Broken Hearts On Boulevard Unirii novel Chapter 28

I typed an answer back to her. "I just woke up. I hope you didn't have erotic dreams about me. I'll meet you for lunch wherever you suggest."

The answer was not long in coming. "I never dream. Let's meet at one o'clock at the White Horse which you like so very much."

Since I had the morning free, I told Fabrizio that I would devote it completely to him. He seemed really happy and asked me to come with him to a large warehouse where there were displays of furniture for bars. We took a taxi there. Fabrizio was at his best. Every time we passed by the church, before the driver crossed himself, Fabrizio would say, "Nel nomedel padre, del figlio, e dellospirito santo"[ Italian: "In the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit."]The driver would seriously answer "Amen "and we laughed our heads off.

"How much money are you going to invest in the bar?"I asked him.

"I don't know," he replied. "Maybe ten thousand or more, depending if I find a partner or not. When I return to Italy, I will talk to a few people that I know."

"In other words, you don't want the gypsy as your partner?" I asked.

"No, I'd rather not, because I don't trust her. I would constantly have to sit in the bar and never be free to leave. It would become my prison," he answered.

"Fabrizio," I began."You're like a brother to me. Perhaps look for something else. I have no faith in this business. You are forcing it upon yourself so that you can stay in Bucharest. It seems to me that you don't believe in it either."

Fabrizio frowned, looked me straight in the eyes and said, "Giorgio, I'm in love and want to stay here. It will keep me alive, even if I don't get rich from it."

I wanted to tell him that his involvement could be disastrous for him. Not only would he not be able to sustain himself, but he may even lose his entire investment. However, I decided to remain silent. I was afraid that he might think that I was plotting against him and wanted to thwart his plan to open a business in Romania.

"I wish you the best of luck," I said."If I can help you in any way, don't hesitate to ask. And, if you run into difficulties, don't hide it from me," I added.

He came over and hugged me."Thanks, I needed the encouragement. I felt so anxious."

I left him in the warehouse and took a taxi to the city center. It was a quarter to one and I wanted to be on time at the White Horse Steak House, which was located not far from Piata Dobrobanti.[Dobrobanti square] 

The driver tried to increase the fare by going around and around the same place. When I realized what was happening, I told him how to go. He realized that I knew the streets of Bucharest well, so he stopped playing games and went straight to the restaurant.

Dorina arrived in her taxi at exactly the same time as I did. I went towards her and gave her a big hug. At first she let me hug her, and then she loosened herself from my hold and led me into a quiet corner on the top floor.

"No," she answered curiously."Tell it to me."

And so I began telling the story.

"A scorpion once wanted to cross the river, but was unable to, because it couldn't swim. It waited beside the river when a frog came along. It asked the frog if it would take it across while it rode on its back. The frog refused, saying it feared that the scorpion would bite it and it would drown. The scorpion explained to the frog that its reasoning was ludicrous. For if it bites the frog and the frog drowns, it will also drown because it does not know how to swim.

"The frog was convinced, and let the scorpion get onto its back. While they were crossing the river the scorpion bit the frog. As the frog was drowning, it asked the scorpion to tell it why it bit it. The scorpion told the frog that that was its nature and could not help itself."

"What does all this have to do with me," she asked

"The scorpion is unreliable. I hope that you aren't like that," I replied.

When I got to my apartment, it was close to midnight. I had hardly begun climbing the stairs when I received a text message, which read, "I already miss you." I went up to the apartment, stopped at the door and said to myself, "To hell with this game." I went in, sat down in an armchair, when I noticed a note from Fabrizio on the table. "Don't worry, I am sleeping at Angelo's place tonight," it read.