Prelude: Benvenuti a Miami

Sabadell Financial Center - Brickell Ave. Miami, FL

The afternoon shower distorted Valentino's otherwise perfect view of Biscayne Bay from his office window, looking more like one of the water features he had seen in the lobby. A quiet knock drew his attention as Cho peeked in and seeing he was not in the middle of something entered. It was nearing the end of the day and it wasn't uncommon for her - or any of his other coworkers - to stop in, vainly trying to break up the afternoon with some office gossip. She walked to the window he himself had just been staring out, her lips pursing in a pout at the rain. Valentino knew she liked the view - her office facing Brickell Avenue that while just as impressive wasn't quiet as picturesque. Turning she leaned against the sill, adjusting her short - yet elegant - orange skirt that Valentino knew was meant to draw attention to her long pale legs.



She offered him a small, knowing smile, her alluring gaze shifting to the flat screen upon the far wall. He kept it tuned to one of the twenty-four hour news channels - primarily because they scrolled the stock market numbers along the bottom in a constant loop - and today they were showing the funeral for an FBI agent who had been killed in the line of duty, rescuing hostages from a train. The agent, along with another, had boarded the train by jumping from a vehicle - though that had not been what had killed the daring officer. Cho's smile faded slightly, eyes narrowing softly in thought, given Valentino the impression that she perhaps knew something that wasn't being said about the incident and wasn't the first time he had had such thoughts - then there was the diverse mix of men she was seen in the company of.

Turning her attention back on him the smile returned, even a bit brighter than before, as her striking eyes moved from the silver tipped cane propped at the end of his fashionable desk to his impeccable suit. "You're always so well dressed," she said in her soft, slightly accented voice - that he knew from working with her the past few years was Japanese - that the rest of the men in the office found cute, "I need to take you with me when I go shopping sometime."

---

"Arigatōgozaimashita."

Valentino smiled at her, and then turned back to the view. He, personally, found the view outside of less interest than that inside his office at the current moment, but of course she knew he found her attractive. Probably the attraction was even mutual. It wasn't the first time they had had such exchanges. Still, with Cho you could never be quite sure. She was not only attractive, cultivated, and well-dressed, but also very intelligent. And that made her even more attractive. He could have returned the compliment, but that would have sounded banale. She was as confident of her dress sense as he was of his, and of course she knew he knew that too.

His head turned back to her again.

"Shopping? I would be delighted. However, you might have to let me repay you with dinner."

He turned back to the view, the ball lying back in her court, like an open challenge.

"I wonder what drives people to jump out of moving cars, and on top of that onto a moving train for that matter?"

His mind then went instantly to his family.

"But if Cecilia was on it, I might be fool enough to try."

He frowned at the thought of his little sister being held hostage, and a dark look clouded his eyes. It was well within the realms of possibility, and it was not a pleasant thought. He had about as big a soft spot for her as his parents did. She was his 'Sorellina'.

He snapped out of it, and strode over to grasp his cane.

"Coffee?"

Cho's alluring eyes widened slightly, her smile going from flirtatious to genuine at Valentino's use of her native tongue before shyly looking away - more from the subservient habit of her native culture than the compliment. At mention of dinner she laughed playfully, having not been the first time he had asked nor the last she suspected, "You know I've said I think it's a bad idea for co-workers to date."

At his mention of the daring rescue her eyes narrowed slightly, searching his for what he could not tell, and seemingly satisfied she shrugged with no further comments on the subject that left Valentino with the impression that she would rather change the subject. At mention of his sister, her demeanor brightened and commented that in Japan family was important as well.

Laughing again, she nodded her assent on coffee, "I bit late in the day for coffee for me ... but I will join you. Don't be offended if I get a warm tea."

Valentino nods.

"I think that can be arranged."

Energetically, he launches himself from his office with the simple word "Coffee" to his secretary, sat at her desk outside. Their secret language translated this into a 'Do not Disturb' sign, with the exceptions of family and emergencies. Even his immediate superior would think twice before disturbing one of his coffee breaks. Still, they could be sure his mobile would be turned on, and he was available if needed.

As tradition dictated, he led Cho towards the lifts, passing the coffee machines without even a distainful glance. He held each door in a gentlemanly fashion, bowing her through. Then, downstairs to the foyer, through security, out the revolving doors. Still, it wasn't far. The next door on the right down the street was the entrance to the Marriott. A nod to the doorman, another nod to the receptionist, and into the bar.

"Buongiorno Giancarlo!"

He steered through the familiar interior to a comfortable corner with two red leather armchairs and a dark glass table.

The barista, a young man of a similar age to Valentino, soon came over to ask Cho her wishes. There was no need for such with Valentino, who was a regular guest.

Once Cho had received her tea, and himself an espresso, Valentino took up the conversation where they left off.

"You know, Cho, if I offered to cook for you, it would be a date. If I ask you out for dinner, I am asking you out for dinner. It is one of the greatest pleasures of my life, and I do not intend to restrict it to the romantic. You should see Vinnie polish off a plate of ribs, and then finish most of mine. It is good for the soul..."

He shrugged, and emptied his coffee. The next would surely arrive in a couple of minutes.

"But if you will not reconsider, we are left with lunch....."

It was not the first time Cho had joined Valentino for coffee and most likely would not be the last, understanding just what coffee meant with the fashionable, impeccably dressed man as she offered the administrative assistant a cheerful smile and playfully rolling her eyes at Valentino's show at being a gentlemen as he held the door for her.

She didn't want to admit that she liked the more quiet and elegant atmosphere of the Marriott's bar, instead couldn't resist the opportunity to pick at him by pointing out that there were coffee shops in their own building as she bobbed her head to the poppy elevator music.

Moments later they were settled into the quiet lounge of the Marriott, Cho lifting her cup to her lips to gently blow, her eyes meeting those of Valentino as he elaborated on his invitation to dinner. Taking a small sip she shrugged, setting the cup carefully down on the tables clear, clean surface and smiled, "Perhaps I could be enticed for lunch ... though what will our co-workers think." She laughed, making the sarcasm of the remark clear, she she took another sip from her cooling tea.

Valentino nodded at Cho's comment on there being coffee shops in the office building.

"Of course, but I prefer to not be in a work environment, even if I happen to be talking, or thinking, about work. A break is a break. Besides, I can also rely on the quality here."

Valentino remembered being present a few years back, as Giancarlo had received his first lessons as a Barista. He had watched from across the bar, and sucked in the knowledge like a leech. Since then, making a Latte Macchiato was one of his party favourites. It was also no coincidence that Giancarlo worked at the Marriott, but Cho didn't need to know everything.

He nodded politely at the man as he brought his second espresso, before responding to her sarcastic remark.

"We are both known to spend our time with a number of people, many of which are of the other sex. Should our co-workers start coming to hasty conclusions, I would highly recommend they kept those conclusions to themselves."

Although his voice remained quiet, it took on an icy tone, and his brown eyes flashed with anger at the thought.

Cho smiled shyly at his remark, eyes widening slightly at the intensity in the tone. Her phone that was sitting on the table next to Valentino's began to vibrate, sounding loud on the table's glass top compared to the relative quiet of the lounge. Snatching it quickly off the table she looked at the caller ID before apologizing to him that it was work and she had to take it, thanking him for the tea before answering.

With a parting smile for Valentino she gathered her fashionable purse and departed, clearing heading back to the office, her polite Japanese responses to the caller on the other end of the line heard over the soft jazzy music playing.

---

Valentino was honest enough to show his regret, as Cho left. He did find her very agreeable company. He also respected her decision to restrict their relationship to a business-like sort of friendship. Although he had told her the truth, that he was not inviting her on a date, it was very possible for a work dinner to become a night together, It wouldn't be his first, indeed,. So far, he had not had any issues with working with lovers, Latitia being a prime example, but he could understand that Cho might have had different experiences. Still, he was not unskilled at advising women on their wardrobes, and there were a couple of purchases he would have valued her opinion on. Not to mention, she'd have looked good next to him for a day....

Adding to that, he viewed his time at Morgan Stanley as numbered., considering his intentions towards his own business, which again opened up options in the future. Conversely, he was far from sure that Cho was the right girl for him, long-term.

So, he drank his coffee and, with a series of nods to the hotel staff, returned to work. The drinks would, as usual, arrive on his monthly bill, and be paid without delay. Tips, he also paid monthly, and in cash. Giancarlo could be trusted to distribute them as required.

As was often the case, Cho's rejection aroused a need for companionship in him, so, before he got back to work, he sent a short message to Vinnie with an invitation to dinner. Rather than their usual ribs, he had a new spot in mind, a recommendation from a friend.

It was during the afternoon. He had turned his swivel chair around, and was gazing out of the window at the view Cho had so admired before. The rolling green and white of the waves which, at this distance, were barely distinguishable from each other. The office blocks, shopping malls, and expensive penthouses at their tips. Valentino did not enjoy being single. He was very much a social person, a family person. Although he had a decent kitchen with a good selection of professional cookware, he rarely cooked just for himself. He preferred a simple plate of pasta in the company of the restaurant below than the finest steak on his own.

It was at this moment he thought of his friends, Vinnie and Ora (aka Sweet Mama), and he suddenly decided to invite her too. Maybe he would even find a pretext to leave them alone together. He wasn't in the habit of playing cupid, but he really thought it might work. Of course, Ora had a little daughter, but he doubted Vinnie would mind. And, if his instincts were right, if the father of the child was a bad sort, Vinnie would know how to deal with it. It could be a match made in heaven. Without him being there, maybe they could leave work behind them, and get personal.

Smiling to himself, Valentino pulled a slim cheroot out of a leather case and had a generous sniff before sticking it between his teeth.