Page 25 of Nobody's Girl

Sofia grinned. “I do like that, but that’s hardly a kink. There’s plenty of time to find out what my particular peccadillos are.”

Back at the hotel, they shared a soak in the huge tub, then made love until dawn. Ivo fell asleep with his head on Sofia’s chest, his lips pressed to her skin. Sofia lay awake for a while, staring out of the window at the inky Venice night. Something was bothering her but she couldn’t place it. Was it just that she felt like she had the world at her fingertips, and everything she ever wanted? The man she loved was in her arms and her passion for her work was finally being rewarded. Sofia knew it was ridiculous but ever since that terrible day of her mother’s funeral, she was always waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Fuck you, Fergus Rutland, for taking my faith away. Fuck you. Sofia felt hot tears on her cheeks and dashed them away No-one was going to take away her happiness now. She would fight to the death to protect it.

She had no idea how literally that pledge would manifest itself, or how much damage would come to everyone she loved.

Chapter Nine

The interview with Elli was fun, and Sofia found herself telling Elli far more about her past than she expected. Afterward, however, as they were walking towards Piazza San Marco to meet Ivo, Sofia got nervous. She stopped Elli and turned to her. “That stuff about the Rutland family…I don’t want that in the piece, please. I’m sorry.”

Elli shook her head. “It’s okay, Sofia, I told you, nothing goes ahead without your approval. I don’t blame you, they don’t deserve any of the attention you’re about to get, nor any of the praise. They abandoned you. Fuck them.”

Sofia relaxed. “Thank you, Elli. I just…I don’t want them to think they won, that their actions still mean anything to me.”

Elli studied her as they walked. “But they do?”

Sofia sighed. “Yes. I still have this trust hang-up, or rather, this feeling everything will blow up in my face when I least expect it.”

“It’s understandable, but, Sofia, I think we all feel that to some extent after a traumatic event. It takes time.” Elli squeezed her arm. She looked at where they were headed, and Sofia was surprised to see her friend pale a little. “Not this way,” Elli said, steering Sofia away from a small alleyway.

Sofia was curious but didn’t want to intrude. They chatted easily as they met Ivo and sat down to another delicious meal.

Sofia patted her stomach. “I think I may have put on a few pounds since I met you, Ivo Zacca.”

Ivo grinned. “Good, that just means you’re healthy.”

“That’s right, Ivo told me you had meningitis when you met.”

Sofia rolled her eyes. “Well, I thought it was a good way to meet guys.”

Elli laughed. “It’s unusual.”

“How did you meet Indio?”

Elli’s face softened. “We were childhood friends – rather he was my brother’s best friend, and I feel in love with him almost instantly.” Her face clouded a little and she looked away from the couple. “There were a few years when we were apart, but now, thankfully, I got my dream life with him.”

Sofia smiled, dying to know what else had happened but she could see Elli didn’t want to talk about it. “And your two children?”

Elli beamed. “Enzo and Florentina. There’s only a year or so between them, and both are toddlers still, so they’re a handful but I’m just glad we have them. Florentina bullies Enzo – it’s pretty funny.”

Sofia almost told her about Clemence’s pregnancy then stopped herself. If Ivo hadn’t mentioned it, then it wasn’t her place to talk about it. It was another reminder of how little she had to do with that side of his life. She hadn’t called Clemence yet, hadn’t had time but she decided, when they got back to Paris, she would.

After lunch, and after telling Elli they would see her later at the gallery party, Ivo took Sofia to ride on a gondola through the canals of the city. As they were steered along the waterways, Sofia couldn’t take her eyes from the beautiful buildings either side of them and when the gondolier took them into the Grand Canal, she sighed happily. “It’s heaven here,” she said softly, hearing Ivo’s soft laugh.

“It is one of my favorite places on Earth. I’ve even considered living here.”

She smiled up at him. “Must be nice to be able to decide when and where you’re going to live.”

Ivo nodded, conceding it was. “But hey, you did too.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, because that’s the same. Living on the streets, and illegally, by the way. My visa ran out a long time ago.”

Ivo frowned. “Hasn’t Desi arranged a new visa?”