Chapter 59: Petty Heart Break

Sitting with his legs and arms crossed, Matthew watched his father represent their soon-to-be launch products, a streaming app and speaker brand. They would launch at the same time and be promoted as a bundle, the perfect combo.

As the meeting finished and everyone left the room, only Matthew and his father stayed. Marcello sat in the head seat while Matthew sat on his right. The father and son knew they had something left to say, so they stayed behind without one to command.

“What do you think about our new products?” Marcello tapped his fingers on the desk, his eyes looking directly at his son.

“It’s great, Dad. It’s like selling a package. Promoting the streaming app sounds better with our speakers; don’t miss the deal,” Matthew spoke like a salesperson, chuckling lightly. “There should be something special about the speakers, so people don’t see it just as a speaker.”

“Of course,” Marcello replied. “How was your work? Did you take care of your woman already?”

Matthew’s breath caught in his throat. He knew this question would be asked somehow. His hands that were placed under the table clenched. He lost her to a man, a stranger that snatched her off him right under his nose. How could he lose her in a matter of a couple hours? Truly, he loved her and gave up everything just to be with her. Defied his father to be with the woman he loved, the woman who ‘killed’ his uncle.

“Matthew!” His voice woke him up. “You didn’t forget about our deal, right?” Marcello reminded his son. He took him back without compensation; he would have to work for his share if he wanted them back. Marcello didn’t want his children to get everything without working for it. He turned them down once; it was enough for Marcello to cut him off of everything related to him as the Archer heir.

“Of course,” Matthew replied, hummingly.

“You can be with her, but you have to make sure that every day, she lives remembering your uncle and how he died, Matthew. I won’t ever let it go until I die.” Marcello said with so much venom in his voice. He would always hold onto that grudge in his heart forever. He would never accept how his brother died because of a little girl.

But how could he? Matthew loved her with all his heart, but now the story changed. Of course, he felt hurt and betrayed by her sudden marriage. He was helpless then, but he wished he had more power to fight back. Now he did; he would try his best to get her back no matter what. She was his and would always be.

“It’s scary, isn’t it?” Leo asked as he looked at his stressed-out best friend.

“Mhh?” Matthew asked, absent-minded.

“When you have power, it’s overwhelming. But when you don’t, you feel useless. What’s your plan now, Matthew? We can’t approach Giselle, and Lyla is nowhere within your reach,” Leo said, trying to help his best friend to figure out what he wanted now.

Matthew sighed and took a sip of his drink while slouching on the seat in one of Leo’s bars. His tired eyes wandered around the room, a dim lit lights and low humming music accompanying them. The vibes were different from the dazzling regular nightclub.

“There’s always a way, Leo. My Lyla will not fall into his hands. I will get her back, and we’ll live happily ever after,” Matthew said with determination to the fullest and to say Leo was amused, he was. How could his best friend become so dumb? Clearly, Lyla had rejected him because she declared to love her now husband. Matthew was dumped by Lyla, his lover.

“I admire your dedication, Matthew,” he commented, but said no further. He would enjoy his best friend’s fallout. He would only watch until he realized that he had lost her long before he wanted to admit it.

“She wouldn’t just say she doesn’t love me anymore. She’s just a little confused,” Matthew said, his words came out slurry, showing how drunk he was. Leo only nodded his head, agreeing to disagree with him.

“I wouldn’t say a little confused; you’re just in denial, mi amigo, and you’re not thinking straight right now. I’ll take you home.” Leo got up from his seat and asked him to also get up, so he could take him home.

Thankfully, Matthew didn’t do anything stupid and follow as he asked. Turned out Leo shouldn’t have thought too soon about his drunken friend. Because the embarrassment was instant karma.

“Lyla, my love, I won’t let that bastard take you away from me!” he screamed out loud, making almost every head in the bar turn to him. Some looked at him pettily, and some just looked at him like he had gone crazy. “I’m coming, baby. Just wait for me a little bit,” he continued, but this time, whispering. But of course, Leo caught that.

Out of embarrassment, Leo dragged him out of the bar. “Stop acting stupid, Matthew. At least, not in my bar,” Leo grumbled as he pushed him into the passenger seat and slammed the door shut.

Leo let out a big sigh outside the car. He felt pity for his best friend, actually. Who didn’t? Just look at him; people could judge with their bare eyes.

Just as Leo was about to get into the car, his staff stopped him. He put his foot back on the ground and turned to his employee. It was not just an employee; it was the manager of this bar. “Yes, Sam?”

“The wine shipment is arriving tomorrow. You said to give you a heads-up when they arrive,” Sam told him, handing him a cue sheet of the digital footprint of their shipment.

“Which wine shipment?” Leo asked as he forgot. His head was full of this and that, especially about his broken-hearted best friend.

“The Winetini, from Alaister Valentini.”

“Did I hear Valentini? That’s the bastard name!” Matthew chimed in, but Leo just ignored him and thanked his employee before getting in the car.

“Shut up, will you?” Leo snapped. “You sound like a girl having a break up.”

“I am getting my heart broken by the love of my life,” Matthew cried, all of a sudden, catching Leo off guard.