Chapter 19

• ‘DID you decide that you could not, after all, wait the full four weeks until my return to NewYork this weekend?’
• Leo’s surprise of a few minutes ago, when his secretary had come into his Venetian office and told him of Astoriaella Ken’s presence in the outer room, was completely under control now as he sat behind the width of his imposing leather-topped oak desk and looked at the slenderness of Astoriaella’s back where she stood across the room from him, gazing out of the window at the busy Grand Canal below.
• He had stood up when she entered the room, and indicated for her to take a seat across the desk from his. But instead of doing so Astoriaella had moved to the huge window, her back remaining firmly towards him as she gazed out at the beauty that was Venice in September, with the weak sun bathing the buildings and the water in a soft amber glow.