‘Beside the point?’ Zoe repeated in mock amazement. ‘You could ruin my good name and I may have to sue you!’
‘Now that would probably be a mistake!’ smiled Flavio. ‘Our learned friend here, Dottore Massimo Mendozzi, has a formidable reputation for never having lost a case yet.’
‘Now, don’t embarrass me, Flavio. I have just been very lucky so far,’ Massimo replied.
‘I doubt luck comes into it all!’ Flavio turned to Zoe, his hand on Massimo’s shoulder. ‘This man is the new young star in environmental law.’
‘Environmental law – that must be an interesting and rewarding field to work in,’ Zoe replied seriously.
‘Believe me, Massimo is very well rewarded indeed!’ Flavio laughed.
‘Oh, I meant that saving the environment must have its own reward – not the money,’ Zoe said, slightly flustered. She looked down at her feet and wriggled her toes inside the silvery Miu Miu sandals.
‘Oh indeed, indeed. Massimo is just the man to save the world!’ Flavio slapped Massimo on the back, seeming to find the way the conversation had turned to be extremely amusing. Then he spoke more seriously and in a lower voice. ‘And, Massimo, we must get together early this week as the Valle dei Sogni project is roaring ahead.’
Zoe looked up quickly at the pair of them now talking together in rapid Italian, their dark heads close together. Had she really heard Flavio mention the Valle dei Sogni? She could hardly interrupt them to ask, and now Massimo was laughing again and raising his arms in mock resignation.
‘Enough, basta, Flavio! It’s your birthday and I refuse to think about work. Happy Birthday, buon compleanno!’
‘Grazie, grazie mille! You’re right – no more talk of work tonight but we must get together early in the week to meet with ENEL.’
‘I could manage a meeting Tuesday morning – let me know.’ Massimo turned to Zoe and added, ‘You see, my learned friend is a workaholic. If I give him half a chance he will never stop and the next thing I know we will be in a meeting over his birthday cake!’
‘You’re absolutely right – I rest my case but, by the way, Tuesday in my office at ten would be just fine!’
They all laughed and began to walk across the terrace towards the view. A waiter came over with a tray of champagne glasses glinting in the reflected light of the candles.
They each took a glass and raised them to each other but it was Massimo who made the toast.
‘To the beautiful girl of my dreams!’ he said, his large, brown eyes looking soulfully at Zoe. She sighed impatiently and for one moment felt a ridiculous desire to pour her champagne over his sleek head. Really, he’s looking at me just like Fidele, she thought to herself. She sipped the yeasty champagne and her thoughts fled for a moment to Fidele. Strange to think that the last two nights she had been alone with just a dog for company and now…she looked around…it was a wonderful night. The sun had now completely dropped behind the distant hills and the stars shone down out of a velvet, blue sky. It was a night to enjoy.
Massimo took Zoe’s hand and led her towards a noisy group of people, laughing and talking between the glowing lanterns. He introduced her to so many friends that she had soon lost count of their names. Everyone she met seemed to be fond of him and interested to meet her. They were mostly friends from his days at university and nearly all in the legal profession or politics. An influential, powerful band of intelligent young people who seemed to know how to work hard and obviously knew how to party. The food and wine, as was only to be expected at any event in Italy, were of the finest quality. The music came from a live band brought in from Rome. They seemed familiar with most of the guests and knew exactly what they wanted to dance to. Massimo was a great dancer and good company. He seemed to have forgotten his mad determination to marry her. Zoe soon forgot too and then she forgot work, loneliness, the derelict Villa Sognidoro and her fascination with Alex Knight. In her silvery Miu Miu shoes, she danced the night away.
‘Yes, it was a great evening!’ Zoe yawned and sipped her coffee, idly stroking Fidele’s large head as he sat at her feet. Paolo looked across the desk at her and raised his eyebrows.
‘If you not want to talk, Zoe, I understand. You not have to say a thing – not a thing!’
This was the third or fourth time that Paolo had interrupted their work and tried to find out exactly how her evening with Massimo had gone.
‘What can I say – Massimo is really nice, the party was fabulous – we had a great time!’ Zoe repeated, trying to put more emphasis into her words. Fortunately the phone rang before Paolo could ask for more details. Paolo held up his hand.
‘I take the call, Zoe…you finish your coffee!’
Zoe sighed with gratitude and leant back in her chair. It was all so true – it had been a magical night. The dancing had finally ended at three in the morning and Massimo had driven her back to Siena, music playing in the car as they were both too tired to talk. When he stopped the car outside her house there was silence for a moment and then he had taken her hand in his and kissed it lightly. The silence surrounded them and she knew he was waiting for her to ask him in for a coffee. She had lightly brushed his cheek with a goodnight kiss and told him she was very tired. He had agreed hurriedly and jumped out of the car to open her door for her. He stood close by her side as she unlocked her front door. Once more he had taken her hand in his and kissed it, raising his soulful brown eyes to her. She had again wished him goodnight and thanked him for a wonderful evening. He had stood obediently on the doorstep until she gently closed the door on him. Inside her house she had leant back against the door and listened to the noise of the throbbing Ferrari fade into the dawn. Zoe smiled to herself as she kicked off her shoes. Massimo was every centimetre the wellbrought-up perfect gentleman. His Mamma would have been proud of him.
Zoe smiled now to herself as she finished her coffee. It was probably not the passionately torrid end to the evening that Paolo was waiting to hear about. Suddenly she realised that Paolo was still talking on the phone and not only that – he was talking to Alex Knight. She sat bolt upright in her chair and listened attentively.
‘Yes, I understand Mr. Knight, of course I’ll look into it straight away. I’m very glad you like the Villa Sognidoro… Yes, an enormous project but well worth the effort. A beautiful residence. Yes, I’ll get back to you later today or early tomorrow morning. Goodbye!’
Paolo replaced the phone on the hook and found Zoe looking at him with round eyes.
‘What is it, Zoe? You are surprised your Mr. Knight is going to buy the Villa Sognidoro?’
‘Yes…well, no…well… I don’t know!’ A hundred questions flew through her mind but at that moment a large grey security van drew up outside the office, darkening the room. The office door opened and the uniformed and armed driver came in with a large parcel.
‘Signorina Zoe Bennett?’ He held out the parcel and a clipboard. Zoe signed for the parcel and the man left as quickly as he had come.
Paolo came across and looked at the parcel and said, ‘Is very big parcel, Zoe!’ He obviously couldn’t wait for her to open it. Zoe began to tussle with the wrapping and Paolo came to her aid with a paper knife. Between them they opened the box and revealed a huge bouquet of roses. Paolo looked at Zoe in puzzlement.
‘I never see before the flowers coming by Securicor? Why not the florist? Is there a note?’
‘I can’t see one but I am sure they are from Massimo – he has a special arrangement with Securicor.’
Zoe began to giggle as she lifted