Broken Hearts On Boulevard Unirii novel Chapter 19

"Yes, but I'm looking for a partner. I cannot spend one cent of the joint account that I have with Giulia."

"I've decided to go in two or three days, "I told him." I'd be happy if you'd join, if not, then next time."

"I'm coming with you. E che vanno fanculo tutti,[ Italian: "Fuck'em all"]" he said.

The next day I received an urgent phone call from Fabrizio's wife, Giulia. She told me that she had to meet me immediately at all costs. I suggested that we meet at the trattoria[Homely Italian restaurant] near her, but she insisted that she would come to me.

We arranged to meet at a small bar near the train station. As I was looking for a parking space, I suddenly noticed her walking in my direction. I honked the horn; she noticed me and came closer.

"Giulia, get in," I yelled to her.

Giulia got in, and I drove until I found a parking spot. Giulia suggested we talk in the car, as she didn't want anyone to see us together.

"Giorgio, you must tell me what's going on? Ever since Fabrizio returned from his trip I don't recognize him."

"Giulia, it will pass. He probably needed to unwind a bit."

"What do you mean 'unwind'? He wants to break up and leave the house," she said.

"That is serious. What happened between the two of you?"

"He wanted to withdraw all our savings at the bank in order to open up a restaurant or bar in Bucharest. What does he have with Bucharest? Is it all because that idiot Angelo cannot come to Italy?"

"Relax, Giulia," I suggested."Angelo has nothing to do with it. It is Fabrizio who decided to change. He is probably got fed up with your restaurant and wants to do something by himself."

"Why doesn't he talk to me, share things with me, and not just take all the money, disappear and leave me with nothing."

"Giulia, I really don't want to get involved. Fabrizio has been my friend since childhood, and I don't want to advise you of things that later could be explained as if I had acted against him."

"You are only helping him. It is very easy to destroy a family, but very difficult to put the pieces back together again."

I finally said, "I will try to talk to him, but I will have to tell him about our meeting. Besides, you should know that I am also planning to invest in Bucharest. I see great business opportunities over there."

"You're all the same. I'm really sorry I spoke to you."

Looking forward to your arrival

Regards,

Dorina Balan

Regional Manager

From Otopeni airport we took a taxi into Bucharest. Fabrizio sat in the back immersed in thought, while I was sitting next to the driver trying to talk to him with hand gestures and English mixed with Italian.

Every time we passed by a church he would say a short prayer and cross himself. Since in Bucharest there is no shortage of churches, he was quite busy while driving. Besides praying, he was also smoking cigarettes and trying to find a radio station with good reception.

"All we need now is for him to take out a sandwich and start eating," Fabrizio said as he caught my displeased expression. Seconds later the driver threw his cigarette butt out of the window and out of nowhere a big sandwich appeared in his hands.

Buon Apetitio, I told him and winked at Fabrizio.

The driver smiled at me and with a full mouth mumbled something back to me.