Page 57 of Modern Romance October 2025 5-8

‘I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised,’ he continued. ‘You came to us late. Maybe you don’t understand what family means and how we all pull together for the common good.’

He made her sound selfish!

Could he honestly expect her tomarrya stranger to improve the company’s balance sheet?

Stella knew her father was a ruthless businessman but she’d never imagined he’d suggest something like this. It was on the tip of her tongue to blurt out that she’d never marry for anything less than love. That she valued herself too highly.

Instead she made herself think. Maybe, with time, she could make him see how appalling the idea was.

‘How long would you see such a marriage lasting?’

There. The hard glitter in his eyes mellowed. Perhaps he meant a marriage on paper only. Perhaps—

‘It would be permanent, of course. That’s the point. We need a solid connection. But don’t worry, you’d still be able to run your hotel, at least until the first baby arrives. Then we’d have to consider…’

There was a screech as Stella’s chair scraped the floor. She shot to her feet and felt the weirdest sensation, as if the walls and floor undulated around her. Or maybe that was the waves of nausea rushing through her.

She put a hand to her mouth and spun away from the desk. Stella didn’t know what horrified her more. The suggestion she give herself to a stranger to boost company profits. Or her naïveté.

All those times when her father had escorted her to a restaurant or opera or some glamorous event, praising her appearance and showing her off to his acquaintances…

She’d thought he was proud of her. Had he instead been parading her like a farmer showing off a broodmare, looking to seal a deal with someone in the market for—?

‘Stella! Come back here instantly!’

But she ignored him, stumbling from the room, one hand to her mouth and the other to her churning stomach.

‘I’m sorry to bother you, Signor Valenti, but something unusual has happened and I think you need to know.’

Gio employed only the best, so when the manager of his new flagship hotel in Rome said he needed to know, Gio took him at his word.

‘Go on.’

‘A woman just checked in. A young woman who gave her name as Stella White. She had no booking, just turned up.’ The manager sounded shocked, as well he might. The place was booked up for six months ahead and, given the feedback they’d had from satisfied clients, that would only continue. ‘One of our guests had to change their travel dates so we had an unexpected vacancy.’

Gio waited. The name Stella White meant nothing. Given the hotel’s high-end luxury, guests were often older, but there were plenty of rich young women about.

‘She spoke English so our receptionist thought she was a foreigner, but I happened to be in the foyer and recognised her. I couldn’t believe it so I came back to my office and checked. She’s not who she says she is.’

Gio was intrigued. Who could unnerve the most unflappable man he employed? ‘She isn’t?’

‘No. Her name’s not White but Barbieri. Stella Barbieri, Alfredo Barbieri’s daughter.’

Gio’s half-formed smile fell away. He’d been expecting a revelation that she was an incognito royal or famous star. Now instead of amusement and mild interest, he felt a wrenching twist in his gut. A rancid tang filled his mouth.

After all these years the Barbieri name still had that effect. Though he prided himself on putting the past behind him, that didn’t mean all scars were healed. Some wounds lasted a lifetime.

‘You’ve met her?’

‘Not to speak to but I’ve seen her. About a year ago, in Sicily. She was with her family, her father and brothers and their wives, going into a restaurant. They’d stopped so her father could talk to someone. Alfredo Barbieri is hard to miss.’

‘Maybe you’re mistaken about the daughter.’

‘That’s what I thought at first. I remember being curious about her on that day because a colleague had said good things about her work in the family business. But it was a year ago and I wondered if my memory was faulty. I’ve checked online and it’s definitely her.’

Gio frowned. ‘The question is why she’s checked intomyhotel using a false name, pretending to be a foreigner.’

‘Exactly. I thought you should know.’ The manager cleared his throat. ‘Her father has a reputation for being a hard man. He’s ruthless and…’