Page 130 of Rio
“Is that him?”I nod at the picture of the distinguished-looking gentleman behind him.
“Yes.That is my beloved father, Edmondo Cazale.Not a day goes by when I don’t think of him.”His voice softens, his eyes turn shiny.“My father built the family business from scratch.He did all the hard work, and I simply inherited it.But there were a lot of personal lessons to learn along the way.”
“And you … learned them?”I’m eager to hear what exactly he learned.What price he had to pay.
“I did, but not without pain and loss and suffering.But life rewarded me with riches that weren’t monetary.That is why I consider myself to be blessed.Lucky.”
It begins to dawn on me that feeling blessed and rich has nothing to do with money.It’s about who you share your life with, the people who stand beside you when the bottom drops out, the rare moments that matter more than the numbers in your accounts.
“That’s rare,” I say.It’s extremely rare coming from the world I know, for a business man to say that.
“Knight Enterprises—your father built it from nothing.”
“You’ve done your homework.”
“And your father, he still guides you and mentors you?”Nico asks.
Still?
Nothing of the sort.I pause.“He’s still around,” I say, feeling bittersweet and conflicted.
How do I describe Paul Knight?Nico must sense my unease because I don’t smile—not the way he smiled when he spoke of his father so fondly.
I have nothing to say because I’m trying to choose my words carefully.It’s impossible to speak warmly of Paul Knight, despite his health scare, and even now that he’s come home and is recovering.
“My father is a complicated man,” I say carefully.
“So I’ve heard.”
He looks at me, and I wonder what exactly he knows.His eyes narrow, like he’s seeing inside me and understands what I can’t articulate.
“The people we meet in life always teach us something.”
Hell, he’s profound.
I rake a hand through my hair.“Maybe.I’ve learned that people can surprise you—for better or worse.And that sometimes, the right person can make you see everything differently.”
“I don’t take anything I have for granted.And neither do you, I suspect.”
“Not anymore.”
We sit silently for a few seconds, mulling things over.I’m intrigued and want to know more about him.I wonder what he’s thinking.
“Regarding your offer,” he says, finally.“I’ve been thinking about it.I still am.I can see ways that we could work together, but I want to keep full brand control.”
“Absolutely.It would be low risk for you, not to mention highly beneficial.”
“It would also be low risk and extremely beneficial for you,” Nico states.“I have one of the most respected luxury hotel brands in Italy—a brand that’s taken decades to build.”
He’s proud of what he’s achieved, and he’s not letting me think I’m doing him a favor.
“True.So it’s a win-win.You keep the brand, the standards, the clientele.I just give you the keys to expand without touching a cent of your own capital.”
Nico raises his eyebrow.“Without touching a cent of my own capital?”
“Yes.”
“What’s the catch?”
