Of course, there was no question what, or more precisely, who, he was referring to. His eyes narrowed as they caught sight of Carlo’s split lip.
Alia’s gaze moved along to follow, and when she realized Matteo was staring at Carlo’s injury, she stepped in.
"I’m fine, but it’s all thanks to Carlo," Alia said. "I’m treating him to kebabs in thanks. Do you wish to co along?"
"Of course," Matteo said simply. "I’ll go wherever you go."
"Hey, I’m not here to be a third wheel on your date! Let go or I’ll start screaming!" Carlo demanded.
"No can do," Alia imdiately rejected. She turned to Matteo and said, "Rember the internship I was talking about the last ti? I think Carlo here has great potential. He could do well at your company, and he’s a quick learner."
Matteo’s eyes raked over Carlo, seemingly scrutinizing every cell on that boy’s body. He said nothing, rely nodding toward the direction of the car.
"We’ll talk sowhere else," he said. "Let’s not stand out here under the sun."
Then, his gaze coldly swept across the road ahead of them where he caught sight of a familiar head ducking behind a building for cover.
"There’s no need to invite eavesdroppers to listen into our conversation."
***
Carlo had no choice.
He was ultimately dragged along as a third wheel to Alia and Matteo’s ’date’. However, instead of seeing the blatant public display of affection he had ntally prepared himself to endure, Alia was fairly quiet while Matteo seed to have all his attention on him.
As Alia had promised, they had arrived at a quaint little kebab store at the corner of a street far away from the heart of the city. The people here were ordinary citizens, and among them, Alia and Matteo’s fancy outfits stood out jarringly.
However, Alia acted just as though she was ho. She expertly ordered food for the three of them without even needing to look twice at the nu. Once Matteo had said that he would eat anything she ordered, with Carlo reluctantly nodding along, she was off.
While Alia got them so food, Matteo sat along with Carlo at their table, tucked away safely in a corner.
Matteo scrolled through his screen, quietly noting all of Carlo’s grades on the recent tests conducted in school.
"All As," Matteo muttered, "when you were failing classes just last sester."
"I didn’t cheat, if that’s what you’re implying," Carlo said with a scowl. He turned back to glance at Alia, his fingers clenching tightly together under the table.
"I didn’t," Matteo replied, not even batting an eyelid or sparing the effort to look away from his phone. "I was just noting your improvent in just a few short months."
Carlo snorted. "Hard to believe," he said. "I know how the lot of you think. Just because a bottom-dweller has suddenly reached the top, they must’ve used so dirty tactics to get what they want."
"I did use so dirty tactics," Matteo said with a nod. His reply, however, caused Carlo to sit back, stunned.
He blinked dumbly a couple of tis, stunned speechless, and at a loss for words. Then, as though the cogs in his head had finally decided to properly turn, Carlo shook his head.
"Are you implying..."
"Yes," Matteo said. He finally spared Carlo a glance. "As you had so aptly put it, a ’bottom-dweller’."
"You’re the oldest son of the Montgory family," Carlo spluttered. "Not only that, you’re also the current CEO of X’el International. I might not be eighteen yet, but don’t take for a clueless child!"
"Just because I am the CEO now doesn’t an I always was," was all Matteo said. "Neither does it an that I always will be."
He looked behind Carlo, prompting the youngster to turn as well when he noticed a gentle smile gracing Matteo’s cold expression.
"Sorry I took so long," Alia said sheepishly as she brought the tray over. There were three wrapped burritos, paired with three bowls of lentil soup and three cans of soft drinks. "They didn’t have the drink you wanted. I hope this is fine."
Matteo nodded, standing up to take the tray from Alia so as to ease her load. "You should’ve let help."
"You need to talk to Carlo," Alia said. She then looked at the teenager even though her words were addressed to Matteo. "Do you think he is suitable for a role at X’el?"
"His finals are in a couple of months," Matteo said. "An internship now could cause his grades to slip."
"I don’t need an internship," Carlo growled. He crossed his arms and leaned back in his seat.
His eyes, however, betrayed him when they strayed to the wrapped burrito. It did sll so good, much more aromatic than the grub that was fed to the kids at the orphanage. While the food wasn’t bad, it wasn’t anything he would particularly miss either once he hit eighteen years old.
"Eat," Alia said, pushing the tray closer to Carlo after she had placed hers and Matteo’s food in front of them. "As for the internship, there might be a way around it."
Unwrapping the burrito, Alia continued, "If Carlo can score well in the upcoming pre-finals tests, he could get a scholarship directly into Solara University. If that’s the case, he won’t need to participate in the finals― his spot in the university will be secured."
"That’s impossible," Carlo said, jolting upright. "I’ll need to be in the top five in the grade! What’s more, I will also need a recomndation letter from the school principal." He grimaced, thinking back at all the things he had done in the school halls.
That old man would definitely not be writing him any recomndation letters anyti soon.
"Your letter is all but guaranteed if you work for X’el as an intern," Alia said. "You’ll just need to make sure your grades reach the top five."
"You are fucking nuts," Carlo grumbled, his vulgarities earning him a harsh, wordless glare from Matteo. "Why should I even intern at your fiancé’s company? What’s in it for you? What’s in it for ?"
"Easy," Alia replied. "X’el is a direct competitor of W&W Industries."
At the ntion of the company the Waltons owned, Carlo’s gaze turned dark. That brought a sadistic smile upon Alia’s lips.
Alia continued to nudge, her voice ever as enticing as a siren luring a sailor out to sea. "Don’t you want to show them what you’re capable of?"
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