132

132
Gianna’s POV
The first meeting of the day was supposed to be straightforward-key word: supposed. I’d reviewed the client file twice this morning, ensuring we were prepared for every potential question or snag. But as usual, things weren’t going as planned.
“Ms. Lorenzo, I don’t think this partnership benefits us as much as it does you,” Mr. Caldwell, the regional director of our potential partner, said, leaning back in his chair. His tone was smug, almost amused, as if he’d been waiting to drop that line since we walked in.
I resisted the urge to sigh. Of course, he wanted to play hardball. “Mr. Caldwell, I understand your concerns,” I said evenly. “But if you’ll review the projections we’ve provided, you’ll see that the growth opportunity is mutual. Our infrastructure would support your expansion plans-at no additional cost to you.”
He glanced at the papers in front of him, not even bothering to hide his disinterest. “Projections are just numbers, Ms. Lorenzo. Numbers can be… manipulated.”
I felt my jaw tighten. I opened my mouth to respond, but Matteo beat me to it.
“Manipulated?” Matteo said, his tone light but sharp enough to get Caldwell’s attention. “Come on, Mr. Caldwell. You and I both know these numbers aren’t just wishful thinking. Our team spent months gathering market data. It’s not about manipulation-it’s about opportunity.”
I glanced at Matteo, surprised. He leaned forward slightly, meeting Caldwell’s gaze with an easy confidence that was surprising for a guy his age.
“Look,” Matteo continued, “we’re not here to waste your time. And we’re certainly not here to waste ours. You’ve seen the reports. You know the numbers are solid. The real Question is, are you ready to make a move that could double your market share in the next five years?”
Caldwell blinked, clearly caught off guard by Matteo’s boldness. For a moment, I thought he might snap back, but instead, he leaned forward, suddenly looking more interested.
“I suppose,” Caldwell said slowly, “there’s merit in discussing this further.”
I almost laughed at how quickly the wind had shifted in our favor. Matteo leaned back, a satisfied smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
“Great,” I said smoothly, regaining control of the conversation. “Then let’s move on to the specifics.”
The rest of the meeting went surprisingly well. By the time we walked out of the boardroom, Caldwell was practically eating out of our hands.
“You handled yourself well in there,” I said as we stepped into the elevator.
Matteo turned to me, raising an eyebrow. “Was that a compliment?”
“Don’t let it go to your head,” I said, trying to keep my tone neutral.
“Too late,” he said, grinning.
I rolled my eyes and faced forward, but I couldn’t deny it-he’d impressed me.
The second meeting wasn’t any easier. This time, we were dealing with a notoriously difficult client who seemed determined to pick apart every detail of our proposal.
“I don’t see how this benefits us in the long term,” the client said, tapping his pen against the table.
I launched into an explanation, walking him through the projected growth and highlighting the advantages of the partnership. But no matter what I said, he kept pushing back.
Matteo stayed quiet for most of the meeting, letting me take the lead. But I could tell he was paying attention, his gaze sharp and focused.
When the client raised yet another objection, Matteo finally spoke up. “If I may,” he said, his tone calm but firm, “I think you’re looking at this the wrong way.”
The client turned to him, his expression skeptical. “Oh? And how should I be looking at it?”
“This isn’t just about the immediate benefits,” Matteo said. “It’s about positioning yourself for the future. The market is changing, and if you don’t adapt, you’ll get left behind. This partnership isn’t just an advantage-it’s insurance.”
The client frowned, considering his words. “Insurance, huh?”
“Exactly,” Matteo said, leaning forward slightly. “And let’s be honest-do you really want your competitors to get ahead of you because you hesitated?”
The room went quiet as the client stared at Matteo, clearly weighing his options.
“I suppose there’s truth in that,” he said finally.
Matteo nodded, his expression calm but confident. “Then let’s talk about how we can make this work for you.”
—
By the time we got back to the hotel, I was exhausted. Negotiating with difficult clients was part of the job, but two back-to-back meetings like that were enough to drain anyone.
Matteo, on the other hand, seemed completely unfazed.
“That wasn’t so bad,” he said, tossing his bag onto the couch.
“Not bad?” I said, raising an eyebrow. “You call that easy?”
“Hey, we got the results we wanted,” he said, grinning. “That’s what matters, right?”
I shook my head, but I couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips.
“Seriously, though,” he said, his tone softening. “You were incredible in there. Watching you handle Caldwell was like watching a masterclass in negotiation.”
I blinked, caught off guard by the compliment. “Thank you,” I said after a moment.
He shrugged, like it was no big deal. “Just calling it like I see it.”
I glanced at him, studying his expression. For all his cocky remarks and easy confidence, there was something genuine in his eyes. Something that made me wonder if I’d underestimated him.
“Well,” I said finally, “you weren’t too bad yourself.”
His grin widened. “I’ll take it.”
As I sat on the bed, I couldn’t help but find myself replaying the events of the day in my mind. Matteo’s quick thinking had been impressive, and his confidence had a way of disarming even the most difficult clients.
But it wasn’t just his skill that stuck with me. It was the way he carried himself-the way he stayed calm under pressure, the way he supported me without trying to overshadow me.
I hated to admit it, but maybe I’d been too quick to judge him. Especially since it was Mafia boss that helped him get the job. At the beginning I didn’t think he merited it, but no one ever said no to Alaric Castillo.
Still, I reminded myself, this trip wasn’t about personal growth or bonding. It was about securing deals and proving to our clients that we were the best in the business.
I couldn’t afford to let my guard down-not with Matteo, and certainly not with anyone else.
As I closed my laptop and got ready for bed, I made a mental note to keep things professional. Matteo might have impressed me today, but that didn’t mean I could let him get too comfortable.
This was business, after all. And I wasn’t about to let anyone-no matter how charming-distract me from my goals.