Chapter fourteen

It was three days, three days since he was supposed to return to New York, but it seemed like the universe doesn't want him to. He was hoping finally today was the day, well it turned out not to be as continuous business proposals kept throwing themselves at him, he never expected his restaurants would want to be incorporated by every luxurious hotel in Italy. His new personal assistant Nathan did a good job in sorting the unwanted from the wanted.

Well, most of the proposal he got to incorporate his restaurants into hotels was mostly rejected.

Well, the ones that stood a chance were the ones that most resembled his brother strategic business plan. One, other Wine brands launched when they heard about it.

It created a kind of ruckus in Italy since it was the first known reunion of the Adriano brother after a scandalous fight that was sold to every tabloid in the world.

Since their reunion is mostly positive, different investors from all over were convinced that investing now might bring unusual profit to their pockets.

Which is mostly true.

Well, the business proposal with his half brother went great, and they signed off an agreement.

The business idea Edward thought of was very strategic, he planned on using his brother ever-growing restaurant to advertise his new brands of wines.

It seemed viable to both of them, given that people would die to be in a celebrity restaurant and anything from the Adrianos becomes the best.

The Adrianos have the best hotels, they have the best wines and they have the best restaurant and resorts.

Well, since most top businessmen and women, celebrities find it deemed to always visit Adriano diners they would be in for a surprise when they order a drink and find the famous Adriano wines in his half brother restaurant.

Ever since that idea got pitched, Leonardo has never heard the last of it. Other wine brands promised to offer higher than his brother just to collaborate with him.

At the end of the day, he rejected most of the proposals related to wine advertising in his restaurant and went for other contracts with viable investors.

He hoped tomorrow he would be able to go back to New York and see how the work on his restaurant was faring.

And finally, stop the boiling anticipation in his heart to see Alison.

He wondered if she was already at the work and how she managed the surprise he gave her.

He told no one about the accommodation he covered for Alison except Rebecca who he informed at the last minute to arrange for a transport service he didn't think about it or had any idea corresponding to such earlier.

Just a few days before his departure to Italy, he pondered silently how nice it would be to have Alison around. Seeing her all the time, mistakenly crossing her path and irking her with his teasing.

This past few days he thought about the two days he spent with Alison and simply labelled it as special, his emotions can't be easily understood for now.

So, he would just go with being her friend, one thing he knows is that being attracted to Alison was one of the peaks of their newly found friendship.

He so wanted to be with his 'friend', and the bad weather and business as usual were stopping him.

Call her.

Should he call her? Would she be surprised by his call?

How would she react? Thinking about Alison and his knowledge of her in two days, he guessed she is more likely to be cautious and a bit stern to strangers.

That leads Leonardo to think, someone like Alison was a bit too matured, and uptight. She was one of the youngest female architects he has worked with.

Her sense of maturity was beyond her age, she seemed to be overly cautious and overbearing about certain issues she see as a threat.

He wondered what made her that way.

The taps of Nathan, his secretary foot against the floor diverted his thoughts, as Nathan briefed him of the latest development and summed up the list of investors ready for a talk.

Well, this is going to be a long day.

*

Back in New York, Alison tried to cover as much as possible. A nagging reminder stung at the back of her heart when she didn't see Leonardo.

Well, she got her hopes high and now she feels stupid. How can she forget about all that she has to sacrifice for the sake of her daughter and starts being all giddy at the sight of a handsome celebrity chef?

Who didn't even pay her a visit to the site? Well, it seemed like he got his priority list crossed and visiting the site wasn't one of them.

During the last few days, Alison bombarded herself with work and seriously there was a lot of work to do. Considering the duration of the project.

Yesterday, she went to the site with Paige and met with Johnson the construction manager.

They made an account of all the raw materials purchased and made sure their spendings wasn't over the budgets they created. The day before Alison went with Paige to Ms Rebecca office to introduce the building plan Alison and Paige made.

She was happy at the result, and since Alison made multiple plans she had to send it to Leonardo to get his opinion about them to start work immediately.

Presently Alison was back at the site with loose jeans and a white sleeve which she rolled in folds to her elbow.

Her hair was ruffled by the construction helmet placed in her head, the strong wind whipping some from her back into her face. She subconsciously peeled from her face amidst talking to the workers here, Paige strolled to her long skirt flapping in the wind.

"Alison we have a problem," She announced worry sketched on her face, Alison paused herself and faced Paige walking a little further away from the workers.

"What is the problem? I thought we had everything sorted out," Alison could not keep the worry out of her voice, any issue now would be a major setback for them.

Well, it depends on the severity of the issue. The smaller the better and faster to solve.

"Well, we did but Ryan didn't. Ryan forgot to finalise the permit to start building on this land area. When the locals noticed the commencement of work here they queried for a permit to build and I found out it wasn't finalised. Now, we are being asked to vacate this premises."

"What? That is impossible John told me he got that covered last week and now this. Get Ryan reported for this, bring the file for the building permit. Gosh, this is a great setback. Well, also request to stop any activities going on until we get this sorted." She paused weighing her words, her shoulder slumping in disappointment.

"Could you inform Johnson to meet me at Rebecca's office?"

"Yes sure, I would do that."

The permit issue was not that grave at all, after consulting with Ms Rebecca Alison was convinced that work would resume tomorrow.

For now, a little rest for a bustling tomorrow would be advised.

She and Paige decided to leave work for once and explore the hotel in search of food and for fun.

Fine luxury was a thing to awe about, but getting to see the same curtains that can be controlled remotely or talking to the TV for a recommended movie to keep her and Paige entertained for the night, was starting to get old. With all the coolest electronic gadgets in their suite was starting to get boring without any human contact.

Getting food from servers through a simple ring is not entertaining as having a good old walk from your room to the hotel floors.

Putting on her shorts and a simple tank top, she watched as Paige narrated her splash of luxury luck to her fiance.

Alison tried not to hear the part that they wished they were here together, doing all sorts of intimates.

Well, that for them not for her. For some reason, she felt like a thirty-five-year-old woman nothing like the twenty-eight she was. Her clothes were always modest, her makeup equals to none or very minimal.

Not that she was very outgoing or loud in her outlook or outfit from the beginning of time. She has always been mild but edgy.

She even tried on some crazy outfits for Richard during their relationship.

Was she slowly ageing herself?

Paige wore white pants and a spaghetti top, her brunette hair braided.

Taking the stairs, they walked down following the map to the restaurant.

Getting there, Alison got her jaw dropped on how the place was filled to the brim, people were being directed outdoors.

"Oh my! Look how filled here is, "Paige exclaimed.

"We would probably suffocate here, let's stay outside beside the breeze is lovely," Alison suggested and Paige agreed though reluctantly she wanted to be part of the people in there.

They got a seat and Alison got the chance to look around and see what was special in Leonardo restaurant. She was about smitten by the designs of the restaurant, it had this fanciness attached to it at the same time inculcating modernity, with their chairs and theme. But the architectural structure looked like a replica of the 90s.

"Hmm, the architects are good, look at all this. She pointed upwards, also observing.

"What if I can't meet up with his standards? These are top world-renowned architects, and I ..."

"Alison don't talk like that, I have seen your designs trust me when I say the world would be smitten by the result. All your hard work would pay off."

Finally, they asked for dinner, Alison ordered a chicken salad while Paige requested roasted beef and baked potatoes.

Eating they moaned in delight at the deliciousness of the food, "Hmm, hm -hm" Paige kept muttering while eating.

Paying for the meals they gently went upstairs, " I have never felt so full in my life before, the food is delish."

Alison agreed, afterwards, they retired to bed immediately awaiting the rise of the morning.

*

Leonardo eased more into his seat as his driver drove him to the site, with being jet-lagged and all he wanted to see Alison's face and view the progress.

He was informed of the setbacks and after a few phone calls. The building permit issue would be resolved today.

He wore a black jacket and a blue shirt that seemed moderated.

Not too tight, not too loose.

His driver stopped just at the site entrance, warning boards signifying the place under construction.

A worker recognized him immediately and led him to the work area, the rate at which they worked to please him.

Most shrubs and bushes were cleared out, he walked further and stood away from everyone scrutinizing at distance.

His eyes scanned the whole area looking for someone.

He can't find her. Many thoughts brewed in his mind. Was she around?

She did say she was coming today.

Why was she then absent?

A depressing feeling replaced the excitement he got just to get a glimpse of her.

Turning on his heels disappointed, he heard a familiar voice filled with authority and had the characteristics of a fierce tongue.

He turned around and was smitten by his sight of her. She was thrice as beautiful as his last sight of her last week, her hair stayed in a lazy bundle some strips of hair whipped by the wind.

She had her signature notepad and a file on her hands, for some unknown reason she looked hot in her loose chiffon pants paired with a blue plaid shirt.

She talked to the guy Leonardo had a little distaste for, well for interrupting their little together moment.

His name? Yes, Johny Woodman, Alison talked to him a little sternly pointing out in her pad, he had a regretive expression on his face.

Brushing off her hair from her face for the nth time today, Alison felt she was being watched. Feeling a little off her skin today, she was annoyed at the little mistakes happening at the site she made sure she spoke to John about it ensuring petty mistakes such as that are not repeated.

Giving her pad to Paige who briefed her about her next work, Alison noticed a tall figure a bit further away looking in her direction.

Who is that? She pondered.

Squinting further, she walked a few feet closer to make sure no one was trespassing.

In a second her eyes widened in recognition.

Leonardo? He came?

He came, she jumped inwardly. He looked more dashing than ever, his brown hair glistened in the sun, his dashing careless smile spilt over his face.

He saw her, and then he waved.