Page 17 of Valentino

One week later.

“You’re actually going to work for Ferrara?” Carlo asks wide eyed. “I can’t believe they offered you a job.”

“Yeah.” I nod. “Giuliano offered me and Alex a management role. He needs people he can trust at Ferrara to work alongside of him. For him to give me this role, to be given this opportunity, I’m going to work so hard to repay him for the opportunity. I’m going to make something out of myself, I’m so grateful.”

“Get me a job,” Carlo asks.

“Huh?” I’m dragged out of my thoughts.

“Get me a job at Ferrara, I want to be rich too.”

Ugh….

“It’s not about money, Carlo. This is about helping Giuliano, there is so much to learn, and he needs people he can trust alongside of him. It’s a big responsibility.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” He sighs. “Just get me a job.”

“Down the track, sure,” I lie. “I’ll try.”

The truth is, I can’t get Carlo a job. Not with a company like Ferrara, he’s got to straighten himself up first.

I can’t let him fuck this up for Giuliano.

I lock eyes with a girl across the bar and my heart skips a beat. Long dark hair, flawless skin, and a smile that would wake up the dead. She gives me a little wave and I wave back.

Anna.

“There she is….” I sip my drink, transfixed by her beauty. With a gentle and sweet aura around her, she’s everything that I’m not.

The prettiest picture I ever did see….

“Meh.” Carlo looks her up and down and screws up his nose. “I don’t know what you see in her or why we had to come to this stupid club to accidentally on purpose run into her.”

“You don’t need to see it.” I smile dreamily.

“Too pure for me, she’d be boring as fuck.”

“Lucky, cause she’s off limits to you anyway.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He rolls his eyes, uninterested. “You tell me every fucking time you see her.”

Day 1 at Ferrara.

Alex, Giuliano and I sit at the large mahogany desk as Mario the family lawyer reads out loud from an oversized book that feels like it’s from olden day times.

“As you know, Giuliano, in the devastating event of your brother Enrico’s death, you have been left the entirety of the Ferrara estate and its businesses.”

We glance at each other, unsure what to say or even if we’re allowed to talk.

“Can you read them out to us, please?” Giuliano asks softly.

“Of course, Ferrara Sports Cars valued at nine billion dollars.”

We glance at each other with a frown.

Ferrara Sports Cars…. Are you kidding me?

“The Flamingo Bell Football League side, four football stadiums.” His finger runs along the lines as he reads them out.