Page 40 of The Italian Obsession

“I am a part of the business, Enrico. It’s not all bad, and you will be surprised who Stefano has on his payroll.”

“Get out.” I sneer.

He stands and puts his hand on my shoulder. “In time, you will come to appreciate the choices your family before you has made. You are very fortunate to be a Ferrara.”

I stare straight ahead, unable to make eye contact with him.

“Suck it up. You have funerals to arrange. Do your father proud.” Mario stands, leaves, and the door closes quietly behind him.

My breath quivers on the inhale as I try to control my breathing.

Lorenzo pulls me into an embrace and holds me while tears of rage run down my cheeks.

My entire life has been a lie.

Chapter 6

OLIVIA

Sorrento. What a magical place.

I smile as the sea breeze whips my hair, and I gaze over at the breathtaking view.

The cliff face is covered with beautifully colored old buildings, and at the bottom, a deep shade of turquoise blue, is the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Perched high up above, I’m standing on the balcony of my room at the iconic Grand Hotel Capodimonte.

The room has a timeless feel, like something you would see in an old Hollywood movie. There’s terrazzo tiled floors, luxurious bedding and furniture, and big white windows that swing open so that you can gaze over at the priceless view.

Wow, Natalie really got this booking right. This is a lot better than the hotels I’ve been staying at. I should have got her to organize my entire trip. She got this for a steal, too.

Natalie and I grew up in Sydney together. She lives in London now. I miss her desperately, even though we speak nearly every day on messenger. Her flight arrives here in Sorrento this afternoon. This is our much-anticipated two-week holiday together. She couldn’t come for the entire time, but we swung it so she could meet me here for the remaining leg of my trip.

I take a seat on the balcony and smile to myself. I can’t believe the weekend I just had.

I pick up my phone and scroll through the photos of Rico and I together when we were sightseeing in Rome.

I look so happy. My hair is tousled, I have no makeup on, and I look flushed. Enrico is laughing in every image. I run my finger over his face. What a beautiful specimen he is. It’s been a long time since I’ve been happy… really happy.

I’m twenty-seven, and I guess I’d kind of given up on men. Lately, I get more enjoyment out of a tub of chocolate ice cream. I was preparing myself to buy an apartment on my own—getting a cat and some potted plants. Work and the gym would probably be my only social life. I was easing myself into the next phase of my life, alone.

I wasn’t unhappy. I was just… existing.

As if sensing my despair, Natalie talked me into taking this trip and meeting her here.

I’m so glad I did.

Now, my hunger for adventure has been reignited. I want to travel and go to exotic places. I want to get that dream job I had given up on, and damn it, I want my very own dream man.

I’m a good girl. I deserve a good man.

What if he’s in Italy?

That’s drastic, even for a good man. Even for the best man. Could I really give up my Australian home to live here?

I have my job that I love, and I don’t want to give that up. I worked too damn hard to get it. But then, I did always want to work with a fashion designer in some shape or form.

Apart from my job, I don’t really have anything holding me there. My social life is nonexistent, my best friend lives on the other side of the world, and my parents are both dating imbeciles.