Chapter Four - Wanting To Vanish!

“Why have you locked the damn door? What did you hope for? To have me on your sofa?” Amelia could have continued, but stopped when he just got up and walked towards her. The amused sparkle in his eyes and his raised eyebrow made her immediately on high alert. The man was lethal and now he was inching towards her! She looked all around her for a weapon. No, she wouldn’t be his next victim! Or would she? It wouldn’t take him much to have her melt in his arms!

He stopped inches away from her while his eyes held her gaze. Amelia forgot to breathe! “Don’t you dare touch me!” she hissed, but she could feel herself drowning in his whiskey-hued eyes.

He smiled and reached out to turn the knob in the other direction.

“You were doing it all wrong, Emilia!” The door opened wide, and Amelia wanted to disappear into a hole and never emerge. Why did such things happen to her?

She walked out in a daze, eager to get away from the dangerous temptation, leaning against his door and watching her go with hooded eyes. “I’ll join you in a while!” he said as she disappeared into the elevator. Amelia walked down towards the body shop, her ears flaming with embarrassment. If only she didn’t have to meet the man again! How would she face him?

She entered the body shop and sat down on the bench, watching the car being repaired. Freddie gave her a mock salute and continued with his work. She wondered where her friends were! How could they just disappear without giving her a thought? What if Matteo hadn’t offered her lunch? She would have fainted from sheer exhaustion! She was really indebted to the man. Maybe she should help in arranging his office!

“Hey miss! Your friends were looking for you after you left!” yelled Seth as he jogged inside from somewhere.

“Oh, and what did you tell them?” Amelia dreaded Rebecca’s reaction. She was fiercely possessive about the men she fancied and it seemed she liked Matteo for herself!

“The truth! Matteo carried you all the way to his place!” He grinned, winked, and walked away to his desk, leaving her gaping after the guy. Couldn’t he make up some shit and tell them? Why did he have to be so damn truthful? Now, how would she explain herself to Rebecca? She would definitely take it out on her!

“I don’t like your friends. They’re taking advantage of you. I would never have cared about such fake friends if I were you,” said Freddie as he worked on the car. Coming out of her reverie, Amelia turned her attention to him.

“Maybe I will when I go back home.”

“Where are you from if you don’t mind me asking you?”

“LA.” She didn’t give away any further information. This was a new place, and she couldn’t trust anyone. She couldn’t wait for the work to get over, pay up, and go back to Rebecca’s uncle’s house. She lost interest in this trip. Maybe she would ask her dad for a return ticket and go back home. She knew how selfish Rebecca was, but it was Lizzy’s behavior that had hurt her. How could Lizzy abandon her at a body shop amongst dangerous-looking men? Maybe she wasn’t the best friend she had considered her to be.

“Don’t be upset, miss. I’ve made your car as good as new!” said Freddie, proudly. “Matteo is a gem of a guy! He will never charge you more!”

Amelia smiled, wanting to know more about the man! Could she ask Freddie? “I’ve been working for him for the last two years. He’s a fair boss!” rambled Freddie while Amelia listened to him with wide eyes. She didn’t want to know how fair a boss Matteo was. She just wanted to know how many girlfriends he had! Or was it just flings he did?

“Just being a fair boss doesn’t make a man great. It’s how he treats women that matters the most.” Freddie gaped at her for a split second and then smiled, concentrating on his job.

“Why do you say that, miss? Has he treated you badly?”

“No, not me. I’m just a stranger. I’m talking about the women in his life!” She blushed crimson in her attempt to fish out information about Matteo’s love life. What has the man transformed her into? She couldn’t recognize this desperate, horny Amy anymore.

“He doesn’t have anyone in his life! So I wouldn’t know about that, miss!” Amelia felt a little disappointed and was about to open her mouth to ask him more questions about the mysterious man when a movement beside the door caught her attention.

“You can ask me instead, Emilia! I can tell you all about my love life!” Amelia froze at hearing his voice right beside her. When did he come in? Had he heard their conversation? Why didn’t Freddie warn her of his presence? God! This was so embarrassing!

She turned to face him, the warm flush spreading all over her body. “I have no interest in your love life! I was just trying to prove a point.”

His grin widened, and he nodded, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Sure, you were!”

“How long will the car take? I need to go home. Not my home. I meant Rebecca’s uncle’s home.” Matteo’s smile widened at her rambling and he walked towards his office, gesturing for her to follow while she stood at the door, hesitating a little.

“Come on in, Signorina. I won’t eat you up.” Amelia rolled her eyes and went inside.

“Sit down. You shouldn’t talk so much to the workers out there, Emilia! It’s dangerous!” he warned, handing her a bottle of water. Amelia accepted it and drank to her heart's content.

“Thanks, I needed that.”

“I know.” Amelia gave him a blank look. How did he know she was thirsty?

“How?” Matteo smiled and started arranging his desk with an amused look on his face.

“You licked your dry lips twenty-eight times while talking to Freddie.” Amelia’s jaws dropped with horror! What? So was he watching her lips all the time? This was so embarrassing!

“You’re so naïve, Emilia!” he murmured, his voice husky as if the thought alone had turned him on!

“Hey, I’m not! So when will the car be ready?” she asked impatiently. She had to get away from this man or she would go crazy.

“Two more hours, maybe earlier. Why don’t you help me by arranging my office a little in the meantime? I have work to take care of.” Amelia nodded, getting up to start the job he assigned. At least it would keep her busy and sane. With Matteo gone, she could get a grip over her wayward senses!

“Sure,” she said, taking the papers from his hands. Their fingers brushed, and she felt electrocuted again and dropped the papers to the floor. What was wrong with her?

“Oh, I’m sorry. I’ll get them,” she said nervously, getting down on her knees to pick the papers up. Matteo too kneeled down at the same time to help her.

“Here, let me help you.” He picked the papers up and gathered them while Amelia felt intoxicated by his nearness. Why was she so affected by the man while he was so calm and composed? He handed her the bunch, this time avoiding a touch. Did he see through her jumpy nerves? This was the worst day of her life!

“See you in a few minutes. If you can please me, maybe I’ll waive the charges.” He left with a smile while she tried her best to clean up the place. With very little money left in her account, she had to please him. If he agreed, she could go home and pay him later! But would he agree to that?

A few minutes later, a woman’s shrill laughter rang through the air. It immediately alerted her, and she opened the door and peered out to check. Was it Matteo’s hook-up? She saw a gorgeous blonde in a pink jumpsuit standing beside a Ferrari, with Matteo by her side. The way she touched his arm made Amelia simmer with jealousy. How could Freddie lie to her? Of course, Matteo had hook-ups. She was right in her judgment of the man.

“Oh, Matteo! You’ve done such a wonderful job. I want to treat you in return. Your place or mine?” said the woman, wrapping an arm around his waist. Amelia stood at the door of the office, frozen to the spot, waiting to hear Matteo’s reply. Suddenly, his eyes fell upon her and he flashed her a cocky grin. Amelia looked away, embarrassed at being caught spying on them.

“Ah, Emilia! Come here, babe!” said Matteo, making her almost collapse with shock. What the f*ck was the man up to now?

He extricated himself from the woman’s hold and strode purposefully towards her while Amelia stood transfixed on the spot.

“Cadence, meet my girlfriend, Emilia. We have other plans tonight, don’t we, babe?” His eyes twinkled as he grabbed Amelia by her waist and crushed her to his side, his eyes holding her shocked gaze. “But if you insist, we can make it to dinner at your place over the weekend.”