Page 45 of When Fashion Turns Deadly

She lifted her gaze. “Sì?”

“Do you mind if I join you?” Cole asked.

“Who are you?”

“A friend of Tomasso Ricci,” Cole said, supplying the name of the woman’s current private investigator. “He thought we might be able to help each other.”

“How so?”

Cole lowered his voice. “I have a few questions about your ex-husband, and I also have some information that might be helpful in your current lawsuit against him.”

The woman’s expressive eyes darkened. “Such as?” she asked, her Italian accent tinting her words spoken in English.

Cole took her question as an invitation and sat beside her. “I believe I can help you locate Giuseppe’s extra funds.”

Suspicion colored her words. “What do you want for this information?”

“I just want to ask you a few questions.”

“And you said Tomasso sent you?” she asked warily.

“That’s right,” Cole lied. “When we found out our cases intersected, I offered to help you if you’re willing to help me.”

She tilted her head as though waiting for him to begin.

“How much do you know about your ex-husband’s business?” Cole asked.

“I know everything. I met him while working as a model and ultimately managed most of his business affairs until after the divorce.”

Which explained why she was suing Bianchi for a larger monthly alimony payment as well as partial ownership of his company.

“Does Giuseppe create all his designs, or does he hire young designers to help with each year’s line?”

“He has other designers, but he directs everything. He has a very particular style,” Viviana said. “No one at Fashion Week can quite compare.”

Cole hadn’t personally seen the man’s clothing line, but he’d heard enough from Lars, Marit, and Isabelle to know Bianchi’s line tended toward plunging necklines and high hemlines. He’d also heard that Bianchi had trouble keeping his hands to himself when it came to his models.

“Do you think he’s likely to make any changes to his style this year?”

Viviana barked out a short laugh. “Never.”

“How is his relationship with the other designers who are in Paris right now?”

“He tolerates them, but Giuseppe is confident in his ability to be unique.”

That was consistent with what Lars had told him.

“Who would he consider his biggest competition?”

“The one he speaks about the most is Peter Wade.” Viviana waved her manicured hand as she spoke the name. “But that may be because he is so difficult to work with.”

“Thank you for your time.” Cole stood.

“You said you have information for me.”

Cole slid the banking information across the table. “If anyone asks, you don’t know where this came from.”

“I don’t know where this came from,” she said. “I don’t even know your name.”

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