Chapter 42

Chapter 42
After Jason left, Avery stepped into the office to find Matteo drumming his long, elegant fingers against the desk, lost in thought.

"I need you to handle these documents," he said.

"Just these?" Avery took the files, flipping through a few pages. Simple organizational work—tedious but straightforward.

"I'll get right on it."

Matteo rested his chin on his hand, studying her. "What, not challenging enough for you?"

"That's not it." Avery shrugged. "They just look pretty basic."

A scoff escaped Matteo's lips, his gaze lingering on her face. "I figured you needed something to occupy your mind, since you've been hanging around Jason so much lately. Can't seem to get over that idiot."

"Seriously?" Avery's brows snapped together, the denial automatic. "You already called him an idiot, and I'm not blind."

Her voice dripped with undisguised contempt.

Matteo's mood visibly brightened at her response, the corners of his mouth twitching upward. "By the way, Chloe's coming to interview me in a few days," he mentioned casually. "I agreed to it."

"Really?" Avery arched an eyebrow, amusement coloring her tone. "I'm surprised. What exactly did Chloe say to get you to agree to an interview?"

She knew Matteo wasn't easily persuaded.

"You should know by now that my agreement doesn't guarantee a smooth interview." Matteo lazily twirled a pen between his fingers. "Besides, I thought you might enjoy watching the show."

He'd always been the type to hold grudges—a simple apology wouldn't erase crossing him.

"Then she's getting her hopes up for nothing." Avery waved dismissively. "I'm not interested in wasting my time watching drama unfold."

Matteo just smiled. "I think you'll find it quite entertaining when the time comes."

Avery ignored his cryptic comment and focused on work, carrying the files to the couch. The office fell silent.

From his desk, Matteo occasionally glanced at Avery's slender fingers moving efficiently through the documents. With her head bowed in concentration, she looked serene and gentle—like a peaceful painting come to life.

Before long, Avery stretched her arms overhead with a languid motion. "Matteo, I've finished processing everything." She'd arranged the files with meticulous care. "Anything else you need me to do?"

Instead of answering her question, Matteo asked, "How do you feel about coffee and desserts?"

"They're fine, I guess," Avery replied honestly.

A smile played on Matteo's lips as his gaze roamed over her face. "I think you're particularly fond of them."

Feeling self-conscious under his scrutiny, Avery touched her face. "Is there something on my face?"

Without answering, Matteo walked toward her. The distance between them shrank until she could feel the warmth of his breath.

"Why are you suddenly so close?" Avery's heart betrayed her with its quickening pace.

In the next moment, Matteo's face filled her vision. His dark eyes contained something unreadable, something that made her pulse stutter.

"Don't move," he murmured.

He leaned down, his warm fingertip gently brushing the corner of her lips, removing a coffee stain she hadn't noticed. The unexpected touch left her frozen in place.

The sensation lingered on her skin like the ghost of a feather's caress.

"Thanks," Avery touched the corner of her mouth reflexively, then awkwardly averted her gaze. "I can handle that sort of thing myself next time."

Matteo rarely saw Avery flustered, and something about it fascinated him.

"You're welcome," he replied, still standing close enough that the air between them felt charged with possibility.

When he'd moved toward her, he'd noticed how her eyelashes curled perfectly—beautiful enough to make his heart skip. He should have said something nice, but instead, he turned away and said, "Can't have my employees looking unpresentable."

Avery rolled her eyes at his comment. The man was clearly blind.

"Mr. Ferrari, everyone has their own unique aesthetic standards. I can only respect yours," she replied, whatever fleeting attraction she'd felt completely evaporating.

With that, she turned and left the office.

Even Avery couldn't explain why her heart had raced when Matteo had suddenly moved close to her. Perhaps it was just the effect of his ridiculously handsome face.

Back at her desk, Susan immediately leaned over.

"Avery, thank God you're back," she whispered conspiratorially. "After you went into Mr. Ferrari's office and Jason got sent on that errand, he kept circling your desk. I caught him eyeing your design drafts multiple times."

Susan's forehead creased with concern. "Watch out—he's definitely up to something."

"Thanks for the heads-up," Avery nodded gratefully, quickly figuring out Jason's intentions. No wonder he'd been so eager to "collaborate" today. He was planning to steal her work without doing any of the heavy lifting.

Well, if that was his game, she'd just have to set a trap and let him walk right into it.

Returning to her workstation, Avery continued her project. Half an hour later, she emailed her completed designs to her mentor, White, one of the industry's top design gurus.

"This is my latest design project. Would you mind looking it over for areas that need improvement?" she wrote.

White replied almost immediately with high praise:
"Avery, your design is already exceptional. I don't have any suggestions for improvement—your skills have reached a level where you could easily be teaching others. In fact, if you're interested, I'd like to invite you to be a guest lecturer at my university."

Most people would have their jaws on the floor at such an offer—a lectureship at one of the world's top design schools was no small opportunity.

But Avery politely declined: "Thank you, but I don't think I'm the right fit right now. Perhaps someday—and I'll owe you dinner when that time comes."

Currently, she wanted to focus solely on her career without dividing her attention. Being a lecturer wasn't something she felt qualified for yet.

Avery closed her laptop and checked the time. The workday was ending, but the weather outside looked threatening. She quickly packed up, intending to beat the rain home.

But by the time she reached the company entrance, the downpour had already intensified.

Damn it. She should have brought an umbrella.

Suddenly, a shadow fell over her head. Avery turned to find Matteo standing behind her, holding a sleek black umbrella.

"We're headed in the same direction," he said, his voice deep and resonant against the backdrop of falling rain. "We might as well share."

Avery hesitated briefly before stepping beside him. "Thanks."

They walked side by side through the rain in comfortable silence. Matteo tilted the umbrella toward her, his broad shoulder gradually dampening from the rain, though he didn't seem to notice or care.

His mind was occupied with only one thought:
What perfume was Avery wearing?

She smelled incredible.

The thought made him unconsciously lick his lips.