Page 19 of Matteo

“I’m not most people.”

“I can see that,” she says.

“Does that feel good, Elizabeth?”

She nods.

“Want me to stop?” It’s a loaded question, and in this moment where time seems to stop, I feel something stirring deep inside me. This was supposed to be a routine workday morning. A meeting with the old man, then drinks and dinner in the evening.

From what I’ve observed, this woman—Liz, Lizzie, Elizabeth—whose wrists feel like they were made for me to stroke, doesn’t seem to conform easily, and though she tries to hide it, I sense she’s a bit of a rebel, like me.

For the briefest of seconds I wonder what she’d make of the puzzle that is my family. What she’d make of my brothers and the old man.

She clears her throat and I lean forward, eager to catch her words, but before she can say anything, a sharp click breaks the silence. A low mechanical hum follows. The lights flicker again. Our hands spring apart. The air changes. Becomes colder. I look up to see the floor indicator flashing.

I look at Elizabeth, and our gazes lock in an indecisive moment.

Who are we?

Do we walk away as strangers or try to exchange numbers?

My heart thuds in a way that is alien to me.

A voice comes through the intercom. “You’re good to go, folks. Sorry for any inconvenience.”

Everything snaps back to normal. Elizabeth lets out a breath, and a little laugh that sounds so false. Slowly, we both rise to standing.

“I guess it’s all back to normal now.” Her voice is a whisper.

“Told you it would be.” A surge of disappointment lances through me. I shove my hands into my pockets, wishing I’d heard what she was going to say. The timing was off, again.

How long were we trapped in here? Twenty minutes? Thirty? It felt like so much more, and yet not enough. Like we were more than just two trapped strangers. She wobbles as she tries to slide one foot into her stiletto. I crouch down and turn the shoe the right way up. Her dainty foot slides in easily.

“Thank you,” she murmurs, before sliding her foot into the other one.

I look up at her, and something shifts in her expression. I swallow, feeling like my insides are in tumult. The gentle press of her hand on my shoulder sends a jolt inside me. I swallow, then slowly stand, even though I’m starting to feel a little unbalanced as if the earth has shifted around me.

Something happened but I’m not sure what.

“Where are you going again?” I ask, heart thumping. I don’t understand this effect she has on me.

She opens her mouth, but before she can answer, the elevator doors slide open and Eddie stands waiting outside. The moment he sees me, his eyes widen in shock. “Mr. Kni—”

“It’s all good,” I say, interrupting.

“Sorry this happened it was a—”

“Not now, Eddie. You can explain later.”

I glance over my shoulder, hoping Elizabeth didn’t hear all that. She’s slipped on her jacket and picked up her large bag but now her eyes avoid mine. We step out of the elevator, like guilty teenagers, and face one another.

“Good luck with your presentation,” I say to her, wondering who she’s here to see.

“Good luck with wherever you were going.” She makes to move away, then pauses. “I don’t even know your name.”

I hesitate a moment. If she gets the job, I’ll see her again, and if she doesn’t, then it was never meant to be. “Matteo.”

Her expression softens. “Matteo.” I love how she says it. I love how it sounds so soft and new on her tongue. “Have a great day, Matteo.”