She nodded to Matteo. “Sure.”
Matteo stepped closer and turned his phone so Eleni could see the screen as well.
The image of a pretty brunette appeared. She had large eyes similar to her brother, but instead of blue, they shone in a rich green.
Bianca’s mouth popped open, then her eyes flashed to Matteo. “Mattie, have you noticed that your assistant is as gorgeous as it gets?”
Matteo flinched as if he’d been kicked in the gut.
But Bianca had already turned her attention to Eleni. “Sorry if that came out all weird. I’m Bianca, Matteo’s sister. I was just checking whether he tried to cancel our call legitimately. He’s a workaholic. I thought maybe he invented you just to gain more time.”
Matteo snorted loudly and shifted his weight so the phone dipped a bit. He adjusted his hand.
Eleni bit her lip to stifle a laugh. It wouldn’t be wise to chuckle about her boss being scolded by his little sister.
“No problem, Bianca. I’m Eleni, and I’m your brother’s assistant. We just came back from a site-check, but it was all in vain, since the clients cancelled the dive. So Matteo’s got a free night. I was just saying good-bye.”
Bianca’s eyes widened. “Free night? And you were ignoring our call? You’ll pay for this, fratello, big time. I won’t be sending you my package with the new moka pot.”
She feigned a hurt look but the smile that crept to her lips gave her away.
Even if Bianca looked a lot like her brother, her theatrical and upbeat style was quite different. Eleni couldn’t help but feel an immediate sympathy toward her.
Matteo made puppy eyes at his sister. “Colpa mia, cara. But please don’t hold my life thread to good coffee hostage. All I can make here is dirty water.”
Eleni’s glance flicked to the giant filter coffee maker on the kitchen counter. She had the same one in their bungalow with Cath. But Eleni wasn’t a coffee addict, so it worked for her. Was it so difficult for a half-Italian to gulp down its result?
Bianca burst out laughing. “Fine, Mattie. Don’t worry. I’ll take it to the post tomorrow, as planned. But you should at least say hi to the rest of the folks. Then we leave you and Eleni”—her eyebrows wiggled—“to chat.”
Eleni’s cheeks grew hot. Oh, no, his sister had obviously drawn the wrong conclusion.
She threw a side-glance at Matteo whose neck was throbbing. Did he feel embarrassed, too? Was it because of the obvious misunderstanding?
Before she had time to ponder any further, Bianca turned her camera. A large, L-shaped couch showed on the screen. Five people sat on it, surrounded by fluffy cushions. Two young men, two young women, and a chubby old lady. They all beamed into the camera.
“Meet Famiglia Biagi, Eleni,” Bianca said.
Chapter 17
Matteo’s neck was covered in sweat pearls. What was his sister doing? Trying to humiliate him for life?
He slanted a look at Eleni’s face. She seemed a little flushed, but otherwise not shaken from his sister’s overwhelming style and cheeky comments. Maybe Eleni didn’t take it personally, because she considered the idea of something more between the two of them to be absurd?
A pang shot across his stomach. Why was he reacting this way? There was nothing between him and Eleni. He was her boss. He shouldn’t feel sorry if she found the situation perfect the way it was. Wasn’t it Matteo who wanted to avoid complications at work?
The smiling faces of his family members distracted him from his thoughts.
Holy cow, Bianca had truly gathered everyone. Even Luke was there. Everyone, except…
No, he shouldn’t be surprised that his father couldn’t make the call. Or feel bad about it. His father had to work for sure. It was a justified excuse.
“Mattie, honey, how are you keeping up?” Concetta’s double chin vibrated as she leaned forward. “You look all bones. What do they give you to eat on this island?”
The others laughed, and Matteo couldn’t suppress a smile. Good old Concetta, always worried that her little protégés didn’t eat enough. Only, they were all grown up now. They could look after themselves and didn’t need a bossy Neapolitan matron to keep them in line.
He beamed at his old nanny. “Don’t worry, Concetta, I won’t starve here, especially if my sister decides to come and visit me.”
Bianca popped her head into the screen from the side, covering most of the image. “Sorry, Mattie, I haven’t gotten around to it this month. But I will, I promise. I’ll cook you some decent food. Eleni, you’re also invited.” His sister winked.
Why did she have to keep on insisting like that? Didn’t she get the message that Eleni and he weren’t a thing? Even if Matteo’s own heart apparently had trouble accepting this fact.
Eleni smiled. “I’d like that, Bianca. I’m a big foodie, and Italian dishes are my favorite. Or at least the ones the restaurant in my hometown served.”
Eleni’s answer sounded sincere. Matteo threw her a side-glance. It was obvious why Bianca switched on her matchmaking skills. Eleni looked gorgeous with her loose updo and simple white blouse. Still, he couldn’t allow his sister to put Eleni on the spot like that.
He lowered his voice so only Eleni could hear. “You don’t have to agree with Bianca. My sister can be a little pushy. But she means well.”
“It’s okay, don’t worry. She seems like a very nice person,” Eleni whispered back.
Wasn’t she put off by his family’s loudness? This girl was full of surprises.
“What are you two whispering about?”
It was Luke’s voice.
Matteo turned back to the camera. “Nothing of your concern, Luke, but I’m sure glad to see you. We need to catch up one-on-one at some point.”
Had Luke come over tonight because he’d seen Matteo’s message? Was he disappointed Matteo wasn’t progressing as fast as they’d planned?
Luke brushed his cheeks with both hands. “Yeah. I saw your text. Don’t get discouraged. It might be only a myth, after all. Even if you don’t find the Pearl, we’ll still put together enough money for a decent start-up.”
Matteo shook his head. “No, Luke, I’ll find it. Just keep focusing on what you do. I’ve had a tip from a co-worker. It confirms that our original ideas were correct. I just need a bit more time.”
Ginevra, who was sitting beside Luke, gasped. “So the Pearl isn’t a fairy tale? I’m gonna have to pay you, Gio, after all.” She hit her brother’s shoulder with a gentle tap.
Giordano grinned and rubbed his hands.
Eleni stirred.
Matteo blinked at her. This was probably getting boring for Eleni. It was better to cut this conversation short.
Matteo cleared his throat. “Well, yes, I won’t reveal anything just yet. But rest assured, it’ll all work out fine. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to finish up with Eleni. It’s her free night too, after all. I can’t be the bad boss keeping her here without good reason.”
Eleni drew in a deep breath. Was she relieved that this awkward call was coming to an end?
Concetta waved with her palms. “Okay, go then. But eat more often, honey.”
“Bye-bye. Ciao ciao.” The others greeted them in chorus.
Luke held his hand up to his ear as if it were a phone. Yes, Matteo would need to call him more often.
Bianca switched back the camera’s angle, and her face emerged. Her eyebrows were high, almost touching her bangs. “Matt, what do I hear? You have a free night, Eleni has a free night, and you aren’t offering to cook dinner for her? Where are your manners, fratello?”
Bianca glanced at Eleni shaking her head as if trying to excuse herself on her brother’s behalf.
Eleni’s cheeks acquired a reddish tint, and she put up her hand. “Oh, no. That’s not necessary. I wanted to go back to my room and—”
Bianca wrinkled her nose. “Nonsense. You said you love Italian food. My brother isn’t such a great cook, but he is okay enough.” She squinted her eyes at
Matteo.
Matteo knew this look. He had seen it countless times when they were growing up. It was Bianca’s signature stare, used when she set her mind on something. She’d decided that Matteo needed to cook dinner for Eleni, and if he didn’t comply, Bianca would give him a hard time about it for…well, probably forever.
He sighed and shrugged. “Don’t worry, Bianca. It’ll be done. I’ll cook. But now, please let us end this call. I’ll check in with you guys next week.”
Bianca nodded. “Fine, but please make something yummy. What about a carbonara? Or a puttanesca? It’s quick but easy and—”
Matteo flared his nostrils. “Enough. We’ll pick our own food. Take care, Bi’!”
Hopefully Bianca got the message this time.
“Okay, I just wanted to help. Talk to you soon,” Bianca said.
The screen went black.
Well, this wasn’t the best example of keeping his work and private life separate. What must Eleni think of him and his family now? How could his sister be so obvious in her efforts to bring Eleni and Matteo together?
Pity his dad wasn’t on the call. He understood the importance of work. Of having a dream and a career. And how much a woman could mess everything up. Matteo groaned and turned to Eleni.
She was observing him from under her lashes. Oh, those long lashes. One glance at them stirred up weird feelings in his body.
He swallowed twice and said, “We don’t have to oblige my sister’s suggestion. I mean, I’m more than happy to cook dinner for you, but you shouldn’t stay just to make Bianca happy.”
Eleni touched her chin with her finger. “Won’t she find out you tricked her?”
“No, but even if she does, she’ll get over it. It was she who came up with this idea. She didn’t know you had other plans, so—”
“I don’t have other plans.” Eleni pressed her lips together as if she was sorry she said what she had.
A tingling ran down Matteo’s spine. Would it be so bad to have Eleni for dinner? His pulse quickened. It was just a dinner. A boss could offer a friendly dinner to his assistant, couldn’t he?
He glanced at her. “If you’re free, then please do stay. I was going to cook carbonara, as Bianca so wisely suggested.”
Eleni stared at him, her eyes wide. She didn’t answer.
Was she going to refuse? Didn’t she say she had no plans? His stomach churned.
A smile spread on Eleni’s lips. “Okay, that sounds great. Let’s have dinner then. Can I help you cook?”
No. All the cells of his body protested. His heart was already too taken with Eleni’s charm. The physical closeness that came from cooking together might make it impossible to keep his growing sensations at bay.
He shoved the disturbing thoughts aside. He was going to handle this. Yes, he was.
He nodded. “Sure, let me show you where everything is in the kitchen.”
Chapter 18
The delicious fragrance made Eleni’s stomach growl. She stabbed into her spaghetti, but managed to collect only a measly little bite. Ugh, now she remembered why she always opted for short-cut noodles.
Her eyes flicked to Matteo, who was rolling the strings, without any obvious effort, into neat bundles. Her gaze wandered back to her own fork, and she shrugged. Well, there were just things in life you had to learn early on. Eating spaghetti in a socially acceptable manner was probably one of them.
She stuffed the pasta in her mouth, biting through those long threads that remained dangling on her lips. Okay, this was definitely not her finest moment. But, heavens, was this carbonara good. Its rich but simple flavor seemed to tantalize all her taste buds.
Once she was done chewing and swallowing, she blinked at Matteo. “Wow, this is amazing. Are you sure you didn’t sneak in some secret ingredient when I wasn’t looking?”
Matteo grinned. “No, no. It’s just what you saw. But sometimes the simplest things are the hardest to cook. Or so my sister claims.”
“Is Bianca a cook or something?”
Matteo dried his mouth with a napkin. “Yes, she graduated from a culinary school before doing her degree in management. She’s very talented. After our conversation tonight, I doubt you’ll be able to avoid tasting her food.”
Eleni studied Matteo’s face. Why did he have that uneasy look? Was he upset that she had seen his family? After all, he was her boss. Maybe he felt uncomfortable that she had peeked into his private life like that.
Eleni’s ribcage constricted, and suddenly her appetite diminished. Having such a cozy meal together probably wasn’t going to happen again. He had only invited her because his sister had put him on the spot.
She took a sip of wine. The purple liquid warmed her throat, dissolving the lump that was forming. “You have a very nice family. I wish I had so many relatives.”
Matteo blinked twice as if caught off guard by her comment. “Yes, my family is quite unique. They love to mix themselves into my life all the time. Though they mean well.”
Bianca’s sly grin popped into Eleni’s mind. Her cheeks became hot. Was it the wine getting to her head so quickly? She twirled the glass between her fingers, avoiding Matteo’s glance. What did he think about his sister’s obvious efforts to match them up?
Matteo cleared his throat. “Anyways, enough talk about my family. They’ve probably bored you to death.”
Was that what he thought? She shouldn’t let him think that. “Not at all. I actually wanted to ask you to tell me a bit about them. I know Bianca now, but were the others your cousins? And the lady your aunt, maybe?”
“Concetta?” Matteo shook his head. “No, no. The elderly lady was our nanny. I told you that our mother left when we were young.” His face hardened, and a dark glint clouded his eyes.
Eleni didn’t wish to ruin the dinner’s atmosphere like that.
Without realizing what she was doing, she reached out and put her hand on Matteo’s. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to bring this topic up. It obviously upset you.”
Matteo’s eyes darted to her hand resting on his, then moved to meet her gaze. His pupils dilated slightly, and an unreadable expression spread over his face.
Eleni wanted to pull her hand back, but Matteo grabbed it and kept it in his palm. His thumb ran across her fingertips. A sizzling skittered on Eleni’s skin and travelled up to her chest with unexpected strength. Her heart stuttered, and she gasped.
Matteo slowly released her hand and took his wine glass. He emptied it in one sip. “No, Eleni, you should never be sorry around me.”
He put the glass back on the table then brushed a hand through his hair. “So, you want to know who the others were? As I said, Concetta basically raised me and my sister. The straight-haired brunette who said she was going to lose a bet was Ginevra. She’s my oldest cousin.”
Eleni remembered the girl’s striking blue eyes. She did look like a relative of Matteo.
“The man whose shoulder Ginny tapped was Giordano, my other cousin. Giordano is the one who took over my place at Father’s business. Beside him, on the left, was Giada, his twin sister. They are more or less Bianca’s age.”
Eleni scratched her head. “Your aunt and uncle must love the letter G.”
Matteo chuckled. “Yes, naming all my cousins starting with the same letter was my aunt’s obsession. Pietro, my uncle, didn’t stand a chance of deciding. She even tried to persuade my father to change our names. Luckily, my father refused, otherwise I would be called Gianni or Giorgio.”
Was it only Eleni’s impression, or was there a small tic on Matteo’s face each time his father was mentioned? An imperceptible little tension. And why was his father absent in the family call?
Before Eleni could stop herself, the question was already out. “Your dad didn’t participate in the call, did he?”
Matteo’s smile vanished. “No, he almost never does, but it’s understandable. He has a business to run. Lately, my uncle’s restaurant has debts. My father is helping them out. I don’t blame him
. I’m the same. Work must come first.”
So that was how Matteo’s driven nature was forged. Without a mother, and with a workaholic dad as a role model, it wasn’t a surprise that he seemed to care so much about his own ambition.
Eleni glanced at him, but he was staring at his empty plate. For somebody, who in theory conducted his life the way he wanted, Matteo looked rather sad.
“I agree that finding your passion at work is important. But—”
How could she word her opinion without stepping on Matteo’s toes?
He jerked his head back and his gaze met hers. “But?”
Heat rushed to her face. Was he going to misinterpret her comment? “But I think that human relationships like love and friendship still need to come first. Don’t you? Otherwise, life becomes pretty lonely.”
Eleni knew what lonely meant. Maybe that’s why she had refused to see Connor’s betrayal for so long. She wanted a family so badly.
Matteo drew his brows together. “Family and friendships are important to me too. But I can’t share your thoughts about love. Love always ends, and then what remains is disappointment and children without one of their parents. No. Love is unreliable.”
His voice sounded throaty, but his jaw was set in a hard line.
Did Matteo truly believe what he said? If he did, then it meant that… Oh, why did her heart feel like it had been pierced with a dagger? It wasn’t like she was ever going to be in a relationship with Matteo. But somehow the idea that, even if she wanted, she couldn’t, made her insides freeze.
Eleni waved a hand. “I’ve had my own share of betrayals, but I still believe that real love exists. The kind that doesn’t interfere with your life goals, but sustains and helps them.”
Was she too naïve to think that? Even after Connor?
Matteo drew up one eyebrow. “Now you sound like Luke.”
“Who?”
“Luke, my friend. You saw him on the call. He was the other man. He also preaches about finding the right one. Though he doesn’t mind sleeping around with half the world till he finds her.”
Loving The Boss (Gems 0f Love Book 1) Page 10
