Page 49 of Nobody's Girl

When she opened the door to the suite, she heard voice. “Hey, babe.” She called, lightly, not wanting to interfere. She walked in as Ivo was rising from the couch. In the armchair, another man, gloriously handsome but who looked utterly desolate rose, and gave her a half-smile.

Ivo, his eyes shining, kissed Sofia. “Hey, gorgeous, good to see you. Sofia, this is my friend, my best friend and roommate from college for his sins. Introduce yourself, man.”

The other man held out his hand and grinned at her. “Hi, Sofia. Ivo said you were beautiful, but I see he was understating. It’s great to meet you. I’m Penn, Penn Black.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

“Did you like Penn?” Ivo asked, later, as they returned from dinner with his friend. Sofia nodded.

“I did, very much. I’m so sorry about his sister. What a horrendous way to lose someone, and pregnant too. God,” Sofia shook her head, her eyes filling with tears.

“That’s why he came to see me, to tell me. Willa was a sweet girl, a good friend.” Ivo sighed. “So much death,” he said softly.

“Hey, stop that. An accident is just that and your mo…I mean, Adria is still with us, right? Don’t give up.”

Ivo smiled and leaning over, kissed her. “I love you.”

She brushed her lips back and forth on his. “I love you too, Mr. Zacca, and that thing I said I’d think about? Let’s do it. Let’s go for it. It’s just money.”

Ivo looked delighted. “Really?”

“Absolutely. I was being silly. Being wealthy is a part of who you are, and I love the fact that you never flash it around, or act as if it makes you superior to the rest of us. So, yes, Ivo Zacca, we should buy a home. But, I’m going to work my ass off to at least be able to contribute as much as I can. Deal?”

“Deal. Can I make a condition?”

Sofia smiled, knowing he would have to have the last word. “Go for it?”

“We look together.”

Sofia snorted. “Hell, yes. Who knows what mid-life crisis male frat-boy dump you’d buy?”

Ivo threw his head back and laughed. “You have no faith, woman. And don’t think I won’t keep your glitter fetish in check.”

“Oh, you know me so well,” Sofia dead-panned. She giggled. “This is going to be fun.”

And they did have fun. By the time they had seen the fifth apartment three days later, they knew what they wanted and where. The third apartment they had seen, in the trendy Marias district, was the penthouse of the building, with views to die for, a large outside balcony, which Ivo declared big enough for “an outside mattress.” They shared a glance – yes, sex would definitely be on the menu here.

Sofia left the room while Ivo discussed money with the realtor. She knew it would be millions of Euros and she didn’t want the feeling of being out of her depth. She went to the balcony and gazed out over the city. How the hell had she gone from living on the streets to a penthouse luxury apartment, married to a gorgeous billionaire in less than a year?

Not only that but she’d had a call from Maceo Bartoli, offering her space at an upcoming exhibition in Venice. Something’s got to give, she thought to herself. It’s all going too well. Then she felt guilty, remembering that Adria, her beloved mother in law, had limited time. She owed it to her to embrace all the good things in life.

“Hey.” Ivo came out to meet her. He bent his head to kiss her. “I told the realtor we would make a decision in the next few days, that we had a couple more places to see first.”

Sofia nodded, and then said in a low voice. “But this is the one, right?”

Ivo’s eyes were dancing with mischief. “Oh yes, but we don’t want her to know that.”

Sofia giggled, and heady with joy, they thanked the realtor and went to their next appointment.

Later, as they were deciding where to have dinner, Penn Black called and asked if they wanted to join him on a private boat for a moonlight dinner trip down the Seine. “If it sounds it might be weirdly romantic,” he laughed, “I think the three of us being there might alleviate some of the awkwardness.”