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‘Anything for you, Gina.’

As Alessandro bustled away, Gina turned back to Edoardo. His face had fallen, disappointment written across his features. ‘You know the manager?’ he said.

Gina nodded, feeling bad for him. ‘We send a lot of clients here, from the hotel.’

‘I see. So you’ve probably been here, what, a hundred times?’

‘This is my ninety-ninth,’ she joked. ‘But it doesn’t really matter, does it? After all, we’re here to discuss business.’

‘Sure, sure,’ Edoardo replied, his bravado returning.

The waiter brought their cocktails, and Edoardo clinked his glass against Gina’s. ‘To a fruitful relationship – the working kind, of course.’

‘Of course,’ Gina said firmly, taking a sip of her drink. It was delicious, the sweetness of the peach perfectly balancing the acidity of the Prosecco. ‘You mentioned earlier that you and Marco had a number of issues,’ she said, uttering the words through gritted teeth. ‘Regarding the hotel. I thought we could run through them now, and I can set your mind at rest.’

‘Oh, that’s just Marco,’ Edoardo shrugged. ‘He takes life too seriously.’

Gina frowned, confused by his dismissal of the very topic they were supposed to be here to discuss. ‘But if there’s something wrong—’

Edoardo reached across the table, taking Gina’s hand and squeezing it in a way that was meant to be reassuring. ‘There’s not,’ he said, looking at her intently. ‘In fact, I’d like to apologize for Marco’s behaviour. He can be so prickly sometimes – bordering on unprofessional, in fact.’

‘He has a very clear idea of what he wants,’ Gina admitted, thinking back to the first time she’d met him in Brad’s suite.

‘Exactly,’ Edoardo nodded. ‘I knew you’d understand. I’ve tried to explain to my father that Marco’s attitude could be detrimental to the business, but he doesn’t seem to see it.’

Gently, Gina withdrew her hand from Edoardo’s, uncomfortable with the physical contact. ‘Marco said your father had been very good to him,’ she remarked, hoping her comment might placate Edoardo.

‘Did he? Too good, some might say. My father is generous to a fault, and loyal too. I worry that he might get taken advantage of.’

‘But it sounds as though Marco’s great at what he does,’ Gina pressed, trying not to think about her reasons for defending him. ‘He’s got a superb reputation within the industry, hasn’t he?’

‘Is that what he told you?’ Edoardo said, raising an eyebrow sceptically. ‘I bet he didn’t mention the accident where …’ He broke off as the waiter appeared to take their order – fish crudo followed by tagliatelle for Gina, carpaccio then veal for Edoardo.

‘Would you like wine? Or champagne?’ Edoardo asked her.

‘I’ll stick to water – I have to work early tomorrow.’

‘Nonsense,’ Edoardo replied, as he ordered a bottle of Casa di Russo red. ‘You’re a full-blooded Italian woman. It’s your patriotic duty to drink wine.’

Gina laughed. Despite her reservations, there was something rather entertaining about Edoardo.

‘How long has Marco been married to your sister?’ she asked, keeping her tone casual.

Edoardo looked taken aback by the question. ‘My sister’s d—’ he began, then knitted his brow, a different expression coming over his face. He looked sly for a moment, and Gina frowned, wondering whether she’d said something wrong.

‘Marco and Stephana were married nine years ago,’ Edoardo said finally. ‘They had my niece, Daniela, a year later.’ He took a sip of his drink and settled back in his chair, looking at her. ‘The problem with Marco,’ Edoardo continued, warming to his theme, ‘is that he doesn’t care about the business the way I do.’

‘No?’ Gina replied. This wasn’t the way she wanted the conversation to go, but she drank her wine and let him speak.

‘You see, it was my father who founded the business – it’s my family name above the door.’

‘Yes, I noticed,’ Gina replied, a smile playing around her lips, and Edoardo was gracious enough to laugh.

‘I’m sorry,’ he apologized. ‘It’s a frustrating situation for me.’

‘I understand,’ Gina nodded. She sensed that Edoardo was playing a game with her, and it seemed best to play along for now. Indiscretion was always useful, Gina had realized over the years; it was possible to learn a lot that way. ‘And what …’ she began, but broke off as the waiter appeared with their food, placing the beautifully presented crudo down in front of her.

‘Let’s change the subject,’ Edoardo suggested, perhaps sensing he’d said more than he should. ‘What do you think La Leonessa wants with my brother-in-law?’