Anna was about to burst into tears. Only when she heard Matteo’s soft reply did she realize that she had gone too far.
She immediately let go and stepped back, then went forward again to gather her things and put them in her bag.
There was silence in the reception room.
Suddenly there was a knock at the door; it was Clare with a meaningful smile.
-Have you finished with the spaghetti? You have a video conference in five minutes, Mr. Matteo. Here’s the data you need.
Matteo frowned and Anna turned away.
The man grumbled inwardly, disgruntled, -Another meeting? I haven’t had time for lunch yet.”
-OK, I’m on my way.
Then Clare said goodbye to Anna and left.
Anna became even more anxious and stood up with her bag, “I’m going, then.
Matteo wanted her to stay, but thinking that she had already waited until she fell asleep, he gave up.
The man hesitated a moment and said, “Your leg has not recovered yet, and Mario will take you back in fifteen minutes.
Mario arrived as soon as he received the call from Matthew, who had left before the video conference began.
Before that he asked Anna, -Will you be back?
-What?
-Tomorrow, then.
Anna blinked and said stiffly, -I think so?
-Well.
It was only after Matteo left that Anna realized her pulse was quickening and thought, -Matthew is inviting me?
An idea she had never dared to imagine before was slowly growing.
But not daring to think about it, she could only carefully guard the implied idea.
Almost a quarter of an hour later Mario arrived, standing smiling in the doorway in his nice shirt and jacket.
-Hello, Miss Anna, Mr. Matteo sent me.
Anna found Mario particularly friendly, since she and Serena had often ridden in his car. But at the sight of Mario’s attire, Anna felt embarrassed.
Although winter was almost over and many people had changed into thin jackets, Anna was still clinging to her down jacket and a T-shirt.
So it would have been useful to change her clothes when the weather changed.
But she was likely to be laughed at, as some people were already wearing short sleeves.
-Thanks for coming, Mario.
Afterwards, Anna threw the spaghetti into the basket downstairs. She had planned to go home, but then decided to help at the restaurant.
When she arrived at the restaurant, Amelia saw her getting out of the car and squinted at the older man driving.
When Anna got in, Amelia asked, “Who brought you?
Anna’s expression changed slightly, “No one, why?
Amelia took her by the collar, -Be careful with your tone, young lady, I saw a man, well….
-Mom. -Anna knew Amelia too well, knew what she was going to say, and interrupted her, -He’s an elder I respect, and that’s all!
-But I didn’t say anything!
Anna said angrily, -If I hadn’t interrupted you, you would have said something unpleasant.
-And this man has such a superior machine?
Anna did not want to continue the conversation, -I have to go upstairs to rest, my legs hurt.
-Stop, explain it to me.
Amelia, though reluctant to stop, did not pursue Anna to keep her from running and aggravating her leg injury.
***
Serena’s due date was approaching and her belly was already huge, making it very difficult to lie down and stand up.
But she did not have such a big belly when she was pregnant with Manuel.
In addition, her hands, legs and neck, and even her face, were gaining weight very quickly.
After Serena complained to Anna about this, Anna insisted on looking for information on the Internet.
-Many women gain a lot of weight after having a second child and it is harder to regain their previous figure, but don’t worry.
Serena did not think Cristian was a shallow man, but she also did not want her beloved to remember how ugly she was.
Serena’s eyes filled with tears at the thought, and she asked Cristian to sleep in the guest room for the night instead of letting him in.
Cristian was worried about the sudden change in Serena’s mood. At first he thought it was a whim, but after a few days Serena became more aggressive and did not even want to see him.
Cristian was upset, he didn’t know why Serena was acting that way, but he didn’t dare to go into her room and upset her, so he finally told Beatrice.
Beatrice was also very confused, -What’s going on, are you having an affair with another woman? Cristian, if so, I will not forgive you.
Cristian did not answer, his face was grim.
-It’s not true? Tell me,” Beatrice was about to force him to admit it.
-Come on, I’m just afraid he has a probema.
-Who knows? -Beatrice scoffed, even though she knew Cristian was a decent man with great taste in women.
For years he had had only Serena as a woman.