I’m sure Charlie’s been on pins and needles with the uncertainty. She’s been operating an event planning business from our winery for the past two years and things have really taken off.
“Because there’s nothingtosay. We never got that far. He left before I even finished introducing myself.”
“What? You’re kidding.”
“I wish I was.” I relay the events, cringing as I relive the abject failure and embarrassment of those sparse minutes in Dante’s office. “Also I think he’s screwing his assistant. I mean, it’s pretty obvious.”
“Oh my God.” Charlie takes a pointed breath. “Look, sis, the only way you have a chance in hell of surviving this marriage is to set some ground rules.”
“Ground rules? He wouldn’t give me the time of day. I barely said my name before he stormed out, and that woman—who was definitely not in appropriate office attire, might I add—basicallytossed me out!”
She huffs and I imagine her flopping onto her sofa with a hand over her eyes, the way she does when she’s stressed. If I can’t manage a short introductory meeting with my own fiancé, how am I going to be able to set any rules?
“Look, Char. Dante doesn’t really want me. He’s not interested. He’s just after the business and for some crazy reason, maybe just to make an example of Dad, he decided he’d take a wife to go with it. Point is, I’m insignificant in this transaction. I promise I’ll do everything I can to protect our family, and our jobs, but…it’s pretty unlikely I’ll be able to negotiate with him.”
She huffs again, this time sounding personally insulted. “You can’t just let this jerk walk all over you. Are you going to be the doormat, Frankie? Just lie there and let him and his slut wipe their shoes all over you? I don’t think so. You’re an Abbott, and we do not lie down for anybody.”
I sink onto my bed and rub my eyes. “Fine, then what do you expect me to do?”
“Grow a pair!” she barks through the speakerphone. “Go back over there and figure this out. Make him listen to you. Make him take your damn hand for a proper shake while you say, ‘Hello, Dante. I’m Francesca. Your soon-to-be wife.’ If you let him act like this now, you’ll never have a leg to stand on later.”
She’s right. She’s so right. But going back to the Bellanti winery and facing Humiliation, Round Two is more than I want to take on right now. I still feel sick from Round One.
“I have dinner with him in a few hours. That will give me time to prepare. And, you know, work on my courage.”
“Okay, good. I know you’re probably still shellshocked by all this. It was a shock to everyone.” Her voice trails off and then she picks her way into the next sentence. “So, uh…have you talked to Rico since you got home?”
It’s my turn to let loose a dramatic huff. The urge to hang up the phone nearly overtakes me, but I don’t. Instead I flop back onto the bed with a groan.
“No, I haven’t spoken to Rico, nor will I, so drop it.”
“But—”
A pang of longing goes through me. “I said drop it, Charlie.”
“Okay, okay. Dropping it.”
Clearing my throat, I get up and rummage through my closet again. It’s hopeless. Nothing spectacular magically appeared while I wasn’t looking. Dammit.
“I hear hangers clicking. Are you digging through your closet?”
“Yes.”
“Did you make a huge pile on the floor that you’re contemplating setting on fire?”
“Y…es.”
She snickers and it pulls a laugh out of me. “It’s hopeless, Charlie. I’ve got nothing.”
“Nonsense. Just pull out your most alluring dress and wear that.”
There’s a stretch of silence in which I wait for her to realize what she just said, and what my reply is going to be. She knows as well as I do that I never cared much for clothes, and that my wardrobe hasn’t miraculously updated itself while I’ve been in Tuscany. She’s the sister with the latest designer everything. She’s always been way more fashion focused than me and Liv.
“You’re going to say you don’t have anything alluring, aren’t you?” she says with a sigh.
“Yep. Which especially sucks after Mr. Bellanti’s assistant specified that he prefers his women in clothesfrom this century.”
Charlie gasps. “Bitch!”
