‘Svetlana, I am unable to see you tonight,’ Gian said, and then, when it was clear she had asked why, rather drily he answered, ‘Because I am unable to see you tonight.’
His lack of explanation must have infuriated Svetlana for even with the phone to his ear, Ariana heard her angry retort. ‘When then?’
‘Do I have to spell it out, Svetlana?’
It would appear that he did, and Ariana listened as very coldly and firmly he ended their relationship.
‘Gian,’ she said as they pulled up at La Fiordelise, ‘please, call her back. I can go home. I really didn’t want to make trouble for you...’
‘Forget it.’ He gave a dismissive shrug. ‘We were always going to end.’
In fact, he hadn’t seen Svetlana all week.
Somehow they had bumped through the concert at Teatro dell’Opera but instead of returning to the sumptuous suite behind his office, Gian had taken her home.
‘Why did you break up with her?’ Ariana asked as they stood outside the car beneath the bright entrance lights.
‘Because she wanted more.’
‘More?’
‘She had started to drop into the hotel unannounced,’ he said. Ariana just frowned. ‘And she wanted to come up to my residence...’
Her frown deepened.
‘As well as that, she wanted to come with me to your father’s funeral.’
‘Oh?’ Ariana said, but it was more a question, because she didn’t really understand.
‘As if we were a couple.’ Gian attempted to explain his closed-off life, but clearly still bewildered, Ariana gave the tiniest shake of her head and so he elaborated. ‘She wanted things to progress and that was not what we had agreed.’
‘What did you agree to?’
‘Only the best parts.’ Gian did not soften his words. ‘Dinner in a nice restaurant, a trip to the theatre...’
‘I assume sex?’
‘Correct.’
‘So if not in your residence...’
‘Ariana, I am not discussing this with you. Suffice it to say I never want a relationship.’ He ended the matter. ‘You’re cold, let’s go in.’
‘To the restaurant?’ Ariana asked.
‘I thought the Pianoforte Bar...’
Her eyes narrowed, recalling Svetlana being denied a seat at his restaurant. Despite his kind invitation to keep her company, she knew she was also being kept at arm’s length.
‘No, thank you.’ She shook her head. ‘I don’t need the noise of a bar tonight, even one as elegant as yours...’ Ariana fished and she fished, but Gian did not take the bait, nor upgrade her to restaurant status, even as she stood there and sulked. ‘I think I might go for a walk.’
‘In heels?’ Gian frowned.
‘I have my flats in my bag. I’ll be fine on my own,’ she said, waving him away as she took off her heels and went to put her flats on, but where was a marble pillar when you needed one?
Gian would not be waved off, though, and neither was he Prince Charming, for he did not go down on his knees to help, instead offering his arm. ‘Lean on me.’ He took one black stiletto that she handed to him and passed her a flat, and then it was all repeated with the other foot.
‘Let’s walk,’ Gian said.
For Ariana, it felt like the right choice. Piazza Navona, the grand, elegant square overlooked by La Fiordelise, was beautifully lit. Its fountains were hypnotic and a little of the tension of the day left as they strolled.
It felt different at night.
Or rather it felt different being here with Gian.
His presence was a comforting warmth in the chilly night air and his voice felt like a welcome caress, as he enquired how things were with her brothers.
‘Dante is...’ Ariana let out a long sigh. ‘I don’t know. He’s just been so focused on the funeral. I think it will all hit him afterwards. He and my father were close.’
‘Yes,’ Gian agreed.
‘Well, they were until Mia came along.’
‘They grew close again, once your father became ill,’ Gian pointed out. ‘And Stefano?’
‘I wouldn’t know,’ Ariana said tightly. ‘You would have to ask Eloa.’ She heard the bitterness in her own voice and screwed her eyes closed, because she had told no one, not even Nicki, how left out she felt. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean that.’
‘Yes, you did,’ Gian said gently. ‘I know the two of you are close.’
‘Were close,’ she corrected. ‘I know it sounds childish, but we used to speak every day. Now he calls Eloa, and that’s correct, of course, and how it should be; they’re getting married in May. However...’ She didn’t know how best to describe the loneliness that had descended almost the moment Eloa had been introduced to her and Ariana had felt shut out.
‘You miss him?’
‘Yes.’ She nodded. ‘And especially now.’
‘Since your father died?’
‘Before that,’ Ariana admitted. She looked at the moon lighting up the square. If ever there was a time for honesty it was tonight. ‘When our parents broke up it was Stefano I turned to. Papà had eyes only for Mia; he didn’t want me around so much...’
Gian stayed silent, for he knew that wasn’t quite the case. Rafael had found out he was dying and wanted his final years to be spent in peace with Roberto; Mia had been a front of respectability. Of course he could not reveal that and just listened as she continued. ‘But Stefano met Eloa around then,’ Ariana said. ‘I just felt as if everyone I was close to disappeared. I know I have Dante, but he is so much older...’
‘Ancient,’ Gian agreed drily, for he and Dante were the same age.
‘I have Mamma, of course, but...’ She wished he would interrupt, or finish her sentence for her, because it was perhaps not something she should say out loud, yet his continued silence compelled her to speak. ‘I have Mamma, though only on her terms, and it can be a little stifling at times.’
Still he remained silent as they walked.
‘And a little solitary at others,’ Ariana admitted. ‘I thought things were different with Stefano. He’s my twin; I’m used to him being there
