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I check in, then insist on escorting Maddy to her room even though she makes a huge fuss about it and chews my ear off about how women are independent, and that Chloe would have my balls for insinuating that they’re weak and need protecting.
I never said a word about being weak or needing protection. But I let Maddy chatter on because if nothing else, she seems happy to be educating me. She even has a gleeful smile on her face as we step into the busy elevator.
She whips the voice recorder out of her purse as I select our floors. She presses play and the confined space makes the recording echo.
“Hai un cazzo squisito, princepe del piacere.”
An older lady on the other side of the elevator mumbles something to her husband. Maddy’s too busy looking pleased with herself and continuing her chatter to notice.
The husband’s eyes flick between me and Maddy, and he chuckles, looking at me.“Giovane Amore.” Young Love.
I laugh along as we stop, and they leave the elevator.
“Don’t think about coming in and checking for creepers. I can do that myself,” Maddy calls over her shoulder as we get to her room. She props the door open with her suitcase before walking inside.
I stand in the doorway and peer in. I don’t need to go inside to check for creepers. I can see every inch of the cramped space from here. This must be one of the hotel’s more compact rooms. Maddy’s office obviously doesn’t stretch far when it comes to traveling expenses. She should have accepted my offer to stay in the penthouse.
“This is amazing! Look at that view.” She whips the drapes at the window open and stares out at the city. Then she whirls around and takes the five steps back to the main door to retrieve her suitcase.
“I’ll come down for you at seven,” I say, turning away.
“Why?” She sticks her head out of the door to look at me.
“To take you for dinner.”
She waves a hand in the air. “Don’t worry about it. The office gave me an allowance. I can sort myself out.”
I bite back my retort about her office’s ‘allowance’ likely only stretching to a greasy fast-food burger if her room is anything to go by.
“Maybe so. But I told Drew I’d take you to the same restaurant he liked when he came here with me.”
Her mouth opens and then closes again. She won’t want to tell Drew she didn’t go. And I know she’ll be curious. They have similar tastes in food.
She gives me a brief nod. “Sure. That sounds… nice. Thanks.”
I nod back and turn to leave, my footsteps remaining slow until her door clicks shut, and the lock is turned.
Chapter 6
Maddy
I’minlove.
With Milan.
With Italy. With all of it.
The past three days have been a dream. The first night here, Logan took me to this beautiful family-owned restaurant that served the most mouth-watering fresh pasta with shaved truffles. I had to talk to him all evening, but every time he asked about me, I steered the conversation back onto Vex. The last thing I need is more of his disapproval over my choice in reading material or lack of extravagant socializing. And I’m sure that’s what I would have gotten if I’d indulged him in answering the questions about me that he kept trying to ask.
I’ve managed to squeeze some sightseeing in around accompanying Logan to meetings. I’ve been to the cathedral, Il Duomo, went to see Leonardo da Vinci’sLast Supper, wandered around the shops in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele 11, and stood staring at the Teatro alla Scala. It’s considered the greatest opera house in the world, and I’d have loved to have gotten tickets to watch an opera, but they were sold out.
Most of Logan’s meetings stretch through lunches and even some dinners. He wins the support of the investors with an easy charm that I’ve never noticed before. I knew he must be able to function as an intelligent, even likeable human, otherwise he wouldn’t be as successful as he is. But I’ve never seen it with my own eyes before.
It's… interesting.
I’ve been recording the meetings to help me write my article. But when it’s got to the money part, I’ve turned off my recorder while Logan and whoever he’s meeting with, sometimes one person, other times three or four at once, talk figures. He never seems fazed whether he’s up against one person or four. He maintains this calm, confident air. He has faith in the project. That much is clear. Faith and passion that make his green eyes light up as he talks about the environmental benefits of Vex. But he also answers their questions honestly and listens to their concerns and suggestions.
Businessman Logan Rich is a different man to my brother’s irritating best friend, Logan Rich.
