The Secrets of Ice Cream Success Read Online Free Page B

suggest you sign the papers and leave, we have
things to discuss.’
    Carlo stared
at Mr Hill with contempt. What had he meant by “…not the child of
Luigi Leodoni?” Carlo was suddenly very defensive and a wave of
defiance swept though him. How dare he insult his father? How dare
this sweaty, slimy, snail-like man come into his factory and talk
to him like that? … his factory. It was the first time he had thought of it like
that. His factory…
    ‘ Actually, Mr
… sorry, what was your name? Well, it doesn’t matter. Actually,
Mister, I’m not signing the papers. And you are in my factory so you can’t
really tell me to leave, can you? In fact, it’s you who should
leave ‘coz you’re trespassin’ and I know all about that ‘coz Ben’s
been spoken to by the police loadsa’ times for tresspassin’. So
you’d better leave before they come and take your number and ask
you where your parents live and tell you you should be at
school!’
    Mr Hill looked slightly
affronted at being spoken too in such a way but rallied excellently
by pretending it had never happened. ‘Well, Randolph, I am actually
rather busy, so why don’t you give me a call after the necessary
has been completed and we can discuss terms?’
    ‘ Err, hello?
Didn’t you hear me? I’m not signing the papers.’
    This time Mr Hill couldn’t stop
himself retaliating. ‘Of course you are, you stupid boy. You are a
child, how could you manage this business? Your fool of a father
couldn’t do it adequately when he was alive, so I see no reason why
his idiot child could do so now. Why don’t you go with your family
back to Italy where you belong?’
    Carlo fought down an almost
overwhelming urge to start screaming at this horrid man who had
come barging into his life like a comic book super-villain, but
something told him that childhood petulance would only play into Mr
Hill’s hands. He stood up slowly and picked up the contract.
Walking around the table to face Randy he smiled as he ripped it up
savouring the look on the faces of both adults.
    ‘ I’m going out
Uncle Randy. Here’s the contract. Please lock up the factory after
you have escorted Mr Hill out. Thank you.’ he said, holding his
head up as far as he could. He turned and marched in what he
thought was a very professional manner out of the door, along the
walkway and towards the huge factory doors. Opening the hatch in
the doors he took a deep breath before stepping out into the rain
and after closing the hatch behind him he ran as fast as he could
through the puddles and out of the gates.
     

The Last Leodoni
     
    Carlo flew out of the gates and
splashed through the rain breathing fast; his mind racing through
what he had done. Grabbing the edge of the wall he propelled
himself around the corner and, slipping on the wet pavement,
straight into his friends who were huddled under the umbrella in
the midst of a committee meeting.
    Carlo picked himself up from
the floor and tried to brush the water off his now soaked jeans.
The others, who had remained on their feet, tried their best not to
laugh.
    ‘ Hello,
Carlo.’ Abi said helping him wipe down the back of his jacket. ‘Are
you a free man then?’
    Carlo peeked back around the
corner to the gates and then gently started to propel the group
down the street away from the factory. ‘No, I’m not a free man. And
Uncle Randy’s going to kill me.’
    ‘ Why do you
still call him Uncle Randy? He’s not even your real uncle, is he?’
Norton asked whilst engaged in a shoving match with Newton for the
centre of the umbrella.
    ‘ Coz I’ve
always called him that, haven’t I?’
    ‘ But
technically it’s not right is it? He’s not even family.’ Norton
continued.
    ‘ Ah, but in
some cultures the familiar term “uncle” is a sign of respect for an
older man in their society. So in many ways it doesn’t matter
whether Randy is Carlo’s family or not.’
    ‘ Course it
does!’ retorted Norton. ‘We’re not in “Some