“I’m screwing a widow. Please remember that your husband is recently deceased.”
“I suppose that’s true, but I don’t feel like a widow. I feel as if I won the lottery.”
“Because you won my heart?”
“Because I’m rich, and because I have you. Scott has two options – either he can be nasty to us, or he can be nice to me and keep me from talking. He just has to give Virtuosi whatever we desire. As long as I’m splashing money around, Scott will be more than happy to comply. His little affair is our business lifeline.”
As they turned a corner, Claudio recognised their location. They were on Pembridge Crescent, the street that Canna had lived on, in the large townhouse she rented from Daniel and Angeline. “Is this where you’re leading me?”
“It is.” Canna stayed silent until they stood outside the familiar two-level townhouse, which sat in silence in the fading late afternoon light. The black steps up to the heavy front door were familiar to Claudio. He had stood outside the place many times, wanting to see Canna.
“What do you think?” Canna said.
“I think the memories of what went on in the house will never die. When I close my eyes, seared into my eyelids are the memories of making love to you after Daniel’s funeral. I will never forget.”
“That feeling is mutual.” Canna smiled as he kissed her.
“Why are we here? Did you leave something behind?”
Canna fished her hand into her jacket pocket and produced a set of keys. “Better than that. I bought the house off Angeline. Happy birthday.”
“What?”
“I bought this house for your birthday. It’s yours. It’s a magnificent house, fully-furnished, right down to towels in the bathroom. We can paint a nursery for the baby. Well, I can paint it. I don’t imagine you to be handy around the house.”
“You bought me a house… for my birthday?”
“It’s in my name since I signed the contracts, but we can transfer it into your name. The house is five blocks from where Veena lives. It’s perfect for sharing a child. Plus it’s walking distance to the studio.”
“Are you serious?”
“Always! Don’t you like it? I can buy another one.”
“I don’t want you to buy me anything.”
“Wow, you know how to be ungrateful.”
“I’m not being ungrateful,” Claudio said. “I’m… I’m in shock!”
“You wanted a proper home to be an involved father. You wanted to get the drama of Virtuosi sorted out. I said I would help you. I have.”
“In one day.”
Canna climbed the stairs, and Claudio followed. “I know there is a lot to figure out. But we can move in here today.” Canna opened the door and they both stood there, looking into the familiar entrance way. “Wow, the memories.”
The pair went inside and stood in the silent house. It was more or less how Canna left it. Her eyes gazed up the carpeted stairs where Marino had tried to rape her.
“You okay?” Claudio asked.
“Yep,” Canna replied, her voice perky. They wandered into the white and gold decorated living room, and Canna slumped onto the white leather couch. “I can handle another London winter in here,” she said. “That beautiful fireplace is cozy.”
“So you will be staying, will you?” Claudio asked as he put his coat on the glass dining table across the large open plan room.
“I might visit sometimes,” Canna smiled.
Claudio wandered into the doorway through to the large kitchen and looked at the wooden table in the centre of the room. “So, this is where it happened?”
“What exactly?”
“When you fell and hit your head while I was in the States?”
“Technically, I hit my head on the marble counter-top and landed against the table.”
Claudio imagined Canna lying on the white lies, blood gushing from her head. If Giancarlo hasn’t smashed a window and come to her aid, Canna would be dead.
“You know,” Canna said across the room, “when I was lying there, I thought you were here, talking to me.”
“What did I say?”
“That it was time to get up and help myself.”
“That’s just your subconscious talking.” Claudio wandered over and sat down on the couch next to her.
“You spoke in your deep, sexy voice.”
“Millions of people love my voice,” he joked. He watched Canna sit in silence. “Is something wrong?”
I’m thinking about sitting alone in this house, scared Giuseppe will find me. I’m thinking about all the pills I took here. I’m thinking about all the times I cut myself with blades while angry. “Think of all rooms in this house that we haven’t had sex in yet.”
“Each will need a thorough christening.” Claudio leaned over to kiss her. “Thank you,” he whispered.
“You’re welcome.”
“I can pay you for the house, you know… eventually…”
“You don’t need to pay me.”
“A place like this would cost millions of pounds. When Veena and I bought our small place it nearly financially crippled us both, and she was earning a lot at the time.”
“I don’t care, Claudio. I made a lot of money as a sugar baby. I may as well spend it.”
“Can I ask how much you have?”
“More than enough to finance a few world tours and buy some houses. I only have about €75 million in cash available right now.”
Claudio ran his hand over his mouth. His throat had gone dry. “Blinky, that’s a lot of money.”
“I disagree. Besides, if I’m going to drop a portion of it on you and your talents, I expect a profit.”
“Do you have enough to leave Caraceni Industries for good?”
“I could leave, but I don’t want to quit.”
“You need something to keep that IQ of 164 occupied.”
“I do. The reality is I want to live my life funding ambitious sailing campaigns. I need hundreds of millions of Euros. Until I figure out a way to multiply my wealth, I will end up spending all my savings. The Caraceni fortune is the best way to get enough money to go sailing.”
“You have big dreams.”
“Well, I married a billionaire and suffered for it. The least I could do now is get a benefit from my misery.”
“Most people would be happy with €75 million.”
“I’m not most people. Do you know that song La vie en rose?”
“Of course, it’s a French classic.”
“Could you put that song on the next album? I know it’s not normally your kind of thing.”
“Already she is looking for special treatment,” Claudio joked. “Of course, my goddess.”
“My goddess… I quite like that.” She watched Claudio grin. “So, how would you like to celebrate your first night in your new house?”
“Um… all you have done is talk since I met you outside the studio. I never got the chance to tell you that Henri and Lea invited us to dinner at their place.”
“What? Like two couples, having dinner? That’s a bit… normal.”
“We can fake normal. They’re our friends. It’s a casual thing.”
“With the tension between those two? Casual isn’t an option.”
“Tell me about it. Please come with me.”
“On one condition.”
“Anything.”
“Please don’t get all aggressive next time Dane and I are talking.”
“I trust you, Canna. It’s the rest of the world I can’t stand. I have explained that.”
“Of all the men I have ever had sex with, Dane is the only one still alive. I’m sorry, but I won’t have him killed.”
“I didn’t expect otherwise!”
“Good. Dane and I… we are under no illusions. We don’t work as a couple. I don’t want Dane. I love you. How many houses and world tours do I need to buy to prove it?”
“No more, I promise.”
“When do we need t
o be at Henri’s place? Do we have time to go and get your things and clean up Holly’s flat?”
“I would rather do other things this evening.”
“Please tell me you’re thinking of sex on this gorgeous couch.”
“You read my mind.”
~~~
Henri didn’t feel an ounce of surprise when he opened the front door. There stood Claudio and Canna with flushed faces and ruffled hair. “Gee, I wonder why you’re late.”
Claudio ran his hands through his short black hair. “Sorry, we… we, um…”
“Got laid,” Canna added.
“Your rosy cheeks gave that secret away,” Henri said.
“Sorry, it took longer than expected,” Claudio commented as Henri let the dishevelled pair into the townhouse.
“I hope Claudio didn’t let you down, Canna,” Henri joked.
“Fuck off!” Claudio cried.
“You look like you had sex in the back of the car.”
“Nah, on the carpet in the front room of Claudio’s new townhouse,” Canna said.
“You bought a house?”
“Canna bought me one for my birthday.”
“Shit, I married the wrong woman,” Henri chuckled and led them through into the living room.
“Wow, Henri,” Canna joked as they went through to the dining room, “you live like a grown-up.” The place was effortlessly beautiful and stylishly decorated.
“So, where’s this new house?” Henri asked Claudio.
“It’s the townhouse on Pembridge Crescent, where Canna used to live.”
“Ah, Scott’s brother’s place. Wow, that house is beautiful.”
“We need to talk about Scott,” Canna said.
“What about him?” Lea asked as she came in from the kitchen.
“That chat might be best saved for another night,” Claudio said as Canna and Lea embraced.
“Canna and Claudio have been christening their new home,” Henri said with a smirk.
“Whoa, no, it’s not our home. It’s Claudio’s home,” Canna interrupted. “We aren’t moving in together.”
“She can’t get away from you fast enough,” Henri joked, and Claudio just shook his head.
“Come and sit down,” Lea said, “and you can tell us all about you two not living together.”
They sat down at the laid out table, and Claudio noticed a bottle of red wine. Canna couldn’t have a drink, but Claudio didn’t want to say anything and embarrass her. He hadn’t noticed how alcohol was engrained into socialising until he had a reason to avoid it.
“I have a lovely wine here,” Henri said, as if he could read Claudio’s mind. “It comes from the region where my parents live.”
“Trust you to have the classy stuff,” Canna replied.
“I know I need wine right now,” Lea said and poured herself a large glass.
“Should you be drinking more wine?” Henri asked her, and received a look of pure evil from his wife.
“We can skip alcohol if you like,” Claudio interrupted.
“Oh no, I want it,” Lea said and filled Canna’s glass.
“Stop fussing,” Canna said to Claudio and took a sip. “Beautiful.”
Henri sat back in his seat and took a deep breath. “So, Canna, how are you?” he asked.
“I’m always good when I’m winning,” she said with a smile. “Business is good. The sailing is superb. Plus I have a man on the hook, so to speak.”
“I’m just a pawn in her games,” Claudio retorted.
“From the size of the smile on his face right now, I would say he likes being on your hook,” Henri said.
“This isn’t weird for you guys?” Canna asked. “Please say if it’s uncomfortable. I dated one of your friends, and now I’m dating another… I don’t want it to be weird, especially with all the trouble I caused.”
“It wasn’t easy,” Henri admitted, “but everyone is okay now. You’re well. Dane’s happy with Rebecca, and Claudio doesn’t have to lie about loving you.”
“Lucky Claudio gets everything he wants,” Lea muttered. “I will go and check on dinner, we’re having duck.”
“What did I do?” Claudio asked once Lea left the room.
“Don’t mind Lea, she is perpetually in a bad mood these days.”
“Lea,” Canna called out. “Do you need help? Duck can be tricky at the best of times.”
“No, I don’t need you and your perfect cooking skills to tell me what to do,” she called back.
“Wow, I’m unwelcome too,” Canna remarked. “What the fuck is her problem, Henri? News of your marriage problems reached me in Italy. That’s how obvious they are. What’s going on?”
“Lea is unhappy about a few things. I thought inviting you two around would help.”
“You have always been a perfect couple, what happened?”
“Duck won’t be long,” Lea said as she came in from the kitchen and sat down at the table. “So, Canna, how does it feels to be dating a married guy who is about to be a father?”
“Lea!” Henri cried.
“No, it’s okay,” Canna said. “It’s fantastic. I get to have all the sex, and don’t have to produce a baby. My ovaries win.”
Claudio snorted with laughter. “I’m glad you’re so comfortable with it.”
“I don’t have a lot of choice, it’s a bit late for an abortion,” Canna joked.
“That’s cruel!” Lea said. “Veena wants her baby, with or without her husband.”
“I’m sitting right here,” Claudio said. “Lea, I had no idea you had a problem with me leaving my wife.”
“I don’t.”
“Lea wants to have a baby,” Henri shot out. “Only I can’t get her pregnant.”
“How long have you been trying?” Canna asked.
“Only a few months.”
“That’s not long. I wouldn’t worry.”
“Let me guess, you’re an expert on pregnancy now, too?” Lea snapped.
“I married a man 38 years older me. So yes, fertility was an issue. As you can see, we never had a baby. But I do know a lot about the pressure to pop out a child.”
“We should talk about something else,” Henri suggested.
Lea gulped down her whole glass of wine. “As you can see, Henri is sensitive about his lack of fertility, especially since Claudio can get women pregnant when he doesn’t even want them.”
“Hey, hang on…“ Claudio began.
“Perhaps the stress and bitterness here is causing the lack of fertility in your relationship,” Canna interrupted. “God, listen to what you’re saying. Why do you hate Claudio for becoming a father? He is one of your closest friends! For Christ’s sake!”
“I’m sorry,” Henri said. “It’s a stressful time.”
“I thought we were all friends,” Canna said. “What happened?”
“You offered to take over Virtuosi. That doesn’t help,” Lea quipped.
“I offered to be a private investor for a tour. You will sell far more albums that way. You will still have control over the project. I have already pitched the idea to Scott, and…”
“You what?”
“I bumped into him this afternoon. He likes the idea. Plus, you make more profit for yourself by doing live shows. You could sell CDs at the shows, which also can be bought for a wholesale price and sold at a retail cost…”
“Always an expert,” Lea muttered.
“Jesus Christ, I was trying to help. Claudio came to my office in Milan and told me of your troubles. I wanted to help, not take over the project. If you can’t see the benefit of what I’m offering, then you can fail on your second album and fall back into obscurity. It’s your choice.”
“I think we should go,” Claudio mumbled.
“Yes,” Henri sighed. “There is no way a new happy couple should be forced to sit here and be reminded of the misery of marriage.”
Canna and Claudio couldn’t get out of there fast enough. “I’m sorry,” Henri apologised as h
e held the front door open. “Lea forgets that I own the Virtuosi project too. She will calm down again. Canna, please don’t take your offer off the table.”
“I have my own life, and my own company to run. I don’t want to run a music group, just invest in you. I build and sail boats because that’s what I’m good at and enjoy. But I’m not stupid, and as long as Lea thinks I am…”
“She doesn’t think that. I think Lea feels threatened. We thought of you as an assistant when, in fact, you’re much more.”
“I love you guys, and I hate arguing. I don’t want come back to the studio. I’m sorry, I gave the wrong impression.”
“We love you. I love you. Erik loves you more than he should. Please don’t feel as if you need to stay away.”
The pair farewelled Henri, who looked tired as he shut the door behind them.
“I’m a fucking idiot,” Canna complained as they walked. “I thought I could walk right back into my London life. Of course I can’t. I deserve to be treated like shit.”
“Don’t start self-loathing. Don’t let Lea take her shit out on you. I spent years with Veena when she couldn’t get pregnant and it’s stressful. If the Moreau’s can’t have a baby after a few months, that’s not a big deal. They need to calm down.”
“I can take my money and ideas, and go back to Italy.”
“I don’t want that. Please don’t leave.”
“I have to go home in few days anyway.”
“Spend a few days with me,” Claudio begged. “What am I going to do? Live in that big house without you?”
“You will have your son there with you soon enough.”
“You will be with me, won’t you?”
“What, to help you with the baby?”
“I will only have the child sometimes. He is my boy, and I want both of you to be in my life.”
“He is your son, not mine. You get to be a father, and get to enjoy that with Veena. There is no place for me.”
Claudio frowned. “Blinky, you said you had no trouble with all this.”
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