Chapter 1

Adira 

I smiled as I glanced over at Charlie who currently had his head out the window of my truck as we flew down the driveway to Gio's house.  I hadn't seen my benefactor, who really was more like a father to me, in over a month.  It had been worth it though.  The shots I had gotten in Egypt were mind blowing.  I couldn't wait to show him.

Getting that contract was putting me one step closer to my ultimate photographer's dream of Greece.  Of course, I could have gone already but I wanted to be INVITED.  

As I pulled up to the front of the mansion that Gio lived in there was an unknown sports car parked there.  My heart started beating faster and after parking I took a few seconds to breathe.  Charlie was over the center console and on my lap hugging me the minute I parked and his weight and warmth reminded me I was here and so was he.  

I wasn't expecting Gio to have company, even though I knew he was a busy man.  He would normally let me know if he was with someone else so I could prepare myself.  Even though the panic attacks had lessened over the years, when I was tired - like I was now after a 13 hour flight aboard a military vessel- they would flare up.  

By the size of the car there could only be at the most two people with him and I could handle that.  I opened my door and Charlie jumped out to stand by my door while I leaned into the back seat to grab my backpack.  I stepped out and had just shut the door to my truck when the front door opened and Gio stepped out.

"Adira! Cara, it is so good to see you.  I am glad you made it back in one piece," he said stepping forward to greet me.  Charlie got to him first and begged for a pet before I threw my arms around Gio's waist.  Even for a man in his 50's he was still fit and good looking and at 6'4' he towered over my short 5'6 frame.  I was dusty and sandy but I knew that wouldn't matter to him as I breathed in the familiar scent of his cologne letting it wash over me in comfort.

Charlie started growling and I frowned as we pulled apart.  My eyes followed his and my heart almost stopped.  Valentine Rossi.

I had only met Giovanni's son Valentine once at a party Gio threw that he insisted I attend with him and he had stolen my breath then.  My artist's eyes picking apart every part of the gorgeous man in front of me.  My fingers itched to grab my camera and attempt to capture the sheer essense that was him as he stood there leaning against the column on the porch, his hands in his pockets and a bored look on his face.  

I had a love hate with this man.  I wanted to take his picture so bad but at the same time I wanted to punch him for the words that still echoed in my head from that night.

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Gio had left me on the balcony, knowing I needed a breath and went to get me a drink.  This was the largest event I had been to since it happened but I was managing well.  We had decided on a fake name for me -Petra Alexander- as my photos were well known at this point and I didn't want to be a focal point here.  As I stood there leaning on the rail in a dress that clung to my curves and exposed so much more skin than I was used to I felt someone come and stand next to me, almost touching.

His cologne was almost as enticing as the man himself, power oozing from every pore.  You could tell this was a man who commanded attention - no matter where he was and I was intimidated.  I continued my breathing exercises to keep myself calm, knowing Giovanni couldn't be far.

I could feel the heat of his gaze caress every part of my body and knew that my face would be bright red despite the makeup that had been painstakingly applied.  And then finally he spoke.

"I don't know what you want with my father, but if you think for one second that I'd let you get your manicured claws into him or his money you've got another thing coming.  So enjoy the spoils while you can before-" he said before Gio walked up with a flute of champagne in his hand for me and a scotch for himself.  

"Ah Valentine I see you've met-" Gio started, handing me the glass.  I cut him off and thrust my freshly manicured for the first time ever hand out in greeting towards Valentine.  "Petra Alexander," I said giving him my fake name.  Gio looked at me brow raised, but let me continue with the fake name.  Valentine took my hand in a slightly too firm grip and kissed the back of it like the gentleman I knew his father raised him to be.  At this point my anger had outweighed my anxiety.

How dare he think that without even knowing what was going on?  I loved Gio - he had become the father I'd never had growing up and have saved me more than once.  But it was nothing like what he thought.  And the 'spoils' he referred to were actially all bought and paid for by me.  I hadn't taken a penny that wasn't earned from my work from Gio since I'd been awarded the scholarship and grant from his company's charity program years back.  

If he wanted to be like the rest and believe that Gio had bagged a pretty young thing or that I'd bagged a 'sugar daddy' then he could have my fake name too.  Not than anyone besides Gio would recognize me as Adira, the messy but brillant photographer.  But I also knew that Gio's heart still belonged to his wife, though she had passed years back and it would always belong to her.  

Gio and Valentine made small talk for a few minutes while I sipped the champagne.  I heard the music start and looked to Gio asking "Dance?" He looked surprised but smiled at me.  This would be a big step for me but between the medicine before the event and the glass of champagne I was feeling brave enough to try to mingle a little more.  He took my hand and we walked back in, the heated glare of Valentine tickling my skin the entire time.