Even though she wore a smile, the disdain in Alia’s eyes sent a shiver of fear coursing through Aubrey’s spine. Yet, Aubrey fought it down, seething through her answering smile.
To think Alia Kentwood had played them all for fools! Since she was a Hawthorne heiress all this while, why did she pretend she was not and let Aubrey offend her with her words? If she had simply declared her true identity, none of this unpleasantness would have happened.
She must have been doing this on purpose to ruin Aubrey’s life!
Just because Alia suddenly gained a crown didn’t an that she was suddenly fit to rule. Aubrey wanted nothing more than to pull her down from that pedestal. Now, she was suddenly no longer the most desirable, most popular woman in the office. Everyone wanted to et Alia Kentwood, the ugly duckling that transford into a swan.
"No, that was wrong of ," the words were reluctantly dragged out of Aubrey’s throat, even as her hands were clenched into fists. "I’m sorry."
"We agree on that, at the very least," Alia said. "And I’m not eating lunch with you even with your apology."
On impulse, she decided to add. "I’m eting my fiancé for lunch, so you’ll simply have to make do with your disappointnt."
As if summoned by her words, Matteo opened his door and peered at her, a small smile on his face that caused several employees to swoon.
"Alia," he said.
Then, his eyes fell on Aubrey and the rest of the onlookers. Even though his staff mbers were trying their best not to outwardly stare, it was difficult to ignore the scorching gazes that burned down his entire body. If they wanted a show, Matteo was happy to oblige for once.
He made his way over to Alia, standing right behind her chair before leaning forward before she could get up from her seat to greet him. Leaning in, he trapped Alia in his embrace, a hand pressing against the armrest while the other tenderly held her head so that he could place a lingering kiss on her temple.
A series of sighs and muffled coos rippled through the office, and when Matteo pulled away, even Alia’s breathing had stopped montarily.
"Co," he said, not sparing the others even a glance― especially Aubrey, who was staring at them wide-eyed and her jaw slack. "We have a reservation. If we don’t leave now, we’re going to be late."
"A reservation?" Alia echoed, her eyes wide.
She didn’t recall them making plans for lunch― whatever she had said was purely to piss Aubrey off as she was confident that Matteo would at least help her play pretend if needed. At least he was doing spectacularly.
"For our favorite restaurant," Matteo clarified. "Our date was rudely interrupted the last ti. I wanted to make up for it."
Alia looked at her watch― there was still half an hour before lunchti rolled about.
As if Matteo understood what she was thinking, he helped Alia up from her seat.
"Don’t worry about work," Matteo said. "Ronan will handle it."
From the corner of Alia’s eyes, she could see Aubrey’s hands clenched tightly into fists before she eventually marched off. She returned to her desk and buried herself in work, glaring hotly at anyone who dared to look her way.
A wave of satisfaction rolled into Alia’s chest, and she was about to take Matteo up on his lunch offer when the phone at her workstation began to ring. She gave Matteo an apologetic look before picking up the call, while Matteo sternly glanced at the rest of the office. Imdiately, their heads ducked down and those wandering eyes returned to their screens and keyboards.
"Miss Kentwood?" the person on the other end of the line said, which Alia recognized as one of the receptionists on duty, gan. No one was allowed a direct line to Matteo, and as such, all visitors and appointnts were either handled by Alia or Ronan. "There are so visitors here for Mr. Montgory."
"Visitors?" Alia said. She frowned, clicking rapidly to check Matteo’s calendar. "There are no appointnts today."
"No, but it’s his family," gan said with a sigh. "Mr. Aiden and Charles Montgory are here to see him."
Matteo, having heard the conversation due to how close he was standing to Alia, imdiately frowned. He leaned closer to the phone, his lips nearly touching Alia’s as he spoke.
"Send them up," he commanded, his words frosty.
"Understood, Mr. Montgory," gan squeaked before ending the call.
Alia’s eyebrows knitted tightly together as the dead beeping tone played from the other end, and slowly, she placed the phone back down.
"Guess we might have to reschedule that lunch," Matteo said apologetically.
He tucked a stray strand of hair behind Alia’s ear, his expression soft. However, it quickly hardened when the elevator rang, the noise impossibly louder than before as it heralded the arrival of unwanted guests.
Out strolled two n, one older and one younger, and Alia imdiately recognized the older man to be Charles Montgory, Matteo’s father. On the other hand, when she saw the younger man following behind him, Alia had to do a second take. If she hadn’t known that was Aiden Montgory, she might’ve even mistaken him for Matteo from how similar they looked.
One distinct difference set them apart, however. Aiden Montgory wore a cocky, arrogant smile, his eyes lazily scanning through the entire office before it finally landed on Alia. He then tilted his head slightly to one side, interest sparkling in his eyes before he raised a hand and wriggled his fingers in her direction.
"Mr. Montgory," Alia greeted, bowing her head just the slightest, only to feel Matteo’s hand on her shoulder.
"There’s no need to bow your head, Alia," Charles Montgory surprisingly said. "You’re Matteo’s fiancée, aren’t you? That would make you my future daughter-in-law."
Alia blinked dazedly, her body awkwardly straightening at Charles’s words. She cast Matteo a quick look― this sudden shift in attitude just because of her new status as the Hawthorne heiress would definitely need so getting used to! Now, all of a sudden, it seed like everyone was more than eager to pander to her every need.
"If you would excuse us for a mont, Alia," Charles continued, looking at his oldest son. "There are so things I need to discuss with Matteo." He then gestured behind him. "You’ve not t my youngest, have you?"
Aiden stepped forward right as his father turned to him, and his smile widened.
"This is Aiden, my second son," Charles introduced. "He can keep you company until Matteo and I have finished discussing our matters."
Aiden smirked, reaching out to hold Alia’s hand, and pressing a kiss to the back of it before she could react. "Hello there, sister-in-law."
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