Arrogantly grinning, he raises an eyebrow. "Well, it seems I beat you to it."
I stare at him in disbelief. What does he mean?
Now he springs up, the chair rattling loudly on the tiled floor. "Do you think I'm stupid?" he asks, agitated. "Do you think I didn't notice you trying to put ideas in her head? Her daydreaming is even worse than it already is." He glares at me with malice. "And the way you looked at her during my visit the other day. Do you think I didn't notice that either?"
I haven't done anything. I never wanted Hanna to get hurt or for feelings to develop between us. That was never the plan!
"I have no idea what you're talking about," I reply in a tone so neutral that even I am surprised. Emptiness spreads inside me. "Are you going to sign now?"
He takes a step toward me, puffing out his chest. "With pleasure."
Then he should just do it. Swallowing hard, I walk around him and go to the table to retrieve the two contracts. "What are you waiting for?"
He can spare me the smug look. We both know he's won. He takes the papers from me and dates and signs the dotted line on the last page of each.
"This will be a wonderful surprise for Hanna," he mutters absentmindedly. Then he fixes a smirk on me. "I'll tell her at our engagement party in two weeks that I made our shared dream come true for her. That's my gift to my bride."
I clench my fists. He's only saying that to torment me.
What an asshole.
"We'll start the work tomorrow. Make sure your father is out of the main house by then," he adds as I struggle to maintain my composure.
"Understood," I force out, then take one of the contracts from his hand and gesture toward the hallway. "I'm sure you can find your way out on your own."
With an amused smirk, he starts making his way out. "It was a pleasure doing business with you," he calls out from a distance before finally disappearing from my sight.
I'm left with the painful ache in my chest. And there's only one thought I'm allowed to entertain now.
Life must go on.
Matteo is still waiting for my confirmation for the sponsorship. He'll get it now. I've neglected my training for far too long. That ends today.
I have a life, and I have a goal. Both will help me forget what happened in the past few weeks and finally feel free again.
Because it simply has to be that way.
