Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

Matteo recognized the exact moment she realized who he was. A soft gasp slipped from her slightly parted, rosy lips. Her eyes, magnified by the glasses perched unevenly on her nose, grew wide as saucers. Her fingers tightened around the edge of the table, trembling as if she were barely holding herself together. Matteo allowed a slow, knowing smile to spread across his face. He leaned back comfortably in his chair and gave her a playful wink.

A gentle flush began to rise from the open collar of her crisp white blouse, creeping up her chest, coloring her neck, and dusting her cheekbones with a delicate pink hue. Matteo could sense the curious gazes of his men fixed on him, silently questioning what was unfolding before them. He knew many of them had never witnessed him smile like this—especially not at a woman. Yet, he paid them no mind, fully absorbed in watching her reaction to standing once again under his gaze, at his mercy.

“Gen,” a whisper came from her colleague, as she lightly tugged at the waistband of Genevieve’s skirt, which hugged her figure tightly. Charlotte let out a nervous chuckle and glanced around at the circle of men seated at the table. “Gen,” she repeated, this time more sharply, pulling at her elbow.

Genevieve tore her eyes away from Matteo’s intense stare. She swayed slightly, as if caught off balance, then ran a hand through her dark hair, trying to steady herself.

“I—I’m so sorry, I…” Genevieve picked up her pen from the table and tapped it twice against the wood. Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply. When she opened them again, her composure had returned. She turned her attention to the other men, her presence commanding, radiating the no-nonsense energy of a drill sergeant tired of dealing with rookies. “I apologize. Once again, my name is Genevieve. I’ve been working on your case and I am here to present my findings. Now…”

She pivoted toward the projection screen on the wall, giving Matteo an unobstructed view of her slim waist and curving hips. He couldn’t help but remember the way those hips had felt pressed against his own. Shifting in his seat, he tried discreetly to mask the sudden stiffness that betrayed his thoughts. He pinched his thigh and drummed his fingers against the table as she methodically walked through her report, outlining the payments and their sources. While following her train of thought, already anticipating where it would lead, his eyes flicked to Marco, who was diligently taking notes. Feeling Matteo’s gaze, Marco looked up briefly. Matteo raised an eyebrow, and Marco responded with a playful smirk—he, too, was impressed by her. Matteo tapped the table twice, narrowing his eyes at his employee’s bowed head. That attitude would have to be corrected soon.