“What?” Lina shrugs, her bright blue eyes bouncing back and forth between Carina and me. The feigned innocence in her voice might be believable if it weren’t for the mischievous grin settling on her lips. “That’s what Zia said this morning. She told Mimi that you asked her to be your personal assistant and that your boss was hot and British.”
The nonchalant tone in her voice causes me to roar in laughter. My limited time in Italy taught me that “Zia” means aunt so I know that Lina is talking about Valentina. “Mimi” must be what Lina calls Carina’s mother.
“Your zia must have been talking about my brother, Alfie,” I say, winking at Carina before motioning toward the empty set behind us. “How about a tour, loves?”
I just winked. At a grown woman.
And here I was worried about saying something that would make me look like a tosser in front of her kid. Apparently, all I have to do is close one eye for point-seven seconds to do that.
“A tour sounds great.” Carina chuckles nervously, mouthing, “Sorry” before I turn back into the set space.
By the time we left yesterday, all of the lights had been installed. There wasn’t much left to do as far as getting the space set up. We just wanted to make sure Carina had enough time to get everything in order before we started filming.
“I cannot believe you!” I hear Carina say lowly behind me. The giggles that come from the miniature version of her are so infectious that I find myself fighting laughter of my own. “And, what have I told you about eavesdropping on adult conversations?”
“It’s not my fault Zia and Mimi were talking in the kitchen while I was eating breakfast,” Lina assertively defends herself, quickly adding, “She did say he was hot and British.”
“I’m sure she did,” Carina mutters as I turn to face them.
Right on cue, both of them wipe any anguish from their faces, greeting me with an almost identical forced smile. Chuckling, I ask Carina if Alfie has spoken to her about wardrobe yet.
Rosy hues still cover her cheeks as she crooks her neck and scrunches her eyebrows together in confusion. I already knew she would have no idea what I was talking about. Alfie didn’t talk to her about it. He asked me to this morning, knowing I would be seeing her.
“No?” she questions. “I just assumed I’d be told what to wear.”
“Well, kind of,” I start. “Alfie managed to secure a contract with Gap. You have a ten-thousand-dollar per-season allotment for any of their brands. That includes Old Navy, Athleta, and Banana Republic as well.”
“Ten thousand dollars?” she repeats. Her dark brown eyes look a bit lighter. The almond shape changes as they open wide with shock. “Did you say ten thousand dollars? I don’t think I’ve spent ten thousand dollars on clothes for myself in my entire life.”
“I did,” I confirm, chuckling at her response. “I should have the credit card for you this week. Clothes that are purchased can be used for filming, for any pictures for social media, or for any events you attend while promoting the show. If you intend on having Lina make appearances on your social media, you can use that allowance for her as well. We’ll go over branding tags and making sure you post outfit breakdowns a little bit later, but yes, ten thousand dollars.”
She doesn’t say another word as I walk them through the set. Big, bright light fixtures now hang above the kitchen area of the set. Long lines of hose and electric wires come from underneath the platform stage floor. It’s necessary for a cooking show to have a working stove and oven, and a sink with running water—a task not easily fulfilled in the middle of a concrete warehouse.
Issues were brought to our attention—like trying to pipe a gas stove into the set—before Carina even signed her contract. Thankfully, she’d assured us that cooking on an electric stove would be just as manageable as using the gas one she has at home.
“This stove is crazy!” Lina exclaims, looking at the brand-new flat-top stove installed yesterday. “There are five spots for pans, Mom!”
As she looks around, Lina has a million questions for me, and every single one of them surprises me. The way she articulates them and the content of what she’s asking seems very mature for an eight-year-old.
Granted, I haven’t been around too many other eight-year-old girls lately, but as I’m explaining to her why there are four camera stations in such a small area, I find myself thinking it isn’t enough.
“How about the next day you have off from school, I show you?” I offer, immediately wishing I had asked Carina first. I certainly don’t want to step on her toes. I glance over to Carina for approval before continuing, and a wave of relief washes over me when I get the slightest nod and a bright, genuine smile. “You can shadow me and the camera crew—see what goes into making a show like your mum’s.”
“Seriously?” Lina asks, her blonde ponytail bouncing back and forth as she looks from me to her mother.
“Seriously.” Carina’s confirmation earns us both high-fives.
I’ve only been in a room with this girl for five minutes and her attitude has already rubbed off on me. Maybe her excitement is just because this is all new to her. Maybe in a few months, when it all becomes routine, Lina won’t care about any of it anymore. Though, I’m guessing from the humility I’ve seen from the Domenico family in the last twenty-four hours, that won’t be likely.
About a dozen times last night, Luca and Giovanni Domenico both thanked me for making sure Carina was safe. Her sister made sure to thank me as soon as Carina excused herself to use the bathroom. The only one that didn’t seem sure about me was Carina’s best friend, Archer. I didn’t acknowledge it, but I had been very aware that he was watching me and Carina interact from his stool on the other side of her. He would immediately look away as soon I looked in his general direction, but the moment my eyes were back on Carina, his eyes were back on me.
Alfie had nothing but wonderful things to say about him when I brought it up during the elevator ride to our rooms last night.
“I spent most of the night with Archer and Valentina. He’s a good bloke. He asked me if Carina would be safe with you right after you told us that you were going to take her home. Said she was like his sister. I’m sure he was just being overprotective, mate. I wouldn’t worry too much. Carina Domenico is obviously a very loved woman.”
Something that is apparently clear by the way her daughter is holding onto her and looking up at her adoringly.
I had stepped back, giving an excuse about checking on an order. This is a big moment; one they don’t need a third wheel on the entire time.
After leaving a kiss on her daughter’s forehead, Carina turns and immediately locks eyes with me for a brief second before looking back at the little girl beside her.
In a combination of skips and leaps, Lina bounces ahead of her mom, stopping at the table I’ve been waiting behind. The mischievous smile she had when she first got to the set returns as she looks up at me.
“Sooo, Ryan,” Lina starts, “we’re going out for ice cream after this. You should come too.”
16
Carina