Page 28 of Matteo

“No. I'm not. I guess none of us are.” I stare the old man him down with a pointed look. “Do whatever the hell you want. I'll adjust accordingly.”

The old man clasps his hands together and rests them on the desk. “I just need her to get the job done.”

“Get what job done?” Rio asks, suddenly appearing. “What’s with the noise?”

“Her?” Enzo asks, looking at me. “You hired a woman? Well done. About time, too.”

“A woman in tech, brother?” Dex nudges me on his way out. “Didn’t see that one coming.”

“I didn’t hire her, he did.” My fists are curled by my sides as I glare at the old man.

“Tell that to Raquel.” Dex grins. “She'll be thrilled to hear Knight Enterprises finally found a woman for something other than marketing.”

“Who’s been hired for what job?” Rio asks, looking around at everyone for answers.

“Matteo has a new hire in the tech lab. And it’s a woman.” Jett walks out, followed by Zach.

“What's her background?” Rio wants to know.

“No idea,” I snap. “Apparently I’m the last person anyone felt the need to tell.”

Whether that means keeping my distance from Elizabeth if he hires her, or figuring out why the hell she’s here in the first place. Because nobody walks into a job with Knight Enterprises easily. And nobody lands an interview with Paul Knight by accident.

And I don’t believe in coincidences.

Chapter 9

ELIZABETH

I haven't checked in on Arthur and Irene for a few days. Not since I had the interview at Knight Enterprises.

After the presentation I went back home and finished working on a penetration-testing report for a client. I had some things to figure out, and I used being busy to block out all thoughts about the interview.

And to block out Matteo Knight.

I haven't heard anything back from Knight Enterprises. Not that I expected to hear anything. It's only been two days, and the weekend is here.

All I've done today is bake.

It's what I do when I'm stressed.

I love to bake because it reminds me of one of my foster homes. The woman who took me in was a free spirit with a huge heart. She baked every day and I’d wake up to the warm, comforting aroma of freshly baked bread and cakes drifting through the house.

It made the place feel safe.

Now, whenever I’m stressed, I do the same. I bake muffins, cookies, brownies and bread. There’s a senior center nearby, and I often volunteer there, taking whatever I’ve baked that morning.

Arthur always knows when I’ve been baking because the smell floats over to his place, and before long he’s knocking on my door, hoping I’ve made enough to share.

I always do.

When, later, there's a knock on my door, I instinctively know that it's Arthur. I have a feeling that he's been worried about me because I haven’t popped over in a few days. I wish I had now, because the last thing he needs is someone else to worry about.

I open the door to find him staring at me. “We haven’t seen you, Lizzie.”

I smile. “I’m good, just baking. But you've left Irene all alone.” I always worry about Irene being left alone, and I glance over his shoulder, surprised to see that his door is shut. He leaves it open when he wants a quick chat, and always has one eye on his door.

“Her friend Mona is over. They’re watching an old movie.”