Chapter 2

Adira

That was two years ago and he was still just as handsome and almost cold.  Though he did not know he'd met me.  

"Charlie, down.  Heel," I called out to the 120 pound rottiweiler who had been my constant companion for the last 6 years.  He came right to me and sat down at my feet.  I rubbed his favorite spot behind his ears as Gio called out to Valentine.

"Son, come meet Adira.  You've seen her prints at the office and probably many other places now," Gio said smiling with pride.

Valentine stood to his full height and walked over to where we were standing.  I kept one hand on Charlie's head letting his presence calm me and vice versa and held the other out to Valentine.  He smiled a smile that didn't quiet reach his eyes as his large warm hand engulfed mine.  I had forgotten how tall he was as well - 6'5'- as the last time we'd met I'd been wearing heels that were much taller than the tims that were currently on my feet.  

"I'm sorry we're both a little dirty but it's nice to meet you," I said softly.

"Nice to meet you too.  I'm sorry I've got to run father.  I'm meeting the guys for dinner tonight.  I'll catch you in the office tomorrow?" Valentine asked his father as he stepped away from me.  I felt a little relived that he wasn't staying.

"Yes, of course.  I'll see you in the morning, drive carefully son," Gio said giving his son a quick embrace before turning back to me.    I watched for a minute as Valentine folded himself into his car before Gio called my attention.

"I had them prepare your usual room for you and dinner is in an hour if you'd like to freshen up maybe?" he said smiling and gestering me into the house.  I smiled and walked ahead saying "Yes thank you.  There's probably a pound or two of sand between me and Charlie."

After bathing Charlie and then myself I threw on an old sweatshirt and some shorts before heading down to join Gio for dinner.  I grabbed my bag and threw it in the media room before making my way to the dinning room.  

"Hi Adira hon.  It's so good to see you back.  I've made your favorite," Susan said as I entered the room.  She set down the lasagna and came over giving me a kiss on the cheek.  Charlie was jealous and barked at her playfully so she bent down and pet his head.  "I've miss you too Charlie.  And if you'll follow me I've got some treats for you too," She said to him.  He wagged his little nubby tail and looked to me for permission.  I nodded my head and said "Go on" before I took my seat next to a smiling Gio.  Charlie followed Susan back to the kitchen where she probably had some fresh raw steak waiting for him.

We discussed my month in Egypt and how my brother had actually made it out to see me for a few days.  It had been a few years since we'd seen each other in person as his ilustrious military career kept hiim busy.  I told Gio about all the projects I had completed - almost double what I had planned at the start of the trip- and we talked about what my schedule would be like now that I had returned.

I'd already made almost a quarter million from the contracts I took for the Egypt shoots and that didn't include all the extras I had gotten done as well.  I had been working almost non stop for the last 3 years as the work I'd begun right after college had finally started paying off and I was able to pick which contracts I wanted to take.  I wasn't 100 percent sure on my schedule yet as I was waiting on emailed contracts for a few tenative events.  It was the beginning of March and even here in New York the weather was a bit unpredictable.

I asked how things had been here for him and we discussed some new mergers from the financial branch as well as a new aquisition in the publishing sector that Valentine had closed the deal on finally.  I was glad to hear business was booming for them as well.  We discussed some charity events that his company was looking at sponsoring and we discussed some ideas that I had this year as well, some of which I had already signed up for.  Gio's wife, Aria, had been big on charity and giving back from the time they'd made their first million and was an actual division under the umbrella of his company.  He gave personally, and professionally and ensured that his team did as well.  

That was actually how we'd met.  I'd applied for the AR scholarship and Grant program my senior year and had been one of the 5 accepted.  They'd been impressed that despite losing my mother and becoming imancipated at 15 that I'd been able to keep up with my studies as well as work to support myself.  I'd kept myself so busy and even graduated early.  Paired with my other scholarships, it had paid for my classes at Yale as well as my small loft and the equipment to get my photography business off the ground. 

More and more each year Gio had been handing more of the business end of things to Valentine, allowing Gio to focus more on the charity division.  I'd been working as many of the events as I could with Gio since my first year in college - either as a volunteer or a sponsoring business partner and had enjoyed the break from my usual photography stuff.  

After dinner Charlie joined us in the media room and while Gio poured some wine for the two of us I set up my laptop.  I set it on the table next to us so I could switch out sd cards as we went through each one.  We settled on the sofa with Charlie curled between us keeping my feet warm as we began going through the shots.