7

Ginevra

Standing in my Nana’s boutique, I’m talking to a customer while Nina is cashing in another. The little ding at the door announces the entrance of a new costumer and I recognize a regular. She has her light brown hair tied in an elegant ponytail and is wearing a yellow summer dress. The big loop earrings swing as she spots me with a big smile. My interest gets captured by the gorgeous hulk getting in after her. His broad shoulders and muscular body contrast with her petite frame. His clenched jaw outlines his strong jawline and I’m nearly saddened by the fact that sunglasses are hiding his eyes.

Good heavens.

I wave at her to greet her, and to also rip me out of my trance. I finish talking with the lady in front of me and as she decides on a bag, I invite her to the counter to pay. As I’m packaging the designer bag with tissue paper, Nina scoffs next to me. I follow her gaze to the newly arrived couple and get back to tie a bow out of a colorful ribbon. I thank the elderly woman for her purchase and accompany her to the door. As I finish chatting with her, I can hear Mr. handsome hissing discontentedly.

“What the hell where you thinking?! Dragging me into such a place?!”

With my costumer done, I smooth out my dress and step up to the happy couple.

“Everything alright? Is there something I can show you, Ellie?”

“They even call you by your pet name here, Elisabetta? You have to be fucking kidding me”

Oh, what a charm.

The gorgeous hulk stares down at Elisabetta hissing while she just shrugs and flashes me a big smile.

“I saw a post about how you had the new collection ready and hoped I could get a glance.”

Looking around as to make sure anyone could hear us, I whisper

“I can show you one or two pictures, but you have to keep it secret.”

Elisabetta squeals happily while the man murmurs.

“This is a disaster.”

She follows me to the back room where a client normally wouldn’t be admitted to go in.

“Just her!”

Her companion grunts but stays out in the show room without saying anything else. As I’m showing Elisabetta a few designs for the upcoming collection, she stares in awe.

“I want to pre-order this one, please.”

“Sure.”

Taking note of her wish on a small notebook, I ask her if she wants to have it delivered.

“Oh, no. No. I’ll come here to pick it up.”

She takes a look around as she adds, “I like it here.”

I steer her out of the back room with a smile, just to find Nina looking disgusted at the main lead of my future dreams.

“Is something the matter?”

She scoffs about to speak but the man beats her to it.

“Listen, I’m even less amused to be here as you want me here. Just let us get it over with.”

He turns his eyes to us and even if I’m quite sure he is looking straight at me behind his darkened glasses, he doesn’t speak to me.

“Elisabetta, move!”

I tear my eyes off him as I look at Nina.

“What’s wrong?”

I feel stupid that a knot forms in my stomach thinking it could be one of her exes. But it could hardly be. She tells me about everyone she even hooks up with and I would remember him for sure. Elisabetta tries to ease the situation with a nervous giggle

“Don’t mind my brother, he has his panties in a twist today.”

Nina snorts and I’m more confused than ever.

“I didn’t know you could step in here without bursting out in flames.”

Instead of being shocked like I am, Elisabetta lowers her gaze and the handsome brute sneers.

“Oh, I’ll be surprised if we get out of here without dying from the pest in a week from now.”

“What the hell?!” I look back and forth between Nina and the man as I add, “I can assure you that we don’t have rats in the store that can transmit such a disease.”

I’m always the last to understand what is going on.

The man actually seems to be taken aback by my remark and Nina cracks up.

“No, no. Don’t worry. He is just joking around.” 

Still not helping, Ellie.

“It’s not that funny.”

His sneer gets wider as he states, “It wasn’t supposed to be funny. I already see two rats, and I’m not sure about someone else.”

He finally directs his gaze to his sister.

Thanks God, the boutique is empty now.

I raise my voice offended, “How dare you?”

“I dare all I want, Montecco!”

At him saying my name that way has my blood drain from my face.

“Out! Now!” I shout while pointing to the door.

“My pleasure!”

As he turns his muscular back to me, Elisabetta tries to ease the situation once again.

“Oh, please, don’t fight. There’s nothing to fight about.”

I stare at her incredulously.

“What the-?! You were buying our bags for years! Why? You do know this is our Stemma on it, right?” 

“Years? Elisabetta!”

My gorgeous rival has turned back around and Elisabetta plays with her fingers.

“I knoooow. But they are so prettyyy!” She takes a step in my direction, lowering her voice. “I hide them at a friend’s house.”

I roll my eyes but have to actually hold in a laughter, something my best friend doesn’t do.

“Oh, this is awesome!”

As the ding resounds again, I’m just in time to see his broad back disappear to the right.

“I’m so sorry. I’m really looking forward to my new bag.”

Elisabetta remains standing another second awkwardly, before she scurries after her brother.

Yeah. Awesome, indeed.

***

The moment I arrive home, I have a very bad feeling. Nina and I swore to keep today’s event secret, but it weighs heavy in my stomach. It is paired with my sense of guilt at the upcoming party. Which gets even intensified by the fact that I’m carrying around a lilac mask with golden embellishments and feathers in a bag freshly bought from an exclusive boutique. After setting my bags down in my room, I go out to join my family talking on the terrace facing our pool. Putting on my sunglasses, I step out into the warm summer air and let myself fall into one of the lounges on the patio.

“Ginevra.”

My grandmother reprimands me for my unladylike behavior and I apologize lowly while my brother is grinning at me. He is smoking a cigarette in plain daylight, an action that would have me meet my creator in no time. I turn my head to the sun, enjoying its beam with a smile. In the distance, I hear the twins and my father playing around in the pool. My brother is talking to my grandmother about something I can’t quite grasp. Maybe about one of his new girlfriends. Slowly but surely his excuses why he doesn’t keep one long enough or even has none are running out. I wonder if he would be forced to take someone he doesn’t know as his spouse as well.

Suddenly, I hear an exhausted groan, as my grandfather sits into the lounge seat next to me. He hits my brother with his newspaper playfully and chuckles at his own silly gesture. Clearing his throat, he opens his newspaper he surely has been trying to read several times throughout the day.

At least I’m not the only one not having a minute to myself in here.

As a few moments pass in silence, he nudges my side gently. I jerk up and stare at him questioningly as he looks at me with a big smile.

“Your brother will be closing a big deal in a few weeks from today. With our biggest rival.”

I smile back at him.

“I know. We are all very proud.”

“Oh, yes. But I thought that maybe, as it is such an important event for the family, you want to take part in the meetings with the Capoletti?”

I straighten myself, getting up in my seat.

“Yes! I’d love to. Thank you, Nonno.”

He coughs out a laugh as I hug him, having his wife looking at us in disdain.

Again, not ladylike.