Read Online Margherita's Notebook by Elisabetta Flumeri, Gabriella Giacometti - Free Book Online Page B

thoughts, his dark eyes suddenly becoming dull and stormy. But it never lasted long.
    Nicola walked past the large wall-to-wall window in the room that had only a few pieces of expensive furniture in it, and stopped at the large wood-and-crystal table. Spread out over the top was a topographical map with a scale of one to one hundred thousand that showed several pieces of land of various dimensions. Some of them were marked with a red X.
    â€œAfter we sign the contract with the Chinese, production will have to be stepped up. I need you to get me all the figures for this year’s harvest. If we want to be 100 percent sure about everything, we need those, too.” Nicola used a felt-tip marker to circle some of the lots, one of which was particularly large.
    Carla made a note and then nodded.
    â€œIf everything goes according to plan, it won’t take long,” she remarked confidently.
    Nicola’s lips twisted into an ironic smile, and for a second Carla’s only desire was to feel that sensuous mouth on her own and cast everything else aside . . . She forced herself to come back to her senses when Nicola began talking again. “The recession is helping me out. Some of them see me as their savior.”
    â€œI wouldn’t underestimate your skills of persuasion.”
    â€œThat comes in handy, too. Especially when they ask me what I plan to do with the vineyards. They talk about themas though they were their very own children!” he added with a note of annoyance in his voice.
    â€œAnd I’ll bet you don’t tell them the truth.” Carla grinned craftily.
    â€œWhat good would it do? I tell them what they want to hear.”
    â€œWhich is?”
    â€œThat I will continue producing wine.”
    â€œBut not the wine they have in mind.”
    The expression on Nicola’s face stiffened.
    â€œWhy nitpick? It’s just business. A question of demand and supply. The Asian market calls for table wine and I produce it.”
    Nicola’s gaze went back to the map.
    â€œWith these new acquisitions we can increase exports to Asia. The Chinese are wild about ‘Made in Italy.’ ”
    And I’m wild about you, Nicola Ravelli. Carla made sure he couldn’t see how she felt. “To everything there is a season.” The nuns at school often quoted these words from Ecclesiastes to her. She’d treasured them. And she certainly had no intention of spoiling everything.
    â€œWhat I like about you is your farsightedness,” she said, opting for something more neutral, more impersonal.
    â€œIt’s a gift of nature. I’m just trying to make the most of it.”
    â€œThe results are clear to see.”
    â€œSpeaking of results. I think we need to start thinking about the dinners and luncheons we might want to have at the villa. The renovation work is finished, and serving food is an excellent way to increase business.”
    â€œHow long do you think we’ll be in Roccafitta?”
    â€œI don’t know. There’s a lot to do. First we have to get theacquisitions finalized, then we need to ramp up production. It takes time to organize everything, and I’ll be the one to deal with that side of it. That’s why I bought the villa in the first place: it’ll be an excellent calling card.” He looked at her. “And I need you to take care of hiring the staff. Anyone will do, as long as they’re efficient and discreet. I don’t want anyone getting in my way.”
    A confident smile crossed Carla’s lips. “Consider it done.”

    It had been easy to settle back into the peaceful pace of Roccafitta. Margherita felt pampered and spoiled. Matteo often came by to see her, and Armando, in spite of all his activities—dance school, the local culture and tourism association, card games with his friends—always found time to take a stroll in the fields with his daughter and Artusi. But Margherita