21. Valerie

Chapter twenty-one

Valerie

T he villa is unchanged; the only obvious difference is the lack of Luciano Vitale's overbearing presence. It didn't settle as deeply at his funeral because of how many people were at the villa that night, but now that it's just the immediate family, it's as if a shotgun hole is left in his place.

"Mamá has been asking me to invite you over, but with everything that's been going on, and all the travelling, I figured it wasn't the best time," Antonio says, as he leads me through the large courtyard towards the actual entryway.

"It's okay, I know it's been a rough time for all of you, how is she holding up?"

He stays silent as we enter the kitchen and I hear Gianna's laugh ring through the air. Opposite her is a well-built man, Luca, the boys' godfather, who has never looked his age. His now salt-and-pepper hair is the only clue to his real age. He must be making a joke that has their mamá near tears from laughter.

"She's been doing just fine," Antonio says in a clipped tone.

I stare up at him in confusion before staring back at the two. "No. The two of them?" I whisper .

Antonio shrugs, walking further into the room. "Mamá," he says loudly to announce our presence, and Gianna turns to face the two of us.

"Val, finally! I've been asking Nino to invite you over since the funeral." She embraces me in a hug.

Luca offers me a light nod and a smile.

"I knew things were probably a bit tense after so I didn't want to intrude," I say.

She waves me off. "You know you're part of the family, even Luciano would have been surprised at how scarce you've been since moving home."

"Val does have her own life, Mamá," Antonio interjects.

"Oh, and I can't wait to hear all about it, please head out, the boys are all out there already. We'll be out in a sec," she says, and gestures to the back patio.

"You got off lightly," Antonio chuckles and kisses the top of my head guiding me towards the door.

I elbow him in the ribs and follow him down the few stairs that lead out to the main outdoor seating area. Adriano and Augustus are sitting at the table watching a video on Adriano's phone. Mattia is here as well, but he's sitting on one of the bannisters scrolling on his phone. Ariella stumbles out behind us and walks towards Mattia.

I try my best not to notice, but relief washes over my body when I realise he's not out here.

"Little Val," Adriano calls out as he stands up to come greet me. He hands me a glass with an amber liquid, and by the look on his face, I know it's tequila. Our favourite.

"It's a special one. Augustus met up with one of our customers that works out in Venezuela, and he says this is a new tequila that's ripping through their market down there." His face beams as he continues to tell me the details of the liquid.

I lift the glass to my lips and take a sip trying to savour the taste. My eyes meet a pair from across the room as he and Enzo enter from the courtyard below. He does a double take and his attention is drawn away from the conversation he's having, to look at me.

I burst into a fit of coughs as the tequila I'm trying to enjoy goes down the wrong pipe.

"It is a bit strong, sorry I should've warned you." Adriano pats my back gently.

The tequila is everything but strong, it's enjoyable; the weight of his stare is the only strong thing. When I recover and look up, everyone's eyes stare back at me with concern, and when I meet his gaze, I see a small tilt of his lip as his eyes rake over my body before he gives his full attention back to Enzo.

"Wow, at least give a guy a warning before you eye fuck his brother from across the room."

My head snaps up to Adriano. "What?"

He chuckles and shakes his head. "Nothing, Val."

He leaves me to rejoin Augustus, who has been oddly quiet. I follow after him intending to go to greet Gus, when a sleek black suit blocks my path.

My neck cranes up, and I muster up the most innocent face I can as I stare up into his eyes. He rubs his palm across the stubble on his cheek, "Surprised my mamá let you off the hook so easily, what did you do? Lie?"

"She was a bit preoccupied," I roll my eyes. "Besides, why would I lie when I could tell her the truth?"

"Which is?"

"That her son has been keeping me busy, paying me to be his date."

Amusement dances in his eyes. "Touché, sweetheart."

"Okay everyone, take your seats, dinner is ready!" Gianna yells as she steps into the courtyard.

"Val," Antonio calls me, and I have to force myself to look away from Ambrose's captivating stare. I head over to where Antonio is standing, but not before looking over my shoulder to look back at Ambrose. His eyes move back up to mine and the guilty smirk draws across his face as he shrugs and mouths a half-assed. "Sorry."

"Mamá assigned seats," Antonio says with an apologetic smile as he pulls out my seat for me.

"It's okay, how bad can it be?" I say, and stare down at the two names next to mine. Enzo to one side, and Ambrose to the other.

" Cazzo ," I whisper and flop into my seat.

A few minutes later, everyone has taken their seats and I glance up at Antonio who sits opposite me. "You'll be fine," he mouths.

"Valerie, how are you doing?" Enzo leans down to me.

I shift in the opposite direction and accidentally bump into Ambrose, who stiffens almost as quickly as I do.

"Since you saw me on Friday? Just fine, thanks, Lorenzo." I say in a clipped tone.

"C'mon Val, can I call you Val? We've known each other for forever, no need to be using each other's full names still."

"Well, your father loved the name so much he shared it with you, so I'm sure he'd appreciate me using it."

A stifled laughter from behind me draws his attention up before he backs up and focuses on the conversation Adriano has started about a story he heard about Ariella.

"So, Valerie," Gianna's voice perks up so loudly that nearly the entire table turns to face her, before returning to their original conversations. "Antonio was telling me you're working as Ambrose's assistant now? How did this all happen?"

There isn't an air of judgement in her tone, but more of one of sheer curiosity.

Gianna hasn't always lived the lavish life she does today. She was a young struggling model before she met Luciano, and he gave her the silver platter she eats off today. The modelling career also explains the boy's immaculate looks and god-sent height, with Adriano being the shortest at 6 '0".

"I moved back and needed a job to support myself until my art commissions started doing well again. Antonio was generous enough to suggest the job."

"Well generous isn't the word considering it means working for Ambrose," Antonio jumps in and I feel Ambrose stiffen next to me. "When you do land your first commission, let me know if you need any help with the sketches, I've been wanting to get back into it." He adds on and nods.

"C'mon Nino, he's not that bad." Gianna chastises the youngest Vitale, who still pouts as if he's seven.

"Well, how bad could it be if you get to go to the CFP dinner and you're just the assistant," Enzo chirps in, and this time it's my turn to stiffen. "You'd think after all the story's circulating in the media, Ambrose wouldn't have been foolish enough to take another new girl out in public." Enzo continues.

"But imagine the headlines if he showed up alone," Adriano pipes up.

"The media would've told the story in a negative light either way," Ambrose grumbles out.

Food starts arriving and everyone starts indulging silently, but tension still lingers around the table.

"Is Diego okay with the headlines telling the tale of Ambrose Vitale's new woman of the hour?" Enzo continues, and I struggle to swallow the previously delicious piece of salmon.

"I mean, they're not exactly headlines that spark confidence in stakeholders."

I look up and see all eyes on Ambrose. Augustus even has a glint of humour in his eyes as he watches the entire ordeal.

"I mean, does the media ever tell the entire story?" I speak up.

"And what is the entire story?" Antonio asks now.

"Nothing. The story is nothing. Can we eat in peace?" Adriano diffuses loudly from the other end of the table.

Ambrose drops his fork onto his plate and reaches for the napkin on his lap, before he can retrieve it, my hand shoots out to grab his and begins rubbing circles onto it. He continues his previous intentions with only one hand while leaving the other for me to hold onto.

The rest of the dinner continues similarly. Enzo, Antonio and Augustus poking fun at Ambrose for what's going on in the media, while Adriano and I try to diffuse the situation, even though I'm convinced he's doing all the heavy lifting. I don't miss the way Ambrose clenches my hand whenever someone mentions something that especially pisses him off.

Gianna and Luca have all but left the table completely. They've been engrossed in their conversations the entire time, only looking up when one of their names is mentioned.

It's as if everyone can't leave the table fast enough when dinner ends, everyone except Ambrose, who sits planted in his seat.

Gianna manages to catch me and holds me back while everyone else leaves. Even Antonio offers me an apologetic smile, before making a beeline for the main house.

"Val, Ambrose tells me you're the reason Vitale Holdings may have some new investors," Gianna says, my eyes drift to Ambrose, but it's clear he's not paying attention in the slightest.

"He did?" The shocked expression on my face must look incredibly worrisome because Gianna merely nods and looks at me as if I'm an idiot for believing Ambrose can't say anything nice.

With that, he pushes his chair back abruptly and walks towards the other end of the patio. "It's hard to believe Ambrose willingly gave me credit for something like that," I admit when I think he's out of earshot.

"Why? I think my son is many things, but he's always been straightforward. A little too honest sometimes, but honest nonetheless."

"You're right about that," I say, and we both chuckle lightly.

"So, Val, are you seeing anyone?" she asks me, and I cringe at the question. It reminds me of when I was younger and my mamá would ask me the same question whenever she saw me speaking to a boy. "Sorry if it's a bit forward, I can see all the stories the media is spinning, so I was wondering. "

Ambrose's movements from the other end of the patio stop briefly. "No, I'm not actually," I chuckle at her concern.

"Okay. I was concerned that all of this attention in the media may cause some issues," she offers me a smile. "Just remember you don't have to go through with anything in the public that you aren't okay with."

Oh, they are causing issues just not in the way she thinks.

Ambrose walks off towards the pool, and Gianna's words settle with some sort of double meaning. On one hand, it seems like genuine concern for what would be best for me and on another, it almost sounds as if she's referring to Ambrose's reputation with the media.

"Well, I won't keep you behind any longer, I just wanted to say thank you for your help with the investor. I know Ambrose has been having a hard time taking over since Luciano passed away."

"Enzo and the other boys don't exactly make it easy for him," I defend.

"They have a complicated relationship, much like Luciano and Enzo's father," she shrugs.

I suppose all families have their drama and disagreements, but something about the way Enzo and Ambrose bicker makes me think there might be more to it.

"Thank you again, Val," Gianna says again, reaching to grab my hand.

"It's my pleasure," I smile, and caress her hand before standing and walking down to the main courtyard.

Ambrose sits alone near the pool and scrolls on his phone.

I hop up and sit on the edge of the table next to him, and silently wait for him to grace me with his attention. Dark eyes trail up my entire body and pin me with a disinterested expression.

"Well, that was an interesting conversation."

No change in his emotion .

"I didn't expect you to mention that I helped since I didn't do much–"

"He won't shut up about how I must be an incredibly well-educated man if I can keep up with a woman like you." A faint smirk plays on his lips. "I'd much rather prefer he'd think I'm well educated due to my numerous degrees in financial management, but I'll take it this once."

He stands up, directly in front of me. "I'm quite pissed off though."

"Why?" It barely comes out as a whisper as I try to calm down my thumping heart.

"Because my mamá had the chance to thank you before I could thank you myself." He places one hand on either side of my thighs.

"So, why don't you do it now?" My eyes meet his, and it's like a spark sets off behind his eyes.

"Well, I had a few ideas of how I could thank you. I'm not sure how many of them you'd be okay with." His eyes drop to my lips and then back up to my eyes, leaning in slightly.

"I'd be fine with at least fifty percent of them, trust me."

"Only fifty?" His palm shifts to my thigh and the skin beneath it burns like a hot iron is being held against it.

"Saying eighty seems too keen."

"And you're not keen?" He squeezes my thigh gently.

His lips are directly in front of mine, so close I can feel his breath fan across my face.

"More curious than keen."

"Curiosity killed the cat," he whispers, his eyes falling to my lips.

"And satisfaction brought it back."

With that, the hands gripping my thighs pull me close until my core is flush with his front and his lips connect with mine.

For a few minutes, my mind doesn't register what is happening but when I feel the gentle wetness of his tongue against my lips begging for entrance, my body comes back to life. It's like a moth to the flame, my hands are in his hair pulling him closer.

His rough grip strains against my skin as he pushes the hem of my dress higher. The kiss is hungry and feverish like we've been starved of each other. As his palms make contact with my hips a jolt of electricity runs through me and I come back to my senses and realise exactly what's going on.

I rush to push him off me, he stares back at me completely dishevelled. His hair a mess, his lips slightly swollen and a tent in the front of his slacks.

"N-no. I refuse to just be another one of your assistants that you think you can just hook up with.'' I say with my hands outstretched in front of me trying to maintain the distance.

"That's not what this is."

"That's what it feels like."

"I have cold beers, let's take a walk on the beach!" Adriano's voice echoes from just behind Ambrose, and we both jump. Ambrose stands back awkwardly and I try to act natural.

Adriano gazes at us briefly before nodding his head in the direction of the beach. "Let's go."

Ambrose offers a hand to help me jump off the table, but I ignore it and hop off it myself, straightening out my dress.

Antonio runs up behind me and picks me up bridal style before running towards the beach.

The air is filled with laughter and my squeals about my shoes getting messed up in the sand. As he lowers me and his face is broad with a smile, I realise how guilty I feel again. He's looking at me like he did all those years ago. As if we were the same people, and even in this moment where everything is exactly as it was back then too. I can't look at him in the same way I did back then.

He helps me take my shoes off. "You look beautiful tonight if I haven't mentioned it yet."

"You haven't, and thank you," I smile up at him.

"Nino, come look at the jellyfish that washed up," Mattia yells from near the shore .

As I watch the younger Vitale boys play on the beach, beers in hand, it reminds me of when we'd all sneak out here and get drunk, until either Ambrose or Luciano showed up to drag us back inside.

The brothers, Ambrose excluded, have all started wrestling in the sand. Discarding their beer bottles to the side, getting wet sand all over their crisp Armani suits.

Ambrose stalks towards the house, stopping only briefly beside me. For a split second, I'm convinced he wants to say something. But then he's gone. Words unsaid.

"Valerie, we need a referee, Adriano is a cheat," Antonio yells.

I give Ambrose a final glance over my shoulder before jogging down and joining the boys.

Maybe some things are better left unsaid.