Page 21 of Matteo

“Miss Raven. He’s expecting you. The elevator. He knows. Don’t worry. He’s in the meeting room this time. Follow me, please.”

I do as she says.

“Were all the elevators down?” I ask.

“No, just the one.”

As we approach a door, I hear loud noises coming from inside the room. The receptionist pauses.

“Oh dear,” she murmurs.

“You went behind my back!” a man bellows.

“I own this company and I can do as I please.” The reply is clipped and controlled, yet filled with quiet rage.

My stomach knots. I feel my pulse racing. “I’m so late,” I say, feeling queasy and unsure.

The receptionist knocks and the arguing stops. A second later, the door swings open. Paul Knight is standing in the doorway, looking as charming and as intimidating as only he can. Not a trace of the confrontation remains on his face.

He seems a little different today. A little tired, maybe? I’ve met him a couple of times before and he’s always looked perfectly groomed and prepared for anything. The lines around his pale blue, almost grey, eyes seem more pronounced than usual. But his silver hair is as smooth as ever. Not a strand out of place. He’s tall and solid, almost like he's made from steel. Cold in a controlled, intimidating way, and even though we've met before, I'm still not used to being around him.

“Elizabeth Raven is here,” the receptionist announces. She gives me a reassuring smile and leaves.

“Sorry I’m late,” I mumble, staring at Mr. Knight.

“Miss Raven. At last, you’re here,” he says calmly, shaking my hand. In my periphery I see someone pacing around the room.

“I’m sorry I’m late. The elevator stopped working.”

“I know. Don’t worry. Come on inside, Elizabeth. I don’t bite.”

“The hell you don’t,” the guy pacing around mumbles.

I know that voice. In that same instant, he stops pacing. My gaze falls on him and my throat dries instantly.

It’s him. Matteo. The elevator guy.

Charged silence fills the room.

Somehow I manage to put one foot in front of the other and move into the room. There’s a large glass table. A projector. Everything’s set up for my presentation.

Only, my world has imploded and suddenly, I’m all over the place. My breath stutters and in the pit of my stomach I know instinctively that the guy I thought was a janitor, is clearly not a janitor. Or a maintenance man.

Not if he’s here in a room with Paul Knight.

Arguing with Paul Knight.

He looks equally stunned, but masks it quickly.

“Everything is all set for you to start,” Paul says, oblivious to everything.

“You’re not the janitor?” My shock gives way to clumsiness and the words fall out.

Paul stops, looks at me, then at Matteo. “A janitor?” he asks, in disbelief. Then he laughs. “You thought he was the janitor?” He nods at Matteo. “When you dress like that, what do you expect?” he says to him.

Matteo glares at Paul, then at me.

“This is Matteo, my son.” Paul spits the word “son” out like it’s a curse.