AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I met your grandfather at an AIDS fundraiser a few years back. It was while I was still working for Friedman & Sons. We hit it off immediately.”
“Oh my God Julia! Please tell me you and my Nonno didn’t.…..you know……I can’t even say it!”
“No! Your grandfather and I didn’t have sex! For God’s sake Edward! He was an old man!”
I sighed with profound relief. Sex with Julia was one thing that I absolutely did not want to have in common with Nonno! I was grossed out just fuckin’ thinking about it!
“Anyway as I was saying, we hit it off and ended up talking all evening long.”
“Talking all evening? About what?”
“About you Edward. And his vision for his company.”
“What? Why would he talk to you about anything like that?”
“He liked my work with the law firm and he felt I would be an asset to his business.”
“Are you saying he solicited you to come to work for me?”
I took a seat on the edge of my desk now. Julia stared up at me and started to nervously swivel back and forth in her chair.
“Yes that’s right. It was your grandfather who told you that you’d need to hire a new replacement after the other publicist had suddenly ‘taken ill’ and ‘gone to a better place’. Remember Charlie Johansson?”
“Yeah… Poor Charlie. May he rest in peace…..”
“Charlie didn’t get sick and he didn’t die you idiot. The ‘better place’ was the Armani office in Rome….”
“Are you fucking kidding me Julia?! I can’t believe what I’m hearing! How could I not know any of this?”
“You didn’t care enough about Charlie Johansson to find out what really happened to him. Your grandfather was counting on your self-absorption.”
“Son of bitch! What the fuck was all that about? Why did Nonno do all that?”
“He wanted me to be in charge of your public image. He felt that your playboy reputation was hurting his company and he needed someone extremely savvy to do heavy-duty damage control on your behalf. On a more personal level, he thought you were also in need of a stabilizing influence; someone to kindly and patiently steer you in the proper direction, so to speak. And I guess he decided I fit the bill. So he transferred Charlie and set up my interview with you. I didn’t have any experience as a publicist. He was certain that you’d hire me because of my looks…..and you did.”
I got up and walked toward the window. The gray wet day seemed very dreary to me now, and my mind felt like a whirlwind of thoughts swirling around in my brain. The entire time I’d known Julia she had been privy to this information; Armani company information. Stuff that I had known nothing about. She and my grandfather had conspired together against me. And apparently I had played right into their fucking hands. I wondered what else was a lie. I couldn’t even begin to wrap my head around what I’d just heard.
“Is that everything? Or is there anything else I should know regarding my grandfather and my family’s company? Anything else you’d like to share with me Julia?”
I turned back around toward her and looked at her as if seeing her for the first time. It was like I had a different set of eyes.
“Yes. Actually there is one more thing. Your grandfather’s legacy.”
“His legacy? What are you talking about now?”
Julia was starting to tear up and sniffle but I had no sympathy for her.
“Well I’m talking about all of his charitable work; The enormous amount of money and time he donated to his favorite causes. He didn’t want all that work to end when his life ended. But he knew you were against all that so he was hoping I could help change your mind and open your heart; Maybe get you see the importance of making a better world for everyone.”
Julia’s was sobbing hard now and she was beginning to choke on her words as she pleaded the rest of her case.
“And that’s what I’ve tried to do. And that’s what I’m still trying to do. Every time I mention a women’s shelter, or point out the marine life in the bay, or show you a new city playground, that’s what I’m trying to do. I’m trying to show you all the ways that your family money has made a difference around this city just like your grandfather wanted me to do.”
Julia’s face was streaked from her tears and I could tell she was completely spent. She took a handful of tissues out of her purse and started blowing her nose and wiping her eyes. I felt like a heel for not comforting her but I was upset. I felt betrayed by her and by Nonno. How much of this was real? How much was my grandfather interfering with my life? I needed to gather my thoughts.
“I’m going home now Edward. I know you’re mad. That’s why I’ve been afraid to tell you all this time. If you want me to move out I will!”
Before I even knew what was happening, Julia ran out of the office. I didn’t try to stop her and I didn’t run after her.
