"Hello?"
"Hey, it's me. Listen, what's on your schedule for today?"
"I'm being fitted at eight for a second outfit. But after that I'm pretty much free. Why?"
"How do you feel about Milan?"
While Dana went to her fitting, I prayed my Visa hadn't hit its limit as I booked us two seats on a flight to Milan for that afternoon, then went to the hotel business center to research everything I could about the Corbett Winston theft online. Which wasn't much. As Angelica had said, they hadn't wanted to publicize the theft, so only a few small articles had run in the local papers, buried in the back of the style section. According to the reports, the theft had occurred about six weeks ago. A thirty-carat diamond and sapphire necklace had been taken from their showroom. Generally the necklace was kept in the back vault, but since it had been out for a photo shoot the day before, it was temporarily being housed in the less secure glass case at their main showroom. No mention of Gisella, though the article had said the value of the stolen necklace was an estimated 220,000 Euros. After calling up a currency conversion site, I learned that was roughly the equivalent to 300,000 American dollars. I did a low whistle. I was so in the wrong business. I wondered if it was too late to learn jewelry design.
I printed out everything I'd learned and quickly went upstairs. I stopped in briefly at Mom and Mrs. R's room, but no one was in. Instead, I left the print outs on Mom's bed with a little note: Gisella strikes again? The went next door to pack an overnight bag (I learned my lesson with the inside-out panties the first night) before picking up Dana.
As I was throwing my hair dryer into the bag (lesson number two – travel with your own appliances to foreign countries) my cell rang, displaying an unfamiliar number. My heart did a little leap, praying it was Ramirez.
"Hello?" I asked, suddenly breathless.
"Maddie, it's Felix."
"Oh." I felt my entire body slump with disappointment.
"Well, don't sound so thrilled."
"Sorry, I was expecting… someone else."
"He still hasn't called, huh?"
I narrowed my eyes at the phone. "How do you even know who I was expecting?"
He sighed. "Maddie, I saw the look on his face. And believe me, if I'd been your boyfriend and walked in on that scene, I'm not sure I would have called either."
"Gee, thanks. I feel much better now."
"Where are you?"
"In my room. Packing. I'm going to Milan to see Gisella's agent. As if it's any of your business," I couldn't help adding.
"You're still upset about yesterday."
"What tipped you off?"
Again with the sigh. "Look, that's actually why I called. I wanted to apologize."
I raised an eyebrow at the phone. Felix apologizing? Unheard of.
"Go on," I prompted.
"I was out of line yesterday. I certainly didn't mean to bust things up between you and… him."
Wow. That had actually sounded sincere. "Thanks," I said, so shocked I didn't even have a snide comeback ready for him.
"But, I hope you'll forgive me for saying that you could do a lot better."
And then he had to go and ruin it.
"Excuse me?"
"He's a bit on the caveman side, isn't he, love? I mean the whole protect the little woman thing."
I put one hand on my hip. "He cares. There's nothing wrong with that."
"Yes. So much so that you have to sneak off while he threatens to lock you up. Are you his girlfriend or his ward?"
"He happens to worry about me," I said, my volume rising. Maybe I wouldn't have been so defensive if a tiny part of me didn't almost agree with Felix. "That's what people who love each other do. They protect each other."
"But does he trust you? Isn't that a part of loving someone?"
I opened my mouth to speak but realized I didn't have response for that. Dammit, why did Felix have to start making sense now?
"Look, my love life has nothing to do with you," I shot back instead.
He was quiet a moment. Then in a low, almost sad voice said, "No. No, I suppose it doesn't."
"And for your information, Ramirez happens to be just my type. I happen to like the caveman thing, okay?"
"If you say so."
"Yes, I say so!" I yelled into the phone.
He was quiet. The only sound the panting of my own worked-up breath.
"Are you done apologizing?" I shouted.
I thought I heard Felix do a little chuckle on the other end. "I think that about sums up my apology, yes."
"Good. I have to go." I hit the off button, not waiting for Felix's response, and threw my phone on the bed.
I hated to admit just how much the call had gotten to me. What I'd said was true – I knew Ramirez cared about me, worried about me. And most of the time, when he wasn't infuriating the heck out of me, I appreciated it. Who didn't want someone to care about them, right?
But Felix was right. Ramirez didn't trust me. He never had. Ever since we'd met, I'd always been the cute, slightly ditzy blonde who needed his protection. As much as I'd tried to convince him otherwise in the time we'd known each other, I had a bad feeling that was how he still saw me. Granted, I did have an uncanny ability to shove my heel clad-foot firmly in my mouth, and, I'll admit, I did seem to be a magnet for trouble at times. So, I could see why he didn't always have complete faith in my abilities.
But a little trust might be nice now and then.
Only as I stared at my phone sitting silently on the floral duvet, I realized that I didn't trust him either. He asked me to trust in the legal system, to trust Moreau, to trust that, with Ramirez here, I wouldn't end up in jail. And what had I done? Gone off to London on a wild goose chase that had ended in me lip-locked with Felix, of all people.
No wonder he wasn't calling.
As if on cue, my cell chirped to life.
I dove for it, hitting the on button without even looking at the readout.
"Jack?" I asked, my heart leaping into my throat.
"He still hasn't called, huh?" Dana's voice answered.
I gulped down my disappointment. "No."
"Sorry, hon. But, give him a little time. I'm sure he will."
If only I was as sure.
"Anyway, I just wanted to let you know I'm done with my fitting and on my way to the hotel. Give me ten minutes to pack a bag and I'm ready to go."
I nodded at the phone. "Okay, meet you in the lobby in twenty."
I hung up, flopping back onto the bed. I looked at the silent phone in my hands. Closed my eyes and willed it to ring. Come on, Jack. Please, please, please…
I opened them. Nothing. Still silent.
I took a deep breath and scrolled through the numbers in my address book until Ramirez's showed on the screen. I stared the entry. So hard that the numbers started swimming front of my vision. My finger hovered over the call button.
I hit it, holding my breath as it rang on the other end. Once, twice, then to voicemail. My heart bottomed out. He wasn't calling and he still wasn't taking my calls.
"Hey, it's me again. I just wanted to let you know I'm going to Milan," I told his voicemail, making good on my promise to keep him informed. "And I… I'm still sorry."
I hung up, then flipped my phone shut and stared at the dark LCD screen.
Dana was right. He just needed some time. He'd call. Eventually.
I hoped.
Chapter Thirteen
Those who know me well know that I am a bit of a celebrity junkie. I never miss a night watching the Emmys, Oscars, or SAG awards, and I'd have to say that my favorite all time awards show moment was when Roberto Benigni won the Oscar for his film Life Is Beautiful. In true expressive Italian fashion he jumped up and down, kissing everyone in sight, running down the aisles like a little kid at Christmas. You couldn't help but laugh, cry, and feel your heart beat a little faster right along with him.