"My friend…..Giovanni is John in Italian! My father insisted on calling me that when we were at home. He never particularly cared for the name of John. Said I was being too 'Americanized'!"

"Well, it is good to see you. I never in my mind imagined that you were THIS Luna…..the one Carson and Amanda were talking about! I see you've been a busy boy since college!"

"Surprised at my success, then?"

"Oh no. I knew you always had the mind of an entrepreneur. I guess I never put one and one together."

All during this exchange, Carson couldn't help but smirk. "That's two!" she whispered. Amanda, on the other hand, could feel her anger growing.

"Giovanni, could I speak to you please? Inside?"

"If the rest of you would excuse me. Cameron, I'd like to talk to you more later. Please! Everyone. Enjoy the food, drinks….and the view." Giovanni followed Amanda inside the house, and closed the door behind him.

"Amanda, what is it? You seem upset!" He gently tugged on her arm and turned her around.

"Upset? UPSET? You think I'm upset? You don't know the half of it, mister!" Giovanni just stood there.

"You lied to me! You knew all along who Cameron Sinclair was and yet you played me for a fool!"

"Amanda, let me explain…..please!" He tried to stop her but she wouldn't listen.

"No, Giovanni. You listen to me. You begged and pleaded with me to come to Italy and 'save' your magazine. All those stories……about it being in trouble…. Were those lies too? Or did you just want to find a way to get Cameron here?"

"Unfortunately, they were not lies. Carnevale' is in trouble."

"That's too bad…because right now I don't give a damn about you, or your 'magazine'. You can work your brand of magic all by yourself." Amanda grabbed her pocketbook and wrap and was set to leave. Until someone took hold of her arm from behind.

"Amanda, don't go." It was Cameron.

"Cameron, this is none of your business. Stay out of it."

"I can't. You're arguing about me. I'm involved here whether I want to be or not."

"Well, I'm not interested in anything either of you two have to say. Goodnight." Amanda stormed out the front door. Giovanni started to follow.

"John…wait. Let me go"

"Cameron, I created this mess. Let me fix it."

"I know Amanda a little bit more than you do. Please…let me try."

"Fine. Go ahead. But tell her I'm sorry." Giovanni went back to his guests

Cameron opened the front door and found Amanda there….motionless.

"Don't say a word, Cameron. I don't want to hear anything about 'that man' in there!"

"Amanda, look. You told me yourself that this is just a job, right? Why are you letting him get to you like this? Or is there more to it?"

"There is NOT more to it. Why do I have to defend myself? Your 'friend' in there lied. Not me. To get Carson's help. My help. All because of you. If that isn't dishonest, I don't know what is. I can't work with someone I don't respect."

"Hold on there Amanda. There IS more to it, isn't there?"

She didn't know what to say.

"So……my old friend has made an impression on you, hasn't he? I suppose he's taken you to his mother's to meet the family and to have dinner with them…NO! NO! Breakfast perhaps. That way he has you thinking about him all day. I'm right aren't I?"

Amanda didn't say a word. She didn't even look up.

"Amanda, John has been like this for as long as I can remember. We have had quite a few arguments about women. In fact, our friendship ended because of one."

She spoke."I'm really not interested in the Luna/Sinclair escapades of your college years. I do not do business with people who lie or cheat. End of story."

"Amanda, look. I know you don't care about me…or John…Giovanni …..whatever name he goes by these days. But you do care about business. Brava means a lot to you. Just like the St. Jeune agency means that much to Carson. How would it look if you just pulled out of everything?"

Amanda knew he was right. She would lose a great deal if this fell through. Not to mention Carson and her modeling agency. They all have quite a bit invested in this trip.

"I'm sorry, Cameron. I didn't mean to take any of this out on you. It's your 'friend' in there. Everytime I think of how I rushed around to get the top models, the best photographers, I could just scream!! All this work and all he wanted was you."

Cameron stopped her. "And how do you know that? Do you think he would actually pay for all of us to come here and NOT need your help? Not need Carson's help?"

"I guess not. But I don't like dishonesty in business. That's not how my father did things and that's not how I do things."

"I know you Amanda. You're not like that. You've always been upfront. With everything."

"Not with you." There. She said it. The words barely came out. But she said them.

"What did you say?" Cameron wondered.

"Just this. I've haven't exactly been honest with how I feel."

"About what?"

"About you." Just at that moment, the front door opened and Giovanni appeared.

"Cameron, would you excuse us please? I think it's time I apologized to Miss Cory and I'd rather not have an audience when I do."

He looked over at Amanda and she nodded slightly. Cameron smiled and went inside.

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

Giovanni stood there for what seemed to be an eternity, at least for him. He had figured out in his mind what he wanted to say, but it was Amanda who spoke first. "Don't waste your breath. There isn't anything you can say which would change my opinion of you right now."

"Amanda, I realize I owe you an explanation. Would you please sit down and let me try?"

She took a seat on the bench in front of his house, without looking at him. Giovanni began slowly.

"Cameron was…..is…my best friend. We met in college and soon, you couldn't find one night where I wasn't at his house, or he wasn't at mine. Our studies were important to us. At one point we even talked about opening our own business together. The thing is…he had certain ideas in his mind of what a partnership should be and I had mine. Add to that, the fact we both fell in love with the same girl, and you're bound to have trouble."

Amanda didn't blink an eye. Giovanni continued.

"Cameron met this girl in his 'History of Modern Art' class and he fell for her on the spot. Soon, those nights we used to spend studying dwindled down to one or maybe two. Those Fridays we went out with our friends were practically non-existent. I told him that, and he blew up at me. Then he had to leave on some type of family emergency and actually had the nerve to ask me to keep an eye on Stefani….that was her name. I did……we spent quite a few nights taking longs walks and discussing everything we could think of. By the time Cameron came home, Stefani didn't want to see him anymore. He found out why, and we haven't talked much since."

Amanda turned slightly on the bench, barely making eye contact with Giovanni. "And what happened between you and Stefani?"

"Nothing happened. We realized that the only thing we had in common was Cameron. What we talked about was always what they talked about……..you can't have a life like that. Living off of someone else's dream. That's not me. And that wasn't Stefani."

Giovanni thought that, perhaps, he was getting through to Amanda. Her posture was no longer as rigid as it was when they first sat down.

"I tried for quite a long time to get Cameron to listen to me…to apologize….but he wouldn't return my calls…..wouldn't see me. He actually transferred schools and went somewhere else to finish his degree. Then my father passed away. He sent my mother a sympathy card but didn't show up for the funeral. We moved to Italy and I hadn't thought of what happened in a long time…..that is, until I saw his face on the cover of Brava's Valentine issue. Then I knew I had the chance to make things right between us."

"But he was friendly to you inside. Why would he be that was if he hated you so much?" Amanda wanted to know, barely looking at him.

"Cameron never could stay angry too long. He was never like his father. He was the exact opposite. He was everybody's rescuer. That's why we all went to him…depended on him..for everything…."

"And then you betrayed him? What kind of person are you?" She turned away again.

"A foolish one, I suspect. At least I was at that point in my life. I've changed Amanda. Being here, after my father's death, showed me there is nothing as important as family and friends. My mother depended on me as we all did on Cameron. There wasn't anything he wouldn't have done for us, just as now, there is nothing I wouldn't do for my family and friends."

Amanda got up and was going to walk inside. Before she did, she said," What happened between you and Cameron was in the past. It doesn't involve me. This--all of this--bringing us here…….showering me with flowers and telegrams, emails, what have you….they all had a purpose. However, had you known me longer or even attempted to get to know me before you pulled these stunts, you would have realized that I don't play games. Not when it come to business. My father taught me all he knew about publishing world. He also taught me there was no room in business for personal feelings or for this sort of thing. What you have been doing before we arrived here, and since, has all been one big game…with landing Cameron as the grand prize. Sure, Carnevale' may be in some financial difficulty, but nothing that your family and your attorneys here couldn't take care of. That much I know. That much I learned in getting to know YOU! Now if you excuse me, I'd like to go back inside."

Hesitant to say anything, Giovanni asked," What about the rest of the week? The shoot? "

"Oh, we'll fulfill our obligations to your company. I'm not foolish enough to break a contract. But from this point forward, you and I will have no more personal contact. If we need to meet, it will be with Carson and the rest of my team. Do I make myself clear?"

"Perfectly." Giovanni knew Amanda meant every word.

"Fine. Then let's go inside and enjoy the rest of this tedious affair."

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

It was difficult to concentrate at work for Rachel, so she found a way to leave a few hours early. No matter what she tried to finish or whom she tried to telephone, her thoughts kept drifting back to Amanda and her trip to Europe. She had known for awhile now that Amanda had feelings for Cameron but her daughter's insecurities kept her from taking a chance on romance.

"My darling daughter," Rachel wondered, "will you ever find love?" She made it home and up the stairs to her bedroom, but just barely. The stress of the duties at work and taking care of her family was something that pushed Rachel to make that doctor's appointment. She was feeling somewhat tired lately and a little lethargic. Rachel thought maybe Dr. McDonald could prescribe some vitamins or even recommend a health spa that she and Amanda could go to for a little rest and relaxation. They both needed it!

Taking a long, hot shower seemed to be the luxury that Rachel needed that night. Lathering that scented soap on the sponge and letting it ooze down her back felt heavenly. She put the sponge down and was running her fingers over her shoulders and down her right breast when she paused. She did it once more and stopped in the same spot. What was that she felt? Rachel remained still and examined her left breast. Nothing! Breathing a sigh of relief, she ran her fingers, this time more slowly, down her right side and over her breast. Something was there.

Rachel hurried out of the shower to get dressed. She threw on her robe and was about to leave the bathroom, before she paused in front of the mirror. Dropping the robe, she managed to stop it before it fell to the floor. The mirror was covered with steam, but as it cleared Rachel kept staring at herself. She had done these breast exams before and felt nothing. Was she imagining things? Was it a bruise, maybe? That's it. It couldn't be anything else!

Rachel got dressed and went downstairs with hardly a second thought to what had just happened in the shower. She would be going to her appointment in just a few days. Dr. McDonald would tell her then that everything was just fine.

Giovanni's party was certainly a hit, at least with most of those in attendance. Taj Perry and Pasquale Nastri had managed to sneak in some of their equipment just in case the opportunity for a perfect picture or two came up. Carson, Amanda, Paige and some of the female models from the US went on a tour of the Luna home. Giovanni certainly knew how to decorate, they all thought. Carson was astounded that he had so many bedrooms! 'For those surprise guests' Giovanni remarked.

"Surprise, my eye!" Carson laughed.

"Carson, my goodness. …" Amanda managed to get her to stop talking before Giovanni noticed anything had been said.

He then took them to the master suite. The ladies stood there for a long time before Paige told him how beautiful the room was.

"I've never had the magic touch when it's come to decorating. I have to thank my sisters for their help with this…all of this…"

"Mr. Luna, one thing I have to say is that you never cease to amaze me. You have quite a showcase here." Amanda walked towards the balcony, which was over the pool area. She looked down and noticed Cameron and Alexandra laughing together.

"Why, Miss Cory, thank you for the compliment." Making a sweeping gesture with his hand, Giovanni continued; "Please…all of you….consider this your home away from home while you're in Italy. If the pressures of the day ever get to you, my home is always open to you, for some quiet time, if that's what you need."

"I think the accommodations at the hotel will do just fine, but I appreciate the offer. I'm sure we all do…….right ladies?"

Paige and Carson nodded in agreement, but seemed mystified at the change in Amanda's attitude toward Giovanni.

"Thank you for inviting us into your home tonight. I don't know about Carson and Paige, but I'm rather tired and think I'll be heading back to the hotel now. Please give my apologies to the rest of your guests for leaving a little early."

"Amanda, let me escort you back to your hotel. My guests will be fine. They won't even know I'm gone."

"I don't think that's a good idea. You're the host." Of course, after their conversation tonight, the last thing on Amanda's mind was to be alone with Giovanni again. "I will call the hotel and have them send a car for me. Goodnight ladies."

"Goodnight Amanda." Carson still had no idea what was going on between these two. But she was not about to let a night like this, with food, drink and an astonishing view pass her by. She'd get down to the bottom of things later.

The others continued on the tour while Amanda went downstairs. She managed to muffle through a few Italian phrases on the phone, and with the help of the maid, get a hotel car to come by and pick her up. She gathered up her things, and headed for the front door. Turning around to take one last look, she almost stumbled upon Cameron.

"Don't leave."

"We all have a busy day tomorrow, Cameron. The events of this evening have me a little tired. I've already said my good-byes to our host. I'll see all of you tomorrow, nice and early."

"Then let me ride back to the hotel with you. You shouldn't be alone."

"I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself you know."

"I've rather suspected that for a long time now. Please. Let me do this."

"Fine. But I'm really in no mood to talk."

"Talk? Who said anything about talk? I like quiet. Besides, then I can look out at the stars. It's a clear night tonight."

"Oh…alright….but no talking."

Making a move like he was zipping his lips shut, Cameron motioned to Amanda that she had nothing to worry about. He tried to help her on with her wrap, but the independent Miss Cory would not have that. He got to the door before she did and opened it, letting her walk out first. Alexandra saw him leaving. He mouthed the word 'sorry' to her and closed the door.

The car was there within minutes and the driver helped Amanda inside. Cameron joined her, but not before whispering something in the driver's ear.

Off they went, into the night, under a blanket of stars.