‘Welcome to Moretti’s Venice,’ Antonio said when she joined him. He led the way into the hotel foyer.
The gold and marble room glowed with the light from two massive crystal chandeliers. Marble-topped tables adorned with ornate gilded porcelain vases lined the walls. Beautiful people dressed in head-to-toe designer fashion sat in the lounge sipping drinks and chatting.
Sienna looked up at the detailed moulded ceilings. The walls featured artworks she vaguely recognised, all sure to be originals. But even with all that magnificence, the building lacked warmth.
An impeccably dressed man strode towards them. ‘Everything is as you requested, signor.’
‘Thank you. Sienna, this is the hotel’s general manager.’
‘Sienna De Luca. Lovely to meet you,’ Sienna said, holding out her hand.
The manager looked taken aback, but shook her hand politely.
‘Please ensure Sienna receives everything she needs during her stay,’ Antonio said.
‘Of course, signor.’
‘And send Carmela up in half an hour, please.’
The man gave a nod and left.
Antonio took Sienna’s arm and led her to the bank of lifts.
‘The hotel’s beautiful,’ she said.
‘Thanks.’
‘But . . .’
He turned his glittering gaze upon her as they stepped into a lift. ‘Yes?’ he said slowly.
‘It lacks warmth.’
‘I’m sorry my forty-million-euro renovation doesn’t meet your exacting standards.’
‘Don’t get me wrong, it’s very nice, it’s just – it seems as though some of the original features are gone.’
‘People like modern, clean lines as well as the traditional,’
‘Not everyone.’
The lift opened at the top floor. Antonio stepped forward and opened two huge doors. ‘I hope this will be adequate.’
Sienna walked into the most magnificent penthouse suite she’d ever seen.
The sound of the suite’s buzzer pierced the silence, calling Antonio away. She wandered around the huge living room. Gold embossed wallpaper, rich furnishings, gilt-framed artworks. Every tabletop overflowed with fresh flowers. Even with her extensive hotel experience, nothing she’d seen had ever come close to matching this level of splendour. She walked out onto a wide terrace and there, across the canal, lay St Mark’s Square. She blinked. Was she really here? The views she had admired so often in books proved more brilliant than she’d ever imagined.
As she trailed her finger along the white stone balustrade, another set of open double doors attracted her attention. She walked through them and beheld a lavish bedroom. An enormous canopied king bed dominated the room.
Antonio strode into the bedroom followed by a bellboy pulling a luggage trolley. Her suitcase looked small against an array of other bags. She frowned.
‘Has Mario sent over the clothes already?’
‘No, these are my things.’
‘Sorry? You —’
Antonio shot her a quick frown. ‘Thank you, Christo,’ he said to the bellboy, pushing a stack of euros into the young man’s hand.
‘Thank you, signor.’ The man took his leave. Antonio didn’t look at her until he heard the door of the suite close. Her anger rose with every second.
‘You were saying?’ he asked.
‘Nowhere in the contract did it mention we’d be sharing a room.’ She picked up one of the gold pillows and threw it into the middle of the mattress. ‘Or a bed.’
‘I thought that would be obvious. This is the twenty-first century and we are being married next week.’
‘A week?’ She sat heavily on the bed. Married in a week?
He looked at her strangely. ‘What’s the problem?’
She sighed. ‘If this plan’s going to work, you’re going to have to keep me in the loop. I need to know what’s going on . . . what’s expected and when.’ Otherwise my hotel is yours and my father’s broken heart will surely beat its last.
‘I don’t work that way.’
‘Well, try,’ she said, weariness claiming every muscle in her body.
‘You’re obviously exhausted,’ he said. ‘Sleep. I’ll see you later.’
He came over and kissed her lightly on the cheek. Even in her state of exhaustion, her body leapt to attention. ‘Things will be better tonight,’ he said.
Wait a minute. Tonight? But the doors had already snapped shut. What was she in for tonight?
Falling back on the lush bedcovers, she stared at the ornate canopy. Cherubs flew around Cupid, who was aiming an arrow at a young couple. She closed her eyes.
Before seeing Antonio with that child she’d believed nothing, not even Cupid’s darts, could soften Antonio’s heart. Now, she wasn’t so sure.
Sienna woke to the sound of the doorbell. She rubbed her eyes as she looked out the window. The sun hung low in the sky – she must have slept for hours. She stretched and the bell buzzed again.
‘Coming,’ she called, as she jumped out of bed and walked quickly to the door.
An older woman in a crisp housekeeping uniform stood outside with a trolley of clothes.
‘Buonasera, Signorina De Luca. I’m Carmela, head of housekeeping,’ she said. ‘Antonio asked me to help you get ready for this evening.’
‘Oh,’ Sienna said. ‘Thank you. But that won’t be necessary.’
The woman had already pulled the trolley through the door. She dragged it into the dressing room adjoining the bedroom. Sienna followed. Carmela began taking the protective plastic from a gorgeous evening dress.
‘That’s not mine,’ Sienna said.
‘Sabatini delivered it this afternoon.’
‘Oh,’ Sienna said, touching the rich fabric. ‘It’s so beautiful.’
‘You are wearing it tonight.’
Sienna’s eyes flashed to Carmela’s face.
‘To the opera,’ Carmela said.
Sienna’s lips tightened. Another engagement Antonio had failed to mention. She lifted a dress from the rack and stripped off the cover. The deep green, full-length velvet dress featured hand-sewn pearls across the bodice.
‘Per favore,’ Carmela said, taking the dress from her hands. ‘Let me do that.’
‘I can help,’ Sienna said. The rack bulged. ‘This could take you the rest of the day.’
Carmela stared at her. ‘Help?’
‘Sure.’
‘It is . . .’ Carmela turned back to the task at hand. She’d clearly been about to say something. ‘You are . . . Antonio’s special friend. You can’t help me work. It’s not right.’ She shook her head.
‘What Antonio doesn’t know won’t hurt him,’ Sienna whispered then pressed her forefinger to her lips. She picked up another dress.
‘No. No.’ Carmela took the dress from her. ‘I don’t keep secrets from Antonio.’
Sienna looked at Carmela more closely. ‘Have you worked for him for a long time?’
‘Fifteen years. I was a housekeeper in his first hotel,’ she said, smiling proudly.
‘Fifteen years – wow.’
‘I’d work for no one else.’
‘Really?’ Sienna bent down and picked up a shoebox. Opening it, she stared at a pair of jewel-encrusted scarlet sandals. She didn’t want to imagine how much they might have cost.
‘He is a wonderful man.’ Carmela laid her hands over Sienna’s. ‘But you know that.’ Carmela’s eyes shone as she blinked back tears.
To hide her shock, Sienna bent and placed the shoes on the floor. ‘He creates a good work environment,’ she said, hoping she sounded sincere.
‘Of course, but it’s not that. He is . . . famiglia,’ Carmela said, placing her fist on her heart. ‘When my son Georgio was sick, he visited him in hospital. When Georgio got better, Antonio paid the bill.’
Antonio rescues another little boy?
‘That’s very generous.’
‘Not generous. It is who he is.’ Carmela paused and c
aught Sienna’s eye. ‘But you know this.’
‘Yes. Of course,’ Sienna said, busying herself with another box. She felt Carmela’s hand on her arm.
‘You seem so different to the others,’ Carmela whispered. Sienna felt uncomfortable under the woman’s close scrutiny. ‘He deserves happiness after all his pain.’
Sienna clamped her mouth shut before she blurted out, Pain? What pain?
Before she could think what to say next, the doorbell buzzed again.
‘Helena e Maria,’ Carmela said, darting for the door.
‘Who are Helen and Maria?’
‘Hair and make-up,’ Carmela called.
Sienna began to protest, but what was the point? Obviously Antonio managed everything and her role was to comply.
‘I’ll just have a quick shower,’ Sienna called. She picked up her phone before closing the bathroom door. What possible misfortune could Antonio have suffered? She opened the browser and typed his name into the search engine on the small screen. Instantly images and news items of Antonio’s various business deals and affairs filled the screen. After trawling through ten pages of listings, she’d found nothing relevant but had confirmed that Antonio seemed to date models, actresses and heiresses – exclusively.
Turning on the shower, she stripped off her clothes. She stepped under the warm spray. After squeezing soap onto her hands she ran them over her body. The women Antonio usually dated were glamorous, rich and dripping in diamonds and couture.
She held her face up to the spray. When Antonio walked into a room with Amy West on his arm, there’d be no questions asked. She knew tonight every eye would be on her and everyone would be wondering, What’s Antonio doing with her?
‘Something is definitely amiss.’
Antonio slid his feet from the desk and held his phone a little tighter to his ear. ‘Go on,’ he said to Brad.
‘The financial crisis has had the usual impact on the Plaza’s occupancy rates but they are still above average for Melbourne,’ Brad said, his voice so clear he could have been in the next room, not more than fourteen thousand kilometres away in Melbourne. ‘With these numbers, the hotel should be showing a small but respectable profit.’
‘Bad management?’ Antonio asked. Strangely, he felt a little disappointed. Sienna would only be his pretend wife, but he wanted to believe she was good at her job.
‘That’s not it,’ Brad said.
‘So?’
‘I don’t know yet but the accountant is being very cagey.’
‘You suspect him?’
‘He took over complete management of the hotel’s finances when Sienna’s mother died.’
Antonio sat a little straighter in his chair. ‘Her mother died?’
‘Honestly, Antonio. You’re marrying the woman in a few days, don’t you think you should know that?’ Brad was the only person who knew the strategy behind the marriage plan. He didn’t approve.
‘I don’t need to know everything about her for this to work.’
‘Sienna mightn’t be able to compartmentalise her emotions like you can.’
Brad was Antonio’s closest associate, but he was walking very close to an uncrossable line. ‘Back to this accountant,’ Antonio said stiffly.
‘Sienna’s father hasn’t done a day’s work since his wife died. Apparently he suffered a complete breakdown. Now he either sits in the lobby like a statue or, on good days, goes down to the Italian club.’
That’s why Marco wasn’t at the meeting.
‘And there’s more.’ Brad’s voice had dropped. ‘The loan money has clearly been spent, but I can’t work out on what.’
‘What do you suspect?’
‘Sienna took over all management activities after her father’s breakdown and this accountant stepped in as financial controller.’
‘You don’t trust him.’
‘The Plaza accounts have been managed by the same firm for twenty years. The senior partner retired not long after Sienna took over management and his son stepped into the role. Apparently the two families are friends.’
‘Friends and business,’ Antonio said grimly. ‘Why do people think that’ll ever work?’
‘We’re friends,’ Brad interjected.
‘We worked together first. Understand the boundaries.’ Antonio glanced at his watch. ‘I’ve got to go. Stay on it.’
‘Ask Sienna about it.’
‘No,’ Antonio said. ‘I don’t want to distract her.’
‘Antonio, don’t you think —’
‘Give me a report at the wedding. Have you sent Sabatini your measurements?’
‘Yes.’ Brad paused. ‘Even though this marriage is just a business arrangement, I’ll be proud to stand next to you on your wedding day.’
Antonio swallowed. This was exactly the emotional territory he strictly avoided. ‘Got to go,’ he said, snapping his phone shut.
He locked his office door and walked into the hotel foyer. A number of staff greeted him. He loved this place. It had kept him sane in the midst of intolerable grief. Hurling himself into work taught him how to bury his feelings. They were locked up so tight he would never again be in danger of being overwhelmed. He pressed the button for the lift. Never again would he allow that pain to touch him. He was armoured against it.
He reached the penthouse. Opening the door, he walked into the sitting room. He’d dressed earlier in his dinner jacket and hoped Sienna would be ready. They were on a tight schedule.
Sienna stood on the terrace, her gown glittering, reflecting Venice’s evening lights. As he stepped closer, he realised the floor-length black sequined dress was backless. Her hair was styled in a French knot and he enjoyed the view of an expanse of golden skin from her shoulders to just above her bottom. He drew in a long slow breath in an attempt to control the heat firing inside him.
She turned.
He sucked in a sharp ragged breath as naked lust swept his body. Smoky make-up highlighted her espresso-coloured eyes. Her full lips were painted scarlet red. He damned the strict clauses Sienna had insisted be in the contract.
To hell with them.
He strode to her and took her about the waist, hearing her breath catch in her throat. She felt soft and luscious. A lovely change from the skin-and-bone women he usually dated. The thought of that king-sized bed just a few metres away hammered at his mind. He groaned inwardly and battled the image of Sienna writhing beneath him.
‘You look beautiful tonight.’
She leant back slightly, but didn’t pull away from his grasp completely. A positive step. They wouldn’t be fooling anybody if Sienna yanked away every time he touched her.
‘We’re going to the opera?’ she asked.
‘Yes, but dinner first,’ he said, leading her into the suite.
‘Great, I’m starving.’
A woman with an appetite. How unusual – and refreshing.
‘Before we go, I have something for you.’
Her eyebrows shot up as he pulled a royal blue velvet–covered box from his pocket.
‘Antonio, I don’t need anything more.’ She swished her dress. His breathing quickened again as he glimpsed her thigh through the split in her dress.
‘These clothes are already too much,’ she said.
‘You’re my fiancée —’
‘Pretend fiancée,’ she corrected.
‘Nevertheless, gifts are required.’ He opened the box.
Sienna simply stared, open-mouthed. He took her hand, but she stepped back. He placed the box on the table and drew out the diamond necklace. ‘Come here,’ he directed.
She shook her head. ‘It’s too much.’
He held up the necklace and beckoned her forward.
She hesitated. A light breeze fluttered through the room. Loose strands of hair danced about her face. The spice of her perfume assailed his nostrils, the scent wild and enticing. His body stiffened. Is she trying to kill me?
‘What if I lose it?’ Her voice was unsteady.
&
nbsp; He frowned, trying to focus on her words as erotic images flooded his mind. ‘I’ll get you another one.’
She laughed nervously. ‘No, you wouldn’t.’
‘I would. Now, turn around,’ he said a little harshly, to disguise the desire threatening to sabotage his will.
She did as instructed. The halterneck dress hugged her body – a body designed for temptation and seduction. As he reached around her neck his fingers brushed her shoulders. He heard her gasp. An instant response coursed through his body as his mind broke at least a dozen of the rules Sienna had insisted be included in their contract.
He fastened the necklace. Turning her around, he stroked his hands down her arms and held her hands. They trembled slightly. Crimson flooded her cheeks.
‘This is too much,’ she insisted.
‘Sienna.’ He stepped in close. The largest diamond lay slightly askew. He slowly lifted it from her chest and saw her hold her breath as he placed the rock dead centre between her breasts. He trailed his fingers down to her waist and drew her in.
‘You look wonderful.’ His eyes dropped to her mouth, her red lips so captivating, so close.
‘It’s amazing what a load of money and some experts can do.’ Sienna’s glib remark didn’t mask the huskiness in her voice. ‘We should —’ Her voice faltered. ‘Um . . . Get going?’
‘Soon,’ he said in a low, deep voice as he pulled her near.
She placed her hands on his chest and pushed him gently away. ‘This is not a good idea. Things would . . . get confusing.’
‘I might like confusing,’ he said, slipping his hands a little lower down her back.
‘You’d hate confusing,’ she said, stepping deftly from his grasp.
‘Maybe I wouldn’t,’ he said, catching her hand.
She turned her dazzling eyes upon him. ‘You love to control everything to the finest detail. Confusing isn’t in your nature.’
She was right. But at this moment, he could defy nature.
‘Let’s go,’ she said, slipping her hand from his grasp.
‘The earrings,’ he said, reaching for the box.
She got there first. ‘I’ll do them,’ she said quickly, taking one of the diamond drop earrings from the box and fixing it to her earlobe. ‘I don’t think I can take any more confusion tonight.’
Sweet Seduction Page 5
