The Five Great Families of Bellacosta always left their mark. Everyone knew that.
The D'Averrano family owned opera houses, casinos, nightclubs, and performance venues. Basically, my family owned or had ties to every kind of pleasure. The Corvessa family, meanwhile, had the security networks and the armed men. The military and police were obviously theirs.
The Venzaro family owned buildings, land, companies, and money. They were kings when it came to assets and wealth. The Montelvaro family, on the other hand, controlled the ports and trade. They were the ones who ran and controlled business in Bellacosta.
The Aurevanti family was different. They owned the courts, government offices, and the people sitting in seats of power. The Aurevanti family would have a great deal of say in running Bellacosta.
But the Veretti family? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
At least, not in any records I could access. I looked at Lorenzo. He was still sitting where he had been, as if he couldn't care less.
"What kind of business is your family in?"
"A little bit of everything."
"That's a terrible answer," I shot back.
"But it's the right answer."
I held my breath, trying to suppress the irritation that was beginning to rise.
Dad chuckled softly. "Don't rush to judge him, Alessa."
"I was only asking."
"And he already answered."
I looked at Lorenzo again. Nothing had changed in his expression. Still as blank as before. Annoying.
"Why did you come?" I asked.
"Because your father called me."
"And if he hadn't called?"
"I wouldn't have come."
I raised an eyebrow. So he wasn't the kind of man who went looking for attention. Good. Or maybe that wasn't good at all. Maybe it was dangerous. I still hadn't decided.
Dad picked up his glass. "I want the two of you to talk privately."
I turned to him at once. "Here?"
"Where else?"
"The sea is pretty big. We could go out into the middle of it."
Dad smiled faintly. He didn't respond. "You can talk about whatever needs to be discussed."
He stood up. I watched him leave with Carlo.
I waited until they were far enough away. Then I looked back at Lorenzo. We fell silent again.
The wind blew. The sound of the boat's engines hummed faintly in the distance. I crossed my arms over my chest. "I'm not interested in getting married."
"I know."
"You don't look interested in getting married either."
"That's right."
I frowned. "Then why are we still sitting here?"
Lorenzo stared out at the sea. "Because they want us to."
I studied him for a few seconds. Then I smiled faintly. This time, I felt a little interested. Maybe this marriage wouldn't be as boring as I'd thought.
I stood up. "All right, Lorenzo Veretti."
He looked at me. I held his gaze.
"If Dad really wants me to marry you, I'll find out first whether you're worthy."
Lorenzo didn't answer. I turned around. But I had only taken two steps when his voice came from behind me.
"Go ahead."
I stopped. I turned my head slightly. He was still sitting there.
Calm.
He didn't chase after me. He didn't call my name. He didn't even look interested in explaining anything.
Go ahead, he said. One word. That was all. Annoying.
I turned all the way around. "Go ahead and do what?"
Lorenzo looked at me. "Investigate."
I crossed my arms over my chest. "You don't mind?"
"No."
"Most people would be offended if their prospective partner said she wanted to investigate whether they were worthy."
"I'm not most people."
I fell silent. There was something about the way he answered that made it difficult to tell whether he was being serious or deliberately trying to annoy me.
His expression didn't change. No smile. No mocking tone.
Just a brief answer that left me no opening to attack him.
I decided to return to my seat. Not because he told me to. I simply wanted to find out how long this man could maintain his composure.
"What do you know about me?"
Lorenzo didn't answer right away. He picked up the glass in front of him but didn't drink from it. "The only daughter of Don Valerio."
"That's not an answer."
"The heir to D'Averrano."
"Still not enough."
"A stubborn woman."
Now I raised an eyebrow.