Blossom in Winter (Blossom in Winter #1)(49)

She knows so well how to put a smile on my face. No hotties, just plain, boring people, I decide to reply.

Emma’s typing… What about Van Dieren? Not there? He’s a hottie, and def not a boring one.

Ugh! Why does she have to mention him? Van Dieren played smart. He didn’t come. If I knew it would be this boring, I wouldn’t have come either.

Indeed, now it’s all clear in my mind. Unless Alex wanted to have some fun like those Italian managers hanging out with two young MBA girls, there is nothing for him at this conference. He would’ve only been here to enjoy Rome—the downtown, the finest restaurants, the drinks, the nightlife, and the Italian women. He has no time to waste at this tedious event—that’s why he sent Andrew and his interns.





Following lunch, some of the attendees have decided to go to the bar near reception to taste the hotel’s newest signature cocktails. Looks like Giovanni, one of the Italian hedge fund managers, and Jess are among them.

I, on the other hand, decide to go back to the conference room. After all, the next session is starting in five minutes. The room darkens and a new moderator steps onto the stage, introducing the panelists who’ll cover alternative investment strategies.

About twenty-five minutes in, Jess finally emerges, making her way from the back to take the seat beside me. She’s holding her purse and a business card. I stare discreetly at her while she’s sitting down. Her face is unusually glowing, her mind miles away, her smile like never before.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

“Williams, this is the best conference ever. I’m so happy to be here.”

I lift my brow, smiling at her. “May I know why?”

“Do you know what I have here?” She asks while waving the business card.

“Giovanni’s business card?”

“Nope. Much better.”

I chuckle. “The Pope’s?”

“This is the business card.” She sniffs it proudly.

I burst into laughter, head shaking.

“And no, Williams, I’m not gonna share it with you.”

“I don’t even know whose it is.”

Regardless, I’m quite happy to see Jess in such a playful mood, a good change from her usual formal attitude.

“Okay, you can hold it for one second.” Jess hands me the card.

I read the name.

What? I blink many times and read it again. “Alexander Van Dieren?”

My jaw and heart fall to the floor.

“And time’s up.” She takes the card back abruptly.

“Where did you get this?” I’m confused. Did I read it correctly? Is it really his?

“He just gave it to me. I met him in the lobby. You know that hedge fund manager I met this morning, Giovanni?” I nod. “Well, we were talking about the conference, and all of a sudden, when Van Dieren arrives, Giovanni greets him, they start chatting, and he finally introduces me to him.” She lets out a sigh. “I obviously told him I’m one of his interns. So he smiles and asks me if I’m enjoying the internship and the conference. We spoke a bit...” Jess looks at me with a twinkle in her eye, her face beaming. “Oh gosh, his blue eyes, his gaze…” Okay, she is floating on cloud nine. “He gives you the feeling that you’re the most important person in the world, looking straight into your eyes… It was so hard to concentrate.”

I try hard not to giggle, but seeing formal Jess talking and acting like a little girl is so delightful. I must say, though, she’s describing him perfectly. “I’m happy you finally met him.” But mainly I’m happy to know he’s here. I wonder if he came because of me, or because of something else. After all, he didn’t text, not even to ask how I was doing! No. Absolutely nothing. I have to figure this out.

“Where’re you going?” she asks, seeing me rise from my seat. “Don’t tell me you’re gonna ask Giovanni for an intro?”

“Not at all. I have a few things to do. See you later.”





My footsteps are faster than usual. My heartbeat too. I walk down the hallway, nervous like the day I went to his office to pitch my investment plan. I have to be sure it’s really him. I step into the grand lobby and look around.

Hidden among a group of men, where laughter is emanating, I can distinguish a tall, lean figure, impeccably dressed for summertime—white slim pants, a fitted light-blue shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, a hand in his pocket and another holding his sunglasses. His mid-length hair is wild and wavy. I cross my arms, observing him. He’s definitely not dressed like the rest of his entourage, which sport formal jackets and suits. Alexander appears to be on vacation.

He looks up and notices me.

I can’t hear what he is saying to his friends, but they shake his hand and suddenly walk away, returning to the conference.

Alex’s finally alone.

He gazes back at me and smiles. Oh God. This is not my imagination fooling me—my godfather is really here in Rome, in the grand lobby of the St. Regis, standing right in front of me.

I can feel my excitement pounding hard in my chest. “You were not supposed to be here…” I rebuke.

“Williams,” he voices deliciously. I notice how his eyes dart from my face to my clothes all the way down to my feet, probably amused I’d chosen to dress the same. “I had to meet some folks from Milan and Singapore who were coming to the conference.”