Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Mafia's Nanny : Kabanata 131 - Kabanata 140

132Gianna’s POVThe first meeting of the day was supposed to be straightforward—key word: supposed. I’d reviewed the client file twice this morning, ensuring we were prepared for every potential question or snag. But as usual, things weren’t going as planned.“Ms. Lorenzo, I don’t think this partnership benefits us as much as it does you,” Mr. Caldwell, the regional director of our potential partner, said, leaning back in his chair. His tone was smug, almost amused, as if he’d been waiting to drop that line since we walked in.I resisted the urge to sigh. Of course, he wanted to play hardball. “Mr. Caldwell, I understand your concerns,” I said evenly. “But if you’ll review the projections we’ve provided, you’ll see that the growth opportunity is mutual. Our infrastructure would support your expansion plans—at no additional cost to you.”He glanced at the papers in front of him, not even bothering to hide his disinterest. “Projections are just numbers, Ms. Lorenzo. Numbers can be… man

134Gianna’s POVThe day had been exhausting. Every meeting had been a test of patience and diplomacy, and the last client of the evening had pushed my composure to the brink with his endless demands and passive-aggressive remarks. By the time Matteo and I returned to the hotel, all I wanted was silence and a good glass of wine.I set my bag down on the desk with a heavy sigh, kicking off my heels. My toes throbbed in relief as I sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing the back of my neck. Matteo, as usual, looked infuriatingly unfazed by the day. He leaned casually against the doorway, his tie slightly loosened but still in place, and his hair somehow managing to look better disheveled than it did neatly styled.“Tough crowd,” he said, his tone light but not mocking.“That’s one way to put it,” I replied, not looking up.He walked further into the room, his footsteps quiet on the carpet. “You’ve been carrying that tension all day. When’s the last time you had a real break?”I gave him a

136Gianna’s POVThe room buzzed with tension. The clients were seated around the long conference table, their expressions a mix of curiosity and expectation. I stood near the head of the table, trying to conceal my irritation. A last-minute technical hiccup had derailed our carefully crafted presentation slides, and the clock was ticking.Behind me, Matteo was hunched over the laptop, fingers flying across the keyboard as he tried to salvage the files. I had to admit, the fact that he was even attempting to fix it without panicking was impressive. Most people his age—or at his level—would’ve been floundering by now.“Any luck?” I whispered, keeping my voice low so the clients wouldn’t overhear.He didn’t look up. “Almost there. Give me two more minutes.”Two minutes. In business terms, that might as well have been two hours. I glanced at the clients again, offering a tight smile. “We appreciate your patience. Technology isn’t always our friend, but Matteo is working on it as we speak

138Gianna’s POVThe sound of Matteo’s laugh lingered in the air, softer now that the rain had eased up. I wasn’t sure how we’d gone from an awkward check-in mix-up to this—sitting cross-legged on the carpet in a hotel room, laughing over a game of cards like old friends. It felt…unusual. Disarming.I leaned back against the couch, watching as Matteo shuffled the deck with a confidence that bordered on cocky. The guy had been full of surprises this entire trip. He wasn’t just quick on his feet in meetings; he was adaptable in ways I hadn’t expected. That resourcefulness, paired with his natural charisma, made him someone you couldn’t easily ignore. Not that I’d admit that out loud.“Ready for another round?” he asked, arching an eyebrow.“You’ve won the last three. I’m starting to think you rigged this game.”He gasped, clutching his chest like I’d just accused him of a mortal sin. “Rigged? Me? Gianna, you wound me.”“Don’t be so dramatic.”“I’m Italian. Drama is in my blood.”I rolle

140Gianna’s POVThe morning sunlight filtering through the hotel curtains was entirely too bright, and for the first time in years, I regretted not packing an eye mask. My head throbbed faintly, and my body felt heavier than usual, like I hadn’t fully come back to myself yet.I shifted under the covers and froze.The sheets smelled faintly of Matteo’s cologne. My chest tightened as the memories of last night surged forward in a wave I couldn’t stop. The warmth of his hands on my skin. The way his lips had found mine like they’d belonged there all along. The soft rasp of his voice when he’d said my name like it meant something.Oh, God.I sat up quickly, clutching the sheet to my chest even though I was alone in the bed. Matteo wasn’t in the room, but the faint sound of water running told me he was in the shower.I pressed my palms to my face, trying to push away the flood of emotion. This couldn’t have happened. It shouldn’t have happened. Matteo was my employee. A colleague. Younger