Chapter 57 Chapter Fifty-seven
Nikolai's POV
My phone vibrated again for the hundredth time, if not more, the damn thing had been ringing, buzzing, and lighting up my desk for the last three days like it had a personal vendetta against my sanity.
Ping! Buzz! Ping! Another message just hit my phone, I didn't even look at it, before I knew who the caller was. I kept my attention on the paperwork spread across the desk in front of me, pretending it was far more important than it actually was. Across the room, Matteo leaned back lazily in his chair, watching me like a bored wolf waiting for entertainment. He had told me earlier that he wanted to go out, but I had deprived him of it. My phone buzzes again. Matteo finally groaned, "For God's sake," he muttered, "take your call." I didn't respond, "that thing has been ringing and pinging for days," he continues, "either answer it or throw the damn thing out if the window."
"Can you mind your business, it's not important."
My words had piqued Matteo's interest, and his dark eyes narrowed slightly, "Oh?" I could practically hear the gears in his head turning, "Is it a girl?" I ignored him, "you know," he continues casually, "if you don't want her, you could always pass her to me"
That did it, "can't you shut up and mind your business?" I shout back sharply.
Matteo didn't even look offended; he raised his hand up in surrender, "Please don't chop off my head, I was only trying to help."
"Well, I don't need your fucking help." I snapped taking Matteo unaware.
Then, suddenly, it hit him. He leaned forward, "Wait a minute," before I could react, he smacked my shoulder lightly, not hard, but enough to annoy the shit out of me.
"What now?" I growled.
His eyes slowly drifted toward my phone, then back to me, his grin spread slowly. Sometimes, I wonder how Matteo turned out to be a mafia member instead of an actor. "Is it Don Moretti's daughter?" I lifted my head slowly and glared at him. Somehow, he had guessed right, it was Elena who had been calling nonstop. When I gave her my number, at first, I really wanted to hear her voice again, but after they left, Father had told me that Moretti wanted to compensate me for protecting Elena. I felt insulted, but somehow I knew that was the man's little way of telling me to stay away from his daughter. Instead of taking her calls or replying to any of her messages, I just ignore all of them. I have far more important things to do than to waste my time with a woman with whom there is no future. Matteo's eyes widened when I didn't deny it, then he suddenly jumped to his feet, "Oh my God!" He shouted dramatically, "You gave the little princess your number."
I rolled my eyes, "I didn't give her my number."
"Really?" He asked, folding his arms, "Then how did she have it?"
"She asked for it."
I almost wanted to hit my head against the wall, that was the dumbest thing to come out of my lips. Matteo blinked, then burst out laughing, "What is the difference? You gave it to her, she asked for it, they are the same fucking thing!"
"No, it isn't."
"Yes, it is!" He argued, "You could have said no."
I scoffed, "You clearly don't know Elena," I blurted.
He smirked, "So the princess doesn't take no for an answer?"
"No," I muttered, "she doesn't."
Matteo leaned against the desk, studying me carefully, then he winked at me, "Since when can't you say no?"
I frown while he started laughing, "What is that supposed to mean?"
Matteo shrugged, "Nothing!" He whispered, then he gave me a real look.
"What now?" I growled, getting irritated already.
"I was just wandering, the Nikolai, I know even if someone put a gun to his head," he said casually, "if he wants to say no, he would." His grin widened, "but you didn't."
I slammed the pen down on the desk, "I'm not falling for anyone."
"Hold on!" Matteo said dramatically, "I didn't say you are falling for her, but are you sure you are not?"
"I'm not."
"You are ignoring her messages," he points out.
"Exactly, I don't want to talk to her."
Matteo sorted, "This act of yours is what they call cowardice."
I glared at him, "Watch your mouth."
But he was already shaking his head, clearly entertained, "You love her."
"No!" I said it too fast.
"You want her."
"What don't you get, she is Rafael’s woman." I snapped, and Matteo looked at me, and I pulled my hand into my hair.
"So this is all about Rafael?" I didn't reply, "You are just scared of Rafael."
"No!" I snapped the word echoes across the office. Matteo didn't even flinch; instead, he raised a brow.
"Then what is the problem? It's clear that you are falling for that woman."
I exhale slowly and lean back in my chair, remembering the words my father had said, which Moretti told him. I sighed, I said flatly, "Her father."
Matteo tilted his head, "Don Valkor Moretti?"
"Yes!" I said without hesitation.
"You think he hates you."
"I don't think, I know he hates me," I ran a hand through my hair, "he thinks Rafael is some kind of saint," I continue bitterly, "and me?" I gave a bitter dry laugh, "he thinks I'm a Spawn of the devil"
Matteo shrugged, "he is not entirely wrong."
I shot him a look, "Keep talking."
Matteo chuckled, then he suddenly asked, "If Moretti liked you, would you go for her?" The question caught me off guard, and my brows furrowed slightly. Would I? I found the question echoing in my head. For a moment, my lips parted, but not a word came out. Then, I closed it again, because the answer sat in my chest like a loaded gun. Matteo's grin widened slowly, "Oh," he pointed at me dramatically, "you will?"
"Shut up!" I snapped.
"You love her." I run my hand on my nape, what's there not to love? She is kind, caring, smart, interesting, and beautiful. She got all the qualities that could make a man fall hopelessly for her. "Go on!" Matteo's argued.
"I don't."
"You do."
"I don't!"
"You absolutely do."
I rubbed my temples in frustration, "You are being ridiculous."
Matteo shook his head, "No, it's you who is being ridiculous." He stepped closer, then tapped my shoulder, "You are pretending you didn't care when it's obvious you do."
"That is all in your head." I swatted his hand off my shoulders.
"Is it?"
"Yes!" I said without blinking.
Matteo folded his arms again, "Let me ask you something."
"What?"
"If she wasn't Rafael's woman, if she wasn't promised to someone else," I stayed silent just listening to Matteo, "if she walked in here right now and said she wanted you," my jaw tightened, "would you say no?" The room went quiet, Matteo watched me carefully, then he nodded slowly, "I knew it, you wouldn't say no."
"I didn't answer that."
"You didn't have to."
I sighed, getting frustrated with the prep talk, "You are exhausting." I run my arms on my temples.
"And you are in love."
"I'm not, how many times do I have to tell you that?"
"As many times as you want to keep deceiving yourself, you and I know that you wanted Don Valkor's daughter, you want the little princess."
"Matteo!" I called.
"Yes boss"
"Shut up."
He laughed at my words, "I'm serious," he continues, "if it were me, I would go for her. It's not every day you see an innocent, cute Princess falling for you."
I raised a brow, I can't believe Matteo, "even if she was Rafael's woman?"
"Yes!" Matteo answers without blinking
"Even if her father hates you?"
"What do I care? I'm interested in the girl not her father." Matteo grinned, winking at me.
I shook my head, "You are insane."
"Maybe," he admitted "but at least I'm honest." I parted my lips to say something, but before I could, my phone rang again. Matteo's eyes immediately dropped to it, "Ah!" He said, "The princess is calling again?"
I glanced at the screen then frowned. Somehow, something inside me felt disappointed that she wasn't the one calling, "It's not Elena."
Matteo leaned closer, "Then who is it?"
"I don't know." The number wasn't saved, and it definitely wasn't one I recognized.
Matteo smirked, "Answer it,"
I sighed, "Probably business." I shrugged.
"Or another princess."
I glared at Matteo and I grabbed my phone. Matteo chuckled and then relaxed into his chair lazily, "Hello!" There was a brief pause, then a voice spoke from the other end. My entire body went still the moment I heard it.