Page 71 of Family Secrets

Elizabeth reached for her drink, allowing the cool water to flow down her throat and help hide her reaction to the mention of the social media platform. She’d changed her profile to private, deleted everything that would give away her location and hadn’t posted anything about her relationship with Gino, or change in last name. Unfortunately, old habits die hard, and she’d been unable to keep herself from perusing the site, checking in on her old life, and shedding a few tears in the process. Jonah and Karen were planning the wedding of their dreams, and while she was beyond happy with her new life, a small part of her refused to let go of the old one.

“Tessa sent out a message, giving my name as the contact person.”

“Wait, did you get a username too?” Elizabeth’s face lit up in excitement, this story better than the romantic movie they’d watched last night.

“I did.”

“Can you tell me, or is it super-secret?” Elizabeth mock whispered, a Cheshire grin on her face.

Gia tapped on the screen of her phone, bringing the program to life before turning it toward Elizabeth.

“Georgie Girl? That is too cute.” Elizabeth’s voice shot up two octaves, her Facebook issue temporarily forgotten.

Gia beamed with glee, she valued Elizabeth’s opinion, considering her more of a sister than a new best friend. “Right before Jonathan’s funeral, I received a message from Chess Guy, agreeing to take Gino’s place in the auction. I sent him a return message thanking him, which turned into a three-hour discussion about everything and nothing.”

“Chess Guy? Do you think he likes the game or is it part of his name?”

Shaking her head, “He denies it’s part of his name, but he won’t say anything else as he did sign a contract to remain anonymous.”

Gia scrolled down the lengthy history of their conversation, “Our exchanges have been limited to friendly banter until this one.”

Elizabeth took the offered phone, anticipation building as she read the early morning time stamp above the message.

“I find myself unable to sleep, images of this fantasy girl I’ve created in my mind bombarding me. I picture you, Georgie Girl, as this impossibly beautiful woman, with cherry-stained lips and eyes the color of the rarest sapphire. My fingers long to touch your sun-kissed skin, breathe in the essence of you as you call my name, not as merely a friend, but as a lover would. I don’t know how this happened, but you’ve bewitched me, a faceless woman I have no right to covet.” Elizabeth’s heart pounded as she handed the phone back to Gia. She had no right to read her friends response.

“He apologized for offending me later in the day, said my lack of response was answer enough and he wouldn’t bother me anymore.”

Jumping from her chair, Elizabeth moved to sit beside Gia, wrapping her arms around her, searching her face through confused eyes. “You didn’t answer him?”

Dropping her phone to the side table, Gia pushed herself up in the chair, crossing her legs and picking at her chipping nail polish. “I told him I had a family emergency, which was the truth.” Playing with the silver heart on her bracelet, Gia avoided eye contact as she continued. “I admitted I thought of him too. We’ve agreed to meet after the auction, spending the time until then getting to know each other as much as his contract will allow.”

Laying a hand on Gia tan thigh, Elizabeth waited until their eyes met. “You do realize this contract isn’t between the two of you, but between him and the foundation?”

“Technically yes.”

“No,” Elizabeth clipped. “Nothing technical about it. You do not work for Amato; you didn’t sign any contracts or promise to do anything other than be a substitute during an emergency.”

When Gia remained silent for longer than Elizabeth was comfortable, she scooted closer, dipping her head down. “Gia, what’s wrong?”

“What if he is this wonderful guy and once he finds out who my family is, wants nothing to do with me?”

“If you’re really worried about this, then you need to either keep things casual between you in the event your last name scares him into hiding. Or give him enough clues to make it clear what the family is involved in.”

“I can’t just come out and say I’m Georgianna Vitale, you may have read about the death of my father, he was murdered by his bastard son who wanted to take over the Family.”

“No, but you can give him the choice.” Elizabeth reasoned, not sure if she was speaking more from the heart or experience.

“Listen, I know more than anyone how difficult your life is. I mean, one morning I woke up as Elizabeth Smith, poor girl from the Mid-West who worked her tail off to afford a cut-rate education, and the next I’m Elizabeth Vittorio, daughter to Emilio Vittorio, a notorious Mafia boss, living in a multi-million-dollar home with a bank balance twice as big as her zip code.”

Taking Gia hand in hers. “What I’m trying to say is, while we don’t get a choice in who we fall in love with, we do have a choice in how honest you want the relationship to be.”

Wiping away an errant tear, “You know Lizzie, my brother is lucky to have you.”

“I’m not so sure he would agree.”

“Tell me he isn’t still upset about you moving out of his condo and in with your father?”

“No, Gino understands my need to learn where I come from and get used to all of this. He said he would never ask me to choose between having a boyfriend and getting to know my mother.”

“Then what?”

Pulling in a deep breath, Elizabeth shifted back to her lounger, “I got my acceptance letter from Columbia. I was over at the admissions office paying my tuition, when I let his call go to voicemail.”

Gasping, Gia covered her mouth with her hands. “You didn’t?”

“I did,” Elizabeth nodded her head. “Found him waiting on the hood of my car in the parking lot. We had words, his more colorful than mine.”

“You’re still together, right?”

“Of course,” Elizabeth waved her off. “Granted, I owe him a weekend away.” Snapping her face toward Gia, an idea popping in her head. “Something I’m going to need your help with pulling something off.”

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