Chapter 55

Chapter 55
"My underwear and stuff are scattered everywhere," Avery added, feigning embarrassment convincingly enough that Matteo didn't question it.
"Underwear?" Matteo arched an eyebrow, his gaze lingering on her with a knowing smirk. "You really don't treat me like a stranger, do you?"
Avery resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
No, she thought. I don't even treat you like a human being.
"Just wait out here," she said instead, taking a deep breath before heading to the bathroom.
Once inside, she locked the door behind her and glanced at the bathtub where the corpse soaked in bloody water. She'd added chemicals to neutralize the smell, but that wouldn't necessarily fool Matteo's senses. She needed him gone. Fast.
With a quick movement, she found the drawer hidden in the back of the bathroom cabinet and retrieved the key Matteo had mentioned.
"This is getting complicated," she sighed.
To prevent any blood scent from escaping, she turned on the faucet to dilute the bloody water and switched on the ventilation fan to mask the sound.
Only then did she unlock the door and emerge with a deliberately casual air.
"Here's your key," she said, handing it to Matteo while faking a yawn. "It's late, Mr. Ferrari. If there's nothing else, I'm going to bed." She waved him off. "I'm exhausted. You should get some rest too."
Matteo could tell she was trying to get rid of him. Understandable, since Avery had never particularly liked him.
But as he took the key, something held him in place. Something felt... off.
"Before I leave, I have a question." His brow furrowed slightly.
Despite Avery's precautions, his keen senses had detected the faint metallic scent of blood drifting from the bathroom.
"Did something happen before I arrived?" His eyes locked onto hers. "Has someone threatened you?"
His gaze sharpened like a blade. "Don't lie to me. I smell blood."
Avery's heart plummeted, but her face betrayed nothing as she manufactured a lie within milliseconds.
"That's ridiculous. You're overthinking." She rolled her eyes and touched her forehead in exasperation. "It's because... I'm on my period."
She looked genuinely irritated as she pushed him back a step.
"Mr. Ferrari, you may own this villa, but I'm the tenant right now," she continued. "Women get sensitive during their cycles. A slight blood smell is normal, yet you're looking at me like I'm disgusting."
"Relax, menstrual blood isn't corpse blood," she added with biting sarcasm, acting like she'd been personally offended.
Successfully redirecting the conversation made Matteo do something rare—apologize to her.
"I'm sorry... I didn't know you were menstruating." His eyes took in her unusually pale complexion.
"I do have an aversion to blood, but not periods—that's perfectly natural," he clarified. "As you know, my family has a history with assassination attempts. Blood reminds me of... unpleasant things."
He studied her face. "Ms. Vaughn, you look pale. If it's severe, I can approve some time off for you."
Avery felt her tensed muscles finally relax, though she maintained her startled expression.
"Thanks, boss, but that won't be necessary." She sighed. "We have too many orders to complete, and I don't want to fall behind. My period isn't nearly as bad as you're imagining."
So Matteo did have a conscience after all. She'd expected him to insist she work through the pain, given his reputation for ruthless coldness.
"Okay then. Get some rest." Matteo gave her one last penetrating look before turning to leave.
Once she was absolutely certain he was gone, Avery quickly shut the door.
"Finally," she leaned against it, exhaling deeply.
Matteo was dangerously perceptive. She'd managed to fool him this time, but he might grow suspicious again. She needed to dispose of the body immediately.
With that thought, she put her gloves back on.
What she didn't know was that the very lie she'd told would bring Matteo back to her door.
---
Matteo drove back to his office first. After handling urgent matters, Avery's pale face kept resurfacing in his thoughts.
"A woman's period seems to have serious effects," he mused.
He remembered how she'd silently endured her injury before. She never seemed comfortable expressing pain.
Sitting at his desk, Matteo opened his computer and, frowning, began searching "menstruation care tips." The screen filled with information that made his frown deepen.
"Women experience heavy bleeding during menstruation, along with cramps, fatigue, and other symptoms,"
"Without proper care, there can be lasting negative effects..."
Frustrated, he shoved the mouse away.
Damn it. He'd known Avery was an idiot. Why was she always suffering in silence?
Realizing there were no hospitals near the villa and the clinics would be closed, his irritation grew. He grabbed his jacket and drove to a 24-hour convenience store, purchasing warm milk and menstrual pain relievers.
As he was leaving, the clerk smiled at him. "You're very thoughtful, sir. I'm sure your girlfriend will appreciate these."
Matteo's lips curved involuntarily at the word "girlfriend."
"She's not my girlfriend," he replied curtly before walking out with his purchases.
He didn't consider this special attention as a sign of affection—just that he couldn't stand by and do nothing.
But when he opened his car door and caught his almost pleased expression in the window reflection, his frown returned instantly.
"I've lost my mind. Why am I doing this for her?"
Matteo gripped the convenience store bag with frustration. Initially, he'd only wanted to use Avery to understand why his body reacted to her the way it did.
Despite her exceptional work, he still remembered their first meeting—how this infuriating woman had pinned him down. Matteo had always been the vengeful type.
Given his personality, he should have made her fall for him only to break her heart later. That had been their original bet, after all.
"This is strictly professional," he finally convinced himself.
He couldn't possibly fall for someone like her. While Avery was intriguing, they both harbored countless secrets. This was just a game.
With that thought, Matteo started the engine.
"If Avery's period is severe and she's stupid enough to just endure the pain, it will inevitably affect order processing."
Matteo assured himself he was simply being a good capitalist. Such a capable employee deserved to be properly exploited.
This wasn't concern. Not at all.