Annabella smiled shyly as her cheeks flushed.
‘The driver will take you home, bella. I’ll stay a little longer.’ Alessandro smiled warmly at Annabella and squeezed her hand as they stood up; he wanted her to know how impressed he was with her performance. Though he had no doubt she was sincere in her praise of his father.
‘Sure. It was lovely to meet you Valentino.’ Annabella kissed the old man once on each cheek. ‘I’ll see you at home, Ale.’
She reached up and tenderly cupped his cheek as she kissed him on the other. When her cobalt eyes captured his gaze, they were so full of empathy it was as though she could see into the heart of him. He felt a sudden urge to embrace her.
‘Thank you, bella,’ he whispered in her ear.
‘I’ll see you soon,’ she said softly before she turned to leave.
‘So, my son,’ Valentino said as Annabella closed the door behind her and Ale sat down beside him again. ‘She’s certainly charming, no doubt the public will love her. Now you just have to convince the board, no?’
Valentino’s comment stung. Even though Alessandro’s engagement was a fabrication, as far as his father knew he’d just introduced the love of his life. And yet that seemed only important to him in how it was going to affect his business. As always, Valentino’s main interest was his precious company.
Not that Alessandro was surprised; the company had always been his father’s first love. Valentino had put its success before his son and before Ale’s mother.
It was fitting then that Alessandro’s ‘relationship’ was a business deal too. He was his father’s son after all.
‘Your company is fine, Papa. Annabella is the perfect choice. And you’ve tasted her chocolate. It’s sublime.’
‘And you trust her?’
‘I’m going to marry her, aren’t I?’
***
Annabella stared at the front page of the morning newspaper. She barely recognised herself with Alessandro, they looked so glamorous.
Alessandro had scrawled a note across the top of the page: Success bella! The public loves you, my father loves you. See you at 10 for the press conference, Ale x.
Ah yes, the press conference. More performing. She was exhausted from last night’s events, the gala and then meeting Alessandro’s father. The words had come easily but she’d felt far from comfortable openly deceiving Valentino. She knew too well the disastrous consequences of betrayal.
But her heart had lurched seeing Alessandro by his father’s bedside. She knew the indescribable pain of watching a parent decline to a shadow of their former selves. No longer the invincible mentor to their admiring child, the tables cruelly turned as they became the dependent one.
She understood Alessandro’s unwavering desire to ease his father’s pain. When her mother was dying, Annabella would have done anything to alleviate even a fraction of her suffering. And now with her sister. She had to get Sofia into that trial in Paris, before it was too late.
Annabella would never be free from the guilt that weighed so heavily on her. But she was determined Sofia would have the future that she had strived so hard for. If that meant pretending to be Alessandro’s fiancée for a few weeks, it was a small price to pay.
Annabella finished her espresso as she flipped through the pages of the newspaper. Then, there it was in full colour, the centre spread, a photographic montage of the happy couple. Gazing into each other’s eyes on the dance floor; smiling to the crowd on the podium after announcing their engagement; and caught in a passionate embrace in the glass elevator on the way to the rooftop.
She had to admit it all looked pretty convincing. It seemed their plan was off to a good start. She studied the faces in the jovial crowd. Glamorous women looked adoringly at Alessandro and many of the men were admiring her. Perhaps not surprising given the revealing cut of her gown.
But then Annabella noticed a shadowed face that was at odds with the merry crowd. His hard stare was fixed on her and he wasn’t smiling. She looked closer at the man’s dark features, almost a blur in the grainy background. But she could easily make out his pronounced forehead and Roman nose and the resemblance was unmistakably clear. A chill ran through her as Annabella realised who it was.
Chapter 4
‘Signorina?’ The reporter looked at Annabella expectantly.
‘I’m sorry. What was the question?’ Annabella forced her attention back to the young woman on the other side of the stainless steel counter.
Only a few reporters had been invited to the intimate press conference in the De Costa kitchen, but with their recording devices and cameras pointed directly at her, Annabella was struggling to focus.
She couldn’t get that haunting face from the newspaper out of her head. Had he recognised her? Her elaborate makeover had made her feel like she’d been in disguise, but a stylist could only hide so much.
‘How do you feel about moving to Italy permanently?’ The reporter repeated.
‘Oh. I can’t wait.’ She smiled at the woman before turning to Alessandro and tried for a loving look. This crowd was all about the romance.
‘And have you set a date?’ another journalist asked, raising her smart phone ready to record and transmit Annabella’s every word.
‘Ah—’
‘We have. But we’re not about to tell you exactly where and when,’ Alessandro teased. The small group laughed. He was in his element with his easy charm. ‘We’d like to keep it intimate. Just family and a few close friends.’
Annabella would’ve been more than happy for Alessandro to field all the questions. Of course that wasn’t an option. She was the main attraction as the mysterious woman who’d managed to pin down Turin’s most eligible bachelor while also heading the De Costa kitchen. Media gold, Alessandro had called it.
‘And who from your family will be attending the wedding, Annabella?’ Another face with a microphone popped up in front of the counter looking at her inquisitively.
‘Huh? Um, I haven’t really thought—’ Annabella wished the media circle would take a few steps back and give her space to think, to breathe. To Perform.
‘I’m sorry, I think we’d better wrap this up.’ Alessandro interrupted. ‘We have a lot of work to do for the festival, no? Please email PR any further questions.’
The reporters looked a little surprised at the abrupt ending to the intimate conference they’d been promised. But they left without complaint and seemed satisfied as Alessandro’s publicist showed them out.
‘I’m so sorry, Ale,’ Annabella said once everyone had left and they were alone. ‘I don’t think I made a great impression.’
‘No kidding. They were expecting a doe-eyed couple madly in love and you looked like you’d seen a ghost.’ That wasn’t so far from the truth. ‘Are you really up for this, Annabella?’
‘Yes. Absolutely. I’m just new to all of this. All this attention. And the questions about my family …’
She longed to tell him the real reason she’d performed so poorly. But as that wasn’t an option, she had to go with plan B. She didn’t want to use her family as an excuse but it was half-true and Alessandro needed some sort of explanation.
‘Of course. I’m sorry, I didn’t think. That must be hard for you to talk about,’ Alessandro said, cooling down as he paced back and forth in front of the counter.
‘It is. Particularly to a group of strangers.’ No lying there. Annabella rarely confided in anyone except her sister. And surprisingly, to Alessandro on the rooftop last night. After the spectacle of their debut at the gala, she’d felt so secure sitting beside him away from the staring crowd. The words had just flowed.
Alessandro rubbed his eyes and exhaled loudly as he stopped in front of her. ‘There’s just so much riding on this.’
‘I know.’ She knew better than anyone how much was at stake.
She had to reassure Alessandro that he’d made the right decision in choosing her for his plan. But after that shock this morning she’d have to keep a lo
w profile. No easy task, knowing what Alessandro had in mind for her.
‘We’ll have to arrange another public event,’ he said.
‘How about something a little more intimate?’ Annabella said, thinking fast.
‘We need exposure, bella. I need everyone to believe I’ve found the love of my life and I’m settling down remember?’
‘Exactly. So why not invite them into our loving home?’
‘Go on.’
‘We could host a chocolate degustation for the board members, and maybe invite a photographer to document the event. The happy couple at home, in love, making chocolate, etc.’ Annabella pictured herself spending the majority of the evening safely tucked away in the kitchen.
‘You know, that’s not such a bad idea. The board should be satisfied with a more hands-on, personal approach. We can supply some photos to a few journalists to circulate.’
‘And it will give us an opportunity to work on De Costa’s new range for the festival.’
Alessandro nodded approvingly. ‘Brava. Okay, let’s do it. But no more repeat performances of today, yes?’
‘Absolutely. I’m so sorry, Alessandro.’
‘Don’t be sorry, you’ll make it up to me, no? An intimate degustation is a great idea, you’re a genius, bella. Now let’s get to work.’
Hardly a genius. More like a desperate woman clinging to an unravelling plan. Annabella couldn’t blow her cover. At least not until she’d won the competition at the festival and secured the money she needed to get her sister into the trial in Paris.
Following this morning’s turn of events, she’d have to avoid the spotlight as much as she could. And when in public she’d embrace her transformation, let Mariela go to town. She would be the future Mrs Alessandro De Costa, glamourzon. Annabella Beaumont would have to wait a few weeks longer. She prayed it wasn’t too late.
***
Alessandro had decided to host the degustation in his loft rather than the palatial De Costa family villa. He wanted to create an intimate setting that showcased his relationship with Annabella.
He surveyed the dining area, the stylists had done a wonderful job. The long table was beautifully set for the twelve board members, Alessandro and Annabella. Two magnificent chandeliers hung low over the setting of fine-bone china, gold-plated cutlery and generous vases of white roses. Sheer white curtains flowed down from the ceiling, enclosing the area and shielding it from the kitchen and living zones. The effect was intimate and romantic.
Pleased that all looked in order, Alessandro checked in on the kitchen. A small team of trusted De Costa staff milled about preparing service for the six course chocolate degustation.
Annabella had worked tirelessly over the last week creating six new products for the De Costa range that would be featured in each course. She’d even prepared a selection of beverages to complement each tasting. She had more than made up for that dismal press conference.
‘Are you sure you don’t want me in the kitchen?’ Annabella said, coming up behind him.
Alessandro softly inhaled her scent that was now so familiar to him, vanilla and gardenia and something else he couldn’t quite identify. It was sweet and comforting and suited her perfectly.
‘Absolutely—’ He stopped mid-sentence as he turned around.
Annabella looked even more sensational than she had at the gala. Her black sequined gown hugged every curve with perfect precision. Her lustrous hair cascaded around her shoulders like ripples of silky ganache. From his height, the low-cut neckline offered more than a teasing glimpse of her ample cleavage.
‘Wow, bella. You look amazing. I see you’ve allowed Mariela free rein, no?’
‘What? Too much?’ Annabella asked anxiously as she ran her hands down the front of the gown. ‘It feels a bit revealing. Is it too revealing?’ She pulled at the low neckline.
Alessandro longed to lower it a few more inches but now was not the time.
‘Relax bella. Take a breath.’ He took her hands, distracting her from the dress and him from his increasingly dirty thoughts. ‘You look perfect. Like a goddess.’ He held her gaze until she seemed to accept his reassurances.
‘Okay.’ She breathed out. ‘But I really think I should be in the kitchen just to make sure everything’s done just right.’
‘Everything will be fine. You’ve designed the perfect menu and these guys have worked for my father for as long as I can remember. You’ve done all the preparation and been through the menu with them a thousand times. Bella, they know what they’re doing.’
‘Yes. But—’
‘Annabella, I need you at the table with me tonight. The board will know that you created the recipes and when they taste your chocolate they’ll be more than satisfied that you are the right choice for the company. But it’s me they’re really testing tonight, the reformed bachelor, no? I need my loving fiancée by my side. Okay?’
‘Okay. Sorry, I’m just nervous.’
‘I know. Me too.’ Annabella looked up at him seemingly surprised by this admission. ‘But I’m not worried, bella. The way you’ve worked for me this last week, in the kitchen day and night. And still finding time to visit my father. He loves you, you know. So yes I’m nervous but I’m not worried. Not about you.’
Despite his words he could see the anxiety in Annabella’s eyes. He couldn’t have a repeat performance of her freeze at the press conference.
‘Remember, tonight was your idea, bella. And it’s perfect. I knew I was right trusting in you.’ He smiled and squeezed her hands reassuringly. ‘Everything is on track in the kitchen. Soon our guests will arrive. No reporters, no crowds. Just one photographer, a few friendly guests and an amazing dessert menu.’
‘Ale—,’ Annabella stopped abruptly, pausing for a moment. ‘You’re right. There’s no need to worry, we’ll be great.’
‘How about we have one of these.’ Alessandro picked up two small dark chocolate discs from a platter on the kitchen counter. He placed one on his tongue and offered the other to Annabella, popping it in her mouth. ‘There, nerves gone, no?’
They laughed companionably, ignoring the amused looks on the faces of the kitchen staff.
‘Alright.’ Annabella smiled. ‘Let’s get this party started.’
***
‘You’re still up, bella.’ Alessandro was surprised to find the kitchen lights on when he finally arrived home from the hospital.
Annabella spun around. ‘Alessandro, you startled me.’
Dressed in an oversized T-shirt, she looked just a sexy as she had in the black sequined gown. His attention was drawn to the clear contour of her bust; she wasn’t wearing a bra. Oh Dio, he was emotionally drained but he went hard just looking at her.
‘I couldn’t sleep.’ She turned back to the stove and sprinkled some fresh chili into a small pot of milk. ‘How’s your dad?’ She looked at him over her shoulder as she stirred the pot.
‘He’s well. Reassured. You were perfect, bella. We were perfect.’
Naturally his father had wanted an immediate update on the outcome of the degustation. And he’d seemed at peace for now; comforted by Alessandro’s rundown of the evening and the board’s approval.
Alessandro had been so proud of Annabella. Other than the slight hiccup at the press conference, she had performed flawlessly as his fiancée and chocolatier.
He walked over to the stove and stood beside her as she slowly poured the chili-infused milk through a sieve into a small jug of melted chocolate. ‘Want some?’ She asked.
‘Yes, please.’
Alessandro’s pulse quickened as he watched Annabella reach to get two mugs from the overhead cupboard, her T-shirt lifted just high enough to reveal bright pink underwear. The high-rise scalloped edges of the lace perfectly showcased the lower curve of her round behind.
‘Annabella, you really can’t dress like that and expect me to behave.’
‘Excuse me?’ She turned around and self-consciously pulled her T-shirt down as she quickl
y realised the object of Alessandro’s desire. ‘Sorry, but I wasn’t expecting company and I really don’t think this tatty T-shirt would be a turn-on for anyone. Not even a hot-blooded Italian with a one-track mind like yours. Now, drink your hot chocolate.’
Alessandro grinned as he picked up the mug and slowly took a sip. The comforting sweetness of the creamy chocolate milk was followed quickly by a hit of chili heat.
‘So, what do you think?’
‘Buona. The balance of the chocolate is so refined but then the heat of the chili just after is surprisingly alluring.’ Just like Annabella.
She really was the perfect choice to placate his father and the board. And the more time he spent with her, the more he realised he’d been neglecting his own needs. She’d ignited a fire in him that had been out for far too long.
‘It’s one of my favourite combinations, chili and chocolate,’ Annabella said leaning against the countertop. ‘This is my interpretation of the hot chocolate I had Paris recently.’
‘Ah yes. I remember, the aphrodisiac, no? Are you trying to seduce me, bella?’
‘Very funny.’ She was blushing. He liked the effect he had on her; he longed to enliven all her senses.
Alessandro put his mug down on the counter and moved in front of her. He placed one hand on either side of her body and leaned in slightly.
‘Alessandro—’
‘Call me Ale.’
‘Ale. No one can see us here. And I don’t think there’s any need for further “practice”. We were pretty convincing tonight, don’t you think?’ She put one hand on his chest, pushing him back gently.
‘For sure. But practising is so much fun, no?’ Alessandro leant in again and lightly kissed her neck.
‘Except it’s not real,’ Annabella whispered, but this time she didn’t push him away.
‘Believe me, bella, my desire for you is very real.’ He gently pressed his body against hers; his arousal ached to be closer to her.
‘But we agreed no complications remember? We have a contract.’ Her body betrayed her words as she shifted slightly against the pressure of his groin.
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