Chapter 35

Chapter 35
In the office, Avery examined Matteo's once ill-fitting suit.
The garment had been tailored to perfection, following exactly the suggestions she'd made. It looked elegantly tailored now, radiating sophistication.
"It really does suit you," she admitted.
She could easily picture how the suit would look on Matteo's frame.
The tailoring would accentuate his broad shoulders and narrow waist perfectly. With his model-like proportions, he'd look like he stepped off a GQ cover.
"Your suggestions were helpful," Matteo replied without looking up, focused on searching through the first aid kit. "Sit on the couch and don't move."
He walked to the bar cabinet near his desk and finally found what he needed. After retrieving iodine, cotton swabs, and gauze, he approached her.
"Give me your hand."
This Matteo was different from his usually cold, cutting demeanor. Though his expression remained icy, his words carried an unusual warmth.
"You handled yourself well back there, but next time, don't play the hero." As he thought about it, Matteo felt his punishment for Zoe had been too lenient. His mood hadn't been great lately anyway. Perhaps it was time to bankrupt Zoe's family.
Fighting the murderous impulse rising within him, he focused on treating Avery's wound. "That's what security is for."
When he'd seen Avery's injury, Matteo's heart had clenched for reasons he couldn't explain. It reminded him of many years ago, when a little girl had saved him from attackers, her hands also covered in blood.
He hated this feeling of losing control.
Avery, unaware of his thoughts, tried to pull away. "It's fine, I can do it myself."
But Matteo ignored her protest. He'd already taken a cotton swab soaked with iodine and began cleaning the wound on the back of her hand.
"You injured your right hand. Let someone else handle it for once," he said, head bent over her hand. "I hope you're not the squeamish type?"
"Please," Avery rolled her eyes.
But at that moment, a sharp sting made her instinctively try to pull back. Matteo's grip tightened, holding her firmly in place.
"Don't move. Almost done."
He frowned, carefully treating her wound. "There are glass fragments in the cut. Luckily, it's not deep."
He couldn't fathom how Avery could tolerate such pain without flinching.
Matteo's fingers were warm and strong against her skin, wrapped around her wrist, conveying a reassuring strength that made something flutter in her chest.
"Thanks," Avery said, glancing up at Matteo's sharp profile.
She decided that when Matteo was focused like this, he wasn't as insufferable as usual. She hadn't expected him to be such a caring boss.
After disinfecting the wound, Matteo took clean gauze and began wrapping her injury with practiced efficiency.
"Done," he said, his gaze meeting Avery's.
The intensity in Matteo's eyes quickly masked itself behind his usual coldness.
"Next time, if you pull something this stupid again, don't expect your bonus to survive."
Avery had been about to thank him again, but after hearing his words, she glared instead.
"I'm not stupid, Ferrari. Your security team just wasn't up to par."
She flexed her wrist experimentally. Honestly, she hadn't thought twice before acting. Even though Zoe had been drunk and raging, taking her down hadn't been difficult.
"Recklessness isn't a virtue," Matteo said, securing the gauze. "Ms. Vaughn, even if you think you can handle a situation, you won't always get this lucky."
"Are you saying I'm weak, and only won through dumb luck?"
Avery tried to pull her hand back, but Matteo didn't release her. Their eyes met again.
In Matteo's crimson eyes, something dangerous lurked beneath the surface.
"I'm saying use the resources at your disposal. Even if you'd smashed that bottle over her head, The Ferrari Group would have backed you completely."
He had both the power and resources to make that promise.
Avery blinked. "So it wouldn't matter if I killed someone?"
"Depends who you kill. If you're taking out the trash, it's a service to society."
"You really have the style of a hitman, Ferrari."
"And you, Ms. Vaughn, are more defiant than I am at heart."
The air between them crackled with tension.
As they locked eyes, the room fell so quiet that only their breathing could be heard.
"You did good work today. Your salary will be doubled this month."
Matteo casually returned the remaining gauze to the first aid kit.
"But next time, don't play the hero."
His words still made her want to punch him, but Avery automatically filtered out everything except the salary increase.
"Thank you, Mr. Ferrari," she said, her mood lifting considerably.
Who would ever complain about a financial windfall?
As she stood to leave, Avery tried to move past Matteo but violently collided with the corner of the coffee table. Her knee buckled, and she pitched forward uncontrollably.
Crap.
Avery braced herself for an intimate encounter with the floor.
Instead, strong arms caught her mid-fall.
She looked up just as Matteo looked down.
An inadvertent motion caused their lips to brush against each other.
Avery froze.
They were close enough now that she could feel the warmth radiating from his body, close enough to hear each other's heartbeats.
Time seemed to stand still.
It was a completely unexpected kiss.
Their lips brushed—a fleeting touch, soft as a butterfly’s wing, yet it ignited a wildfire in her veins.
She suppressed the sudden flutter in her stomach and said, "Sorry about that."
Matteo didn't respond.
In his eyes, Avery's face was perfectly reflected.
The soft sensation from moments ago lingered on his lips.
Her full, soft mouth had brushed against his like a whisper.
Her eyes were clear and bright, like stars catching the last light of day.
Even though they had already shared the most intimate act possible, somehow the longer they spent together, even accidental contact now made his heart pound against his ribs.
This wasn't normal.
"Mr. Ferrari, that was clearly an accident."
Avery pushed away and steadied herself.
She forced herself to meet Matteo's deep crimson gaze.
His eyes seemed to contain a vortex that could pull her under.
Silver strands of hair fell across his forehead, accentuating his razor-sharp features.
"An accident?" Matteo's voice dropped an octave.
He recalled the brief touch, as soft as silk against his lips.
"But Ms. Vaughn, you seemed to feel something too."
Matteo stepped closer, his invasive presence enveloping her.
"That's ridiculous. You're imagining things."
Avery instinctively denied it.
Matteo's proximity now set off warning bells in her head.
But it also carried a deadly, seductive allure she couldn't ignore.
She tried to step back, but Matteo caught her chin between his fingers.
"If that's the case, why can't you look me in the eyes?"
Matteo tilted her face up, forcing her to meet his gaze.
His voice was low and husky, his eyes burning with an intensity that made her breath catch.
Matteo needed to verify something.
For years, he had felt nothing for any woman, yet Avery was the only one who ignited this hunger in him.
"Of course I can—"
Before Avery could finish, Matteo's kiss silenced her words.
This kiss wasn't as domineering as before.
It explored and claimed her inch by inch, gentle yet demanding, from the seam of her lips to the depths of her mouth, nearly buckling her knees beneath her.