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“Honey, that man is obsessed with you.”
“That may be true, but he doesn’t want to be.”
“Give it time. Matteo isn’t used to this.”
“What, and I am?” I push my plate away. Emma pushes it right back in front of me.
“I didn’t say that. Just trust me when I say he wants you here.”
“As much as the strippers he was with the other night?”
“Strippers?”
“Are you surprised?”
“Yes.” I glance over to her, but she doesn’t say more. As nice as Emma has been to me, I’m still an outsider. Still, I don’t think she would lie to me. Why would she be shocked about the stripper thing?
“Can I ask you something?”
“You can ask me anything.”
“And you’ll answer it?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Has Matteo been staying here?”
“You mean at night?” I nod. “Would it bother you if he didn’t?”
“I thought I was asking the questions.”
“He’s been staying at his condo in the city.”
That feels like the final blow. “I’m sorry. I’m really not hungry.” I get up from my chair. “Think I'll go lie down.”
“All right.” Emma sighs, not fighting me about it.
If he doesn’t have to be here, then I don’t have to be in his stupid bedroom. I plan to remedy that immediately.
9
MATTEO
“Are you going to get up anytime, boss?” Sergio asks. I groan, my head pounding. Was I hit by a fucking bus? No, Mona O'Haire was the one who hit me. Even when I sleep, she’s there, driving me insane.
“Fuck off.” My whole body hurts.
"I assume you don't want an update on Mona, then?" I open my eyes to see the high ceiling in my office. I must have fallen asleep on the couch here. I sit up, making my headache worse. Three days of hell. That’s what I’ve been in, and I did the one thing I told myself I never would. I drowned myself in alcohol. It was the only way I could find sleep. Never in my life have I been turned this upside down.
I went over to my desk, popped something for this headache, and chased it down with water before motioning for Sergio to spit it out.
“You can’t keep this up.”
“I didn’t ask for your opinion. Now, out with it.” I usually spend most of my time in my condo in the city, but since Mona, I've been staying out on the estate more often. Well, that was the case until a few days ago. I knew staying at the condo was just another way for me to keep her out of sight. To keep her hidden. To not give in to the urges I have for her.
“She’s been keeping to the bedroom.”
Days ago, I wanted to keep her locked in it. Now I'm frustrated that she refuses to leave it. I run my hand down my face. “Is she eating?” I am keeping track of everything.