MATTEO’s POV
The conference room was dimly lit as I sat there, frustration mounting with every word from my staff.
In just one day, I had lost millions, and the outlook was grim. Despite their voices filling the room, their words seemed to blur into a meaningless jumble. I glanced at them as they spoke, their lips moving in a rhythm I couldn’t decipher.
Frustration boiled within me, and I shook my head, pushing strands of hair out of my face in a futile attempt to regain focus. When the frustration reached its peak, I slammed my hand onto the table, instantly silencing the room. They exchanged uneasy glances, but none of them dared to meet my eyes.
“How did everything go down in one day??”. I asked no one in particular, but they all shared glances and decided not to word an answer.
“Jane?”. I turned to my P. A, and she looked at me without saying a word. Just a blank stare.
“GIVE ME SOMETHING!!!”. I shouted, tossing my chair to the side.
The room grew even quieter than I wondered if they were holding their breaths.
“S-sir?”. Eric said out
“Speak!”.
“Sir I was thinking we could double our sales for next month by-”
“Stop…”. I said, breathing heavily.
I sniffled when my phone rang throughout the room, but I didn’t bother to pick it up. It was Carter, and for some reason, my trust in him kept reducing by the day.
“Keep going, Eric”. I said, but the door was pushed open by a devastated looking Carter. He was furious, and it’s hardly a feature he portrayed.
“Sir, should I keep going?”. Eric asked, but I made him stop by pulling up a finger. I walked to Carter, and he looked at me in the eyes. His eyes were sad and tired. Like he just lost something big. My heart began to pound in my chest as I approached him in slow calculated steps.
“Boss, it’s- it’s a massacre”. He whispered to my hearing.
“Get out”. I whispered. “Everyone get out!!!” I yelled, and they all ran along, and soon the room was empty, just me and Carter.
“Tell me…”. I asked.
“Your warehouse…we lost everything. All the drugs. All the men”.
I exhaled deeply, as if struggling to absorb the news. Folding my hands into tight fists, I fought to control my erratic breathing. Closing my eyes briefly, I attempted to steady myself before reopening them to face the reality of the situation.
“How many men?”
“Over forty men”. He said, and I grunted lowly, rubbing my temple as I paced the room. “Those men weren’t just killed because they worked for you. There’s something about the brutality of each death. More than five bullets in each body. He harbors a deep hatred for you, Matteo.”
“And the drugs worth?”. I asked, running my fingers through my hair
“Four hundred million dollars”
“Fuck!!”
“We have to be extra careful. He’s not playing around Matteo. He could harm anyone. Anyone at all”
My mind went to Aria, and my hands began to shake. I couldn’t see her dead with a body filled with bullets. I wouldn’t be able to take that. I turned to Carter again
“Where is Aria?”. I asked.
“Home”. He replied, and my heart seemed to be at peace again.
“Kill everyone and anyone as my response to this”. I gave the orders, the anger pulsating through my veins.
Just then, Charlie pulled the doors open and ran in panting. I looked at him as he struggled to get his words out.
“Aria…”. Pants. “Aria…” pants. “Aria’s not home”. He said
“What?!”. I asked.
“She left in one of your cars, Matteo”. He said and coughed while panting.
Without wasting a moment, I took to my heels and dashed off, running as fast as I could, pushing past anyone and anything in my way. I didn’t even bother waiting for the elevator; I took the stairs two at a time, too anxious to wait around.
In my mind’s eye, I could see her, covered in blood, her face drained of color. I blinked back tears at the thought, trying to shake the image from my head.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, I made a beeline for the garage, only to remember that I had left the key in the conference room. So, without stopping, I turned and ran back out onto the streets of Venice, my heart pounding with each step.
I scanned the faces around me, hoping to catch a glimpse of her smile, her eyes lighting up at the sight of me.
As I ran, someone grabbed my arm, trying to hold me back. I struggled to break free, but they held on tight. It was Carter standing before me, shaking me out of my frantic state. But even as he spoke, my eyes continued to search, filled with tears and longing, desperate for any sign of her.
“Matteo…”. I heard him call out my name.
“Matteo?”. It was faint, but I heard it alright
He pulled my face to look at him, and I did. And, I saw him gaped as he watched the tears roll down my eyes
“Aria…”. I cried.
“No, she’s fine. We’ll find her. I promise”.
“And if they get to her before I do?”. I asked, and the color drained from Carter’s face.
I pushed him away and began my search again. Forcing any small woman to look me in the eyes. My body was trembling as I tried to stay positive. Charlie helped me out, searching and calling her name at the top of our lungs while Carter stood there defeated.
I turned around hopelessly, trying to find her, but I couldn’t and then my eyes caught something in the distance. Black hair. Across the street. Her back to me, and she seemed to be in front of an ice cream truck
“Aria…”. I murmured.
I ran across the street, not bothering to check if they were any cars coming down the lane. When I got across, I spun her around to look at her to be certain it was really Aria.
And it was. I chuckled lowly overly excited when I saw her brown orbs look into my mine. Then, I pulled her into my arms and hugged her.