Page 234 of The Italian Obsession

“Oh.” I walk down the grand staircase and can hear people talking in the kitchen. Francesca’s laugh echoes, and relief fills me. Thank God she’s awake.

I twist my fingers nervously in front of me and walk into the kitchen. I find Bianca and Lorenzo sitting at the kitchen counter, drinking coffee. Francesca is at the table, eating her breakfast in her school uniform. Her face lights up when she sees me and she jumps to her feet.

“Olivia.” She smiles happily as she hugs me.

“Hi.” I smile back. “It’s so lovely to see you again.” I look up to Bianca, who forces a smile and sips her coffee.

“Hello,” she says.

“Hello.” Oh, God, she hates me. I can tell. “Thank you for having me last night.”

“That’s okay, dear.” Her eyes hold mine, and I just want the earth to swallow me up.

“Mamma, don’t forget I’m going to the library this afternoon after school,” Francesca says.

“What is this sudden interest in going to the library every day lately? Can’t your friends come here to study?”

“No, Mamma, it’s easier for my study group to meet there. It’s central for all of us.”

“Antonio has to wait around there for you every day,” Bianca replies.

“It’s okay, that’s what he gets paid for,” Lorenzo interrupts. He looks over at Francesca and gives her a warm smile with a wink, and she smiles back. It’s obvious these two get along well.

I’m assuming that Antonio is Francesca’s bodyguard.

“Would you like a cup of coffee?” Bianca asks me.

My eyes flick to Lorenzo. “Do we have time?”

“Yes, of course.” He stands. “Come, Francesca, I’ll walk you out.”

Don’t leave me alone with her.

“It was great seeing you again.” Francesca kisses me on the cheek and skips out of the room. I watch her and Lorenzo as they walk side by side.

Hmm… still no mention of the engagement. Does she even know? My eyes come back to Bianca, and hers are fixed firmly on me. “How do you like your coffee?”

Damn, Enrico is getting an earful when I see him. Why would he put me in this position?

I slide onto the stool beside her. “Just with milk, please.”

I watch her as she makes my coffee. My heart is beating fast. I don’t know what to say to her. She makes me nervous as fuck.

She puts the coffee back down in front of me and I look down at it. “Thank you.”

It’s so strong, it could start a car.

I smile as I take a sip, and I clench my jaw to stop myself from gagging. It wouldn’t just start a car, it could fuel a fucking rocket ship.

She sips her coffee as her eyes assess me, and we sit in uncomfortable silence for a while. I feel like she has something to say but is holding her tongue.

I look around nervously. “It’s a beautiful home you have.”

“Thank you.”

She’s still wearing her cream silk robe with a matching nightdress. Her long, dark hair is styled like she’s in Hollywood. She looks beautiful. There’s not a hair out of place.

Who looks this good when they wake up?