219
Matteo’s POV
I leaned back in my chair, swirling the coffee in my mug as Emilia paced the living room in front of me. She wasn’t good at sitting still, especially when she was in one of her overthinking moods. Today, she was obsessing over some party Alaric was hosting, which I honestly couldn’t care less about.
If it were up to me, she wouldn’t be with him in the first place, talk less of attending a stupid party he was hosting.
“So, what’s the big deal if you don’t wear the exact right dress?” I asked, smirking as she shot me a glare. Since I didn’t have to. go. to work today, what better wah to spend my day tham to spend it infuriating my big sister?
“It’s not about the dress, Matteo,” she said, throwing her hands up. “It’s about the impression.”
“Right, because mafiosos are known for their deep appreciation of fashion,” I teased, taking a sip of my coffee.
She groaned and finally dropped onto the couch across from me, glaring at me like I was the root of all her problems.
“Why are you even here?” she asked, though her tone was more exasperated than serious. One of Alaric’s men, the one who I’d come to recognize as Allesio, his right hand man, passed behind us very quietly that if I wasn’t looking, I wouldn’t have heard him. He shot me a warning glance and I glared right back at him. Like I’d come here and harm my sister.
I shrugged at her. “Can’t a guy visit his sister without an ulterior motive?”
“Not you,” she said, narrowing her eyes.
I grinned. “Fine. I actually wanted to talk to you about something.”
Her expression softened a little, curiosity flickering in her eyes. “What is it?”
I started to feel nervous, wondering how I’d tell Emilia about my girlfriend who was two years older than me, and the same age as her.
But if she had the free will to get married to a mafia don, why don’t I have the free will to get married to a lady just two years older than I am?
I set my mug down, leaning forward with my elbows on my knees. “It’s about Gianna.”
Emilia’s brows furrowed. “Gianna? Who’s Gianna?”
“My girlfriend,” I said, watching her reaction closely.
Her eyes widened, and she sat up straighter. “Wait, what? You have a girlfriend?”
“Is that so hard to believe?” I asked, feigning offense.
“A little,” she said, laughing. “You’ve never mentioned her before.”
“Well, I’m mentioning her now,” I said, smiling despite myself. Just saying Gianna’s name made me feel lighter.
“I can’t believe this,” Emilia laughed. “You have stars in your eyes just from mentioning her.”
“Okay that’s a lie. I do not have stars in my eyes,” I defended myself.
“Yes, Matteo. You do have stars in your eyes but that’s ok, you don’t have to admit it if you’re too scared to,” she teased. I shot her a scowl and she laughed again, shaking her head. “It’s just that it’s soo hard to believe that you have a girlfriend. That you’re in love. Matteo I’ve never ever seen you like this.”
“I don’t get it. Why is it so hard for you to believe me?” I laughed, finding her shock funny.
“It’s just…” She stared at me for a moment before shaking her head with a light laugh. “Never mind.” Emilia tilted her head, studying me. “Okay, tell me everything. Who is she? What’s she like?”
I leaned back, letting the question settle. “She’s… amazing,” I said finally.
Emilia rolled her eyes. “That’s vague. Come on, Matteo. Details.”
“She’s smart,” I said. “And funny. She doesn’t put up with my crap, which is refreshing.”
Emilia raised an eyebrow. “So, she’s a saint.”
“Very funny,” I said, throwing a pillow at her. She caught it and grinned.
“But seriously,” she said, leaning forward. “How did you meet her?”
“Through work,” I said.
Her expression shifted, her curiosity deepening. “Wait, what kind of work?”
“Relax,” I said, laughing. “She’s not involved in anything shady. She’s my boss. The CEO. We work together every day.”
“Your boss,” Emilia repeated, her lips curving into a smile. “That’s… not what I expected.”
“And what did you expect?” I asked, folding my arms.
“Someone young and vibrant,” she said, her tone teasing. “Like you.”
I didn’t correct her, though I felt a pang of irritation at her assumption. Gianna wasn’t what people expected, but that’s what made her special.
Another reason why I didn’t correct her was because she was right too. Gianna wasn’t young and vibrant. She was older than me. Young, yes. But still older than me and that was a deal breaker. Not to mention she could be so closed off at times.
“So, when do I get to meet her?” Emilia asked, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
I hesitated. “Soon,” I said.
Her smile faltered. “You’re not embarrassed, are you?”
“Of course not,” I said quickly.
“Then what’s the holdup?” she pressed.
“It’s not a holdup,” I said, running a hand through my hair. “I just… want to make sure the timing is right.”
She frowned, leaning back against the couch. “Matteo, if you’re serious about her, you shouldn’t hesitate to introduce her to your family.”
I sighed, knowing she was right. “Fine. How about we set something up next week?”
Emilia’s face lit up. “Really?”
“Really,” I said, though my stomach twisted at the thought of the meeting. I knew Gianna could hold her own, but Emilia could be… intense.
“Good,” she said, her tone firm. “Because I want to see who’s managed to put up with you for this long.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “You’re impossible.”
“And you love me for it,” she said, grinning.
“Debatable,” I teased, earning another pillow to the face.
As we laughed, I couldn’t help but feel a flicker of nervous anticipation. I wanted this to go well-for Gianna’s sake, and for mine.