His Sicilian Cinderella by Carol Marinelli

Author:Carol Marinelli [Marinelli, Carol]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin UK Ltd
Published: 2015-06-30T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

THE FOYER HAD been rapidly dressed with pungent flowers and their scent was so sweet and sickly that it reminded Matteo of impending death.

He walked into the bar, to cheers, handshakes and backslaps, and they were not just for Malvolio but also for his new prodigy.

‘Tonight we drink, we eat and then we...’ Malvolio said. ‘I see that Pino has delivered my message.’

Matteo glanced over to where Malvolio was looking and his rapidly beating heart was suddenly still.

Bella was dressed in a small black dress, her tiny bust was jacked up and she had a lot of make-up on. Her thick black hair had been teased and was worn up and he could see her shaking hands as she overfilled a glass.

As she went to get a cloth to mop up her mess she caught his eye and he saw the fear there, but she pushed out a professional smile.

She was working for the first time tonight, Matteo realised, and he looked over at Malvolio and saw his leer.

Gina said something to her and Bella filled two glasses and then handed them both a drink. Instead of taking a seat at his usual table, which was waiting for the guest of honour, Malvolio went behind the bar and checked the CCTV cameras that were in the elevators. They also ran the length of the hotel corridors and out to the foyer and pool, and as he flicked through them he asked for the books to be brought to him.

‘I thought we partied tonight,’ Matteo said.

‘We shall, but first I want to see how well you have taken care of things.’ Malvolio frowned as he saw that the staff now kept their tips.

‘They work harder,’ Matteo said.

‘They don’t need money to work harder,’ Malvolio said. ‘You are too soft with them.’

‘Look at the return guests,’ Matteo said. ‘Look at—’

‘You think you do better than me?’

Bella glanced over—she could hear the warning in Malvolio’s voice. He would loathe it that Matteo had done better at running the hotel than him. Malvolio would detest it that the hotel was thriving without his stranglehold on the place.

‘I don’t see your girlfriend here tonight.’ Malvolio looked around at the bar.

‘Tina and I broke up,’ Matteo said. Tina had been a vague constant, an excuse Matteo had kept up so that he could go home at night and a reason he could use not to attend Malvolio’s more twisted parties.

With Malvolio safely behind bars, Matteo had ended things.

‘Good,’ Malvolio said. ‘Tonight, finally we might see Matteo party.’ He snapped his fingers and Bella brought over some more drinks and Matteo knew that he had better think fast.

‘I always wanted Bella,’ Matteo said, as she walked off, and he knew she must have heard because he watched her falter for a brief second and her already tense shoulders pull back a touch.

Malvolio just laughed. ‘Tough.’

They took their seats and sambuca was brought over. Gina served the drinks.

‘I missed you, Malvolio,’ she lied. ‘It’s good to have you back.

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