Donatello did not give up on his courtship of Vanessa. Every day, a sumptuous bouquet of red roses appeared at Katrina's apartment door, where he believed she lived. Each flower was a silent declaration of intentions, a display of his perseverance.
Vanessa felt torn. On one hand, Donatello's bold gestures flattered her, awakening a longing she thought she had forgotten. On the other, the shadow of Dante still hung over her heart, a constant reminder of the bitterness of unrequited love.
One morning, Donatello called her.
"Vanessa, my dear, I have a proposal for you. As you know, I will soon be taking the position of vice president in our family company, and I can’t think of anyone better than you to be my personal assistant."
Vanessa almost dropped the phone in surprise. Working side b
