Chapter 36

Chapter 36
Avery's mind went completely blank.

Matteo's kiss started slow but deepened with purpose, sending electric currents through every nerve ending in her body until she melted against him.

She could feel his heartbeat against her chest—steady, insistent, like raindrops hitting pavement during a summer storm.

"Stop," she whispered.

Though her rational mind screamed that getting intimate with Matteo was a terrible idea, her body betrayed her, responding to his expert touch as if they'd been lovers for years.

She was drowning in dangerous waters, unable—or unwilling—to swim to safety.

"Ms. Vaughn,you really are heartless
. " he murmured against her ear, his breath hot and uneven.

Matteo met her gaze, the heat in his eyes unmistakable as he ran his tongue across his lower lip.

"You were enjoying yourself just seconds ago, and now you're pushing me away."

Matteo had confirmed what he'd suspected—he craved Avery in a way he'd never experienced with anyone else. His body responded to her and her alone. He needed to understand why.

But a sharp knock at the door shattered the moment.

"Mr. Ferrari, you're running out of time," called a voice from outside.

The interruption was like a bucket of ice water, instantly cooling the heated atmosphere that had been building between them.

Matteo's eyes narrowed, a flash of irritation darkening his expression.

"What is it?" His voice had dropped an octave, cold with displeasure at being interrupted.

Ricci walked in, perfectly composed.

"City M scheduled an emergency meeting," he reported efficiently, not yet registering the tension in the room. "They're requesting your personal attendance. We need to leave immediately to make it on time."

He nodded politely at Avery, initially thinking nothing of her presence. Then he noticed Matteo's uneven breathing and something clicked in his mind.

Had Matteo actually been... kissing someone?

The thought seemed impossible. Ricci couldn't imagine his cold-blooded, emotionless boss actually feeling anything for a woman.

"I should go," Avery announced, seizing the opportunity like a lifeline. She took a deep breath and walked out of the office on legs that still felt embarrassingly weak.

During her three-year marriage to Owen, Avery had wanted a physical relationship, but his erectile dysfunction had made that impossible. Three years of a sexless marriage had nearly made her forget what desire felt like.

Then she'd met Matteo, whose impressive size and stamina had proven they were explosively compatible. Even a simple kiss was enough to ignite them both.

As she turned to leave, Matteo's deep, raspy voice followed her.

"Understood. I'll be there," he told Ricci, though his eyes remained fixed on Avery's retreating form.

His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.

"Have the private jet ready."

"Yes, sir," Ricci nodded.

He was about to leave when he noticed something shocking—the ghost of a smile on Matteo's perpetually expressionless face.

It was just the slightest upturn of his lips, but Ricci would have bet his career he wasn't imagining it.

Terrifying.

Matteo Ferrari was actually... smiling? For no apparent reason?

Ricci's eyes widened in disbelief. In all the years he'd known him, Matteo had maintained an icy demeanor without fail.

Absolutely unbelievable.

Outside the office, Avery struggled to compose herself as she returned to her desk, trying desperately to appear normal.

"Avery, are you okay?" Susan, her deskmate, leaned over with concern in her voice. "Did Mr. Ferrari give you a hard time again?"

"Don't take it personally—he's like that with everyone," she added sympathetically.

Susan assumed their boss had been criticizing her work.

Avery shook her head. "Thanks, but I'm fine."

She took a long drink of water, trying to suppress the strange flutter in her chest.

Avery realized she must be sexually frustrated after so long. That would explain why a simple kiss from Matteo made her weak in the knees.

Now that she'd regained her senses, she felt annoyed with herself.

Damn it.

She should have slapped him again when she had the chance.

Susan looked relieved and leaned in closer.

"Between us," she whispered, "Mr. Ferrari is seriously weird."

She sighed quietly.

"He's famous for never getting close to any woman."

"I mean, look around—our company is full of gorgeous women, not to mention all the beautiful clients we meet, but he doesn't give any of them a second glance. I bet..."

Susan raised an eyebrow conspiratorially.

"I bet he has erectile dysfunction or something. That would explain why he's so cold to every woman he meets!"

Avery had no idea how to respond to that.

She remembered that night when Matteo's buttoned-up exterior had given way to remarkable stamina and energy.

"Mr. Ferrari wasn't giving me a hard time," she said carefully. "He was just assigning me some challenging new tasks, so I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed."

"Ah, that makes sense."

Susan patted her shoulder supportively.

"Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it."

After a moment, Susan's expression grew concerned.

"By the way, Avery, there've been some rumors going around about you lately. People are saying that you..."

Susan hesitated, clearly uncomfortable.

"Saying what?" Avery asked.

"That you slept your way into the company."

"I see. I think I know exactly who started that," Avery's expression hardened.

"I almost forgot about Jason. When Zoe came in making a scene the other day, I was confronting him in the break room."

"You knew?" Susan's eyes widened in surprise.

She lowered her voice to warn Avery.

"Jason is incredibly petty. He thinks his talent gives him the right to gossip about everyone. And he's vindictive, so you really shouldn't mess with him."

But Avery's expression remained unchanged.

"It's fine. I was planning to talk to him anyway."

As if on cue, Jason appeared before them, coffee cup in hand and a fake smile plastered across his face.

"Avery, I'm sorry," he said.

Jason had been anxiously watching the office dynamics all morning.

He'd been terrified that Avery might tell Matteo about his behavior, but seeing Matteo leave without incident confirmed his suspicion—she didn't have the courage to speak up.

Still, he needed to address the rumors, so he put on his most sincere apology face.

"I shouldn't have misunderstood you and caused all this trouble."

Jason knew perfectly well that if Zoe hadn't burst in with her drunken scene earlier, Avery would have given him another beating. He was no match for her physically, so he'd changed tactics.

"Avery, the reason I spread those rumors wasn't just because I misunderstood you. The truth is... I care about you too much."

He gave her what he thought was his most charming look, confident in his good looks.

"I like you so much that I wanted to get your attention. I never meant for it to turn into this big misunderstanding."