I START CLEARING the snack table as the crew leaves for the day. Antonio left a half an hour ago for a press conference for his next movie, and I just want to get back home to him. This is the life, I remind myself. He’s in high demand.
“He’s not in love with you.”
I swing around to see Yasmin. I thought she left.
“I’m not talking to you about him.”
“Why? Because you know I’m right?”
“Because it’s none of your business.”
“Oh, it’s my business. As soon as this movie is over, and we can get out of this podunk town, he’ll forget all about you. He’ll be back in the big city, where he belongs and where you don’t. He’ll be surrounded by glamorous women day and night.” She flips her blond hair off her shoulder. “Do you know that in his next movie he’s starring with Nebraska Wilder? She’s notorious for seducing her leading men, married or not. Do you think you can compete with that?”
“Do you think you can?” I smile. “Seems to me you have more to lose in this equation than I do.”
“Whatever. You probably think he’s going to save you from all this. You’re nothing but a piece of ass for him.”
“Which is more than you’ll ever be.”
“I hate you.”
I roll my eyes. “I really don’t have time for this.”
She grabs my arm, shocking me. “You better watch your back. I know you’re hiding something, and I’m gonna find out what it is.”
I pull my arm away. “If you touch me again, you’ll have to deal with a lot more than a black eye. Understood?”
“I’m not afraid of you.”
I pull my arm back like I’m going to hit her and watch her flinch.”Yes, you are.”
She stomps off, and I exhale. I’m so tired of her.
“HEY, BEAUTIFUL,” Antonio says as he comes through the back door. “How was your day?”
I sit on the couch, still pissed off. “Yasmin got in my face again today.”
He sighs.”What did she do now?”
“Same shit, but she threatened me. She told me to watch my back.”
“She’s all talk. Don’t even worry about her.”
“I’m tired of it. I’m close to beating the shit out of her, but she’ll probably sue me. Dan too, for putting his star out of commission.”
“She’s not worth it.” He sits down and puts his arm around me. “She’s been puffing around here for weeks and hasn’t been able to affect us at all. The media knows we’re an item, and they don’t even care. She’s frustrated she hasn’t been able to break us up.” Antonio kisses my cheek. “Pretty soon we’ll be done with her. You’ll never have to see her again. Hold on for a couple more weeks.”
And then what? I shake the thought from my mind and just cuddle inside Antonio’s arms. She can’t hurt me. I have to believe that.
I STIR, HEARING STRANGE SOUNDS that wake me. I look up to see Antonio, peeking through the curtains.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“Shh.”
“Antonio?”
“Fuck. We’re surrounded.”
“By what?”
“The media. There are hundreds of them out there.”
“Why now?” I sit up and cover myself with the blanket.
“I don’t know. They look hungry. I better go deal with them.”
“Okay.”
He pulls on his jeans, while I throw on a sweater and yoga pants, and pin up my hair. When he opens the front door, it feels like every light in town got switched on. Flashing lights and yelling voices are everywhere. I hear my name several times. I take a deep breath and walk out front.
“There she is!” One of them yells when they see me. Antonio pulls me close to him, blocking them.
“What’s happening?” I ask.
“I don’t know, babe. Stay back.” He steps forward. “What’s going on out here? What do you want?”
So many cameras flash, filling my eyes with blinding lights.
“Elisabetta!” “Is it true?” “Elisabetta Catania!”
I hear the name, and it makes my knees weak. I back away slowly, clutching my stomach. How the hell?
“What are you talking about?” Antonio yells.
“Is it true her name is Elisabetta Catania?” someone yells.
They know. Oh my God, they know.
“Who the fuck is that? Her name is Giovanna. You guys know this!”
I crouch down to the floor, barely able to breathe. I feel lightheaded, and I wonder if I might die from the shock of it. This cannot be happening.
I see a man step forward, and Antonio pulls him inside.
“Ned,” he says. “What the fuck is going on? What are they talking about?”
Ned glances at me on the floor and frowns. “Someone got wind that your girlfriend is really Elisabetta Catania, the daughter of Isabella Catania and Joseph Magari. She’s been MIA for a decade. They think it’s her.”
Antonio turns around and stares at me. The sad, shocked expression on his face tears my heart in two.
“Giovanna?”
“Get them out of here,” I murmur. “Please.”
Antonio turns around. “Thanks, Ned.”
“You got it, man.”
Antonio pushes his way outside, and I hear lots of yelling. Finally they are silent and only his voice remains, threatening lawsuits and telling them to leave.
Several minutes later, he comes back in and stares at me. “They’re gone, Gio. Tell me what’s going on.”
I stare at the floor in disbelief. They found me. They fucking found me.
“Is your name Elisabetta?”
I look up, tears stinging my eyes. “No.”
“Tell me the truth.”
“It’s not anymore.” I swallow hard and wipe my eyes. “I changed it.”
“It’s true then?”
My survivor instinct kicks in, and I pull myself off the floor. “You need to go.”
“You need to talk to me.”
“No! I knew this was going to happen. I’ve always known this was going to happen.” My words catch on the emotion filling my throat. “It was inevitable. Get away from me, Antonio!”
“Babe, no. Why?”
“Don’t call me that.”
He rushes towards me, but I extend my arm to stop him. “I have to go now.”
“Go where? What are you talking about?”
“I can’t stay here anymore. They’ll tear me apart. They’ll tear everyone apart for information about me. I’m sorry.” I rush back to my bedroom and slam the door, collapsing on the floor. I should have trusted my instinct. I should have listened to mother’s advice. Now I have to leave everything I’ve worked so hard to build. I have to leave Antonio, and I have to disappear.