Matteo’s words seed to echo loudly through the silent car, causing ripples to form in the peaceful calm of Alia’s heart. Her cheeks ward further, and she reminded herself not to think too much about his actions. Matteo was just being gentlemanly. It was a testant to his good character that he behaved this way even when no one was watching him.
Alia had to stop being delusional.
After all, Matteo seed unbothered by their close proximity, so she should be too.
"Thanks," Alia said weakly, purposely turning her eyes to the road.
"What do you think of the trip they planned for us?" Matteo asked as he drove. "Personally, I would rather break both my arms than go."
"I’ll break yours if you break mine," Alia replied, feeling safer now that they were on a neutral topic."Hopefully, Grandfather can be convinced to let us sit out. Or postpone the trip. Why was such a thing announced, to begin with? Where are we even going?"
"We’re going to Lesterat for an early winter vacation."
Alia’s mouth fell open.
Lesterat was a country she could only afford to stare at online. It was a fad winter holiday destination for the wealthy, for they featured premium ski slopes, ice skating rings, hot baths for skin rejuvenation, and a plethora of expensive resorts to cater to every conceivable need. To get there from Sol City, they would have to take an eight-hour flight abroad.
"Wow... if not for the company, I would be excited to go," Alia confessed. "I always wanted to try skiing. And the hot baths."
"Maybe if we claim it’s our honeymoon, we can convince everyone else to not follow along," Matteo said, and Alia choked at the easy way he referred to it.
Honeymoon. Right. Because married couples went on honeymoons where they would explore each other’s bodies intimately. Her eyes roved over Matteo’s handso visage before it darted down to his broad shoulders and muscled forearms. Her mouth ran dry.
No. She should not be lusting over him!
"Right," Alia said instead. "Hopefully, Grandfather will agree."
"This has Emline’s little paws all over it," Matteo continued. "We went on plenty of joint vacations when we were teens, so I’m guessing she wants to relive the good old days hoping to change my mind. I foresee she’ll cling to like a barnacle."
Alia pulled a face. "So I should bla you for being awfully irresistible to her, like catnip to a cat, because you’re so devilishly handso?"
Without blinking, Matteo retorted in amusent. "So you find devilishly handso?"
"Just drive," Alia groaned. She had walked straight into that. "Otherwise, make sure to get us into an accident that leaves us with a broken arm each so we can escape this."
"Your wish is my command," Matteo said.
***
However, the drive back was uneventful. Matteo and Alia arrived at the Hawthorne estate with all their limbs intact, and Horace Hawthorne was already beaming delightedly at them over the dinner table.
Alia almost felt bad for bursting his bubble.
"Alia! Matteo! So kind of you to visit." He smiled and gestured for them to eat. The chefs had hastily prepared more dishes for their arrival. "I guess you have heard the news."
"Grandfather, while I would like to express my thanks for such an invitation, I simply cannot afford the ti to go now," Alia said.
"Whyever not?" Horace demanded, confused. He turned to Matteo. "Are you giving my granddaughter so much work that she can’t even take a three-week vacation?"
"No, Grandfather, Matteo has been treating very well!" Alia said hastily. "It’s just that now I’m working on raising funds for the charity, and I would like to focus all my attention on the children that need my help. Would it be possible for to miss this family vacation for now?"
"That wouldn’t do!" Emline’s syrupy sweet voice floated into the room, and her figure followed soon after, clad in a white flowy cotton dress that made her look like a demure angel.
Alia fought the urge to gag; she wasn’t fooled in the least.
"After all, this whole vacation was created with you in mind. The Waltons had offered us their holiday resort for free once they heard that we were looking for a winter vacation."
"Then you can cancel it since Alia has already said she’s busy," Matteo pointed out. "And since when were the Hawthornes so lacking in money that you would jump at free stuff?"
anwhile, Alia’s eyebrow twitched. The resort was run by Caleb’s family?
"Matteo, I’m not one to turn away goodwill. But if you can make it, there’s no need to cancel," Emline said, fluttering her eyelashes in Matteo’s direction. "Alia can look after her charity while you spend ti with ― the rest of us."
Alia snorted.
"I’m not going without Alia," Matteo said flatly, crossing his arms. "And I’m also busy with work at this juncture, so maybe you could go with Aiden instead."
Horace Hawthorne let out a huge sigh, a disappointed furrow on his face. "Alia, darling, is there no way to change your mind? Surely the charity cannot be giving you so much trouble! It’s just a bunch of orphan children; they can wait. Our family trip is more important!"
"But these orphan children are my responsibility now," Alia argued, "I need to make sure they succeed."
"They’ll live," Horace said dismissively, unmoved by her words. "They’ve gotten so far without you, Alia. They will survive three weeks in your absence."
"If the charity is giving you so much hardship that three weeks can ruin everything, maybe I should take it back." Emline pursed her lips, and Alia’s eyes flashed in irritation.
The charity was giving her trouble because Emline had run it to the ground!
"It might have been too much for you to handle since you’re too new to this," Emline continued sadly. "Grandfather, I should have given her sothing easier. Normally, fundraising for my charities takes around a month at most. Alia has a three-month deadline, so there should be more than enough ti for her to go on a holiday with us."
Horace nodded. "Take it back then, Emline. You’re more skilled, you should handle it. Give Alia sothing easier―"
"No," Alia interrupted, rising angrily, her hands balled into fists by her side. "I want to handle this. You’ve done such a stellar job with the organization that I can only hope to take it to greater heights."
The sarcasm rolled off her tongue easily, and she wanted nothing more than to call out Emline’s blatant neglect in front of Horace Hawthorne.
But her grandfather didn’t seem to care about the plight of the needy. From Emline’s small smirk, she knew it too. Accusing her wouldn’t change a thing.
"I can do it," Alia insisted with gritted teeth. "Grandpa, let handle it. I’ll go on vacation with you and get right to work after."
"Excellent! Now let’s dig in!" Horace Hawthorne bead, all earlier upset forgotten. "Matteo, I trust you will be joining us?"
"Of course. I go where Alia goes," Matteo said, and he wrapped a hand around Alia’s fist, gently tugging her back down to her seat. His thumb rubbed circles on her hand, wordlessly trying to calm her down.
That did not go unnoticed by Emline, whose face grew dark with loathing.
’Just you wait, Alia Kentwood!’ She seethed. ’You won’t get away with this!’
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