Page 60 of Matteo

He doesn’t love his father.

It must be difficult to work for a man who has untold billions. Whose legacy, one day, Matteo and his brothers will inherit.

“They remind me what matters,” I say thinking about them again, recalling how they make me feel. Even Irene, whom I don't get as much time with because some days she's more confused than others. “They don't care about money, job titles, or whether I've had a good week at work. They care whether I've eaten, whether I'm sleeping enough, whether I'm happy. Being around them slows me down. Makes me stop worrying about things that won't matter in ten years.” I smile. “They make the world feel a little less lonely.”

“Are you lonely?” he asks, his voice low.

I press my lips together, feeling my insides turn hollow. There are a hundred answers for that one question, and I can’t go there. Not right now. Not with him.

I have questions of my own, and I’m curious about his family dynamics. “Do you work for him because you have no choice, because he’s your father and it’s expected?”

He almost chokes on his beer. “Is that what you think?”

“I’m asking. Maybe answer my question this time.”

He goes quiet for a while. Then, “We work here because it’s what is expected,” he says slowly. “Because it’s easy. I didn’t have to interview for this role. I was just given it.” He winces, like it’s painful to admit being a nepo baby.

“Tell me more.”

“What do you want to know?” he asks, frowning.

“Whatever you want to tell me.”

“I started working here, in the tech lab at the age of twenty-one, shadowing the guy who headed up this department before I took it over from him. He was Alex's boss, and I replaced him.”

I whistle. “You can’t have been popular, a young kid replacing someone who’s been there for years.

He looks sheepish. “They must all have hated me.”

I whistle, just trying to imagine that scenario. “They must have.”

“But Alex saved me. He could have hated me when I took over from his boss, but he didn't.” Matteo blows out a breath, as if he’s reliving that time. “Most of the team left when the boss left. I was too young and too stupid, excited, too, about my role and title to notice much, or care. I was twenty-one.”

“Twenty-one. Not so young.”

“Okay, smart ass.”

I grin.

“The people who stayed didn't really like me, either. Alex was the only one who seemed okay with me. I knew then that he was a good guy. He should have hated me, for the nepotism, for taking over when I clearly didn't have the experience, but he didn’t write me off immediately. He gave me a chance, and for that I’m eternally grateful.”

“You owe him for saving your butt.”

“I do.” He nods. “He saw me putting in the hours, long into the early mornings, and over the weekends. I’ve proved myself now, but back then it was a different ballgame. Now, he's my right-hand man. But we all did that, my brothers and I,” he pauses for a few seconds, as if he’s thinking about it. “But over time, as soon as we hit that age, the old man brought us into the business. Nepotism helped me to get here faster than I ever could have on my own, but I've had to work hard, often working through the night, to prove myself. I think they respect me now. I think I’ve earned my place.”

“I’d say you have.” I’ve heard Alex and the guys talk about Matteo when he’s not around and it’s always with respect.

I wipe my mouth and sit back, feeling fully sated.

“You stayed late,” he says. “Don’t like going back to an empty apartment?”

He’s fishing for information. I do go back to an empty apartment, but I like being by myself, and if I’m ever feeling lonely, I just go over and see Arthur and Irene.

“I thought we were going to talk about work,” I say in a shaky voice.

“I don’t want to talk about work today.”

My heart does a somersault inside my chest. Matteo’s gaze is cool and steady, and I feel out of my depth. I can handle guys, and things rarely faze me, but Matteo isn’t just an average guy. How we met wasn’t just an average meeting, but from having that experience, I find myself feeling things for him, about him. Even now, I’m starting to get all flustered, and this wine bar suddenly feels hot and small, as if the walls are closing in on me.