My meeting was a success, and Liza is the reason why. She inspires me deeply, to my blood and my bones. She makes me laugh. She makes me think. She gives me new eyes to see the world through. Last night was the first in a long time I did not sleep next to her soft body. While we set the auction price and date for Fixation, I had to force myself to concentrate on something besides her.

I drive home with the top down on my car, not caring if the paparazzi take pictures. I need to feel the wind. I need to gulp it down and digest it as nourishment. I cannot sleep another night without Liza. I want her to be mine, forever mine.

I arrive at the castle and drive to the back. Before I met the beautiful American, I was going to sell Castillo di Guardi. But now, I will stay. I take my phone out of the glove box and call Liza and ask her to come over with Aiden, the son whom I have come to love. They are my new family. We are the new Guardis.

My heart is full as I run up the steps. The phone is to my ear as it rings. I hear Liza’s voice in a recording. When it is over and I hear a beep, I leave my message.

“Good morning, my love. I miss you. How about I call the doctor and he will come here to see to Aiden? I would like to have you here with me. I look forward to hearing your voice.”

I go through the tunnels in the back and walk up the stairs. Today, I will finish Fixation. Liza’s body, my passion, is ready to be added to the canvas. When I reach my bedroom to change, the sweet scent of perfume is in the damp air. Someone has taken a bath here.

“Liza?” I call.

“Gianfranco, my love, it is you?”

I stop. That voice is not Liza’s. A naked woman walks out of the bathroom. Her hair is long and as black as a raven. Her skin is the color of cream.

“Carmen? Why are you here?”

“I wanted to see you.”

She walks to me, and I turn away. I do not want to feel her skin or smell her breath.

“How did you get in?”

Luther would not let her in. I have given him instructions to keep her out. Where Carmen goes, chaos follows. She drinks too much. She has too many lovers. She is the painting on a two-dimensional canvas—color, light, and shadow. She has no soul, no spirit, no amusement.

Carmen squeezes her lips into a pout. “Why are you not happy to see me, Gianfranco?”

“Because you are not an invited guest.”

She crawls on my bed and curves her body seductively. “Join me.”

I go over to the buzzer and ring Luther.

She sits up. “What are you doing?”

“Get dressed. Luther will show you out.” I turn my back to leave.

“Is it her?” she asks.

I stop. “Is it who?”

“The woman who was here this morning?”

Slowly I face her. What an evil smirk she wears. “What woman?”

“The American.”

Anger swells deep within me, and I race toward her. “Did she see you?”

Her eyes widen. “Yes!”

“What did you say to her?”

“The truth,” she barks.

“And that is?”

“I’m your wife!”

“Sir,” Luther says, standing in the doorway.

I scratch my head with both hands. This is a nightmare. I must think, focus.

“Get her out of here,” I say to Luther.

Carmen shakes her head frantically. “In God’s eyes, we are still married.”

Is this why Liza did not answer my call? My meeting in the city carried on too long. It lasted five hours.

“What time did she come?” I yell.

Carmen pokes herself in the chest. “I’m your wife!”

She’s not fit to answer my question.

I turn to Luther. “What time?”

“Miss Patrick arrived close to eight a.m.”

My meeting started at eight.

“And what time did she leave?” I ask.

Luther shakes his head. He is distracted by Carmen screaming that I am going to hell for divorcing her. However, she is dressing herself.

“I did not see Miss Patrick leave. I assumed she was still here.”

I point at Carmen. “Make sure she leaves and bar all the entryways except the front.”

“Yes sir,” Luther says.

I suspect Carmen entered through the cave I always use. As I run down the hallway, I know that I must ask Luther to change the locks very soon. I thought I had collected the key from her, but she must’ve had others made.

I drive to Liza’s house as fast as I can without driving dangerously. When I arrive, I knock on the door. My call is not answered. I run to the back of the cottage to see if she is playing in the garden with Aiden. No one is there.

I go sit inside my car to think. I do not think Liza will return to the studio for two months, but a jolt of energy surges through me. I must go see. I smile as I drive. Liza will surely forgive me for this misunderstanding. But this can never happen again. When I make it to the studio, I find a parking space and race inside.

The girl behind the desk gasps. “Ciao, Gianfranco Guardi?”

“Yes, is Liza here?”

Her mouth is wide open. I give her a moment to find her voice.

“Um…” She looks around her desk as though she has lost something. “One moment, please.” She picks up the phone and says, “Gianfranco Guardi is here.”

My heart beats like a drum. My stomach curls into knots. I am worried because I do not feel Liza present. Her spirit usually washes over me like a gentle and pleasant breeze.

“Si...” the woman repeats for the fourth time. “Si, Giovanni.” She hangs up, stands, and gives me a smile. “Signor Guardi, this way please.”

“Grazie,” I say with a nod and follow the young woman.

She leads me past an office. Liza’s name is on the door, and I touch it as I walk past. We reach a bigger office, where a man sits behind the desk.

He stands and extends his hand. “Signor Guardi, I am Giovanni Leoni.”

I shake his hand. “Signor Leoni, could you tell me where to find Liza?”

He points at the seat across from him. “Call me Giovanni. Now please, take a seat.”

I don’t want to sit, but I do it.

“Liza is in America,” he says.

I stiffen my back. “America? Why?”

He studies me with narrowed eyes. I know something has happened.

“She was at my house this morning,” I say.

“I know. She went to tell you that her ex-husband had been convicted of murdering her father. She wanted to tell you that she was flying to America this morning, but instead she found a naked woman in your house. This woman said she was your wife.”

“The woman lied.”

Giovanni sits back and crosses his arms. “You live in a castle, Signor Guardi—a fortress, for that matter. How can a woman sneak into your home and say she’s your wife unless you allow it?”

I close my eyes to find peace. I know I look guilty. Everyone knows that my castle is not easy to break into—unless one has a key. I force a smile and try not to sound as desperate as I feel. “Giovanni, the woman was my ex-wife. She is crazy. This morning I was at a meeting with my manager regarding the auction for Fixation.”

Giovanni adjusts in his seat. “Fixation?”

I tilt my head. “You’ve heard of it?”

“Everyone in the world has heard of it.”

“Well, yes, and when I came home, my ex-wife was naked in my room, and I asked my butler to escort her out. I am here to find Liza, and I will not stop looking until I reach her.”

Giovanni’s eyes narrow to slits. After a moment, he sighs sharply. “Un momento.” He places a call.

My hope is that he is not telling the truth and Liza is not in America. I hope she is in Bari so I can go to her and prove my love.

“Ciao, love,” he says, then speaks in French to tell the person he is speaking to that I am in his office.

He rolls his eyes as the woman rants and raves. I know it’s a woman because I can hear her. She has called me a pig and asked Giovanni to ask me why I did not tell Liza that I am married.

“Because he is not married,” Giovanni says in English. “The lady Liza found in the house lied.”

I cannot hear the woman yell anymore.

“She is his ex-wife.” He frowns and swivels in his chair to look away from me. “Yes, I believe him,” he whispers. “He won’t wait.” After a moment, he turns to look at me. “She’s in America. That is where you will have to go to find her.”

“That is where I am going,” I say.

“Then you will need her address.”

“Yes,” I say, sitting on the edge of my seat.

“He needs the address.” Giovanni lifts a pen off the desk and writes on a piece of paper. “I got it.” He nods twice, then smiles. “Allora, my love.” He hangs up and gives me the paper with Liza’s address.

I take it as if my life depends on it. “Grazie.”

“You are welcome, but my wife has one more request.”

“Anything.”

“She wanted to ask if we could be the first to broadcast Fixation. But”—he raises a finger—“I have not given you what you seek for our benefit. We love Liza, and it is clear that she loves you.”

“And I love her,” I confess.

“See, then that is all good,” he says.

“I said I would do anything and I meant it. On the day of the auction, your station can arrive early and take the first picture.”

He stands as fast as lightning to shake my hand, and I tell him again that I am very appreciative of his help. Once I leave the station, I call my charter company to schedule a pilot for my plane. I will return to the castle and prepare to leave for America immediately.