Matteo's POV
My heart stopped, and everything froze as I stared into her eyes.
Alessia quickly shifted her gaze, tossing her hair over her shoulder.
"This is just a silly misunderstanding," she said, moving back to gather her things.
"I'll go to the other room. Suit yourself." She brushed past me, walking away.
I grabbed her hand, stopping her. "Don't you think you're being a little too saucy in my own place?" I murmured. Her hand was small, barely fitting into mine.
Her eyes flicked to my chest again, then she yanked her hand free, storming out with a huff.
A smirk tugged at my lips. There was no way I wouldn't make her fall for me.
Hearing about her not being in love with her fiancé made me smile. So he was a scumbag after all. I never liked him and the fact that he cheated on her made me resent him the more, reminding me of Camilla.
Seeing his loved-up photos with Alessia always made me mad. I knew I was a bit jealous, but I didn't want to admit it then.
I went in to take a shower and found my robe was damp. Ah, Alessia must've used it. That was the only robe in the room for the moment; I'd taken the rest for laundry. An idea started to form in my mind as I headed toward Alessia's door. I should annoy her a little.
I knocked gently on the door.
"Yes?" she said.
"Open up," I called out, grinning to myself.
I was pretty sure she'd rolled her eyes a million times before coming to open the door.
She finally swung it open, looking me up and down.
"Ah, why can't you dress properly?" she complained, eyeing me with disdain as I stood there with just a towel wrapped around my waist.
"What do you mean?" I asked innocently, a playful smirk tugging at my lips.
"Wear a shirt or something," she snapped.
"I can't do that. Besides, you used my robe, so I can't exactly throw on a shirt with a wet body, and I still need to dry my hair." I shrugged, acting like it was the most logical thing in the world.
"Argh..." She groaned, throwing her hands up before storming off to get a robe.
"Here," she said, handing it over without looking at me.
I leaned in just a little too close, peering into her face.
"Why are you avoiding eye contact? Does my body make you uncomfortable?" I teased, raising an eyebrow.
Her eyes shot up to meet mine, annoyance flashing in them.
"What? What's wrong with you, Matteo?" she huffed, her cheeks flushed with irritation.
I couldn't hold it in anymore and burst into laughter, the sound filling the hallway. She looked at me, completely puzzled.
"Oh, you look like a raccoon when you're angry," I said, still chuckling. "It's just amusing to watch." I leaned forward slightly, gesturing toward her face. "And you have this tiny little head..." I patted her head gently, but she quickly swatted my hand away.
I grinned wider. "Your pouted lips make you look even more like one."
Her frown deepened, her eyes narrowing with disbelief. I thought she was about to speak but without warning, she slammed the door shut in my face.
I stood there for a moment, smiling to myself, before I turned back into my room.
****
I woke up early and got to work, preparing breakfast for Alessia.
I smiled to myself as I arranged the tray carefully, making sure everything was just right before heading to her room.
I knocked lightly on the door, expecting a response, but there was nothing. After a brief pause, I turned the handle and stepped in. She was fast asleep, her breathing slow. Her face was peaceful a contrast to the fear I had seen in her eyes yesterday.
I couldn't get off the memory of her trembling, the way she looked so lost and afraid. Tomorrow was the wedding, and she needs to leave before then, but something about her reason for leaving didn't sit right with me. It wasn't enough.
I wanted to help, to make sure she wasn't walking into something that would make her unhappy. If I didn't, she might just disappear, and I wouldn't know where she'd be.
I set the tray down gently on the table beside the bed and pulled the duvet up around her, tucking it in around her shoulders. Much better, I thought, admiring how beautiful she looked, even though she was still deep in sleep.
I couldn't help but smile before quietly heading out, the door clicking shut softly behind me.
At work, the usual routine greeted me, but it didn't feel quite the same. The morning went by smoothly, and I got things done. I grabbed a cup of coffee to kickstart my day. But even with the caffeine, my mind kept wandering back to Alessia.
There was so much piled up on my desk, and with her absent, things felt... off. The substitute was fine, but she just didn't bring the same energy, the same spark that Alessia did. The work felt less creative. It wasn't the same without her.
I walked into the break room, hoping for a quick pick-me-up, just a creamy coffee to get me through the day. But as I stepped in, I overheard some workers gossiping, their voices excited.
"Isn't Miss Alessia the luckiest woman on earth?" one of them said, gushing.
"What do you mean?" the other replied, sounding curious.
"Tomorrow's her wedding, and she took three days off. Her fiancé called and told us she's in Paris for additional shopping," the first one continued.
The other girl shrieked. "He's so romantic and handsome! Miss Alessia is so lucky!"
I clenched my jaw, irritation growing. I couldn't stand how they were singing praises for someone they barely knew.
"I'm guessing recess time is over?" I said, cutting into their conversation.
They both jumped, startled, before responding in unison, "Yes, sir," and rushed out of the room, heads down.
I stood there, my fingers tightening around my coffee mug. "What a liar, Paris my foot."
The whole thing felt off. Why was he so sure the wedding was happening? How could he be so confident, especially when he didn't even know where Alessia was?
I pulled out my phone, my gaze flicking to social media posts. Sure enough, there were pictures of Alessia in Paris.
What was going on? Alessia was in my house right now. Were these old photos? But if they were, how the hell did she post them when her phone was ruined?
There was more to this than Alessia had told me. I was certain of it. But if she wasn't going to tell me everything, I needed to find out myself.
The day dragged on, but all I could think about was Alessia. And by the time the workday ended, I knew I couldn't handle this alone. I needed help.
I got up, grabbed my jacket, and drove straight to De Luca Automobiles. Parking in front of the towering glass building, I felt the weight of the decision I was about to make.
I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my contacts until I found Greg's number. I hadn't called him in years. This felt… difficult. It was something I had been putting off for far too long.
"Hello," he answered.
"Hello Greg, it's been a long time," I said, trying to sound casual.
"Who's this?" he asked, and I could sense the curiosity in his voice.
"It's Matteo. Matteo De Luca," I said.
There was a long silence on the other end.
"Matteo? What is it? Why are you calling me all of a sudden?" Greg asked. His voice sounded uneasy, like he didn't want to deal with whatever was coming.
I took a breath, trying to steady myself. "Let's meet tonight."
"You're in the country? Since when?" His tone with disbelief.
"MC Sorley's Bar. 9 p.m." I said, and hung up the call before he could say anything more.
I leaned back in my car, letting out a slow breath. I'd been avoiding this meeting for a long time, maybe this was the time to take it all back.