Chapter 3
“Tell me more about this Cora girl. You say she’s one of his illegitimates?”
“Yes sir. The only one he acknowledges apparently.”
“Openly?”
“No. But he paid for her education at a private school, and her university education.”
“And you say that now she’s a teacher?”
“Yes. She’s based out of New York.”
“Is she straight?”
“She just came off of a five year engagement. I don’t think it ended well.”
“Good. Well book me a ticket to New York would you? I feel that I might need to make an endowment to the Dalton School.”
“Yes sir.”
*****
“It’s to raise money for the Bring Back Our Girls Foundation,” Paolo said, continuing to rifle through his drawer for a silk tie. The dark blue and the deep cyan made the final cut, and he alternated holding each at his neck in front of the full-length mirror.
“Hey, which do you think brings out my eyes?”
“That one,” came the bored response of the woman sprawled on his chaise lounge, preoccupied with skimming through one of his gaming magazines.
“You’re not even looking.”
“Because you don’t usually care.”
“Well this is important.”
“Is that you or the Gio Capitalia talking?” Elta asked.
“Elta.”
“And in his serious voice too,” she noted, setting the magazine aside before striding over and taking both ties from him, studying each critically before tossing aside the cyan. Knowing how pedantic he was when it came to tying the perfect Windsor, she decided to save them both the torture and took over the task, nudging his hands away and giving him an intimidating glare when he opened his mouth to protest.
“So what’s so important about this charity?”
“Cora asked me to,” Paolo said, cursing the abruptly high pitch his tone had taken.
“Cora…” Elta said, a little too knowingly for his liking.
“Problem?”
“Cora last name Lafitte, sworn enemy of the Agnellis Cora?”
“Her father is our sworn enemy. Cora’s just his bastard child.”
Elta paused, looking at him cynically. “Are you sure? There’s a lot of other people she could’ve asked instead of you.”
“I worked hard to get this invite,” Paolo answered, intent on keeping his tone non-committal. The woman in front of him saw through everything and he’d be damned if he didn’t manage to keep this secret one under wraps.
“That’s the problem isn’t it? What are you up to baby brother?” Elta said, raising an eyebrow at him.
Paolo laughed. “Careful how you talk to me; I’m the head of the family remember?”
Elta snorted, “Sure honey. Except I don’t give a fuck. Your father barely acknowledges my existence anyway. It’s not like I’m next in line. What I do know, is how it feels to be the bastard child Pablo. I really hope you’re not playing with this kid.”
“Nah…” the look on Elta’s face remained unchanged “seriously.”
She nodded. “You just happened to worm your way into her life because…reasons?”
“Well,” Paolo’s tone was thoughtful. “I…guess there is something about her that’s—”
Elta slapped him.
Paolo’s hand flew to his cheek, eyes wide. “What the hell—”
“Whatever her dad did or didn’t do to you Pablo, this child is innocent.” Elta admonished. “Leave her alone. She’s a good person—”
“Elta,” Paolo interjected calmly. “There is nothing going on between Cora and—”
Elta slapped him again.
“Ow! Stop tha–”
“I am not blind, Pablo,” Elta snapped. “Or stupid. I—” she noticed the slightly stricken look on Paolo’s face and exhaled, softening her tone while she pressed a fist to his chest. “I know you; and I know how hard it is for you to let things go. But whatever you’re trying to do here, it’s a mistake.”
“This is just a fundraiser not Desperado.” Paolo turned back to the mirror, rolling his eyes while he tried to stamp out the misgivings he might have been having. “Don’t worry, no bastard children will be harmed in the making of this—“
“Don’t be a douche,” Elta cut in briskly, eyes narrowed, “don’t you have enough on your plate with the infighting and the—”
At that Paolo whirled around, pointing. “Please, not now okay? I’m trying to re—”
She grabbed his shoulders and shook him hard. “Pablo!”
“Nothing’s going to happen!” He threw his hands in the air with a laugh. “Seriously, Elta.”
“Oh, really?”
“Really.”
She crossed her arms. “Funny I don’t believe you.”
“Huh.” He turned back to the mirror. “Deal with it.”
“Fine. I will.”
“You can’t stop me from attending, Elta.”
“I wasn’t going to.”
“You’re not.” Paolo looked at her, skeptical.
“I’m going with you,” Elta said, looking him dead in the eye. “To keep you out of trouble.”
He snickered at this. “You don’t have a dress.”
“I have connections,” Elta retorted, and that was the end of the matter because standing on the front steps leading up to Elta’s house two hours later, Paolo couldn’t decide whether he loved or hated those so-called ‘connections’ of hers.
Say something.
She’ll think I’m lame, Paolo thought, keeping his silence.
“Don’t worry,” she told him while he opened the car door for her. “I won’t do anything to embarrass you.”
“I’m counting on that,” Paolo said, sliding into the seat beside her. His cell phone beeped loudly in his pocket, earning a scowl from the woman beside him.
“I’m not letting you out of my sight, just so you know,” Elta snapped.
Counting on that, too, Paolo thought, turning his attention to the tiny display.
Did she bite?
He stole a glance at the irritated woman next to him; presently still glaring at the world outside, and smiled.
Hook, line and sinker.
*****
Cursing softly under her breath, Cora knew she had no one to blame but herself as she finished getting ready for the evening. How she had gotten talked into such a humiliating blatant display of sexism was beyond her and yet here she was dressing for an event where she would be auctioned off like cattle.
Hadn’t women in Man’s World moved past being bought and sold like property?