Chapter 296

“I know this is none of my business,” Marie said, as she stepped up behind her and laid a gentle hand on her shoulder, “but if it were me, I’d keep my plans. Your family is expecting you and his mother doesn’t even know anything about the arrangements. That makes your family first in line for your attention.”

“I’d better not,” she said sadly. “I don’t want to cause any more problems.”

“To hell with the problems,” Marie said boldly. “You’ve turned your family down time and again, and for what? For him to tell you what a waste of time your hobby is. You have the world looking at you, waiting for your next show. Are you going to throw everything you’ve worked so hard for away, just because of a self-centered, egotistical…”

“Hello?” a man’s voice called out from the outer office.

“Man,” Marie finished as Giovanni stepped through the door.

He removed his sunglasses to adjust to the dimmer lighting and smiled at the two women who stared at him blankly. Marie nearly choked as she tried to s