place. It’s spacious and clean and looks fairly new. Grayson informs us that the movers have arrived.
“Oh good. They’re here.” Two men approach the door and one asks me to sign some paperwork so they can get started. They make quick work of my things, and I realize it’s because I don’t have much.
I’m directing the movers when Francesca’s car pulls up. Walking into the living room, she walks first to Enzo and then me, kissing us on both cheeks.
“Ciao Checca.” Enzo smiles. Checca? A nickname I assume.
She turns and surveys the room and the cheap furniture sitting in it. The movers have left, and Grayson is stacking some boxes in the corner of the living room. After being surrounded by lux for the past several days, I have to admit even I think it looks paltry.
“Yes. This is a nice place Ava . We’ll be able to do something great here.” Oh an optimist! I look at Enzo, who is also looking around, a firm frown planted on his face. He looks at Francesca, and they start a lively conversation in Italian. Hands fly and voices rise as they talk, and I can’t tell if they are arguing or not. I stand intently watching the show while Grayson completely ignores them. Suddenly, they both stop and turn towards me.
“Yes, Ava,” Francesca’s words sound like the purr of a kitten.
“Let’s have the boys arrange some things so we get an idea where things will go. Then we can fill in the blanks, no?”
“Okay sure.”
Enzo is still frowning but follows his little sister’s plan. Grayson and Enzo position the sofa against a wall and place a small coffee table in front. They find my TV stand and put it next to the sofa. Three bookshelves line the back wall . My tiny Target special dining table fits in a small rounded area off the living room next to the kitchen. We move to the bedroom and Francesca and I watch them quickly put my bed together and move my dresser. Finally, they find my small nightstand and place it next to the bed. This would have been another unforeseen challenge without the help of these men . Francesca is walking around with a clipboard writing things down.
“Yes, Ava. What sort of decor do you have?”
Embarrassed I reply, “Probably not much actually. I bought some vases a few days ago. There are mostly books in my boxes.”
“Yes okay, an opportunity for shopping, no?” I realize this makes her happy because she won’t have to work with items I’m sure would not meet her standards.
“Yes, that will be fun.”
She turns to Enzo and asks something again in Italian.
“Perfetto Checca, Perfect.” He turns to me. “You will be in good hands with Checca. She’ll be back tomorrow. Grayson you can go now as well. In fact, why don’t you take the afternoon off? I really appreciate your help here.” Grayson looks downright shocked at Enzo’s offer.
“Yes sir. Thank you.” He brightens like a kid in a candy store. He looks like a regular young guy, the intense seriousness fading.
“So Grayson doesn’t get a lot of time off, I assume?”
“No. He doesn’t. It’s hard being an assistant to a guy like me who travels so much. He started out five years ago as my driver, but he’s become very important to me. He handles all of my travel and even comes with me most of the time. It’s just another thing I don’t have to worry about. He deserves a few hours to himself. He probably hasn’t had any time off since Christmas.”
“Oh so your employees at least get Christmas day off?” I’m teasing a bit.
“I give most of them a week off at least, sometimes two. With pay. I usually go back to Italy for the holidays.” He pauses. “Maybe you’ll come with me this year.” It’s more of a statement than a question.
He surveys the room. “This furniture is not acceptable for you.”
I bristle a bit but know it’s true.
“I know Enzo. I had new furniture but I left it all with my ex. It was just easier that way. Eventually, I’ll upgrade but I just wanted to get
“Oh good. They’re here.” Two men approach the door and one asks me to sign some paperwork so they can get started. They make quick work of my things, and I realize it’s because I don’t have much.
I’m directing the movers when Francesca’s car pulls up. Walking into the living room, she walks first to Enzo and then me, kissing us on both cheeks.
“Ciao Checca.” Enzo smiles. Checca? A nickname I assume.
She turns and surveys the room and the cheap furniture sitting in it. The movers have left, and Grayson is stacking some boxes in the corner of the living room. After being surrounded by lux for the past several days, I have to admit even I think it looks paltry.
“Yes. This is a nice place Ava . We’ll be able to do something great here.” Oh an optimist! I look at Enzo, who is also looking around, a firm frown planted on his face. He looks at Francesca, and they start a lively conversation in Italian. Hands fly and voices rise as they talk, and I can’t tell if they are arguing or not. I stand intently watching the show while Grayson completely ignores them. Suddenly, they both stop and turn towards me.
“Yes, Ava,” Francesca’s words sound like the purr of a kitten.
“Let’s have the boys arrange some things so we get an idea where things will go. Then we can fill in the blanks, no?”
“Okay sure.”
Enzo is still frowning but follows his little sister’s plan. Grayson and Enzo position the sofa against a wall and place a small coffee table in front. They find my TV stand and put it next to the sofa. Three bookshelves line the back wall . My tiny Target special dining table fits in a small rounded area off the living room next to the kitchen. We move to the bedroom and Francesca and I watch them quickly put my bed together and move my dresser. Finally, they find my small nightstand and place it next to the bed. This would have been another unforeseen challenge without the help of these men . Francesca is walking around with a clipboard writing things down.
“Yes, Ava. What sort of decor do you have?”
Embarrassed I reply, “Probably not much actually. I bought some vases a few days ago. There are mostly books in my boxes.”
“Yes okay, an opportunity for shopping, no?” I realize this makes her happy because she won’t have to work with items I’m sure would not meet her standards.
“Yes, that will be fun.”
She turns to Enzo and asks something again in Italian.
“Perfetto Checca, Perfect.” He turns to me. “You will be in good hands with Checca. She’ll be back tomorrow. Grayson you can go now as well. In fact, why don’t you take the afternoon off? I really appreciate your help here.” Grayson looks downright shocked at Enzo’s offer.
“Yes sir. Thank you.” He brightens like a kid in a candy store. He looks like a regular young guy, the intense seriousness fading.
“So Grayson doesn’t get a lot of time off, I assume?”
“No. He doesn’t. It’s hard being an assistant to a guy like me who travels so much. He started out five years ago as my driver, but he’s become very important to me. He handles all of my travel and even comes with me most of the time. It’s just another thing I don’t have to worry about. He deserves a few hours to himself. He probably hasn’t had any time off since Christmas.”
“Oh so your employees at least get Christmas day off?” I’m teasing a bit.
“I give most of them a week off at least, sometimes two. With pay. I usually go back to Italy for the holidays.” He pauses. “Maybe you’ll come with me this year.” It’s more of a statement than a question.
He surveys the room. “This furniture is not acceptable for you.”
I bristle a bit but know it’s true.
“I know Enzo. I had new furniture but I left it all with my ex. It was just easier that way. Eventually, I’ll upgrade but I just wanted to get
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