Beth: my party is to be a masked ball. You may wish to visit Beccas near the Rialto tomorrow, to pick up a costume. Charge anything you like to my account there—and don’t worry, Ben will be given exactly the same instructions. Costumes are always provided for new members of staff. I don’t expect them, or those on limited contracts, to pay for such luxuries them selves.
Beth folded the sheet of handmade notepaper and slid it back into its tissue-lined envelope. This time, Luca had made a point of mentioning her temporary status with his firm. That’s to underline how little he thinks of my feelings, and me, she thought. Standing up, she went over to the fire burning in the hearth of her reception room. She ought to throw his message away. It was just a note, after all. She should drop it into the flames without a second thought.
But the fragrance of him haunted her again. She walked back to her seat at the dining table, the note still in her hand.
Next day, Beth spent the whole of her lunch hour at Beccas. The experience took her back to a time when she could afford to shop without limit, and it was lovely. She made the most of every second. At the mention of Luca’s name, the staff lost their haughty looks and treated her like a princess. She was settled in a soft, comfortable armchair with a large latte. All she had to do was relax, while they hurried upstairs and down, bringing beautiful gowns for her to look at. Soon she was surrounded by a collection of sumptuous dresses in sensual brocades, lace, and velvet in jewel-like colours. Everything was perfumed with expense and sleek with extravagance. It was like the old days. Beth was so happy; she could not resist taking Luca at his word. She did not ask the price of anything, but this time it wasn’t because she didn’t care. It was because she was afraid of losing her nerve. For years, she had been counting every single penny she spent. She had developed an allergy to large bills, and wasn’t going to risk it flaring up with an attack of guilt. I’m only following Luca’s instruction, she kept reminding herself, and ordered on. She took her time, choosing exactly what she wanted right down to the finishing touches of hat, bag and full-length evening gloves.
It was luxury to give instructions for the bill to be delivered to the palazzo, along with her parcels. And then a little china clock in the changing room discreetly chimed the hour, and she jumped like Cinderella. It’s time to go back to the real world, she thought with a sigh. People who gave a palazzo as their address shouldn’t have to worry about little details like time, but Beth was an employee as well as a guest. She finished her shopping, and said goodbye to the staff with a heavy heart.
It was only when she was safely out of their sight around a corner she could break into a run, desperate to get back to work on time.
Beth did not see Luca all day. He had left early for work and stayed late. It gave her no opportunity to thank him, or tell him about the things she had bought. She had to hug her excitement to herself until she got back to the bridal suite that afternoon. It was worth the wait. A magnificent selection of silver boxes were neatly stacked on the table of her reception room. They begged to be torn open and enjoyed. It took all Beth’s will-power to walk straight past and head for the bathroom, but getting ready was a treat in itself. The huge copper bath took ages to fill, and the sensation of sinking neck-deep in rose-scented bubbles was indescribable. She sighed again at how lucky Luca was. His palazzo combined all the gracious living of days gone by, with every modern luxury. Its painted ceiling was protected from the steamy atmosphere by specially designed glazing, allowing Beth to admire it without being troubled by reflections. She lay back, soaking away the strains of the day to the soft sounds of Mozart. The music was being discreetly piped through from a sophisticated audiovisual control centre in her living room. When she stepped out of the bath, her feet sank into a floor covering as thick and soft as the specially warmed towels laid out ready for her. Simply relaxing in Luca’s house was beyond wonderful. She could hardly wait to find out what sort of parties he held.
Naked except for a towel around her freshly washed hair, Beth padded through the suite to fetch her prizes. She laid all the boxes out on her bed, and then stood back—but only for a second. The temptation was too much. Snatching at the pink ribbons tied around each parcel, she sent silver wrapping and tissue paper flying as she delved into box after box. Evening gloves, a mask and her hat were discovered and wondered at before she reached the greatest treat of all. She opened the largest parcel with great care, like the stellar present it was.
‘I knew it was beautiful, but I’d forgotten just how lovely it was!’ She breathed, stirring the rustling folds of tissue. Inside the box lay a full-length velvet gown, in a shade of blue exactly matching her eyes. The dress was lined with satin, and Beth needed both hands to lift it from its soft, luxurious bed. The bodice was heavily boned and designed to make the most of her waist, hips and breasts. Beth gulped. The neckline had not seemed that low in the shop. Thank goodness she would be able to hide her blushes behind a mask!
She checked the clock, and realised she should not have spent so much time in the bath. Quickly, she picked up the new underwear Luca’s generosity had brought her. It was then she began having second thoughts. She had been carried away by the excitement of her shopping expedition, and this had been an extravagant mistake. Luca could never resist the rustling promise of silk and stockings, so she had treated herself. Looking at the froth of lacy underwear now, she knew it had been a waste of his money. In the old days he had always loved seeing her wear things like this. What were the chances of him experiencing any of it tonight?
Feeling a tremor of uncertainty, she looked at herself in the mirror. Her reflection stared back, the same as ever. All the changes I’ve made are on the inside, she thought. They’re hidden away, just like this lovely lace and silk will be. Luca will never allow himself to enjoy any of it now. So much has happened since we were happy together. I’m ruined, while his career has gone into orbit. Though it obviously hasn’t made him happy. I can see that every time I look into his face. If only I could find some way to ease his pain and bring a smile back to his face…
She put on the beautiful underwear as one tiny act of defiance against her heartache. Despite the fact it would be hidden, her spirits rose straight away. At least I shall know I’m wearing it, she thought. Then she dried her curtain of honey-blonde hair and stepped into her gown. The friction of new silk underwear against her skin had been wonderful, but it was nothing compared with the heavy luxury of her dress. Beth rose to the occasion. She felt like a million dollars. The moment was only broken when she caught sight of herself in the mirror again, and saw her bra would have to go. Straps were not an option in an evening gown like this. Removing it, she had to admire the way the bodice fitted her like a second skin. It supported and enhanced her natural curves until she billowed like a Renaissance goddess.
This is dressing-up as an art form, Beth thought as she added accessories one by one. White silk evening gloves and matching court shoes meant she was covered from head to foot, apart from that tantalising amount of cleavage. The Venetian obsession with masquerades meant the costumiers had thought of everything. Beth’s outfit even included a wig. With great care, she arranged its tumble of luxurious auburn curls over her own straight hair. As a last touch she added an airy coronet of stripped feathers and net, which had been dyed to match her dress. The effect was ravishing. Not even Luca would recognise her tonight—and in the security of her own room Beth wondered if it might give her the break she needed.
Behind this disguise, anything might be possible. She cross-examined her mirror, but it did not reflect her expression. The white mask she was wearing kept its Mona Lisa smile, whatever worries tortured her beneath the surface.
A table had been set up in the grand marble entrance hall. It was covered with a floor-length damask cloth, and silver urns packed with bottles of champagne on ice. Behind it, waiters stood in readiness, immaculate in white jackets and black ties. They were getting some last-minute instructions from a tall figure in a full-
length black cape, lined with blood-red satin. A silver mask dangled from his fingers as he pointed out details. No disguise would have hidden his identity from Beth. It was Luca. There was no mistaking him, even when he had his back to her. She caught her breath. He looked magnificent, so she stopped on the stairs and enjoyed watching him for a few seconds. Feeling her gaze, he turned around. His face was dark and serious—but then he saw her.
‘Don’t move.’
The way he was looking at her drew Beth like a magnet. It was hypnotic. She had to disobey—there was no choice. Her body made her take two more steps—not downwards, but towards the stone balustrade. She leaned over, held by the look in his eyes.
‘You look…ravishing, Beth.’
‘I’m supposed to be in disguise,’ she began, but he shook his head.
‘I would have recognised you anywhere.’
His appreciative eyes made up for everything. All her fears and worry vanished as she descended the stairs in a swish of heavy velvet skirts. He watched her all the way across the hall. As she reached him the corners of his lips lifted momentarily in a smile.
‘We have your favourite pink champagne, Beth.’ Although he kept his voice low, the rich tones of his accent echoed around the great hall. Opening the bottle himself, he poured out a slender glass and held it up to her.
‘Nobody was supposed to know it was me under this disguise.’ She sighed, accepting the drink from him. ‘I thought the whole idea of these masked balls was mystery.’
He dipped his head and whispered, ‘You will always be an enigma to me, Beth.’ Then, pouring himself half a glass of champagne, he touched it lightly to hers. The crystal rang with the same perfect pitch of excitement that was vibrating down Beth’s spine. His eyes had softened, encouraging her to go further than she thought possible.
‘It doesn’t have to be like this,’ she began in a low voice.
He watched her for a moment and then he smiled a dark, mesmerizing smile. Those beautiful long, dark lashes lifted as the light in his eyes began to dance in the way she had missed for so long. And as his hand began to rise slowly from his side she knew exactly what was going to happen. He was going to cup the side of her face with his long, strong fingers and raise it for a kiss. Closing her eyes, she waited, but just as he brushed her skin the hall erupted in chaos.
‘Not another conquest, Luca!’ a woman’s voice drawled as guests swirled around them like floodwater. Everyone laughed—except Beth. Two, three, four people pushed between her and Luca. She let them do it. Her moment had gone. Luca might be pretending to give her soft glances over the heads of the new arrivals, but Beth could see the truth all too clearly. He had two reputations to keep up, and she wasn’t part of either of them. As a serial womaniser and dedicated businessman, he was never going to push his guests aside to make a special space for her.
Crushed, she retreated from this new life he had made for himself. She could see, as he put clients and possible investors at their ease, Luca was working hard this evening. He might as well have been sitting behind a desk. He wasn’t the man she had known in Balacha any more. Her hard-bitten soldier had been transformed into a sophisticated host. It was a shock. Trying to come to terms with it, she let the growing crowd carry her away from him and into the palazzo’s grand ballroom.
Although her feelings were in turmoil over Luca, Beth could not help but notice the gasps of amazement as she crossed the threshold. The ballroom was a perfect fairy-tale setting for a masquerade party. Everyone was impressed. It was the largest salon in the building. Four huge crystal chandeliers, shimmering with candles, hung from the ceiling, which was a work of art in itself. Centuries before, a genius had painted it with scenes from Ancient Rome. Faded figures feasted overhead, their tables overflowing with wine, fruit and flowers. Luca’s party reflected those scenes.
Every horizontal surface in the room was rich with food, champagne and exotic flower arrangements. Swags of orchids cascaded from pedestals, and crowned Luca’s proud ancestors. Tables covered with gold plates of canapés were set up across one end of the room. Beth wandered over to them, drawn towards an enormous central arrangement of strelitzias and proteas. Silvia the housekeeper had already told her some of the flowers were being specially flown in from South Africa, along with their florist. Beth could not believe such extravagance. She was still more amazed to discover the flower arrangement hid a bubbling fountain. As she drew nearer a waiter in crisp white jacket and gloves ladled a glass of liquid from its pool and handed it to one of the guests. The fountain was rushing with pure champagne.
No wonder everyone looks so happy, Beth thought, and then noticed many of the smiles were directed towards her.
She sipped her drink, and tried to smile back. Her heart might be bruised and battered, but all those appreciative looks began to steady her nerves. The glass of champagne helped, too. She almost began to look forward to the evening. The only problem was Luca. She knew each time their eyes met across the crowded room, she would melt. This new Luca would see that as his right. Just the thought of trying to make a more personal approach made her shiver.
She walked around the ballroom, trying to take in her beautiful surroundings. It was no good. Everything reminded her of Luca. It all came back to him. He had been generous enough to move her into his home, but that was just his way. It didn’t mean anything. She ought to be able to treat it as nothing more than a kind gesture. But this was such a romantic setting…Seeing the pain always present in Luca’s eyes these days made her long to reach out to him, but she dared not do it. He’d changed. And if Beth gave in to the urge to try and transform him again, she would lose him a second time…
Hundreds of people had accepted Luca’s invitation to party. The enormous ballroom shimmered with opulent outfits. Conversation flowed as easily as the champagne. To one side, an orchestra played softly as the guests arrived. Soon, everyone was mingling. At first Beth hid behind her mask, but soon she couldn’t resist joining in. Taking off her mask made talking easier, but meant she could not watch for Luca. Her interest would have been too obvious. She had to listen for his beautiful voice instead, or try to catch the lilt of his distinctive aftershave on the warmed evening air.
Beth was grabbed by a desperate need to watch him for as long as possible, and, to her amazement, it was easy. Luca was absorbed in his work as host. He looked far too busy to notice her. Here was a man who claimed to hate small talk, working his party like an expert. He was chatting, smiling and circulating as though born to it. Beth could not take her eyes off him. All the familiar feelings of longing warmed her body with a rising fever. If only she could go up and claim him, and push her hands through the dark luxuriance of his hair, surely he’d have to respond by pulling her into one of his all-consuming kisses…
‘Are you all right, Beth?’ Andria’s voice bounced her back to reality.
‘Y-yes…I’m just feeling the heat, that’s all.’
‘Oh, well, that’s soon fixed! You’ll need some Dutch courage. Especially as I’ve been sent over to start introducing you to everyone!’ Andria giggled, hailing a passing waiter.
‘No more champagne for me, thanks.’ Beth shook her head and handed her crystal flute to the man. When he offered her some freshly squeezed orange juice instead, she accepted with relief. She needed something to cool her nerves as Andria began leading her through the hordes of partygoers. As group after group of strangers greeted her, Beth heard things about Luca that only made her yearning more acute. Whenever a waiter arrived to top up their drinks or offer canapés, someone in the crowd would joke, ‘There’s always plenty more where that came from!’ It didn’t take her long to realise Luca was famous for his lavish entertaining.
When they discovered Beth was not one of his latest conquests, the guests relaxed enough to laugh about the way he had a different girl for every occasion. They all agreed he showed the proper billionaire spirit, but Beth wasn’t so sure. Luca had always been generous, but she’d never known him to
be wasteful. Privately, she wondered if he had started using money to dull the anger that was so obviously working away inside him. Their lives might have taken totally different tracks, but Beth couldn’t help wondering if Luca would eventually wind up as lonely as she was.
The orchestra launched into a series of show tunes, and a few couples moved onto the dance floor. Beth accepted several masked partners, but none of them could ignite the rush of excitement Luca always stirred in her. She was escorted to the buffet, or chatted pleasantly with anyone and everyone, but her heart was elsewhere. All the time she was listening for the sound of Luca’s voice. Whenever she thought her latest partner would not notice, she scanned the crowd trying to catch sight of him. All she saw was a glimpse of his broad back, or finely chiselled profile as he bent to listen to one of his guests. Once or twice she felt he was near, but the crowd always swirled between them. Knowing he was near but invisible fed her simmering need for him. It was so unfair. He was physically close to her, yet emotionally they were far apart…
The room grew hotter. Beth felt less and less like dancing, but the men grew merrier. When one man with large sweaty paws tried too hard to persuade her, Beth jerked back, colliding with a couple who were standing at the edge of the dance floor. There was a confusion of spilled champagne, canapé crumbs and laughing. Beth was horrified, especially when the man who had been so keen to dance with her pulled out a large white handkerchief. He started to dab at the splashes of champagne on her bodice. Hot with embarrassment, Beth looked around for rescue. It arrived. The crowds parted, and the masked but unmistakable figure of Luca swept toward her.
Her Ruthless Italian Boss Page 6