Page 144 of Matteo

It matters. It matters a fucking lot, but I don't say that to her. I don't want tension to seep in again, even though the mood has shifted to something heavy.

“It matters if you’re lying to me.”

She turns around, her eyes flashing. “I’m not lying.”

“You’re being evasive.”

My gaze dips to her pebbled breasts. Fuck. Why can't this be a normal, stress-free vacation? Why can't we catch a break? I thought this would be a chance for us to get to know one another better, and instead I’m discovering things about Elizabeth that she seems to not want to talk about. We could be fucking like rabbits instead of staring one another down in a stand-off.

“I had a life before Knight Enterprises,” she says, finally. “You don’t get to interrogate me about it.” Her tone is sharp, almost defensive. And that confirms my suspicions.

I nod once. “Of course,” I say evenly, then turn and walk away, because I can’t deny it any longer. The truth is staring me right in the eye.

Elizabeth is hiding something.

Chapter 35

ELIZABETH

Matteo is nowhere to be seen when I come out of the shower.

At first I tell myself it’s fine. He needs space. I need space. We’re just adjusting to one another. A lot has gone on.

First Vlad, then Takumi.

I know he has questions, but I'm not ready to give him the answers.

The hours stretch as I busy myself, turning on my laptop, logging remotely onto the work servers and checking the security dashboards. Matteo and I both brought our laptops. Work never fully switches off, even when we pretend it does.

At least it keeps my mind off where Matteo might be. I check my texts. Then get up and check my outfit for the wedding. Then check my texts again.

Soon it will be time for us to leave for the barbecue tonight. I try not to watch the clock, but I do it anyway. Then I check for texts again, then go back to my laptop, feeling restless.

Stop. Start. Stop. Start.

Unable to focus, I reach for my phone again, Matteo’s name hovers there, but I can't bring myself to press the call button.

What would I even say?

Where are you? Why did you leave? Are we okay?

I refuse to be relegated to the role of an insecure … what is it that I am to him? I'm not sure, because we haven't talked about that. I didn't introduce him as my boyfriend to Takumi, either.

What are we?

I don’t know the answer.

Instead I call Arthur and Irene, checking in on them, feeling grounded as soon as I hear their familiar voices. Then I return to my phone, then my laptop, all the while pausing, listening, waiting for him to walk through the door while I pretend to be busy.

An hour later there’s still no sign of him, so I start to get ready slowly, hoping he'll turn up soon. I try not to think too hard about what tonight is going to be. Or tomorrow.

Vlad and Matteo in the same space, with Takumi and 'the others' around.

What have I let myself in for?

I get into the dress I’ve chosen to wear tonight, but struggle to do it up at the back, so I leave it half undone. I start to put on a touch of makeup, then panic as I see the time. I don't want us to be late, and we are already cutting it fine.

Matteo finally appears thirty minutes before we’re due to leave. He walks in like nothing has happened. Doesn't offer an explanation either, and mutters that he'll be quick.