source of her fury temporarily forgotten, and Marco leaned across to Gina.

‘Quick, let’s get out of here,’ he hissed. He grabbed Gina’s hand and pulled her along, the two of them rushing together past the security guards towards the exit, giggling and exhilarated.

Chapter 12