A Fashion Felon in Rome Read Online Free PDF Page B

summoned a deep breath.  To my horror, Massimo circled the car to where I was standing and interlaced my fingers with his.  I pierced him with a deadly glare, but he seemed unaffected.
    “We’re in character now.  And we can’t break character, no matter what,” Massimo said firmly as I limply held his hand, trying not to notice how powerful and smooth his grip was.
    We strolled into the ballroom hand in hand as I fought to keep my cool.  “There you are! We’ve been waiting for you!” A voice called.  I looked up, recognizing the chiseled features of Leonard, Sophia’s British assistant.
    “Hi Leonard,” I greeted, wondering if he also knew about the plan t o corner Denise and Evelyn. Massimo nudged me as I shot him another warning stare before saying, “Leonard, this is my boyfriend, Massimo.”
    Now it was Massimo’s turn to give me a menacing look.  Immediately, I realized the reason for his anger.  I should have invented a name.  Stupid me.  I had introduced a private investigator and given away his real name.  I matched Massimo’s toxic look as if to say, ‘you should have given me more instructions! I’m doing the best I can over here!’
    “Nice to meet you, Massimo.  And don’t worry, Sophia already told me who you really are.” Leonard said amiably, shaking his hand.  “Will you be joining us today?”
    “Sophia told you?” Massimo demanded furiously. “That’s just great. Let’s keep it quiet.”
    “Of course,” Leonard replied coolly.
    “ Anyway, I wanted to see Gianna in action,” Massimo said without a hint of theatre.  The man had clearly done a lot of undercover role playing in his life.  “And I thought it would be nice to meet the great Sophia Pucci too.”
    “Yes, Sophia is a pearl,” Leonard said dutifully.  “I’m sure she’ll sign an autograph for you.”
    “Great,” Massimo replied.  “Now where should we go?”
    Leonard pointed to a dark corner of the room where Denise and Evelyn were deep in conversation.  “The other dress designers are already working with their mannequins over there.  Or at least they’re supposed to be.” Leonard frowned.  “Looks like they’re gossiping.  Silly women.  Anyway, there’s an array of fabrics and beads and sequins and so forth available for Gianna to work with.  Sophia will be here a bit later on to assess the fashions.”
    “Okay, thanks Leonard,” Massimo said, flashing a flawless smile. 
    Denise and Evelyn glanced up curiously as I glided towards them with Massimo still gripping my hand.  “Hey girls,” I called casually.
    “Hey,” Denise replied, unabashedly raking her eyes up and down the length of Massimo’s body.  “And who is this?”
    “I’m Gianna’s boyfriend,” Massimo took the lead as both women continued to hawk him.  “But just pretend I’m not here.  Do your designing and ignore me.”
    “I don’t know how anyone could ignore you,” Denise muttered under her breath.
    Ignoring the swooning woma n, I flipped open my sketch pad and reacquainted myself with the red mermaid dress I had designed for Sophia.  Crimson fabrics and metallic decorations beckoned from the table like gifts under the tree on Christmas morning.  Forgetting about the investigation for a moment, I returned to the real reason I had come to Italy: to launch my career.  Humming softly, I caressed the fabrics and pictured each one wrapped around Sophia Pucci’s voluptuous body.
    Denise snuck up alongside me an d whispered like a hissing boa constrictor.  “Your boyfriend is gorgeous!  Even hotter than Tomaso, if that’s possible!”
    “Thanks,” I faked a smile and kept my eyes on the materials. 
    “You know what?” She whispered in a lower king cobra hiss.
    “What?”
    “I think I know who murdered him.”
     
     

    Chapter 5
    Denise was hovering so close to me that I could smell her breath, cold and clean like Doublemint gum.  I sensed Massimo moving towards us to eavesdrop on the