"I did. We had to finalize plans for the shoot. We leave soon and we need to make sure everything's done before we do."

"I'm sure you have everything covered. Somehow you remind me of a Girl Scout-you always come prepared!"

Amanda smiled. Cameron too. "Well, I was never a Girl Scout, but I do believe you succeed in business by being ready for anything. And this shoot is too important to both Carson and myself not to do everything we can to make sure we are…..prepared, that is."

"I agree. Well…." Not knowing what to say or where to look, Cameron stuttered. "I…… really have to get going. Carson is expecting me."

"Cameron…… what I said to you in the hospital……before my trip….about you…and me….I think I owe you….…"

"I'm glad you brought that up." Amanda tried her best to interrupt him but Cameron kept going. "You were right…everything you said…."

"I was?" Amanda was surprised at his comment.

"We're like oil and water. I must have been crazy to ask you on a picnic. You're my boss….well, you're like my boss for god's sake…how would that look?"

"I don't know…." Amanda didn't like where this conversation was going.

"Well, at least you had the sense to walk away before things got serious."

She had to ask. "What about what happened at your apartment….the night of the party….?"

"I guess you would say we were caught up in the moment. Put us together again and that wouldn't happen. I guarantee it."

Amanda mumbled…"Too bad."

"Did you say something?" Cameron wondered.

She shook her head no. "I have to get going….I…I…have another meeting this afternoon. It was really good to see you again." Amanda got into the elevator and closed the doors before he had a chance to answer.

Cameron stood completely silent for a few minutes. He couldn't believe what just happened. Was Amanda trying to apologize? Had he given her the 'brush-off' impulsively? It was then that Carson's secretary gently tapped him on the shoulder, telling him he could go into Carson's office.

His mind would be on business. For now.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Carson had gathered all the models from the US and was going to talk about what would be expected of them once they arrived in Italy, work-wise, that is. Of course they would have their free time, but most of their day, and some of their nights too, would be involved in activities surrounding the Luna Company.

Thinking of the Luna Company, what had happened to Amanda in Italy? Had Giovanni become more to her than just a business acquaintance? Amanda wouldn't say, but Carson certainly had her suspicions.

The models, however, didn't want to hear 'shop talk'. It was difficult to keep them focused on modeling and not on the surprises in store once they made it to Venice.

"I have never been outside New York, much less the United States. I can't wait to get there!" one of the models said.

"Talk about taking the girl out of the city! I thought Kansas was the biggest thing I'd ever see. Then I came to New York and I never imagined anything like this. Now to Italy?" Janeen remarked.

"Ladies! Ladies! Calm down. We have a lot to accomplish before we go. Let's not get ahead of ourselves here." Carson noticed that Cameron seemed a little uncomfortable and somewhat edgy.

"Cameron, you look like you have something on your mind. Did you want to add anything?"

"Nope. You're the boss. You know what's best. Boss's always do."

Puzzled by that remark but not having the time to spend on it, Carson let it go. "Ladies and gentlemen, I assure you….we will all have time to play when we are in Italy. But remember, first and foremost, this is a business trip. It is important to the St. Jeune agency as well to Miss Cory and Brava magazine. I expect you to conduct yourself accordingly."

In unison, they all answered, "Yes mother." Carson laughed. Her secretary brought in their boxed lunches and discussions continued into the early afternoon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Paige had finished typing the letters Amanda asked for, and took them in her office for her signature. She was quite surprised to see Amanda standing by her window, lost in thought. She called to her more than once without an answer.

"Miss Cory?"

"Oh Paige. I didn't know you were there. I'm sorry. Do you have everything finished? I'm going to take them home with me to review. I can't seem to keep my mind on business today. I don't know what's wrong with me?" She grabbed her coat and pocketbook.

"They're right here Miss Cory. Is everything all right?"

"Yes Paige. I'm fine. I appreciate your concern. But today my mind seems to be elsewhere and I can't concentrate. I'll work the rest of the afternoon at home. Do I have anymore appointments today?"

"No. The one with Carson St. Jeune was the only one. Did that go well?"

"It went fine." Amanda said rather abruptly.

"I will make sure not to disturb you at home, Miss Cory. Have a good afternoon." Paige left. She didn't slam the door shut but she made her anger known. Amanda knew Paige didn't deserve a response like that, but she didn't have to bring up the meeting at the agency. That made her think of Cameron.

"I gotta get out of here." Amanda put all the letters and documents she needed into her briefcase and left, without uttering a word of apology to Paige. She would get to that later.

The days before the flight were full and complete. Amanda and Carson didn't have much time to meet in person; they did all their talking over the phone and via the fax machine. Everyone had all the necessary papers they needed to go overseas. Giovanni made the hotel reservations for the group, although he was secretly hoping he could get Amanda to stay closer to him.

"Giovanni, you know we're bringing a full staff; 5 models, a photographer, my secretary who will handling most everything for Carson St. Jeune and myself. Is the hotel you've chosen able to accommodate us and what we need?"

"The Hotel Garibaldi will take care of everything you need. I thought, however, that we would conduct any business matters at the office."

"I appreciate the fact that you are offering your offices for what we need. But as you know, Carson and I do have business of our own to take care of, and we would like to be able to take care of those matters in private. Would it be possible to have connecting rooms and possibly a sitting room where this could be done?"

"Amanda, you know I can't say no to you. Consider it done."

"Thank you, Giovanni. It really isn't my intention to make things difficult, but I do need to conduct my business here as well as assist you with the shoot."

"Amanda, I know you. You need work to fill your life right now. I will make it my personal mission to see that all your needs are attended to."

Smiling to herself, she responded, "I'm sure you will Giovanni. Will we be far from the airport?"

"Certainly not as far as Rome. The airport in Venice, the 'Marco Polo', is approximately 13 kilometers from the city, and your hotel. You will be pleased, I can assure you."

"I'm sure I will."

"And Marcello will be there to escort you to the hotel."

"Somehow I knew that."

"Have a safe flight Amanda. I will see you in two days."

"Goodbye Giovanni."

Amanda hung up the phone and wondered just what Giovanni had in store for her. Oh, she knew that business and the Luna Company came first. But she also knew what happened the last time she was there and while it was a nice distraction, she didn't ask for it. This time it would be all business.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cameron's packing abilities left a little to be desired. Gary came into the room several times and left each times, shaking his head. Things were in neat piles. Then they were rolled up. Then back to the neat piles.

"Cam…..what are you so worried about? They give you clothes for the shoot, don't they?"

"Of course they do Gar! But we are going to have time outside of work, and for that I want to look my best. Now if you don't mind, I have to finish here!"

"Oh….excuse me. I'll leave you to your packing then." Gary left as Cameron was zipping up his 2 garment bags. He had, earlier in the week, purchased 3 suits: one in a slate gray, one in a casual black and one in a crème color. That was the easy part. Gary helped him pick out the matching shirts and ties. Cameron had packed some casual clothes too. But he was anxious to see what the fashions in Italy had to offer.

Gary knocked on the door.

"You hungry? We could always order a pizza?"

"No. Let's go out and have some good American food."

"Sure thing. Steak and baked potato. Music to my ears."

Cameron laughed. He opened the door and to Gary's amazement, his bags were packed and at the door.

"Gar, the way to your heart is definitely through your stomach!"

Slapping his brother on the shoulder, Gary agreed. "Definitely!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alarms may be used to wake people up. But not in this city. Not today, the day they were leaving for Italy. Amanda had hardly slept at all, getting up and reading for about an hour, then back to bed. Carson watched a late night movie with Julia Roberts and fell asleep reading over the contracts that had been signed with the Luna Company. Janeen was on the phone for almost 3 hours trying to assure her parents there was nothing to be worried about; her trip to Italy would be the chance she never would have had if she stayed in Kansas.

Cameron, however, slept through the night. It was Gary who couldn't sleep. He made himself a salami sandwich, grabbed some cold milk and turned on the TV. Before he went back to bed to try and sleep, he opened the door slightly to Cameron's room to check on him. He was sound asleep.

'How could he be? Doesn't he know I'm worried about him?" Gary thought. He almost turned on the light to wake him up but he knew the flight tomorrow would be a long one and Cameron needed his rest. He had been a little edgy lately and knew this trip, although a great opportunity, would bring Cameron in contact with Amanda again. Was he ready for it? Gary didn't know. He gently closed the door and went back to his room.

The morning sun shone brilliantly as each person found his or her way to the airport. Carson, Amanda and Paige would be flying on the Cory jet; the models and photographers would be taking a commercial flight, landing in Venice about an hour after the Cory jet did.

Amanda arrived at the airport before anyone else had. Her bags were on board and she had settled into her seat when Carson and Paige came clamoring in.

"That's the last and I mean, the LAST time I take a cab ride with that company. I never met anyone so rude in my entire life. The cab driver had no idea which way to go and if I had not told him an easier way to get to the airport, I never would have made it. Oh, Amanda, I'm so sorry I'm late!"

"Carson, you're not late. Good morning Paige. You look rested."

"I slept well last night, surprisingly. Usually before I fly I'm very nervous."

"Paige," Amanda began, "there is no need to be nervous. Everything will be just fine. We'll be landing in Venice before you know it."

"Miss Cory, I'll be fine once we take off. Is the flight long?"

"Not too long. Once we are airborne, we'll have breakfast and then we'll get a little work done. In no time, we'll be hearing 'Buon giorno. Welcome to Venice.'"

Carson opened her briefcase and took out her "Learn Italian the easy way' instructional book. Paige and even Amanda had to laugh at that one. Their plane taxied as the women practiced their best Italian accents.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cameron's seat was across the aisle from Janeen's and next to Taj Perry's. During the boarding preliminaries, Taj and Cameron kept to themselves. Taj had his headset and Cameron was checking out the latest sports headlines.

The stewardess was finishing her instructions when the plane began to taxi on the runway. Taj leaned over to Cameron and asked if he had ever been to Italy. Cameron told Taj that while he studied Italian for a short time in college, he never made it overseas. Hearing that Cameron may know more Italian than he did, Taj joked that Cameron could be his tutor.

"I pay well!" Taj whispered.

"I'm sure you do. But I AM expensive."

The plane reared its' engines and off it went climbing higher and higher until it reached its' cruising altitude.

Cameron grabbed a magazine to fumble through before the stewardess came around with breakfast choices. This magazine focused on Europe and its' most romantic cities. The second one featured was Venice.

The couple who wrote the article began it by explaining that they arrived at their hotel by gondola. "It was a magnificent sight; the sun shining on the Grand Canal and sweethearts in a nearby café falling in love to the music heard nearby!"

"Love. Not for me. Not in this lifetime." He put the magazine back, reclined his chair and fell asleep. Rest. That's what he needed. That's what he wanted.