Free Veretti’s Dark Vengeance by Lucy Gordon

needn’t pay up. But you should know me better than that. Start writing now.’ He paused for one split second before saying with a grin, ‘All cheques to be made out to the charity fund.’
There was a gasp, then a cheer as they realised how neatly he’d hoodwinked them. Clara threw her arms around him in an ecstasy of gratitude. There was much hurried scribbling, several cheques for ten thousand euros each were handed in, after which Salvatore took out his own chequebook and handed Clara a hundred thousand euros.
Then he looked directly at Helena with an expression that clearly said, Fooled you!
She forgave him at once. She would have forgiven him anything for the sense of joyful relief that flooded through her.
He came over and took her hands.
‘Let us go where it’s cooler,’ he said.
He led her out onto the terrace and saw her to a seat.
‘You should be ashamed of what you were thinking,’ he reproved.
‘You should be ashamed of making me think it.’
‘You should also be ashamed of your poor arithmetic. I bid a hundred thousand to win those bets, but if I’d accepted the losers’ money I’d only have won seventy thousand, so if I were the schemer you thought I’d still have been thirty thousand out of pocket. That’s no way to make a fortune.’
‘But-what you did was sort of cheating, wasn’t it?’
‘Of course I cheated. There’s no “sort of” about it. Some of them were only there to be seen with a contessa, and get a reputation for being charitable, while giving as little as possible to the hospital. So I tricked them into giving more than they’d meant to. Did I do wrong?’
‘Of course not. It was marvellous.’
Salvatore laughed. ‘I must admit I did gain something for myself.’
‘What was that?’
‘The sight of your face, especially the moment when you realised that I might not be a total monster after all. I wouldn’t have missed that for the world.’
They laughed together, then fell silent. At last he said, ‘I wonder if you can imagine how glad I am to see you tonight. I’ve wanted so much to talk to you again.’
‘Yes, I’ve been thinking another talk would be good,’ Helena said, smiling.
‘Tell me how you’re managing. Is there anything I can do for you?’
‘Excuse me, I’m confused. Is this the man who threatened to drive me into bankruptcy so that he could buy me out at his own price?’
He made a gesture as if the memory pained him.
‘I wish you’d forget that. I said a lot of things I didn’t mean. You were right, I’m not used to being challenged and I didn’t react very well. The truth is I admire you for having the guts to take it on, and even more for having the guts to take me on.’
‘You might well, considering that it was you who galled me into doing it.’
‘True,’ he said ruefully. ‘Sometimes I just talk too much and it comes back and hits me in the face. I got well served, didn’t I?’
‘It’s nice to hear you admit it.’
‘How are you liking Venice?’ he asked.
‘I love it, what little I’ve seen. Everyone’s so nice to me, and I find the factory really fascinating. I’m learning fast. I’m even developing my own ideas. Of course, I’m very amateurish. You’d have a good laugh.’
‘No, I wouldn’t laugh. We’re fellow professionals. Look, we’ve had our differences but what’s done is done. What matters is the future and if there’s anything I can do to help you, please tell me. I still want to see Antonio’s place succeed, even if it isn’t mine.’
Once she would have come back with a swift riposte, saying he wished her well only so that the firm would be in good order when he finally managed to buy it.
But the impulse died before the sincerity in his eyes and the kindness in his voice. Now she could believe that he was truly offering her his friendship.
‘Well, there is something you could explain to me,’ she said slowly. ‘What happens when the glass…?’
He nodded, then embarked on an explanation that was