Chapter 19

HAZEL'S POV~







"I didn't know him when I met him."





I excused myself, heading towards the mini bar across the room. Although many filled glasses sat on the counter, I chose to pour mine directly from the bottle into an open glass. It is a habit I developed after working with Jimmy for years. Thinking about Jimmy, I wonder how he is doing now. Even though Matteo refused to tell me what happened at the club I know it likely didn't go well.



I wasn't really worried about him, he was mostly unkind to me but I still was grateful to him for taking me in. After all, I wouldn't be here today had it not been for his single act of kindness. I wondered how Nick and Gracie were doing, even my mom. I made a mental note to request a phone to make a few calls. I needed to hear from Miss Walters, she is probably worried about my whereabouts seeing as I haven't visited for days now.



"What is a beautiful damsel like you doing here by herself?" A deep voice asked from behind. I groaned within, I would never get used to this kind of conversation at parties. It's as if men can hardly understand what privacy means. I mean can't a girl be by herself? How was that absurd? Turning to face the stranger and ready to give him a piece of my mind, I paused as I saw the face in front of me.



His eyes reminded me of mine. It was like I knew this person but I don't recall ever meeting him. His aura was comforting, a weird comfort. Somehow the anger I felt earlier drained completely as my eyes scored around his face. A smile pulled up his lips when he caught my eyes.



"Hey," he greeted me with a strange emotion watching me with the same curious gaze I had on. "Do I know you from somewhere?" He asked, pointing out his finger, cocking his head, and raising an eyebrow in confusion.



"I don't think we've met but your face does look familiar to me," I replied, still observing him. He was dressed in a pinstripe suit that hugged his form well.



"I'm sure I wouldn't forget a face like yours," it sounded like he was flirting with me while teasing me. "So what are you doing here alone?" He asked again.

"I'm not alone" I replied shrugging "In here with Matteo," his eyes widen in surprise.



"Matteo? As in, the Matteo Castello?" he asked before looking around as if trying to locate Matteo. "I didn't expect him to be. Not after he turned down my invitation" he muttered to himself as he watched Matteo who was still discussing with Marcus. "I can't believe you came here with him. I can't imagine myself being around that guy for a second" he snorted "We definitely were at each other's throats the whole time."



"Tell me about it," I chimed in, drowning the whole glass of wine in one go. I needed a booster if I was going to be here the whole night. The eyes I was feeling on me were draining my confidence.



"That guy needs to chill. Someone needs to pour a bucket of cold water on him to calm all that rage." I burst into a fit of laughter as I imagined someone doing that. That person would have to kill him or herself after that. The noise in the room suddenly became louder indicating that the party was about to start. He said I couldn't hear, when he leaned over to speak to me, my eyes caught Matteo's gaze.



He stared at us for a few seconds and I saw the intense anger flash through his eyes. He walked over causing Dimitri to lean back. The man gave him a smile ignoring the glare Matteo was giving him.



As we talked, a man came over to us, cutting our conversation short.

"Castello," he smiled at Matteo before turning to Dimitri with a frown.



"Markov, you weren't invited," I didn't know that.



"Yeah I know, that's why I invited myself," he replied, smirking proudly. The man whom I didn't know his name ignored his rude presence before turning back to Matteo.



"The room is ready, please come along" he bowed slightly urging Matteo to lead the way.



"What? Only him," Dimitri sure knew how to get on this man's nerves. I couldn't help but smile at his statement. The man shit him a dirty look.



"Since you'll invite yourself anyway. I don't think that's necessary," Dimitri grinned mischievously before walking toward the direction the man came from.



"Sir," the man said again to Matteo, who wrapped his hands around my waist. We followed behind Dimitri and he whistled all day. The other man walked behind us, his eyes watching me in curiosity. I could tell from the mirrors on the walls of the corridors we passed.

We came to a room where two buff guys stood at the front. They both bowed in greeting, opening the door for us.





We stepped into a large meeting room. There were already about ten men sitting quietly around the huge table in the middle. Marcus, who was among them, sent a smile my way, the other men watched In curiosity.



"Who is she?" One of them was situated close to where we stood. Staring at me with disgust in his eyes. "Don't tell me you brought one of your puttana to this meeting?" I understand that he had just insulted me. I have heard Matteo use that word to address people whenever he was angry. I stared back at the man unamused. He didn't intimidate me in any way. I chuckled under my breath when he finally looked away. I was mocking him and everyone in the room was aware. I could see Dimitri smiling from the corner of my eye.



"She?" Matteo asked, looking at me before turning to the room. "She's my fiancée," he finished. What? Fiancée?

Tell me he didn't just introduce me as his fiancée to everyone. His hand which was still on my back gripped me tightly as if telling me to go along with it. For now, I chose to remain silent.



"Well guys, let's start," said the man who escorted us earlier to the room. We settled down to the empty seats beside Marcus. I sat facing Dimitri who was still smiling at me.



Thirty minutes into the meeting, I was already bored. I could hardly understand what these men were saying as they conversed in different languages switching to English from time to time. I learned that the man who had escorted us here is a Mexican and his name was, Gutiérrez. He was the host of the party that was currently going on upstairs while we were stuck in this boring room discussing business. I knew they weren't ordinary businessmen, from their harsh remarks to mentions of warehouses and some other things. I have my guess on what they do but I don't want to conclude yet.



I sipped my wine noisily moaning at the satisfying taste of it. From the rim of the glass, I could see their faces on my but I ignored them pretending like I didn't notice their stares.



"Matteo, you haven't properly introduced her to us," Byron, one of the men, said with an amused smile.



"For someone who makes all that sum of money, I would expect you to put a large diamond on her finger yet we see nothing," Dimitri was the person who said that. I was starting to think Dimitri's problem wasn't Matteo but his mouth. He can't keep his opinions to himself.



"Oh, he sure did. Only we wanted it to be a surprise," I replied shrugging. It wasn't anyone's concern if he put on a ring or not. It's not like we are actually engaged or something but they didn't do that.



"And you are okay with it?" The asshole who I earlier stood up mocked letting out unamused laughter.



"It's not any of your concern now, is it?" I asked him a cold look from the spot where I sat which was a little bit further from him. He didn't like it.

"Mind the way you talk to me little girl or..." I cut him off.



"Or what? You will spank me?" I scoffed, "Why don't you try doing that and see what happens?" As expected the asshole turned to Matteo before clearing his throat and backing down. I didn't even know what I was doing. I'm just following my instincts whereas I'm panicking within.



The whole room remained silent after that confrontation, no one said a word, not even the Mexican who was anchoring the meeting. Everyone's eyes were on me, Marcus gave me an encouraging look while Dimitri was smiling sheepishly. I cast a sideways glance to see even Matteo lift his lips in a smile, shock rattled me.



"Now that she has made it clear our engagement is no one's business, we will be on our way," with that he stood up bringing me along with him. I sent Dimitri a wave which Matteo saw and tightened his grip on my hands.



"Leave me alone, can't you see you are hurting me" I screamed out when we finally got home as he dragged me to his office. Mikhail and the other guys came out to see what was going on. Matteo didn't stop, rather he dragged me all the way to his office slamming the door shut behind us.



"What's your problem?" I hissed, rubbing the bruised spot when he finally let go.



"My problem? My problem is you," he screamed. "What don't you ever follow my orders? What's with you and flirting with men? I warned you to stay away from everyone at that party especially Markov yet you went ahead, disobeying me laughing and blushing with him," he rushed out breathing heavily. I don't see anything wrong with what I did in fact he needed to thank me for saving his stupid ass after he had gone and lied about us being engaged.



"Listen, I don't know what your problem is but clearly it's not me. If you think you can order me around like that then you are mistaken. I don't work for you" I seethed looking into his dark angry eyes. I was not afraid of him, he can do his worst for all I care.



He drew me to his chest and kissed me. He was kissing me! Holy cow! This was what I least expected. I moaned into the kiss wrapping my hands around his neck as he groaned, pulling me even closer to him.



This was wrong, I knew I needed to stop but I couldn't help it. My brain was thinking one thing and my body was doing another. I placed my hands on his chest to push him off but felt myself pulling even closer. He plunged his tongue battling for dominance as my hands ran through his silk hair.



Whatever was between us crackled and burned to life. He kissed me with so much frustration like he was me.



"Matteo," I moaned as he trailed kisses down my jawline and neck. His hands ran down my waist stopping just above my butt. I breathed out before latching back to his lips, we were basically past kissing. At this rate, we were eating each other's faces.



He suddenly pulled away creating a gap between us. "Matt..." He hissed, cutting me off. He looked at me with so much spite as if he was regretting what just happened now.



"Just... leave," he said before turning away from me. My breath shook as I tried to contain my emotions.



Don't cry.



Don't cry.



I couldn't stop a tear from down my eyes. I brushed it off immediately and rushed out of the office without looking back.