Day Leclaire - Dantes Stolen Wife Forgotten Marriage

One

I m warning you, Marco. No more scandals. If your family continues to be featured in the gossip magazines, we will have no choice but to place our account elsewhere. The reports have carried all the way to Italy. I even caught Ariana reading them. My own daughter!

Marco Dante inclined his head. I understand, Vittorio. We dont know why The Snitch has embarked on this campaign against Dantes. But I promise you, I plan to put an end to it, no matter what it takes. You and my father were good friends. We appreciated your business when he ran our jewelry business, and now that were moving back into the European market, we hope to have your patronage once again.

Vittorio gave an expressive shrug to accompany his expression of vague regret. Id enjoy seeing the names of Dante and Romano mated once more. But were extremely private people. We choose our associates with great care. He deliberately switched to Italian to add weight to his words. If you wish to have our support for your European expansion, you must take care of this problem.

Marco nodded. Unfortunately, theyd lost the Romanos backing years ago, shortly after his fathers death. At that time, Dantes teetered on the brink of ruin, and would have gone under if not for Marcos brother, Severo, whod assumed the reins of the family jewelry empire straight out of college. During his first year on the job, hed been forced to scale back on the size of the business, stripping Dantes to the bone.

Little by little over the past decade, under Sevs brilliant direction, Dantes had made an impressive resurrection and now stood on the verge of regaining their place as the premier jewelers, worldwide. At least they would if they recovered the European trade theyd lost. And Marco planned to make certain that happened.

It was imperative to their success that they return the Romanos to the fold, something hed worked tirelessly on for the past year. And it was all due to a single ancient expression, one that had floated around the most elite circles for countless generationsWhere the Romanoslead, Europe follows. The Romanos were considered Italian royalty and Marco intended to have Europe follow Vittorio and Ariana straight to Dantes front door. And now that possibility hovered within reach.

The Romanos craved the glorious designs Dantes offered, designs that featured only the finest stones available, including the fire diamonds that could be found nowhere else in the world other than in one of Dantes display cases. But the Romanos wanted them without any unsavory scandal attached. Thanks to the type of gossip The Snitch liked to dish on a weekly basisas well as their current focus on the four Dante brothersMarco had reached an impasse with Vittorio Romano.

It was an impasse Marco planned to overcome, no matter what it took. He clapped Vittorio on the shoulder. Consider it done. Well deal with The Snitch, after which we look forward to providing for your every need. He held out his hand. Thank you for coming all the way to San Francisco. Im sorry Ariana didnt accompany you on this trip. My family would have enjoyed meeting her.