Page 56 of Matteo

“I've met people with computer science degrees who couldn't think their way out of a paper bag.”

A smile tugs at Matteo's mouth.

“And where did you learn?”

I shrug.

“From people who were already doing it.”

“What people?”

I think of Vlad.

“Friends. Mentors. The internet. You'd be surprised what you can learn when nobody's willing to teach you the conventional way.”

“Tell me.”

I shrug. “One of my mentors used to say curiosity was worth more than a degree.” I fear I’ve said too much when, luckily, his cell phone starts to ring.

“We don’t tell a soul,” he says, staring at it but not answering. “You haven’t mentioned this to anyone already, have you?”

“I haven't said a word. I’ve only told you now.”

“This stays between us.”

“Between us.”

He lets out another heavy breath, like this was the last thing he needed. I think I understand. Dealing with a faceless, nameless villain is easier in some ways than knowing that the threat came from inside.

That someone you trust is behind this.

“I’ll see you on Monday,” I say, as he answers his phone call.

Chapter 16

ELIZABETH

It's past noon when Matteo walks into the office. I heard the guys mention that he'd be in late, but I didn't catch the reason why. I brush it off like a spiderweb, why I'm being so nosy.

Something’s happened. He looks pensive, with his head down, and moving differently. Not with his usual confident strides. There's a roughness around him which has nothing to do with his messy hair, or the way he’s dressed. He looks almost dishevelled. Matteo never looks like that.

I figure it’s something personal. Not about work, because he hasn’t even approached me. I was looking forward to discussing what we’d discovered over the weekend but when he disappears into his office without looking at anyone, I know that I need to leave him alone.

It’s almost eight o'clock when I lean back in my chair, rubbing my eyes. The lab is quiet and mostly everyone has gone home.

I’ve been at this for hours, getting so carried away that I worked through my lunchtime with nothing but a bag of nuts to keep me going. This happens to me sometimes, when I'm in the zone.

Now my stomach is starting to rumble; a sign that I need to go home. I quickly glance over my shoulder and see Matteo still sitting at his desk. He’s always the last one to leave. I have no idea how late he stays, but I’m not going to stick around to find out.

I glance at him again, and wonder if I should check in on him before I leave. Something’s obviously playing on his mind, but do I really need to know what it is?

But then I push back my chair before I overthink it and talk myself out of it. I’ve spent enough time around Arthur and Irene to recognize when someone is carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders.

Everything about Matteo sets off the same alarm bells for me. The tension in his posture. The distant look in his eyes. He’s been staring at this screen for the last half an hour without touching the keyboard.

I knock on his door and poke my head in. He looks up, his expression lost and distant.

“Everything okay?” I ask.