Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 142640 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 713(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 475(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142640 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 713(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 475(@300wpm)
And while I’m not stupid, I appreciate the luxury I’m afforded. I understand my ancestors and what they have passed down, I don’t think it will ever sit with me well. How could it?
A mutual respect hangs silently between us.
We don’t need to say anything to each other, we don’t need closure, we both know where we sit in the world.
Giuliano Ferrara’s place, a leader in the dark world.
My place, an interior designer with the biggest design house in France.
I’m happily in love with a wonderful man who I’ve been dating for three years.
Marcel is a blond-haired, blue-eyed French diplomat. We met at university and he is kind and loving and all that is good. We don’t live together, although he would like to. I live with Anna, she was always visiting me and eventually met a French man too. We have a great time together and unlike me, Anna wants to return to live in Italy one day. I’m happy here.
My future with Marcel is bright, and refreshingly normal.
I’m not trailed by huge amounts of security all the time, although four Ferrara men who live in Paris are at my beck and call. They are around but never in my way, I hardly know they are there. And when I visit my mother in Milan, I do fly home in one of the Ferrara jets. Lorenzo won’t allow me to catch a commercial flight, some things will never be completely normal, but that I can live with.
“Amber is twenty-four,” Anna reads.
“So?” I mutter into my coffee.
“Giuliano is twenty-nine, that’s a big age difference, don’t you think?”
“Have you seen her?” I mutter dryly.
“I can just imagine her lying all over his yachts in her skimpy bikinis,” she continues. “God, she would be loving herself sick.”
“Ugh.” I roll my eyes in disgust as I imagine it. “Don’t even.”
* * *
My buzzer sounds on my desk. “Francesca, Pierre would like to see you in his office.”
“Thanks, Inga. On my way.”
I close down my email and make my way up to the top floor, Pierre Moran is my boss. One of the most well-respected interior designers in the world. He has been the most amazing mentor possible and I owe him so much.
“Knock, knock.” I stand at his door.
“Francesca.” He smiles. “Take a seat, darling.”
I smile and walk in and sit down at his desk. “Did we get it?” I put my hands together as if praying. “Tell me we got it.”
He smiles broadly. “We got it.”
“Yes.” I jump from my seat in excitement. “I knew it. Yes. We got it!” I screech in excitement.
We just got the Remington job, the most luxurious hotel chain in the world has just hired us to do their entire refurbishment.
Pierre swings on his chair and laughs out loud. “It’s incredible, isn’t it?”
“Oh my God.” The magnitude of this begins to hit me and I put my hands over my mouth. “Can you believe this?”
“One hundred and eighty-eight hotels around the world are going to be redesigned by us.” He smiles. “And we have you to thank for it. Your tender was incredible. Take a bow, my dear, you deserved this.”
I laugh out loud, I worked for months on this tender. “Thank God it paid off.” I smile. “Can you imagine if we did all this work and we didn’t get it?”
“But we did.” He laughs. “But we did.”
“I’m so excited.”
“Now comes the work.” He smiles. “You know that it will mean a lot of international travel.”
“I know.”
“And long days and even longer nights.”
“I know.”
“I want you to head the design team.”
What?
My eyes widen, I put my hand on my chest. “Me,” I gasp.
“Why not? It’s your pitch that won us the account.”
I open my mouth to object, I’m not experienced enough for this. No way in hell.
He holds his two hands up. “Now, now, I’m not taking no for an answer. You are the right person for this job.”
“Are you sure? I don’t mind working under someone on this, it’s a big responsibility, Pierre.”
“One that you can handle.”
“Thank you.” Oh my God, this is incredible. “Thank you so much.”
Pierre smiles. “We start in two weeks, I’m unsure of the first hotel they want to start on. I’ll get more details shortly, I’ll keep you posted.”
“Thanks.” I beam as I stand.
“Congratulations, Francesca, this is an amazing coup for our company. Take next week off, you won’t be getting a break for a while.”
“Okay, that sounds great, thank you so much.” I bounce out the door and float back to my desk, I immediately dial Marcel’s number.
“Hi.”
“We got the account,” I splutter.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes,” I whisper in excitement.
“Congratulations, well done.”
“Can you believe it?”
“I can. Are we celebrating tonight?”
“You bet we are.” I laugh.
“Cordoni’s for dinner?”
“Yes.” I laugh. Cordoni’s is my favorite Italian restaurant, there are a few things from Italy I can’t live without.