Chapter 50

Chapter 50
"What does it mean to be 'his person'?"

Avery's brow furrowed slightly as she stood nearby.

Chloe wondered if she'd misheard. "What does that mean?"

She recalled the rumors about Matteo—cold, emotionless, and infamously unapproachable. Not once had any lover ever been linked to him! Yet somehow, Avery had become his personal secretary.

Could it be...?

Before Chloe could process this thought, Matteo's icy voice cut through the air again.

"Avery, take everything she brought—including anything she's touched—and throw it all out."

Matteo settled back into the leather couch, crossing one leg over the other. "I'm a germaphobe. I don't want to see her contaminating the company's air anymore."

For Chloe, these words were nothing short of humiliation.

Avery nodded obediently. "Yes, Mr. Ferrari."

Chloe's eyes widened in disbelief. She felt the sting of embarrassment burn her throat, making it hard to speak.

"Please, if you'll just let me explain..." she managed, desperate to change Matteo's mind.

But when Matteo looked up, his gaze was so glacial it froze the words in her throat.

"Leave. I won't say it twice." His brow twitched with impatience, his demeanor utterly devoid of warmth.

Chloe bit her lip, swallowing her pride. "Fine."

Taking a deep breath to control her emotions, she approached Avery with tears threatening to spill. "Seeing me humiliated like this must make you so happy, doesn't it?"

Her eyes burned with resentment, as if Avery was solely responsible for Matteo throwing her out.

"To be honest, I'm not entirely satisfied," Avery replied with a smile. "If it were up to me, I'd have had security drag you out instead of letting you walk out with your dignity."

Chloe's face flushed with anger. "You—!"

But Avery ignored her, busily stuffing Chloe's notebook, pen, purse, and even her used coffee cup into a large garbage bag.

Chloe watched helplessly as her belongings were treated like trash. She wanted to stop Avery but didn't dare approach with Matteo's intimidating presence nearby.

Moments later, Avery carried the bulging garbage bag to the door, yanked it open, and hurled the bag outside. It sailed through the air in a perfect arc.

With a loud crash, Chloe's personal items scattered across the floor.

Owen, who had been waiting outside, witnessed the whole scene and stood frozen in shock.

"Avery, what the hell are you doing?!" Owen demanded, assuming Avery was deliberately tormenting Chloe. "Why are you always so jealous of her?"

Avery's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Which eye of yours saw me being jealous of her?"

She rolled her eyes dramatically. "I'm just following Mr. Ferrari's instructions."

Meanwhile, Chloe emerged from the reception area in tears, her makeup streaking down her face as she sobbed.

Owen's forehead creased with concern. "What happened?"

"Don't blame Avery—it's all my fault," Chloe shook her head, sniffling. "I wasn't good enough."

Her deliberately vague words and pitiful appearance made Owen's heart ache for her.

"Tell me what happened," he pressed.

"During my interview with Mr. Ferrari, he hated everything I did and even threatened the radio station I work for." Chloe looked at him with tear-filled eyes. "And then he said... he said Avery is 'his person.' I had no idea they had that kind of relationship."

She cast a wounded glance at Avery before dissolving into quiet sobs.

"It's all my fault for offending Avery before," she continued, her eyes reddening again.

While Chloe appeared to be blaming herself, every word cleverly implied that Matteo and Avery shared some inappropriate relationship and were deliberately bullying her.

"What?" Owen's expression darkened instantly.

Though he and Avery were in divorce proceedings, he was still technically her husband! The implication felt like a slap to his face.

"Avery, is what Chloe saying true?" Owen turned to Avery, his eyes filled with accusation. "What exactly is going on between you and Matteo?"

"Owen, it's bad enough that you're blind, but your brain seems to have been eaten by zombies too," Avery remarked sarcastically. "I don't owe you any explanations. You'll believe whatever Chloe tells you anyway."

"Then why did Matteo call you 'his person'?" Owen's voice rose with jealousy. "Your relationship is clearly inappropriate and disgusting!"

Just as he finished speaking, Matteo's imposing figure appeared behind Avery.

"Because she's my secretary. Every employee here is 'my person,'" Matteo stated, his tall frame radiating authority. "And in what capacity are you questioning our relationship?"

Matteo and Owen locked eyes, tension crackling between them.

Owen had initially hoped to collaborate with Matteo and had been respectful and deferential. But seeing the current situation, he realized partnership was impossible. He decided to drop all pretenses.

"I'm her husband!" Owen answered, his face ashen. "We're married, so I suggest you mind your own business."

He stepped toward Avery, softening his tone. "Avery, come back with me. Everyone at the company misses you. You're important to us."

He extended his hand. "Come back, and I'll double your salary."

Matteo leaned lazily against the doorframe. "You think doubling her salary is enough to steal my employee?" He scoffed. "Too bad. I'm paying her five times what you could offer!"

Matteo looked at Avery, his eyes narrowing. "Come here."

Both men stared at Avery, waiting for her choice.

For Avery, these two men represented significant relationships in her life—one her soon-to-be ex-husband, the other her current boss.

The two men faced off, their gazes fixed on Avery, both awaiting her answer.

Chloe watched the scene unfold, nearly exploding with rage. Were Owen and Matteo blind? She was standing right there looking gorgeous, yet these two men were fighting over that bitch Avery!

"If you two want to argue, be my guest," Avery said calmly, choosing neither of them. "If there's nothing else, I'm leaving."

With that, she turned to walk away.

"Wait!" Owen instinctively reached out to stop her.

But Matteo moved first, stepping in front of Avery.

He radiated dominance, his piercing gaze fixed on Owen. "My employee goes wherever she wants. You don't get to dictate her movements."

"Matteo, don't push it!" Owen barely contained his fury. "Don't forget, Avery is my wife!"

"If I recall correctly, you're in the middle of divorce proceedings," Matteo's lips curled into a contemptuous smile. "Avery is free to go wherever she pleases."

His crimson eyes seemed to bore into Owen's soul.

"You're in my company now. You can be thrown out at any moment."