Chapter Fourteen
1716 Words
The first thing Catalina noticed was the silence.
At thirty thousand feet above the ground, Norway felt far removed from Manhattan.
She rested her forehead lightly against the cool window of Julian's private plane, watching the endless blanket of emerald forests broken by ribbons of deep blue water.
Snow still clung to the distant mountain peaks, their reflections shimmering across the fjords like polished glass.
In one word, Norway was breathtaking.
“Hope you're not plotting to jump out the window?”
Julian's voice came from the seat across from her.
She smiled without looking away from the window.
“Not really. Just trying to decide whether this place is real or if we've flown into a painting.”
A corner of his mouth lifted. “You haven't seen the best of it yet.”
The plane began its descent, gliding effortlessly toward a narrow private runway tucked between towering pine trees.
Catalina frowned. “Huh, this doesn't look like an airport?”
He fastened his seat belt. “It's my private airstrip. " Fewer people.”
The wheels kissed the runway so gently that Catalina barely felt the landing.
Outside, two sleek black SUVs and a long silver limousine waited beside the airstrip.
Julian stood first, taking her hand in his.
The clean Norwegian air wrapped around her the moment they stepped outside.
Catalina looked around at the secluded airstrip and shook her head, laughing. “I can't believe you've been letting me think I was rich when you own all.” She gestured around the trees. “This.”
He opened the limousine door, guiding her head in. “You could call me an Ultra-billionaire if it makes you feel better.”
“Ha ha. Very funny.”
The drive into Bærum felt like a dream.
The roads wound through towering forests where sunlight filtered between ancient pines.
Small villages appeared every few kilometers, their colorful wooden homes overlooking sparkling water.
The Oslofjord stretched endlessly beside them, its surface glimmering beneath the afternoon sun.
Catalina lowered the window.
A cool breeze danced through her hair.
“I've never been anywhere this peaceful.”
Julian watched her with hooded eyes.
“My father loved this place. Brought us every summer.”
She smiled. “I can see why. It's the perfect place for a family to unwind.”
She closed her eyes, only opening them when the limo slowed.
Massive wrought-iron gates stood before them, opened before them, and Catalina expected another neighborhood beyond them.
Instead...
The road kept going.
And going.
Dense woodland lined both sides of the driveway.
Wild Sunflowers carpeted the forest floor.
She turned toward Julian.
“Exactly how far is this house?”
“We're almost there. It's a long driveway.”
The trees opened in a minute, and the view stole her breath away.
The estate looked like something straight out of a fairy tale.
Built from pale stone with ivy climbing its walls, the main house blended timeless European architecture with modern glass extensions that reflected the surrounding landscape.
Tall windows stretched from floor to ceiling, while wide terraces overlooked manicured gardens that seemed to disappear into the forest beyond.
The Oslofjord shimmered like liquid silver behind the house.
Catalina alighted from the limousine slowly.
“Julian?”
“Hm?”
“You said your family had a house in Norway.”
“Yeah,” he replied, pulling the last of their luggage from the booth. “This is it.”
She looked from the estate to the endless land surrounding it, then back to him.
“No. My house in New York is a house.
She pointed toward the forest.
“This…”
Then toward the shoreline.
“..and all of that…”
Finally, she turned in a slow circle.
“You practically own half of Bærum! Is this another perk of being an ultra-billionaire?”
“I assure you, we don't.”
He slipped his hands into his pockets, a slow chuckle rising from his stomach.
“As far as you can see belongs to my family, and in part to me.”
Catalina stared. “As far as I can see?”
His voice softened. “This place was built so my family could disappear for a while. A quiet place.”
She looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
“I heard it the minute it came out of my mouth. Let's go in.”
The inside of the house was more stunning than the exterior before she could take it all in, the exhaustion caught up with her at once.
“I think,” she turned to him with an embarrassed smile, “I want to rest for a while if you don't mind.”
“That’s fine. You can go upstairs.”
She frowned. “I can take my luggage with me.”
“If my mama ever found out I let a guest carry luggage, she would have my head. Go.”
He gestured toward the grand staircase. “The bedroom at the end of the hallway has the best view of the fjord.”
“You've already picked my room?”
“I told you, Cara. I'm trying to court you. I'm prepared for everything.”
She shook her head, smiling despite herself, as their eyes met.
“I'll... see you in a few hours.”
“I'll be here.”
Julian stood at the bottom of the staircase, watching until Catalina disappeared.
When she turned down the hallway, he exhaled.
Tomorrow will be about David Park.
Tonight, they had enough time to forget about the world.
_________________________
Catalina woke up to music.
For a few seconds, she lay back listening to the soothing sounds.
Darkness had fallen outside.
The sky was painted in deep shades of blue-black, the last traces of sunlight disappearing behind the mountains.
Her lips curled in a smile as her feet touched the warm floor. “Heated floors.” She thought, following the scent of food and the call of music down the stairs.
The sound grew clear as she stood at the foot of the stairs.
A beguiling melody from the grand piano in the center of the living room.
Julian’s fingers moved effortlessly across the keys.
Eyes closed, head thrown back as though entranced.
Catalina leaned against the doorway, watching him.
There was something strangely intimate about the scene, seeing someone when they didn't know they were being observed.
The mask disappeared, and all that remained was the person underneath.
The final notes faded into silence, but Julian didn't turn around.
Instead, he extended one hand in her direction.
“Come here.”
Catalina smiled and stepped into the groove of his thighs.
“How did you know I was there?”
He looked up at her.
“I could smell you.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“Excuse me?”
His expression changed when he realized how that sounded.
“Not like that.”
She laughed. “Like what then?”
He shook his head. “You have a unique scent, Cara. You smell like home.”
Her smile softened. “You’re a hopeless romantic.”
“It’s a character flaw, I know. Hungry?”
“Starving. I smelled something delicious.”
“I made dinner. Come.”
He led her to the kitchen, and it was just as impressive as the rest of the estate.
Catalina stopped when she saw the table.
Different dishes of pasta, fresh focaccia bread, and shrimp sauce were arranged on the table.
She looked at Julian. “When did you have time to make all this? I was asleep for like five minutes.”
“I told you I cook. And I want to impress you.”
She laughed. “So you're rolling out the big guns, huh?”
“Better believe it. Sit”
Time flew by as they ate.
The music continued softly through hidden speakers throughout the house.
“So, when did you learn how to play?” She asked as they say in the living room after the meal.
“My father. He forced all of us to learn an instrument.”
“What would happen if you refused?”
“Let's just say my father believed discipline built character.”
“And did it?”
Julian stared at her and replied. “In a way, yes.”
“I never really asked.”
“Asked about?”
“How many siblings do you have?”
Julian leaned back into the sofa and smiled.
“A lot.”
“So 30, 40?”
A belly-crunching laugh escaped from him at her comment. “I’m half Italian, not half-rabbit.”
“I have five older sisters.”
Catalina looked surprised. “Five? And you're the only boy and last child?”
“Shocking, isn't it?”
She laughed. “I don't believe you. You look nothing like a last born. You're all put together and all manly.”
“It helps when you grow up with very controlling sisters.”
She smiled at the image. “Where are they now?”
He shrugged. “The oldest and her husband live here, but we're not having them over. Don't make that face. Two are in Europe. One in Florida. And my darling Amariah lives in Belarus.”
“You must be close to her, the fifth sister.”
He nodded. “Your relationship with your sibling with whom you're close in age is just different, closer.”
Catalina looked at him suspiciously. “So, any reason why you don't want your sister to meet me?”
“My family has no concept of privacy. If she comes here, she will drag everyone else along. It will be a whole thing. I don't want you overwhelmed. You'll meet them when the time is right.”
The simplicity of the statement caught her off guard.
He reached across the space separating them and took her hand.
“Tomorrow, I'll show you Norway. Then we'll meet David Park, and you'll work your magic and win him over.”
“You sound so confident in me.”
“Of course, I'm confident.” His lips pressed against her forehead as he spoke. “You're Catalina Giordano, wonder woman extraordinaire. You can do anything you set out for.”
- Writer
