Page 129 of Rio

I cup her face.“I won’t be long.Mama’s expecting us for lunch.”

“I can’t wait.”She presses a kiss and we part ways.

I head towards the reception desk.“Rio Knight, here to see Nico Cazale.”

“Good Morning, Mr.Knight.Mr.Cazale is waiting for you.This way, please.”

She leads me to his office.The door is open, and sitting at his desk is a smartly dressed man.

He rises as soon as he sees me.“Please, come in.”

I walk into the office.The first thing I notice is a picture of a distinguished-looking man right above Mr.Cazale’s desk.I’m guessing it’s his father, because I can see the resemblance so clearly.

He shakes my hand firmly, and I automatically try to place his age.His salt-and-pepper hair, greying mostly around the ears and speckled in his dark head of hair, makes me think he’s in his late forties or early fifties.

“Please, take a seat.”

“Good to finally meet.I know we were meant to meet a few months ago, but business called and I had to deal with something.”

“I understand.We’re all busy, are we not?”

“We certainly are, Mr.Caz—”

“Nico,” he says.“Call me Nico.”

“It’s not about age, it’s just a sign of respect.”

He nods.

The reason I’m here is because Nico Cazale has a portfolio of some beautiful hotels—mostly boutique, very gorgeous properties scattered around Italy.I’ve examined the brochures in detail, and the particulars of his business empire.That’s how I discovered work has started on his flagship Amalfi hotel, and that there is limited land to expand outward.Knight Enterprises recently acquired adjacent waterfront properties and land that could complement the hotel without competing against it.I already knew about the Cazale empire before this recent acquisition, but it was the perfect opportunity for me to approach him with a plan.

What I proposed would also enable Knight Enterprises to get a foot in the door of a world-famous hotel brand.

After all, why would Knight Enterprises open their own luxury brand of hotels in Amalfi when the Cazale empire is already set up?Knight Enterprises could contribute the land and development expertise.Although I’m pretty sure this guy has a solid development team behind him, he’d bring brand prestige and local connections.We’d back it with serious money.He’s rich.But not Knight-level rich.

“You read over my proposal?”I say.I put something together and then refined it with Raquel’s help.

He inhales before resting back against his chair, arms casually placed on the armrest.“Tell me why I should work with you.You’re based in America.I live in Italy.I was born and bred in Verona.Our prestigious luxury hotel brand has been around for forty years.Italy is ours to conquer.Why would I need you?”He smiles, like he doesn’t need this.Like it wouldn’t make any difference to his wealth or portfolio.

“Good point.Look, Nico, I’m not here to compete with you.I’m here to make you an offer you probably won’t get from anyone else.”

He chuckles.“I must say, you’re very confident.But I was like you once—confident, maybe bordering on arrogance.I thought I could do it all, have it all.I thought the world was my oyster.”

“Was it?Is it?”

“Yes.Now it is, but not in the way I thought when I was younger.”

“You’re married,” I state, seeing the ring on his finger.

“I am.”

“Nice.”

“Sometimes fate brings you not what you want, but what you need.I was a playboy—”

“I’m not a playboy.”

“No, but like I said, it brings you what you need and not always what you want.I think I would have drifted.I was an only child.I had money.Not earned by me—by my father.I inherited all this from him.”He waves his hand around the room.