Chapter 38

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Matteo finally let her go, and the weight of his words seemed to press down on her like a heavy fog. She watched silently as he strode over to Brien, extending his hand in a gesture of alliance. O’Brien returned the smile, engaging in conversation with Matteo, but all the while, his eyes kept flickering back to her. The sudden ding of the elevator doors caught her attention again, pulling her gaze away. She turned just in time to see the other four men from their group stepping out of the second elevator. Leo and Alexander exchanged curious glances with her, Marcos rolled his eyes in obvious annoyance, and Frankie—the guy with the easy laugh—burst into a loud, genuine chuckle. Genevieve frowned deeply and made a beeline for the bathrooms, Leo’s shadow trailing closely behind her.

Once inside the bathroom, Genevieve rushed to the mirror and let out an exasperated groan. Matteo had been right all along. Her lipstick was smudged, strands of hair had escaped her carefully pinned-updo, and her blouse and skirt were creased from the tension of the moment. Her eyes shone with an intensity that suggested she’d just glimpsed something divine—something almost like heaven—yet again. She pressed her palms flat against the cold marble countertop and lowered her head, taking a moment to steady herself. Then, she glanced back at her reflection and gave a firm nod. This was only the beginning. The real challenge was still ahead.

She splashed cool water on her face, smoothing down her hair and fixing the remnants of her makeup with quiet determination. When she finally stepped out of the bathroom, there was a newfound confidence in her stride.

Leaning casually against the wall just outside the door was Leo. She gave him a brief nod and headed toward the dining room.

“You’re playing with fire,” Leo whispered softly behind her.

Genevieve’s eyes narrowed slightly. “I know exactly what I’m dealing with, Leo,” she hissed under her breath. “I was just keeping him distracted. He’s… too personal. Too close.”