Page 242 of Valentino

“No. You asked to see me again.”

A trace of annoyance flashes across his face. “I did.”

“And I asked you where you would be in five years,” I continue.

“Yes. I did.” He sips his coffee as his eyes hold mine. “Go on.”

“Well, I mean. You said you wanted to be in love and that you would be working at Ferrara.”

“Correct.”

I nod as I cut into my breakfast. “And there lies our problem.”

“What’s the problem?”

“I don’t….” His eyes hold mine as he waits for my reply. “I’m not cut out for the life you live, Valentino.”

He purses his lips before rearranging the napkin on his lap. “Okay.”

My eyes search his. “Okay?”

“I cannot make you want something or someone that you do not.”

“I want you.” I grab his hand over the table. “It’s the life.”

“The life?” He removes his hand from my grip. “Is it the luxury, or the money, the beautiful home I could buy you, or the wonderful vacations I could take you on?” His eyes hold mine as he runs his tongue across his bottom lip as if angered. “Perhaps it’s the privileged life you could never even dream of….” He frowns as if confused. “Or is it the family that I have made an oath to…that look after me as if I am blood that’s the problem?”

I roll my eyes. “Don’t be funny.”

“No please, Anna. Explain this to me because I’m not following you at all.”

“Alright, you want to get into this. Let’s go.”

“Let’s.”

“It’s the strip clubs, and the brothels, the cocaine. The never-ending line of beautiful women who would throw themselves at you every time I’d turn my back.”

His eyes hold mine.

“It’s the waiting at home late at night and not knowing where you are, or if you’re going to get yourself killed and never come home at all.” My eyes well with tears. “When I imagine my life, Val, the one that I dream of…it’s not any of those things.”

He watches me as he listens.

“And if heaven forbid we were ever blessed with children…. I want them to have a father they are proud of. One who isn’t in prison. A father who’s going to be alive long enough to see them grow up.”

His teeth catch his bottom lip, and I know that one hit a nerve.

“And as much as I want you in my future, I can’t give up my dream to live in yours,” I add.

He nods. “Understood.”

I wait for him to say something, but he doesn’t.

“Understood, that’s it?” I shrug. “That’s all you’ve got to say?”

“I’m not Carlo, Anna.” He shrugs. “If you think that’s a normal life….” His voice trails off.

“What does Carlo have to do with anything?” I scoff.