Her Italian Boss’s Agenda

‘And you heard what I said.’

‘Yes, I did.’ He gave a wry grin. ‘So did Vesuvius, and you know what he thought of it.’

‘Don’t tell me you’re superstitious.’

‘You can’t live here without being superstitious. The old man over the bay can tell when you’re lying.’

‘That’s it. That’s enough,’ she said furiously. ‘I spent weeks talking nonsense with you-’

‘You should know. You did most of the talking.’

She breathed hard. ‘I’m going back to join the others now,’ she said, and walked away.

She shouldn’t have talked to him. It had been a mistake, one that she wouldn’t make again.

The party split into small groups to drink coffee. Hope was talking about her first son, Justin, snatched from her at birth.

‘It will be the holidays soon and then perhaps Justin will return with my grandson,’ she said, smiling at Olympia. ‘And then you will meet him.’

‘I’ll really look forward to it,’ Olympia said. ‘I think it’s wonderful how you found each other at last.’

‘That’s what Primo did for me,’ Hope said, regarding him fondly. ‘He gave me back my eldest son.’

‘No, Mamma,’ he said, looking uncomfortable. ‘You can’t give one person to another. If they find you it’s because they want to. Justin was seeking you and in the end he would have found you himself.’

Olympia thought Hope was preparing to say more, but then she checked herself, as though she’d realised Primo wanted to end the subject.

‘Is there any hope that we’ll see Evie again?’ Luke asked.

‘I fear not,’ Hope said sadly. To Olympia she explained, ‘Evie is the woman who came here with him the first time. She’d done so much for him, and anyone could see that they loved each other, but now they seem to have broken up.’

‘Then perhaps they did not love each other,’ Toni pointed out.

‘Why do you say that?’ Olympia asked impulsively. ‘Sometimes people love each other and still break up. It doesn’t mean the love wasn’t there, just that they couldn’t find the path that led to each other.’

Hope made a sudden movement of interest. Several of the others turned to look at Olympia, but she couldn’t see if Primo was one of them as her head was turned away from him. Even so, she sensed him grow still.

‘I think you are right,’ Hope said, nodding to her. ‘I know that Justin is a difficult man. He says so himself. He wouldn’t be an easy husband for any woman, but I think Evie could have been the right wife for him, if only-’ She sighed.

‘If only someone would help them,’ Olympia said impulsively.

‘You think so?’ Hope asked. ‘But how?’

‘Talk to them, make them talk to each other. Knock their heads together.’

‘If only-’ Hope murmured. ‘But then my family would say I was an interfering busybody.’

‘Let them,’ Olympia said robustly. ‘People sometimes call me an interfering busybody, but I’ve never let it stop me yet.’

This caused a general laugh and Hope patted her hand.

‘I knew there was a reason I like you so much,’ she said triumphantly.

As the evening drew to a close Olympia sought refuge in the cool night air, from a position where she could glare at Vesuvius across the bay.

‘You’re a real pain in the butt,’ she informed him. ‘In future, shut up.’

He loomed in tactful silence. He’d had his fun.

It was a relief to be away from the chattering crowd. Her head was starting to ache from the confused impressions she had received tonight.

Primo’s face was in her mind, pale and strained as she’d seen him in the first moment, then cool and smiling as he’d introduced his glamorous companion.

‘Oh, it’s nice to be out in the fresh air!’

It was Hope, further down the terrace, echoing Olympia’s thoughts.

She was about to speak up when she heard Primo’s voice, saying, ‘Yes, come and sit down for a moment, Mamma. You’re looking tired.’

‘I am, but it’s been a wonderful evening. Galina and Olympia are both so beautiful. I wonder when-’

‘When we’ll see Justin again,’ he interrupted her quickly.

‘Yes, that too. Every family party feels as though something is missing.’ Hope sighed.

‘But you used to say that before we found him,’ he reminded her. ‘Then he was truly missing. Now you know where he is, and that he will come here again soon.’

There was a silence, then Primo said, ‘Are you thinking of what Olympia said?’

‘Of course I am. It’s so tempting to think that she was right, because then I’d have an excuse to act.’

‘And you always like an excuse to act.’

The words were not said in criticism. Olympia could hear the fond humour in his voice.

‘True, but I suppose my wise son would counsel caution?’

‘You do me an injustice, Mamma. I think Olympia is right.’

‘You, agreeing with Olympia? I thought you didn’t like her, chiefly because she and Luke are in love.’

‘You’re wrong-’ Primo sounded as though he’d been about to blurt something out, then checked himself. ‘You’re wrong, Mamma. I do not dislike her, and I think she’ll make an admirable wife for Luke. But she’s also a wise woman who’s learned some hard lessons about love.’

‘You sound as if you know her well.’

‘I do know her, better than you think. Tonight she spoke to you out of her wisdom and her pain. You should listen to her. If Evie and Justin belong together then we should do everything possible to help them overcome whatever troubles them.’

‘You say this?’

‘That surprises you?’

‘A little, because although it was you who found Justin, I don’t think you feel like a brother to him.’

‘That doesn’t matter. I know now that to find the ideal person and then lose them because-’

Olympia heard him take a sharp breath and then go on with difficulty.

‘Because of what?’ Hope asked curiously.

‘Because of their own foolishness, and because there was nobody to help them find the way that they had lost- it can happen too easily, and then the worst thing is to know that it was your own fault. I wouldn’t wish it on any man. Not Justin. Not Luke.’

‘Not yourself?’ Hope asked gently.

Primo gave a curt laugh. ‘I can take care of myself.’

‘Can you, my son? I thought so once. Now I’ve begun to wonder. Once you seemed so strong-’

‘I’m much stronger now, Mamma. A man is always better for making discoveries-especially about himself. From what you say, Justin has discovered many things, but they have left him confused. Olympia has spoken the truth. You must help him through that confusion.’

‘And you? Are you confused?’

Primo spoke quietly. ‘No, Mamma. My confusion is over. Now, come inside. It’s getting chilly.’

Olympia didn’t move but sat there silently until she knew that they had gone. She discovered that her face was wet, but she couldn’t remember when she had started to weep.

As part of the Maggio dei Monumenti celebrations Enrico was laying on a ball for all the ‘notables’ as he called them. His guests included most of the Council of Naples, who organised the festival, the older Neapolitan families and many of his employees. This year the number of employees was greater and included many from England, to mark the successful merger.

He had persuaded Angela and Harold to extend their visit for a few days and join him. On the night they set off, with Luke and Olympia, for one of the local palazzos, now owned by the city, where he had hired the ballroom.

It was a grand occasion. The Rinuccis were there in force-Francesco with the girlfriend on whom Hope was pinning expectations, Primo escorting Galina, who looked like a model in a white satin dress that plunged down at the front, down at the back and up at the side. She had exactly the perfect figure to get away with it and Olympia reckoned that if Primo was making a point then he was doing it in style.