Revolving Doors Read Online Free Page B

from that idea.”
    “ After Dionisio passed away, which Valentina doesn’t speak of at all, his best friend Alexio became Valentina’s business partner.”
    “ Personally, and from my own observations during the short time I’ve known them both, I think Alexio is in love with Valentina. I believe her loyalty to Dionisio keeps her from giving in to the temptation. I don’t want to pry because as much as we’ve shared, she is very tightlipped about her love life. She might view it as trespassing, so I leave it alone.”
    “I don’t blame you. It might be something she’s not ready to share just yet. She does sound interesting though, and her life has the makings of a book! How did you guys meet?”
    “I was coming out of Samba class one day. Isabelle, one of the girls from class introduced us as they headed to dinner and it went from there. I was skeptical as hell at first and I thought it was some kind of prostitution ring! I didn’t know how to feel about it, even though I was drawn to the idea of meeting new people and being at a resort.”
    “What changed your mind?”
    “Valentina extended an invitation for me to visit Paraiso Belo. There, I got to know her better and gained an appreciation for how the business was run, the glamour of it all, and I was all in after that.”
    “It sounds like you made a good choice and that you found a good friend in Valentina.” Then playfully wagging my finger at her, “Just don’t let her take my place, you hear?”
    “Don’t sell yourself short. Nobody can take your place, girl!”
    “I know, I know. They better not!” I scolded. “Now, describe the resort to me. I’m dying for the visual.”
    “Trust me when I say that describing it wouldn’t do it justice. I’d have to show you,” she said.
    “That’s fine. So when can I see it? We can drive past right? I know I can’t come to work with you, but I would at least like to see where it is, what it looks like.”
    “Well, it’s kind of why I brought it up now . I need to be gone for a few days and usually when I go I tell my parents that I’m on business with my boss and they don’t question. Now with you here, it complicates things a bit because I don’t want to leave you here by yourself.  Although …you would have full access to my car and could hang out with Noelle for the time I’m gone. I plan to go by driver, so it wouldn’t be an inconvenience.”
    Noelle was a childhood friend that had been around since Talia was a young girl, and that I was friends with as well.
    I liked Noelle, but multiple days of her? Not! She knew very little English and even though I was fluent in Portuguese, it didn’t necessarily appeal to me when it was coerced.
    I clasped my hands together underneath my chin, and looked at her doe-eyed. “Please tell me there’s another option.”
    “Happy you asked,” she smiled. “When I knew you were coming, I may have cleared with Valentina for you to come stay in one of the guest rooms attached to Paraiso Belo.” She paused briefly for my reaction and then continued. “Of course you wouldn’t have to interact with any of the guests. You could just slip in and out…incognito. There’s staff that live there and they’re really sweet. You can get to know some of them.”
    “Yes!” I beamed. “I like that option. A lot . Swimming, tropical drinks, resort life! When do we leave?”
    She clapped her hands together in animated excitement.
    “You’re going to come, Gabriella? I was hoping you wouldn’t be upset at the suggestion or thinking ---”
    “ Thinking what? That you have a high price tag on your goodies?” I interjected, and laughing as I did so.
    “ Oooohhh ! You cut me deep!” she laughed, as we got into the car to head back to her house.
     

CHAPTER 4
    ~*~*~
     
    When we returned from espionage in the park , the parents were home and the kitchen smelled all kinds of good.
    We sat down to dinner together, and I filled my second family in on the