Matteo’s knee tapped restlessly beneath the polished conference table. He had been trapped in back-to-back meetings all day, meticulously preparing for the grand opening of the new track. This final session involved six of his most significant investors, and he knew he should be fully attentive. Yet, his eyes kept drifting toward the hallway, stealing glances at the direction of Genevieve’s office. Just minutes earlier, he had witnessed Raphael make his move. That bastard was cunning—waiting for the most critical meeting, the one Matteo couldn’t possibly excuse himself from, to conduct his little investigation.

Raphael was Alessio’s trusted right-hand man, and not without merit. The man was like a walking lie detector, able to unravel secrets with a few carefully chosen questions. He had the uncanny ability to reduce a warlord to tears, extract classified information from dictators, and even convince a nun to abandon her vows. Matteo had known Raphael for nearly twenty years, and only twice had he seen women pierce through his carefully crafted facade.

“Mr. Accardi?” Bella, his PR representative, interrupted his distracted thoughts.

“Hm?” Matteo murmured, his gaze still locked on the open doorway of Genevieve’s office.

Suddenly, a hand rested lightly on his thigh, yanking his attention away from the hallway. He shot her a cold, hard look, his expression tightening into a steely glare. Bella quickly withdrew her hand, a blush creeping up her cheeks.

“Uh, Mr. Ludwig was asking you a question,” she stammered, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and stepping back slightly.

“What?” Matteo growled, snapping back to the meeting.

Mr. Ludwig chuckled softly. “It’s alright, Miss Kennedy. It’s been a long day for all of us. Maybe we should wrap things up?”

At that moment, Raphael emerged from Genevieve’s office, wearing a grin that stretched from ear to ear. Matteo’s fists clenched so tightly on the table that the pain was almost a relief. Around the table, the other investors chatted about when they might meet again. His breath caught as he waited for Raphael to pass by. When he finally did, Raphael glanced up, raised his hand, and gave Matteo a thumbs-up. The sharp intake of breath Matteo drew caught the attention of everyone present. His eyes flicked back toward Genevieve’s office, only to find her glaring at him, arms crossed defiantly. He didn’t care. He couldn’t.

Rising from his chair, Matteo began shaking hands with the investors, thanking them for their time. All he wanted was to clear the room so he could find Genevieve and explain everything. Turning away from the windows to gather his remaining papers, he heard a throat clear beside him. Glancing left, he realized everyone had left—except Bella.

“What is it, Bella?” he asked, his voice sharp.

“I just wanted to apologize…” she began.

Matteo straightened, towering over her in a deliberate show of authority. “We’ve discussed this before, Miss Kennedy. Our relationship is strictly professional. Especially now. The next time you touch me, you’ll be out of here. Understood?”

He watched as she swallowed nervously, her eyes wide and blinking rapidly. “Yes, sir. Sorry again.”

Bella turned to leave but froze when she noticed Alexander and Genevieve standing in the doorway. Matteo tried to read Genevieve’s complicated expression—she looked almost excited, but beneath that was a simmering anger.

“Oh, hello, you must be Miss Sinclair. I’m Bella, nice to meet you,” Bella said, extending her hand.

Genevieve smiled tightly, shaking Bella’s hand. “Pleasure,” she replied, casting a quick glance at Matteo.

Bella finally sidestepped the pair as Alexander stepped further into the room.

Breaking the thick tension, Alexander spoke, “Mr. Accardi, that was the last meeting today if—”

“He has one more,” Genevieve interrupted, locking eyes with Matteo while crossing her arms and cocking her hip.

Alexander flipped through his notebook nervously. “I… right.”

Matteo smirked at the flustered man. “It’s fine, Alexander. I’ll speak with Miss Sinclair alone. You can head home. Thanks for your hard work today.”

Alexander exchanged a suspicious look between Matteo and the new accountant before nodding and leaving.

Once the door clicked shut, Genevieve let out a breath. “I want to talk.”

“I gathered as much,” Matteo said, stepping closer and leaning against the table.

She glanced toward the hallway where Alexander was packing up. “Is there somewhere private? Somewhere no one can watch us?”

Matteo raised an amused brow. “There is one place. Follow me.” He gathered his papers and opened the door for her, gesturing toward his office. He trailed behind, admiring the way her fitted dress hugged her curves and the elegant updo that revealed the graceful line of her neck. Shaking off the distraction, he moved ahead to stand in front of his office door. She gave him a skeptical look before stepping inside. Closing the door behind them, Matteo headed to his desk while Genevieve’s eyes wandered over the paintings, certificates, and awards lining the walls. Finding the remote, he switched the glass walls to tinted, dimming the view.

Genevieve turned, raising an eyebrow. “Doesn’t look very private.”

Matteo chuckled. “We can see out, but no one can see in.”

“Hm.”

Taking a seat to avoid the urge to pin her against the wall, Matteo gestured toward the chair opposite him. “Sit down, Gen. How was your first day?”

Genevieve sighed and settled in. “Busy.”

“In a good way?”

Her jaw tightened, and when her eyes met his, the anger she’d been holding back flared again. “Where the hell do you get off sending that man to badger me with questions?”

Leaning forward, Matteo clasped his fingers together. “I didn’t send him.”

“So he just showed up out of nowhere?”

“No,” he said, shaking his head. “My cousin Alessio sent him. He’s worried about my state of mind and wanted to make sure you weren’t a plant.”

“A plant?” Genevieve furrowed her brows, a cute look of confusion crossing her face.

“We’ve had a lot of bad luck in my… other business. Alessio was just looking out for me. If I hadn’t been stuck with investors, I would have come in to drag Raphael out myself. But as you probably realized, Raphael is a formidable opponent. He timed his arrival perfectly.”

Genevieve seemed to accept his explanation, relaxing slightly in her chair. “He’s a fucking asshole,” she muttered, making Matteo laugh. A satisfied smile tugged at her lips. “So, what was my report? Did I pass?”

“By all accounts, with flying colors,” he said. She sat straighter, basking in the praise of passing one of the mafia’s tests. “He didn’t…” Matteo paused, waiting for her response. “He didn’t touch you, did he?”

Genevieve shrugged. “No more than any other creep would. He kissed the back of my hand,” she said with a casual shrug.

Matteo’s relaxed hand suddenly curled into a fist. “What?”

Her eyes widened. “It’s okay. It was nothing.”

“Not to me. I’ll deal with him,” Matteo vowed firmly.

Genevieve sighed and rose, pacing the room as if wrestling with her thoughts. Standing by the window, she watched employees in the neighboring building lock up for the day. Matteo joined her, slipping his hands into his pockets to resist the urge to reach out to her.

“You asked how my day was.”

“Yes.”

“It was awful,” she admitted with a heavy sigh. Shaking her head, she took a deep breath. “I could feel you watching me. I kept wondering if the next person to walk in would be you. When it wasn’t, I was… disappointed. I kept thinking about that woman… Miss Kennedy?” Genevieve laughed, uncrossing her arms and wiping her cheeks as if to cool them before covering her face. “I kept wondering if something was going on between you two.” She laughed behind her hands.

Matteo turned to face her fully. “Genevieve…”

“I can’t do this,” she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.