Chapter-26 (Part 1)

Gianna

“I can’t believe we are really doing this,” Teresa grinned as we drove to Maximus’s place for lunch the next afternoon. “This is incredible!”

“It’s a bit…crazy,” I murmured. “I mean, what were the odds of me running into him at the party and then all this…”

“Running into his arms…” Tess smirked. “It’s fate, baby.”

“I guess,” I shrugged.

“So, when do you plan to tell others?” she asked. “I have no idea why you haven’t told them yet.”

“I just want to get it all absolutely finalized,” I said. “Leo will freak out, so I need to kind of create the ambience before I tell him.”

“And what about Nico?” I didn’t like that look in her eyes—like I was some wounded puppy. So I just kept my face blank and shrugged again.

“I tried to call him, but he didn’t pick up. I haven’t seen or heard from him in three days,” I said.

“What?” Teresa exclaimed. “But why? Where is he?”

“I have no idea. We…we had sex and well…things spiraled from there.” It was embarrassing to say out loud. Even to my best friend.

“But that’s great, right? That’s a breakthrough from him, isn’t it?” she frowned. “Was it not good? Though if my memory serves me right about your husband, I highly doubt that would be the case.”

“No…it…it was amazing,” I said. I could sometimes still feel his touch on my skin, his lips tracing stories down my body. How could he just deny that? Was it that easy for him?

“Then what?” she pressed. “Gi, what did he do now?”

“Can’t…can’t we just not talk about this now?” I murmured, not wanting to revisit that conversation or the memories again. “I need my mind clear to get through this lunch. I will tell you later, I promise.”

“Okay, sure,” she squeezed my hand. “But if he is hurting you, Gi…maybe it’s time to rethink this marriage? Nothing is worth risking your happiness, baby girl. Not even love, however deep it may run.”

The truth of those words was going to haunt me, I knew that. But I can’t think about this right now. Not when our car pulled outside the massive gates that led to Maximus’s stunning neoclassical mansion.

“Wow…I took him more for a penthouse kind of guy,” Teresa murmured. I had to agree—Maximus seemed more like the type to live in a sleek bachelor pad, I guess I was wrong.

A very sophisticated, middle-aged woman, probably the housekeeper, ushered us to the informal sunken lounge by the pool. It was gorgeous out here.

“Mr. Vanucci will be here any moment. Please make yourself comfortable,” she said before giving us a nod and walking away.

“Is this guy single because heck I would marry him just for this fucking home,” Teresa whistled. I rolled my eyes at her and shrugged.

“I don’t know. Maximus is kind of a private person. Barely ever any news of hookups or relationships…” I answered.

“Hmm, maybe he is gay?” she grinned.

“Maybe who is gay?” I blinked, and Teresa’s eyes widened as the familiar voice reached us.

I closed my eyes and inwardly cursed my best friend before turning around. His amber eyes met mine, and I tried to hold mine under his intense scrutiny. He wore a fitted black long-sleeve shirt with a few buttons open at the collar, paired with high-waisted white trousers, his copper hair all tousled to perfection. He looked effortlessly stylish and sexy at once. And again, there was something about him—it was just hard to point out.

“No one,” I shook my head as he casually strolled over to me. “Please ignore her.”

“Yes, please,” Teresa nodded. Maximus shot us a grin and extended his strong, veiny, perfectly manicured hand to me.

“Gianna…we meet again,” he murmured, shaking my hand. His fingers gently curled around mine.

“We do,” I smiled. “Thank you once again, Mr. Vanucci for this.”

“No need to thank me. I wasn’t the one to finalize you. Your work spoke for itself. And please…just Maximus.” He was still holding my hand, his eyes locked on me with an intensity that did make me a bit nervous, but it didn’t burn the way Nico’s does.

“Maximus,” I rectified. A slow-sexy grin crossed his lips even if his eyes darkened for a second before he turned to Teresa.

“And who will be this lovely lady?” he inquired, appraising my best friend, who met him with an even look.

“Right, this is Teresa Rosario, she will be my business partner once we have drawn up the paperwork,” I said.

“I look after the practical, boring stuff,” Teresa said, holding out his hand. “Pleasure, Mr. Vanucci.”

“Indeed,” Maximus nodded politely. “Before the others come, would you ladies like a tour around?” He glanced at me, and I shrugged.

“That would be great,” I said.

“I would join you guys in a minute, I need to take a call,” Teresa said. “Please, excuse me.”

She gave me a wink, I was not sure what for, before scooting away and leaving me alone with Maximus, whose I eyes I can literally feel upon me.

“Shall we?” he asked, when I turned to him.

“Sure,” I nodded. “Please lead the way.” He smiled and then started ahead with me following behind.

His house was beautiful in that effortlessly curated way—nothing loud or overdone, just clean lines, warm textures, and subtle hints of art that made you feel like every corner had a story. Every piece felt intentional, from the sculptural furniture to the artwork that blended seamlessly into the space. It was stylish, but in a way that whispered rather than shouted.

"And this is my studio..." Maximus said.

I stepped in, and my breath hitched. Wow.

The space was big. Vast, open, and soaked in natural light that spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the space felt alive. Like it was breathing creativity.

Bolts of fabric—luxurious silks, textured wools, fine linens—were draped over long tables and hung from steel rods, cascading down like waterfalls. Mannequins stood in quiet formation, some of them dressed in half-finished pieces.

There were giant sketches framed like art, stretched across the walls—raw, beautiful outlines of designs I could only describe as bold and unapologetic. Some were charcoal. Others, ink and gold. Everything was just perfectly organized.

“Wow…” I whispered, walking inside. “You work here?”

“Yeah, but this is mostly used when we’re prepping for something big. The designers are on it, the models come in for the fittings—the fitting room’s over there,” he said, pointing to a curtained-off section in the back. “That corner’s for lookbook shoots. Lighting gear’s packed away right now, but we set it all up when we need it.” He walked ahead, his hand brushing a rack full of tagged outfits.

Everything he said was like music to my ears. This was my passion, this was what I always wanted to be a part of.

“It sounds incredible,” I murmured, my eyes glued to one of the paintings.

“It is,” he agreed. “The adrenaline in this room before we launch a new line or prep for a new show is intoxicating. You will feel it during your launch…” I turned to him and couldn’t stop the warm, genuine smile that pushed out of me.

“This has been my dream for so long,” I said. “I can’t believe it’s happening.”

“Well, you better start practicing because it is,” he said.

“So do you like sit here and sketch your masterpieces?”

“I don’t design anymore,” Maximus shrugged. “Bellavanti hires the best designers from the world’s leading fashion schools, and they are the ones working. Of course, all their designs are run through me, but that’s the extent of my involvement in the creative process.”

“I see,” I nodded. “But you don’t miss it?” Maximus frowned, as if not expecting that question and then shrugged.

“Sometimes. But I barely have time to breathe most days, so,” he said. “But if I feel like it…I have an outdoor studio where I work. Inspiration always finds its home in nature. You’re welcome to use my studio, both this one and the other one, to work. Since you will be spending quite a bit of time here from now on, if you aren’t working with my team at the office on the more practical aspects.”

“Oh…” I mumbled, not sure what to say to that. Was I supposed to be here with him all the time? What was my schedule going to be like?

“Don’t worry, Gianna,” Maximus said, distracting me. “We can figure all that out later. Let’s take it one step at a time, shall we?”

“Yeah,” I nodded. “We should head back. Maybe Teresa lost her way here or something.”

“Of course,” he said, pointing to the door. “Ladies first.”

“You have a lovely home, Maximus,” I said as we headed back. “I was expecting more of a bachelor pad kind of thing going on but this…is a lovely home.”

“I do have a bachelor pad in New York and London,” he grinned. “But this…this is home. This is where I am at my best, away from all the noise and chaos.” The last part really struck a chord with me. I didn’t expect him to say something like that.

“Do you live alone?” I have no idea why I was asking so many questions.

“Very much, if my housekeeper and the rest of the staff don’t count,” he said.

“No family or well…girlfriend?” Maximus’s eyes darkened for some reason, but he masked it up quickly and shook his head.

“No family—lost them when I was six,” he said.

Shit. I didn't expect that.