Page 35 of Matteo

“Listen. You cannot hit on women. No jokes, nothing lewd, no “you look pretty,” comments. I refer you to our handbook. This is a professional environment and I expect you all to treat her with the respect she deserves.”

“Why is she the only woman who's ever worked here?” Alex asks.

That's a good question. I clear my throat, because I'm not sure of how to answer that.

“It's just that we ... uh ... we don't hire based on gender. I've only looked at resumes and how a candidate shows up. Turns out that we've only ever had men apply for a role here, and the two women who did come for an interview, weren't better than the others.”

“And this one?” Joel asks.

I throw my hands up. “I don't know. I've only seen her do one presentation. I don't know how many others my father interviewed. I suggest you go and question him if you need answers.”

Joel rubs his hands together. “I can't wait to see her.”

I huff out an irritated breath. “I'm warning you, Joel. I don't want any reports of sexual harassment on this floor. Is that understood?”

“Chill, boss. I'm not that kinda guy. I just happen to think it's nice having a female down here. I think it'll balance the energy around this place.”

“Balance the energy?” I lift a brow.

“This place is filled with testosterone.”

“I'm looking forward to meeting her if she's as smart as you say,” says Sonny.

They all look at me expectantly.

“What?” I don't know what more information I can give them.

“There's a but,” Alex says.

“What do you mean there's a ‘but?’”

“We can tell, boss. We know that face. There's a ‘but’. What's the ‘but?’” Sonny is insistent.

There is no but.

“You don't like her,” says Alex. I find it unnerving how he's so right, so many times.

I take a few moments, then own up. “It's not that I don't like her. What I don't like is the way my father went behind my back. I feel a little blindsided, if I'm being honest.”

“We get you.” Sonny nods, understanding.

“That's all for now. Her name is Elizabeth Raven and she starts soon. She will report to me. Please make her feel welcome.”

After they leave, I'm left sitting in my office wondering how the hell I’m going to handle working with her.

Chapter 11

ELIZABETH

I walk into the lobby of the Knight Enterprises building and go to one of the three smartly dressed women receptionists behind the reception desk.

I tell her that it’s my first day and I’m working for Matteo Knight in cybersecurity.

She flashes me a friendly smile, before picking up the phone and less than a minute later, another woman comes out and greets me.

“You're working in tech?” she asks, sounding slightly surprised. She's smartly dressed; her dark hair neatly tied back into a ponytail.

“Yes.” I feel a little nervous already, going in on my first day, and the way she asks the question unnerves me a little.