The Italian's Fake Fiancée

16

Leo looked at the man who had the same cut jaw as him, the same brown eyes but was far older, with white stubble on his face, and drawled out, "Father you sent for me."

Carlo motioned to a chair in front of him and Leo sat down. Even though his father had handed the company to Rosa eighteen years ago, Carlo had never fully withdrawn his interest from the company, neither had he stopped working. He was the type who felt everything would go wrong without their presence or interference.

A trait which had caused many a fight between father and daughter.
Right now they were in his study in the down floor of the palazzo which could easily be accessed by a hidden panel on the wall, Carlo perusing some paper but at his entrance had lifted his head from the paper and removed his glasses to hold in his right hand.

They were still garbed in their dinner attire, Leo in his white shirt and blue pants and his father in a brown strip suit which revealed his protruding stomach.

Carlo rested his hand on the arm of his chair and leaned back and surveyed Leo. Both father and son accessing each other before Carlo's face broke out in a weak smile. "Son, it's good to have you home. Your mother hasn't stopped gushing about it all day."

A smile stretched Leo's lips. "Trust me father, no one is happier to be back home than I am."
For a second or two Carlo stared at his son through the rim of his glasses before he tossed out the words "Sei cambiato—You have changed."

"How so?"

"You seem level-headed and more reserved as if nothing can upset your balance at this point in time. Tell me, son, is it the woman?"

Leo swallowed. Whatever he was feeling and portraying had nothing to do with Paige. Half of what his father said about him was true; he was changing, and the other half was simply things he portrayed to play to his advantage.

Leo managed a smile and said, "Yes, it's the woman, her name is Paige, and I am in love with her," Leo lied.

Lowering his eyes, Carlo stacked through some files. "I am so proud of you, son," he tossed into the air.

Leo stared at his father, not knowing how to react. Even though he had fantasized about this day for a long time now that the words he had been waiting to hear had come he didn't know how to act. He didn't know if he should say thank you or nod his head. He settled for a thank you, muttering the words slowly.

"Grazie."

If Carlo heard him, he made no inclination. At the present, he was stacking through some files pointedly ignoring him and amid it lifted his head and said, "About your branch..."

Leo held his breath, wondering what he was going to say.

Lowering the document in his hand, Carlo looked intently at Leo. Dropping the pen in his hand and leaning back on his chair, showcasing his potbelly garbed in a brown suit before letting his eyes flicker on the document on the desk. Lifting it slightly from there.

"It says here for the last three weeks your sales had been declining. Now if I am to focus on the present report I will say your branch is rather going on the decline and isn't profiting us. But l like to look at the long term and from what I have discovered your sales return has been enormous for the past six months. If you can discover what's causing the low sales and eradicate it, you might just have the company."

Leo began to smile. "Are you saying there are chances I might still assume the position?"
Seeing the look on Leo's face, Carlo said, "Keep the excitement off your face ragazzo. You still have to prove yourself."

Prove himself? He can work with that. Wasn't that what he had been doing for a little while now?

Leo tried to keep his excitement off his face, knowing that even though the dinner had been tough, he had managed to secure one thing. And that one thing is very important to him.

"I shall not disappoint you father," Leo said with a sudden conviction that brought Carlo's face up.

"You better not. Because if you do and your sister proves to be better than you in handling the company, there is no point in stepping her down for you to become the next CEO even though that's what I have promised you for half your life and everyone knows I don't go back on my promises. But I have doubts Leo and I have hopes, so surprise me."

"I will, and you won't regret this," Leo murmured, standing from his chair. He walked to the door and pulled the panel open, just when he was about to step out his father drawled out,

"And son, you picked a fine woman. Just like your madre."

Knowing his father won't see his face. Leo allowed a big grin to spread across over his face, but said nothing and left.

If his father was saying this, then all he had to do was keep up with his charade and pray they don't slip up and the company would be his. But first, he needed to keep his sales record in check.

Paige was conflicted, the dinner had had her emotions on the rise, and she wondered if she was a fool for coming here when she knew she was in love with her boss.

At the time she had been more concerned with the idea he was going to be touching her than the reactions she would be having to them.

Considering how many times she had had to hide her feeling from her face. Paige wasn't sure it was something she wished to do for a long time.

At least back in California, she had the option of going back home to her apartment and getting a short reprieve from constantly seeing the man she was in love with but couldn't have.

Here there was no such thing. There was no home to hide in. How long before he discovers she harbored great feelings for him. How long?

Would he feel sorry for his little assistant or would he let her go to avoid awkwardness between both of them?

For the first time since she arrived at the palazzo D'Angelo, regrets flooded in like a fountain of water and Paige wished she had not come. That she had taken a moment or two and thought through her answer before giving it.

But who could blame her at his nearness and touch, Paige had forgotten everything and everyone except that the man she loved needed her help. She had found herself looking at everything she ever fantasized, but could never have.

Without thinking, Paige had taken the risk and flew into the arms of the unknown.

Holding the robe of her nightgown tighter, Paige's face twisted into one of distress and she muttered, "What am I going to do now."

"What are you going to do about what?" A voice sounded behind her. Confused, quick and sharp.

Startled, Paige turned and saw Leo walking toward her. He was wearing a worried expression on his face. His eyes running over her as though something had happened. When he paused in front of her he murmured,

"Did my sister come here?" He was still wearing a worried look on his face and now his lips had settled into a thin line. "Did she say something to you?" His large hands landed gently on her shoulders. "Paige?" He shouted when she did not answer him.