Page 13 of La Dolce Vita

"Va bene,"Mirabella replied. Together they left.

"Are you well today?" Catalina asked with Mirabella walking at her side. "You look a little feverish."

"I'm fine. Just... hot," she said and fanned herself with her right hand. They turned the corner, and then walked further and turned right before arriving in the hall to the west side of Melanzana.

"Have you spoken to Marietta?" Mirabella asked.

"She's out sailing with Lorenzo," Catalina replied. "I think they will take the boat to Capri today. I heard one of the men say so. It'll be good for her."

"I agree," Mirabella said. She walked into the office that used to be Giovanni's. It was hers to use since he conducted most of his business affairs invilla Rosso. Catalina closed the door. Mirabella sat behind the desk and made herself comfortable in the large chair that typically occupied her husband. She reached for the phone. It was then her visible tremors seized her fingers. Catalina turned in time to witness it.

"I'm okay. Must be some kind of nerve spasm from the medication or something," she gave a nervous laugh.

"I thought the doctors took you off the medication?" Catalina asked.

"They have, but you know, sometimes, ah, the pain lingers," Mirabella reasoned.

"Pain? Mira?"

"Dial them for me," Mirabella smiled. "Please."

Catalina picked up the phone and dialed the conference line. Mirabella tried to appear relaxed. Her heart raced a mile a minute. She had to calm herself. Soon the line connected and people from all over Europe and the States began to announce they were on the call. Her sister-in-law took a seat and smiled encouragingly at her.

"Buona sera!"Mirabella said.

There was applause on the conference line. It had to be staged by Catalina. And when Mirabella looked over to her Catalina winked. "Thank you.Merci beaucoup!Tuttograzie!" Mirabella said and tried to settle the excitement on the phone line. "We have much to celebrate. In just four months, since the re-launch of Mirabella's, we have surpassed every goal I've set. Now the real work begins. Let's start with Paris."

"Buongiorno, dahling!This is François. We are ready inPa-ree! When will you be traveling to France? There is only so much we can do without you. Fashion Week is only weeks away."

Mirabella wasn't sure what to say. She desperately wanted out of her self-imposed isolation. But it could never happen now.

"Ah... well..."

"Yes! Yes! We are coming in from L.A., Mirabella," said Darla. "We already have our schedule for the runway event."

"Everyone, give her a chance to speak." Catalina cut in when the questions began to fire at Mirabella at once.

"Thank you, Catalina," Mirabella said. "Of course we are all set for Paris. And Catalina will be present. Unfortunately, I over promised. I'm afraid plans have changed and I won't be making the trip."

There was an audible gasp over the line.

"Dahling?Je suis choqué!You must. Milano wasmagnifique. But only the beginning.À quoi penses-tu?The world is yours now, my love. And we are ready. We need you. No. No. No. We must have you, all of you. It is our time," François pleaded. "Someone please speak up! Aye I feel faint!"

Mirabella put her hand to her brow and closed her eyes. At first Giovanni said she should go. Then she told him her fears. Together they agreed upon a compromise for him to travel with her. That was before Mirabella woke up screaming in bed after another nightmare. She was losing control and worst of all she feared she was pushing him away. Mirabella bit down on her bottom lip and tried to keep back her tears.

"Basta!"Catalina clapped her hands. "Enough already."

"No. No. François is right," Mirabella sighed. "I would love to be there. However, the focus is Fabiana's line in Paris. I want our two fashion houses to have a distinct flavor. A difference. And the face of Fabiana's is Catalina. No?"

Everyone on the phone agreed with polite mumbles.

Mirabella winked at her sister in-law "Catalina should be the featured designer. She has had input on every piece that will come down the runway. I have intentions of returning to Milano's Fashion Week this fall. My desire is to draw the world here. To Italy. It's the breath of my work now. My inspiration."

"Yes! Yes!" Catalina cheered for her. "I agree. I mean I accept the challenge, Mirabella. I will make it a huge success. Trust me."

"So I want to congratulate you all, and tell you to be ready because in two weeks I expect each of you to make me proud. Oh, yes, and please defer to Catalina and Marietta for any of your needs."

There were a few lasting questions from different teams that she answered, and the conference call ended timely. Exhausted, Mirabella dropped back in her seat. When Fabiana and Teddy ran things it just didn't seem this hard.

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