Meet Me In Monaco - Flora Ferrari Page 0,7

them over, to shout and wave, but it would be rude to my associates here. Not to mention rather uncouth in a civilized restaurant like this. It would bring down the wrong kind of attention. So why does it feel like the only thing I want to do?

“What do you think, Nico?” Charles asks, making me look over at him.

“Oh, yes,” I say, glad I was able to keep one ear on the talking even while my eyes and mind were otherwise occupied. “I think it’s a good deal. It’s certainly one we can go forward with.”

“Excellent,” Charles says, and while he begins hashing out the details further, I feel my eyes sliding back to her.

She’s taking a seat at one of the tables. She hasn’t changed her dress, but she has added a small cropped jacket in cream lace which adds some coverage without being too bulky. She looks perfect. Neither of them has noticed me yet, and I take advantage of this fact to study her as much as possible. Her smiling face, her long blonde hair that she flicks over one shoulder unassumingly, the way she waves her hands when she talks.

I’ve got it bad.

I can’t resist any longer. I need to speak to her again – I must. I can’t think of anything except finding some way to make her mine. I’ve never failed to get anything I want in the past. I’m a man who knows what he wants. I made myself a businessman, worked my way through school and then an MBA, climbed up the ranks to be here. I’m not going to let her slip through my fingers after a lifetime of working hard for what I want.

“Excuse me, gentleman,” I say, nodding to them all. “I’m going to have to hit the men’s room. But you have my approval, so far, and if you’re ready to sign the contracts, we may as well put this talk to bed and get on with an entertaining night, no?”

I leave that thought with them as I get up, heading towards the bathrooms.

Which just so happens to be on a perfect trajectory to take me past their table.

Chapter Six

Liliana

Now that we’ve ordered, I can’t hold it in any longer. “Alright, I’m going to the bathroom,” I say, glancing behind me to figure out where it is. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

I get up from the table and head to the bathrooms. They’re at the back of the restaurant, and not too hard to find, which means I can easily slip inside without having to ask for directions. Which is good, because I feel kind of self-conscious.

I don't know whether it's because I'm in a strange country, or because I don't speak the language here. Well, at least, not all of the languages. Most people seem to speak English, but that doesn't mean that they speak English amongst themselves. So, I have no idea what people are saying as I pass by.

Maybe it's just because this is a really fancy restaurant, which is exactly what you expect when you come to Monaco. I'm not used to being in this kind of place. Either way, whatever it is, I just can't help but feel as though I'm being watched as I walk through the restaurant. Like everyone has their eyes on me and is judging me. I keep my own eyes down, focusing on not tripping on the floor until I reach the bathroom.

I'm almost inside, just about to pass behind a screen that artfully shields the doors when someone taps my shoulder. I spin around, surprised, to see a familiar face. One which I did not expect to see again, least of all so soon.

Nico.

His face takes my breath away. He’s changed since I last saw him, into a more formal suit in dark colors. It fits his body perfectly, hugging in just the right places. I have to try hard to resist the urge to reach out and run my hands along the tops of his shoulders, they look so strong and perfect. I can't help but wonder for a long moment if this is really happening, or if I've just gone completely mad and started seeing my daydreams as if they are real.

“Liliana,” he says, and then shoves his hands inside his pockets and half-grins at the floor. “Sorry, I wasn’t… following you. Well, not exactly.”

“Not exactly?” I ask, raising my eyebrow and crossing my arms. I can’t help myself. I seem to be