"Rearrange my eting with Mr. Keplenski to tomorrow, 4 PM." Matteo didn’t look up from his docunts. His eyes poured over every word before turning to the computer screen, his slender fingers rapidly keying.
"Yes, Mr. Montgory," Alia instinctively said. Only then did she gain Matteo’s glance. His eyes moved to look at her, peering past his monitor, and she inhaled deeply. "Sorry. Matteo."
That earned her a small satisfied curve of his lips before he returned to work.
It took Alia all the courage she had to set foot into the office after what happened the previous night.
Contrary to her belief, the tabloids went wild with the news even though everything was cleared up. From the different news sources, she had been nad a gold-digging hussy who was willing to sleep with old n just to climb the social ladder, all the way to a third-party howrecker who was out to ruin Matteo and Emline’s engagent.
The headlines were wild, written in bold and plastered all over every entertainnt news outlet possible, including Lady Vanity, which was, unfortunately, the office’s favorite magazine among the female staff.
Everyone who had laid eyes on the magazines and websites within the last twelve hours had shot her odd looks when she entered the office behind Matteo. However, none of them dared to confront her as openly as they did before― Matteo Montgory himself had announced her as his fiancée, not Emline. Unless they didn’t mind getting fired and then blacklisted from the industry, they would think twice before saying anything to Alia’s face.
"―gory, you cannot go in there―!"
Ronan’s voice was abruptly cut off by the slamming of doors. In stord an older man, sowhere in his fifties, his graying hair neatly slicked back as he adorned a pressed suit. His eyes scanned the office before landing on Alia, and instantly, a scowl shaped his lips.
"Father," Matteo calmly said from where he sat at the desk, and Alia’s head spun to him so quickly that she felt as though she had gotten whiplash. "How kind of you to visit. As you can see, however, everything is going perfectly fine. There’s nothing at the company you need to worry about."
"For now, perhaps," Matteo’s father gritted out. He chucked a stack of magazine pages in Matteo’s direction, but the paper pages rely fluttered pathetically before landing on the floor, not even making it to the table.
So landed right by Alia’s feet, and she saw the words written in bolded text.
’EGGS IN THREE BASKETS? GREEDY OR SAVVY?’
Right under the glaring headline was a candid picture of Alia. She recognized it as a photo taken right outside the high-end restaurant Horace Hawthorne had brought her to the other day. Back then, she hadn’t even noticed any photographers present!
"Look at what you’ve done!" Charles Montgory roared. "You’re engaged to Emline Hawthorne, and you think this is the best ti to create such... such... shaful rumors?! You’re getting toyed with, boy!"
Ronan burst into the room at the ti, his face red with anger as he huffed and puffed.
He tried to say, "Mr. Montgory, I am afraid you will have to leave―"
"This is my company!" Charles swiveled back and glowered at Ronan, veins appearing at his temples due to the rage that coursed through his body. "You have no right!"
"In that case, Father, allow to invite you out instead," Matteo calmly stated.
Charles slowly turned, his eyelid twitching.
"What did you just say?"
"You’re not old enough to have listening problems yet, Father," Matteo cooly replied. "But if you are, perhaps you should have Doctor Jones check you through. If he finds nothing, consider changing to a new family doctor― he might be inadequate at his job."
"You cannot―"
"I can," Matteo cut in. "I own sixty percent of the rights of X’el right now, making it the majority. I have the final say on whatever happens in this building. Unwanted visitors included."
Charles’s jaw clicked as he grinded his teeth, glaring indignantly at Matteo. Then, he turned his attention to Alia. All of a sudden, a wash of calm rained over him. He straightened up then raised an eyebrow at Alia before turning to look at his son instead.
"You are still engaged to Emline Hawthorne," he said. "Stop fooling around and end your... dalliance with people of the lower class. You are a Montgory."
"I have never agreed to that engagent," Matteo shot back. He leaned into his seat, crossing one leg over the other. "That was sothing Catherine and Mrs. Hawthorne decided to arrange for themselves."
"Your mother has your best interests at heart," Charles stressed. "Marrying a Hawthorne will be good for the company. We have multiple projects with them and a union will only strengthen both our businesses."
Matteo completely ignored his father’s words. Instead, he pressed a button on the phone situated on the desk, and a short beep resounded in the room. Nothing else was said, but Charles’s eyes zoned in on the small action, and he rushed forward, slamming his hands on the table. His eyes were red with anger, and he pointed at his son, spittle spewing from his lips as he cussed out the younger man.
"Don’t act all high and mighty in my presence, boy, and learn to respect your elders. Don’t forget, if you want to find that wretched witch, you’d better do as I say and attend the engagent party with the Hawthorne heiress in two weeks. Or else―"
Charles Montgory never got to finish his sentence. The security team that Matteo had called arrived on short notice. They quickly flanked Charles’s sides, and Matteo nodded at them.
"Please escort my father out," Matteo coldly said.
Charles Montgory flicked his sleeves when the security guards tried to make a grab for his arms. Glowering at them, he then turned to Matteo when the latter suddenly spoke again.
"I will attend the engagent party as you’ve planned," Matteo surprisingly said. "And of course, marry the Hawthorne heiress."
Across the room, Ronan and Alia shared a look of surprise.
Even Charles Montgory seed shocked by his son’s words. He straightened a little before furrowing his eyebrows.
"As long as you rember your own duty," Charles spat out his last words before turning on his heel and storming out of Matteo’s office.
As soon as he left, Ronan turned to Matteo and all but yelled, "Are you insane?"
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