it was not a task that he relished. It was like selling family or auctioning off a child. Is there truly no other way?
None. And I don't have any time. Give me whatever you can for them now. Yourself. And don't discuss this with anyone. No one. It's a matter of ' it's ' oh, God, Alfredo, please. You must help me. Her eyes filled suddenly with tears, and he reached out a hand as his eyes questioned hers.
I'm almost afraid to ask. Twice before something like this had happened. Once, a year before. And the second time only a week before. It had been horrible' terrible ' and it hadn't worked.
Don't ask. I can't answer you. Just help me. Please.
All right. All right. How much do you need? Ten million dollars. Oh, God.
You can't give me what I need. Just give me what you can. In cash.
He looked startled and then nodded. I can give you he made a rapid calculation of the cash he had available at the time perhaps two hundred thousand today. And perhaps the same again in a week.
Can't you give it all to me today? She looked desperate again, and for a moment he wondered if she might faint on his desk.
I can't, Isabella. We just made an enormous purchase in the Far East. All of our main assets are in stones right now. And quite obviously that's not what you want. He glanced down at the small mountain of diamonds and then back into her eyes with a thought. Suddenly he felt as frightened as she. Her desperation was contagious. Can you wait a minute while I make some calls?
To whom? Her eyes were instantly filled with terror, and he saw her hands shake again.
Trust me. To some colleagues, some friends. Perhaps among us we can come up with some more money. And ' Isabella' . He hesitated, but he thought he had understood. It must be ' cash?
Yes.
Then he was right. Now his own hands shook. I'll do what I can. He sat down next to her, picked up the phone, and called five or six friends. Jewelers, furriers, one somewhat shady banker, a professional gambler who had been a customer and become a friend. Among all of them he could come up with another three hundred thousand dollars in cash. He told her and she nodded. That gave her five hundred thousand. Half a million dollars. It was one twentieth of what they wanted. Five percent. His eyes sought hers with a look of sorrow. Won't that help? He found himself praying that it would.
It will have to. How do I get it?
I'll send a courier out immediately. I'll take what I think we need in jewels for the other jewelers. She watched dispassionately as he took a few pieces. When he took the diamond, she bit her lip to hold back the tears. Nothing mattered only Amadeo.
This should do it. I should have the money here in an hour. Can you wait?
She nodded tersely. Send your messenger out the back door.
I'm being watched?
No. I am. But my car is out front, and they may be watching who leaves here. He asked no further questions. There was no need.
Do you want some coffee while you wait? She only shook her head, and he left her after gently patting her arm. He felt so helpless and he was. She sat in solitary silence for a little over an hour, waiting, thinking, trying not to let her mind drift back to the agonizingly tender moments they had shared. Thinking back to first times and last times, and funny times, to seeing him with tiny Alessandro in his arms for the first time; to their first collection, which they presented with outrageous courage and delight; to their honeymoon; their first vacation; their first house; and the first time they had made love, and the last time only four days before' . They tore at her heart in a way she couldn't bear. The moments and voices and faces crowded into her head as she attempted to push them away, as she felt panic rising in her soul. It was an endless hour until at last Alfredo Paccioli returned. The exact amount was in a long brown envelope. Five hundred thousand dollars in cash.
Thank you, Alfredo. I will be grateful to you all my life. And Amadeo's.
None. And I don't have any time. Give me whatever you can for them now. Yourself. And don't discuss this with anyone. No one. It's a matter of ' it's ' oh, God, Alfredo, please. You must help me. Her eyes filled suddenly with tears, and he reached out a hand as his eyes questioned hers.
I'm almost afraid to ask. Twice before something like this had happened. Once, a year before. And the second time only a week before. It had been horrible' terrible ' and it hadn't worked.
Don't ask. I can't answer you. Just help me. Please.
All right. All right. How much do you need? Ten million dollars. Oh, God.
You can't give me what I need. Just give me what you can. In cash.
He looked startled and then nodded. I can give you he made a rapid calculation of the cash he had available at the time perhaps two hundred thousand today. And perhaps the same again in a week.
Can't you give it all to me today? She looked desperate again, and for a moment he wondered if she might faint on his desk.
I can't, Isabella. We just made an enormous purchase in the Far East. All of our main assets are in stones right now. And quite obviously that's not what you want. He glanced down at the small mountain of diamonds and then back into her eyes with a thought. Suddenly he felt as frightened as she. Her desperation was contagious. Can you wait a minute while I make some calls?
To whom? Her eyes were instantly filled with terror, and he saw her hands shake again.
Trust me. To some colleagues, some friends. Perhaps among us we can come up with some more money. And ' Isabella' . He hesitated, but he thought he had understood. It must be ' cash?
Yes.
Then he was right. Now his own hands shook. I'll do what I can. He sat down next to her, picked up the phone, and called five or six friends. Jewelers, furriers, one somewhat shady banker, a professional gambler who had been a customer and become a friend. Among all of them he could come up with another three hundred thousand dollars in cash. He told her and she nodded. That gave her five hundred thousand. Half a million dollars. It was one twentieth of what they wanted. Five percent. His eyes sought hers with a look of sorrow. Won't that help? He found himself praying that it would.
It will have to. How do I get it?
I'll send a courier out immediately. I'll take what I think we need in jewels for the other jewelers. She watched dispassionately as he took a few pieces. When he took the diamond, she bit her lip to hold back the tears. Nothing mattered only Amadeo.
This should do it. I should have the money here in an hour. Can you wait?
She nodded tersely. Send your messenger out the back door.
I'm being watched?
No. I am. But my car is out front, and they may be watching who leaves here. He asked no further questions. There was no need.
Do you want some coffee while you wait? She only shook her head, and he left her after gently patting her arm. He felt so helpless and he was. She sat in solitary silence for a little over an hour, waiting, thinking, trying not to let her mind drift back to the agonizingly tender moments they had shared. Thinking back to first times and last times, and funny times, to seeing him with tiny Alessandro in his arms for the first time; to their first collection, which they presented with outrageous courage and delight; to their honeymoon; their first vacation; their first house; and the first time they had made love, and the last time only four days before' . They tore at her heart in a way she couldn't bear. The moments and voices and faces crowded into her head as she attempted to push them away, as she felt panic rising in her soul. It was an endless hour until at last Alfredo Paccioli returned. The exact amount was in a long brown envelope. Five hundred thousand dollars in cash.
Thank you, Alfredo. I will be grateful to you all my life. And Amadeo's.
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