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“Nothing that big. Just a simple question. Why did you invest in ACS, andeTodo?”
He shrugged. “Why not?”
“Well… you’re rich. Like, Scrooge McDuck rich.”
Furio frowned. “I am not familiar with this man. Is he Scottish?”
“No,” I said with a laugh. “Well, maybe he is. I don’t know what backstory Disney wrote for him. But the point is, you have alotof money. More than you could ever want. My sister is getting her degree in finance, and she talks about how the market averages like seven percent returns every year. You could put your money in the market and live like a king for the rest of your life. So, why invest in a tech company halfway around the world?”
Furio was quiet for a long while. The flames danced in his dark eyes as he stared off, lost in thought.
“I am a very privileged man,” he finally said. “This is obvious, I know. My family is wealthy, hasalwaysbeen wealthy, going back hundreds of years. But a man loses something when he is born into wealth. All of the friends I grew up with came from similar positions of privilege, and most of them have no aspirations. They fly around the world, partying in expensive clubs and flaunting their fortune. Drinking expensive wine and purchasing whatever their hearts desire.”
I considered pointing out that the bottle of champagne he brought to San Francisco was worth more than my car, but I didn’t want to ruin the vulnerability he was showing me.
“These friends… they have no aspirations,” Furio said. “Even from a young age, they haveneverhad dreams or ambitions. They know they do not need to work or prove themselves in life, so they do not try. And this is very sad to me. Because everyone treated me the same way as a child: I was the son of wealthy people, and I would inherit enough money that I would never have to work. My friends were happy to live that way, but I rejected it. I wanted to prove myself. Toworkfor something, striving to feel successful in my own way in life.”
He quickly held up a hand. “Yes, I understand my position was not as difficult as someone who grew up poor and had to work their way up. I have never had to deal with hunger, or debt, or the despair that comes from not being able to pay one’s bills. But I still wanted to work toward something in life. To learn and negotiate andfightfor something with my knowledge and intelligence. I need that motivation the way a fish needs water.”
“I understand,” I said. “This is a bad analogy, but it’s like a videogame where you learn a cheat code. It stops being fun once you turn God Mode on. So I think I know what you mean when you say you want to find your own way.”
“And it is the reason I was so drawn to you,” he reiterated, cupping my chin. “The fire you showed on the rooftop that night. It was not embarrassing to me. It was merely a woman who would fight for what she wanted, and what she believed she deserved.”
He kissed me, and I smiled back at him while truly understanding what he meant this time.
“Well, you’ve done a good job so far,” I said. “Investing in ACS, and buyingeTodo. You know what you’re doing. The synergy between the two companies will make them both stronger than they would be separately. It took a keen eye to see that.”
“It makes me quite happy to hear you say that,” he replied. “You are such a wonderful cunt-waffle, Amber Moltisanti.”
I roared with laughter, and he demanded to know why, and then he was kissing me and rolling on top of me and making me forget all about the silly word.
48
Amber
I woke alone in the massive bed, an indentation next to me where Furio had been. The spot was cold. He had been gone a little while, now.
I hope he didn’t leave for London already, I thought while rolling over. The curtains were drawn back from the window, and sunlight illuminated a portrait of a Roman Emperor on the wall. The fire had gone out, leaving only a pile of ashes in the hearth.
My phone said it was seven-thirty in the morning. I also had a text message from the night before, which I went ahead and responded to.
Michelle: Hi! You haven’t texted me since you landed. How is the trip going?
Me: The trip is fantastic! It’s a shame I have to leave today.
Michelle: I want to hear all about it! Right now!
I frowned with confusion when she responded immediately. Then I realized that it was still nine-thirty in the evening in California.
Me: I’ll tell you about it when we get home. There’s lots to discuss.
Michelle: BOO, tell me now! I’ve had six margaritas and there’s nothing good on TV. Have you eaten lots of yummy noodles?
Me: Yes, I’ve had lots of pasta.
Michelle: What about the yummy Italian men you’re working with? How do THEIR noodles taste?
Michelle: (and yes, I phrased my noodle comment just so I could make that silly joke)
