An Innocent To Tame The Italian_Mills & Boon Modern by Tara Pammi

Author:Tara Pammi [Pammi, Tara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-05-25T14:01:11+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

NATALIE STARED AROUND her openmouthed, even after two hours, at the opulent grandeur that was Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. The two iron-and-glass-covered walkways met at a central piazza below the grand, wide glass dome. The mosaic on the floor, depicting so many patriotic symbols of Italy, glittered under the bright lights.

Large circular tables covered with snowy white linen and adorned with beautiful floral arrangements that combined white orchids with bamboo were placed along the four branches of the gallery, welcoming eight guests on each. Each table, she’d been informed by Greta, cost five thousand euros, which would then be donated to a charity project offering meals to people in need throughout Milan.

There were designers from world-famous fashions labels, tech business leaders and even the mayor of Milan in attendance.

Massimo’s subdued mood, something she couldn’t get a handle on since she’d arrived at the lounge where he’d been waiting with his family, couldn’t take away her attention for too long. The glorious setting and the dazzling gala felt like a stay on an execution that would come tonight.

But even the fear of where this night would end couldn’t rob her appreciation of the setting. It was as if she had entered a different era—a different world. As the formal seated dinner finished, Massimo silently studying her responses all through it, the guests started wandering. Scents of the bitter coffee and decadent chocolate lingered in the air. A pianist sat in a corner, his fingers flying over the ivory keys, Beethoven’s Sonata filling the air.

The Galleria, she’d been educated by a smiling Gisela in halting English, was the very heart of the city that married an intricate and complex historical period of Milan with technical, engineering and industrial accelerations. She wished she had her cell phone so that she could capture the glittering night and share it with Frankie later. To look secretly at night when she wished she was part of this world again.

Only families like the Brunettis—power and connections built into their very blood—could indulge the idea of using the Galleria, a cornerstone of Milan’s history, for a private charity dinner.

During the day it was the site of the much-lauded Milanese luxury shopping, with many prestigious labels and brand shops. Even without any money to spare, Natalie wished she’d seen the place during the day. Wished she’d begged Massimo to bring her out for a trip to see the city.

They both needed a break, anyway—from being cooped up in the lab for seventeen-hour days and from the tension that seemed to corkscrew around them every time they looked at each other. Damn Vincenzo, the man was like an apparition between them, choking the air around them.

Natalie stole the chance to wander away from the Brunettis. She could already more than tolerate or ignore Greta’s snide commentary, which almost seemed to be by rote. She laughed, surprised at the thought that Alessandra might have had a word with the old woman before she had left this morning after she’d seen Natalie crawl out of the lab like a thief, tense and shaking.

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