THE PORTOFINO SAGA
Rebecca.L.Winstone
PUBLISHED BY:
Shakti
Copyright © 2012
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced in any format, by any means, electronic or otherwise, without prior consent from the copyright owner and publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction.
____________________________________________
THE PORTOFINO SAGA
Chapter 1
On the Italian Riviera, in the province of Genoa, lies the quiet fishing village of Portofino, home to the wealthiest of the rich and the most well known celebrities.
Ivanna Simmons had lived in Portofino most of her life. Her mother was English, and her father a wealthy Dutchman who had built and owned the most prestigious hotel on Parigi Beach. Ivanna had the dream life most wished for. She was a stunningly beautiful, with blonde hair and ice blue eyes. She drove a blue convertible Mercedes. She was wealthy and lived in what appeared to be paradise.
Although Ivanna had inherited lots of money from her father, and always been well provided for, she also worked hard for her money. Working in interior design, and with incredible style and taste, she now designed the houses of the rich and famous that had decided to make Portofino their home. It was a place that once visited, people found hard to leave. And if they could, they would stay.
Yet Ivanna had had a string of abusive romances that had left her feeling broken inside. She was not only a beautiful woman, she was a strong one. She through herself into her work, and made hers one of the most successful interior design companies along the Italian Riviera. She had thought that she might never fall in love again. That was, until David arrived.
David was an Irish actor who had recently moved to the little fishing village, and whom all the ladies of the town had fallen for, both single and married. He was a well-known naughty boy, whose dashing good looks, and rugged charm, had led to worldwide success. He had Hollywood knocking on his door, and was turning scripts down, left right and centre. He wanted his work to portray his talent, to give a message of his beliefs. He didn’t want to just become a pin-up actor. Of course this made him even more desirable, and as a result, more successful.
David enjoyed sipping his coffee in the little cafes beside the harbour, looking out at the boats coming in. Though when asked why he had moved to Portofino, he would reply that he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his great hero Humphrey Bogart, he knew deep down in his heart that that was not the real reason he was here. Yes, he had certainly fallen in love with the idyllic village, yet that was not why he had come.
Ivanna wore little red hot pants and a skimpy black top, which showed her incredible figure. Her skin was tanned, her waist was tiny, and her breasts full and firm. In her early thirties, she could easily pass for early twenties. As she drove her blue convertible, high heels off and barefoot, down the road toward the Piazzetta on her way to meet some clients, she noticed David sitting at the little café.
“Oh my God, he is so gorgeous.” She thought to herself as she bit her lip. “Should I stop and say hello? No, no, I don’t have time now, I must not get distracted.” She drove on.
“Mind you,” she mused, “This is the first time I have not seen him surrounded by a gaggle of women, and maybe I should take advantage.”
Another conflicting thought rose in her mind. “There will be other times. Don’t be late for your meeting.” She took one last look at David in her rear-view mirror and turned the corner toward her final destination, where she was meeting clients at one of the most rural buildings in the area. It was a 3 million dollar project for a French couple, who had frequented Portofino for decades during the summer, but who were now retiring, giving up their home in Paris, and moving permanently to the village. Jean and Valerie were both fashion designers and very successful ones at that. She had made the most money, yet he had made the most fame. His designs were edgy, fashionable and famous worldwide. He liked to party and live wild. She on the other hand focused hard on business, and investment. They had been married thirty years and were rarely seen apart. No one had ever seen them argue, or show affection to one another.
Ivanna had known Jean and Valerie since she was a child. Many years ago, before they had bought a house in Portofino, they were guests at her father’s hotel. Over the years they had become good friends.
“Ivanna” called Valerie as the car pulled up outside the rural building. Jean and Valerie were standing outside the doorway. Ivanna glanced at the thin silver watch on her wrist. She was only a few minutes late.
“Valerie” Ivanna gave Valerie a huge hug as she stepped out of the car.
“Ah cherie.” Said Jean as he gave her three kisses on the cheek.
“I forget how beautiful it is. I simply loooooove the place you have chosen for us. C’est parfait!” Said Jean, in his heavy French accent.
“Yes yes, it’s great.” Said Ivanna as she took out the keys and opened the gates into the courtyard. Together the three looked around the building as Valerie and Jean told Ivanna how they would like the layout.
As Ivanna drove home that evening the moonlight shone over the water. The heavens were ablaze with stars. She put some Frank Sinatra on the radio and sung along as she drove up the windy streets to her home.
She lit some candles when she got home and poured herself a glass of wine. She decided to make notes of Jean and Valerie’s requests while they were still fresh in her mind.
Half an hour later, the phone rang.
“Hello” said Ivanna in her sexy husky voice.
“Hi darling, it’s Sylvia.”
Sylvia was Ivanna’s oldest friend. She had moved to Portofino in her early twenties, having made fortunes from designing some of the first eco-friendly clothes and accessories while she was still at Fashion College in London. She had a bob of jet-black hair and flashing green eyes, with porcelain white skin, and always wore red lipstick, and black stiletto heels.
“Hi babe.”
“I want to go dancing!” said Sylvia. “What you doing?”
“Oh not tonight babe. I am just having a glass of wine and making some notes.”
“Boring.” Said Sylvia and hung up the phone.
Ivanna laughed to herself and pulled out her mobile phone to text Sylvia.
“Let’s do it tomorrow.” She wrote.
Two seconds later she received a reply.
“Sure thing. X. S”
Chapter 2
There was one cosy little jazz bar in Portofino, from where one could see the sea from above, where most of the Portofino residents would gather and dance, talk, drink, and listen to music. It was here that Ivanna would run into David, and most of the socialising of the village took place.
As Sylvia and Ivanna entered the bar that evening, Sylvia in a tight black dress and black stilettos, Ivanna in high heels, tight jeans and a silk top, Miguel, the barman called out to them.
“Hey bellisimas!” he called, and poured them a free shot each.
Ivanna noticed David, surrounded by five adoring women, dancing by the paintings near the ice cream fridges, out of the corner of her eye. She pretended not to notice him.
“God, look at the way they are with him!” Sylvia shook her head. David did seem to have the affect of turning women into little girls squealing with delight at his every word or gesture.
They downed their shots and then Ivanna took Sylvia by the hand.
“Come on Syl.” She said, then strided confidently over to David.
“Hi babe.” He said in a sexy undertone voice when he
saw her.
“Hi babe.” She said confidently back. They exchanged a long look into each other’s eyes.
“Sylvia.” David nodded toward Sylvia who smiled a naughty smile at him.
“So how are you finding Portofino life?” asked Ivanna.
“I love it.” Said David with a smile.
“Ha!” said Ivanna. “We are going outside. See you around babe.” She said, taking Sylvia’s hand and leading her outside.
As Sylvia and Ivanna sat on one of the terrace tables outside, Sylvia whispered to Ivanna.
“Apparently.” She said in her gossip-tone of voice. “He moved here because he is in love with Katrin.”
“I know, I have heard that before.” Said Ivanna, not looking too happy about it.
At that moment, as if on cue, Katrin walked into the bar, followed by her posse of younger boys. Katrin was a beautiful redhead, long flowing curly hair, deep green eyes. She herself was thirty, yet was always with the younger crowd, all who worshipped and adored her. She was the daughter of one of the famous artists in the village. Her bohemian lifestyle, and reclusive, mysterious ways, also meant she was the subject of constant gossip, and people were wary of her.
When David saw Katrin at the bar, he walked over, timidly and offered her a drink.
“I’m ok thanks.” She replied coolly and turned away. David looked sad and shuffled off.
Ivanna observed all of this from the table outside.
“So what else have you heard?” she asked Sylvia blankly.
“That they had a brief romance when Katrin was in America, and that Katrin lost interest, because she is still in love with Vladmir. David followed her back to Portofino trying to make it work, but she hasn’t given him any time since she has been here.” Vladmir, also living in Portofino all his life, had been Katrin’s childhood sweetheart.
“Oh God!” Ivanna raised her eyes to the heavens.
“The never-ending Portofino Saga!”
“Come on, let’s dance”.
Her and Sylvia headed over to the dance-floor where David was still surrounded by his adoring fans. He looked happy when they joined him.
In the early hours of the next morning only Sylvia Ivanna and David were found in the little Mediterranean bar, dancing and enjoying the Dolce Vita. The moon shone brightly, they had been drinking and dancing for hours, and then Miguel called that he would have to close the bar.
As they said goodbye David smiled and thanked them for a good evening. Under the stars twinkling in the night sky, they made their separate ways home.
Chapter 3
The next day the strong Italian afternoon sun shone brightly through the lace curtains and open green shutters on Ivanna’s balcony.
She looked at herself in the mirror as she scraped her long blonde hair back tightly into a bun. Her flowing white shirt hung loosely over her denim skirt.
She had spent the morning, moisturising, bathing, manicuring, and conditioning her hair. All the essentials to keep her looking glowing and beautiful.
She could not get out of her mind the way she had seen David following Katrin around like a lost little puppy dog. So the rumours must be true, she thought disappointedly. He must be in love with her. She had certainly never seen him behave that way with anyone else before.
Though there was definitely a spark between Ivanna and David. Even Sylvia had noticed it. She could tell he noticed it to, the way he held her gaze always just a bit longer than necessary.
She felt a determination rising inside her. She wanted him. Ivanna was a woman who always got what she wanted. The trouble was, she never knew what it was that she really wanted.
She thought sadly about her last two relationships, both, which had been abusive. In the beginning she had felt passion and intensity, and thrived on being told what to do by her man. Yet both had ended in tears. She had promised herself that she would never let that happen again. She would never lose herself in a man.
It was different with David though, she thought to herself. He is a nice man; he is not like the last two. She didn’t really know David yet, but she hoped that she was right.
She decided to go for a walk along the beach to clear her mind. She looked out at the olive and cypress trees dotting the landscape and dipped her toes into the warm summer sea, which lapped up against the shoreline.
The sun was setting softly as she walked back toward her property. She noticed a silhouette coming toward her, and though the sunlight made her vision a hazy one, she knew it was David. He was looking down at his feet and did not notice her until they were almost touching.
“Hey” he said distractedly, seemingly lost in thought.
They spoke for a few moments and then decided to sit on the beach and watch the sun go down.
As they sat watching the sunset, David confided in her that he was concerned because he the house he had been renting was being sold and he did not want to leave Portofino, though did not know where to stay. Although he could afford to live in expensive hotels the rest of his life, he did not want to waste his money that way.
Ivanna listened to him when suddenly an idea came to her.
“I have the perfect solution!” she exclaimed.
“Oh yeah? I thought you might.” Said David. “You look like that kind of woman.”
Ivanna laughed.
“I have a separate building on my property, I was going to make it into a studio, but at the moment it just has a kitchen, a bathroom and a bedroom. It’s not very big, but it is perfectly functioning.”
“Are you serious?” said David. “I will pay you rent.”
“Of course I am serious.” Said Ivanna. “We can work all that out. Come and see it. It is only up the road.”
David readily agreed and together they walked toward Ivanna’s house. As they crossed the large courtyard with orange and olive trees, shaded by grapevines, David exclaimed.
“This is absolutely beautiful Ivanna. What a perfect little house.”
She led him to a small separate part of the building and opened the door.
“It is a bit dusty because I have not been in here for a while, but we can get the maid in to come and clean it.”
“OOooh, I love a bit of a maid.” Said David naughtily. Ivanna returned the naughty look.
They looked around the rest of the rooms and David said he loved it.
“Right! So when are you moving in?” said Ivanna.
“Next week? Is that too soon!?” asked David.
Ivanna laughed and shut the door as they left.
“Whenever you want darling!”
They shook hands on it, David thanked her for her help and promised he would be a responsible houseguest.
As Ivanna watched him walk down the road she could not believe what had just happened. He was moving in!
She quickly ran to the phone to call Sylvia.
“You will never guess what?” she said
“Ummm, you just had sex with Brad Pitt?” offered Sylvia.
“Not quite.” Ivanna responded.
“David was just here.”
“Oh” said Sylvia. “And?”
“And………he is moving in!” exclaimed Ivanna/
“What?! How did that happen?”
Ivanna explained what had happened to Sylvia, that she had bumped into him walking along the beach, that they had watched the sunset, they he had nowhere to live as of next week and so they had decided he could stay there.
“Wow, that all sounds very romantic. Almost like a fairytale. So…did you kiss? Or are you just gonna live together?”
“Ha!” said Ivanna.
“Come on, let’s meet for a drink.”
“See you there in an hour?” said Sylvia.
They both knew where “there” was. The Jazz bar.
“See you there.”
David was not in the bar that night. It was quiet at the bar, and Sylvia and Ivanna sat enjoying the evening breeze on the terrace.
Jean and Valerie joined t
hem, along with a couple that sometimes stayed in Portofino, Josephine and Mike. Josephine had long curly brown hair, blue eyes and white skin, and was a successful actress.
Ivanna didn’t know why, but she felt uneasy around her. Josephine also seemed cold and distant. Mike, her husband, was of big build and a movie director. They both lived in L.A but spent the summers in Portofino. Ivanna knew that Josephine was also a close friend of David’s.
After a few drinks, and discussing their project for Jean and Valerie’s property, the bar was quiet and they all decided to go home. Sylvia however, decided to stay and dance with Antonio, one of the gorgeous bar men.
“Have fun babe.” Said Ivanna as she left the bar. Sylvia smiled naughtily.
Chapter 4
The days rolled by into the next week. Tuesday came which was the day they had decided David would move in.
Ivanna had promised to hep him move his stuff in her car, as he didn’t drive. David had resisted, saying she was being too kind, but she had insisted and he had finally given in.
When they loaded the final suitcase into the back seats of the convertible, Ivanna stroked her forehead “Phew!” she said. “Now for the next part of the journey!” she laughed.
“I really appreciate you doing this for me you know.” He said softly.
“Don’t be silly!” She brushed it of. “You know what they say, a friend in need…” she paused and he smiled at her.
He looked into her eyes.
“Is a friend indeed.” He finished.
The intensity of his stare into her eyes made her heart skip a beat, and she turned the ignition in the car.
They drove up the windy road to her house, and parked outside.
Ivanna left David to unpack his case after leaving him the keys and instruction on how to turn on the water.
That evening as she tried to focus on the interior design plans in front of her she could not concentrate, being distracted by David’s shadow, and any movement of his she could see through the window.
The Portofino Saga (The Portofino Saga Series) Page 1
