Second Chances in Chianti (Escape to Tuscany Book 2) by T.A. Williams (online e reader .TXT) 📕

likely this became. ‘It would have been really great to work with you and the gang again – and with a lot of the production crew back in Hollywood that I haven’t seen for years – but it’s the prospect of being treated like dirt by Zoë all over again. I’ll give it some more thought before making a final decision.’ She glanced around but nobody else had come to the pool. ‘Just between the two of us, I’ve got a second interview next Thursday for a job in London that really appeals to me. It’s nothing to do with showbiz. It’s an art history thing.’

‘That sounds wonderful.’ Antonia reached out and tapped her briefly on the arm. ‘You’ve invested so much time and effort in getting to this point with your studies, I’m sure you’re anxious to put what you’ve learnt into practice. I would love to work with you again, too, but I must confess, I wouldn’t be surprised if you decide you aren’t interested. What about the others? Do they feel the same way?’

‘You’d better ask them. I really don’t know. I get the impression both Layla and Benny have got successful careers without getting involved with Pals Forever, so maybe they’ll duck out. As for the others, who knows?’

‘So it looks as though it’s either going to die a death or be very different. It’s such a pity…’ Antonia’s voice tailed off and she sounded so dispirited that Alice decided to try to cheer her up by changing the subject.

‘Are you interested in art, by any chance?’

‘I don’t know much about it, but yes, I like art.’

‘How about the art of the Renaissance?’

‘Again, I know precious little about it. Why do you ask?’

‘I was just thinking… I know a girl who works in the Uffizi – you know, in Florence. Getting tickets to visit the gallery in mid-summer is terribly difficult but if I give her a call, I’m pretty sure she could get us in. How about taking a trip up there some time and I’ll give you a tour of the gallery?’

‘That would be amazing. And having my own expert guide would be terrific. Shall we make it tomorrow afternoon, if you’re free, seeing as we’re all supposed to be leaving the day after? I can give the limo people a call, and get them to take us to Florence and drop us back again.’

‘Sounds perfect. I’ll call Teresa now. I’ll check with David to see if he’s interested in coming, but I doubt it. Art isn’t really his thing.’ As she mentioned his name, she thought guiltily that she should really talk the whole Pals Forever thing over with him before giving her final decision. After all, it could affect him deeply. She wondered what he would say. ‘If you arrange the car for just after lunch tomorrow, I’ll ask her to book us in around mid-afternoon. Okay?’

Chapter 9

Lunch was a sober affair – well, not so much from an alcohol point of view but as far as the atmosphere on the terrace was concerned. In fact, the bottles of wine emptied a lot faster than they had done the previous day, as most of those around the table sought solace in drink. Even Alice, who had vowed to herself to stay off the booze – or at least to limit her intake – allowed herself a couple of glasses of red wine and was therefore feeling quite sleepy by the time the coffees were served at the end. The only people who looked cheerful were Carrie and David, who hadn’t been subjected to the morning’s haranguing. During the meal, he spent a good deal of time talking to Layla, and Alice was pleased they were getting along.

Neither Zoë nor Antonia appeared for lunch and Alice wondered whether they were eating together or if they had both decided to go their separate ways. Alice told the others what Antonia had said about the email from the big boss, and shoulders slumped all round. Some had been hoping that a direct appeal to Conrad Chesterfield might have had some success, but it was now pretty obvious this wasn’t going to work. As Alice had expected, Benny and Layla sounded as though they had decided to vote with their feet, while Millie was still keen – or rather, desperate. As for Richie and Harry, it was hard to tell. Harry, in particular, couldn’t get his head round it.

‘Conrad’s no fool. Surely he can see that this series could become a real money-spinner – and by the sound of it, the studio needs a success badly. So why stick by Zoë if it means torpedoing the whole thing?’

‘Well, of course, he doesn’t know what our response is going to be yet.’ Richie had always been the pragmatic one. ‘None of us has given a definite reply so far, have we? Maybe it’s all just a double bluff by him. He thinks we’ll cave and go for it, but if we all turn round and say no, maybe he’ll have to give in.’

Layla looked up. ‘So, are you saying you’d go for it if Zoë was out of the equation?’ Seeing him nod, she threw the question open and everybody nodded in agreement.

Alice joined in. ‘So, it looks as though we’re all prepared to go for it without Zoë – and that includes me – but what if she remains in charge? You all know what I think about that. I don’t know if I can stand the thought of working with her again. From what we saw of her this morning, this particular leopard hasn’t changed its spots. If anything, she sounded even more obstinate than before. What about all you guys?’ Seeing uncertainty on some of the faces, she decided to delay putting them on the spot. ‘Why don’t we all take a bit of time and think it over? How about meeting up again this evening before dinner and taking a vote, or at