Chapter 6 - The Truth Matteo Could No Longer Hide
The press conference began at noon.
Anna watched from backstage.
Matteo stood beneath the De Luca Maritime logo while dozens of reporters waited for the story they believed would be about romance.
Instead, he gave them the truth.
“Over the past several days,” Matteo began, “Ms. Anna Carter and my family became targets of a deliberate effort to manipulate both public perception and a corporate negotiation.”
Cameras flashed.
He explained that an unauthorized person had entered the Aurelia.
He confirmed that the engagement ring had been removed from his secured office and placed on Anna without her knowledge.
He confirmed the photograph had been taken while they slept.
He confirmed that the Portwell vote had been canceled pending an independent review.
Most importantly, he defended Anna.
“Ms. Carter did nothing wrong.”
Anna looked down.
Matteo continued.
“She has acted with professionalism, integrity, and more patience than circumstances deserved. Attempts to question her judgment because of fabricated personal rumors are without foundation.”
A reporter raised his hand.
“So you are not engaged?”
Matteo paused.
Anna looked up.
For the first time during the press conference, he glanced toward the curtain where she stood.
Their eyes met.
Then he faced the cameras.
“No.”
The word should have brought relief.
Instead Anna felt something painful settle behind her ribs.
“We are not engaged.”
Another reporter shouted, “Are you romantically involved?”
Matteo’s jaw tightened.
“That is not relevant to today’s announcement.”
The room erupted with questions.
Anna closed her eyes.
Sofia stood beside her.
“That wasn’t a no.”
Anna looked at her.
“Please don’t.”
“I’m only observing.”
“You observe too much.”
“It’s a family gift.”
Afterward, Anna returned to her office.
For the first time in three days, there were no photographers outside.
The narrative had changed quickly.
News outlets now focused on corporate espionage, Portwell’s suspended negotiations, and the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the yacht.
Anna’s clients sent messages of support.
Her business partner called to say two new companies had requested meetings.
Professionally, she had survived.
She should have felt triumphant.
Instead she found herself staring at the empty corner of her desk where Matteo usually placed whatever coffee he brought when they worked together.
Her phone remained silent.
By six, Anna was annoyed with herself.
At seven, angry.
At eight, she closed her laptop and went home.
She had known Matteo for six weeks.
Six weeks.
That did not justify missing him.
It definitely did not justify replaying the press conference in her mind.
We are not engaged.
Correct.
They weren’t.
So why had the truth hurt?
Anna entered her apartment, kicked off her shoes, and discovered a small velvet box on the kitchen counter.
She froze.
Then saw the note beneath it.
Relax. Your sister let me in. — Emily
Anna groaned.
Her older sister appeared from the hallway carrying wine.
“I thought you might need this.”
Anna pointed at the box.
“What is that?”
“A joke.”
“After this week, jewelry jokes are banned.”
Emily opened it.
Inside was a candy ring.
Anna laughed despite herself.
“That’s terrible.”
“I worked very hard on it.”
They sat on the couch.
Emily listened while Anna told her everything.
Not just the public story.
The breakfast.
The security footage.
The moments when Matteo had protected her career.
The way he had refused the deal rather than allow someone to use her against him.
When Anna finished, Emily drank quietly.
Then she asked, “Do you love him?”
Anna nearly dropped her glass.
“No.”
“That was quick.”
“Because the answer is obvious.”
Emily waited.
Anna sighed.
“I barely know him.”
“You know how he behaves under pressure.”
“Yes.”
“How he treats his family.”
“Yes.”
“How he treats staff.”
“Yes.”
“How he treats you when there’s nothing to gain.”
Anna stopped.
Emily smiled.
“Sounds like you know quite a lot.”
Anna stood.
“I am not discussing this.”
Her doorbell rang.
Emily grinned.
“Maybe the universe would like to.”
Anna opened the door.
Matteo stood outside.
She stared.
He was wearing no jacket, sleeves rolled to his forearms, tie gone.
He looked tired.
Human.
Dangerously attractive.
“What are you doing here?”
“Your sister texted me.”
Anna slowly turned toward Emily.
Emily was already grabbing her coat.
“I suddenly remembered an emergency.”
“What emergency?”
“My plants.”
“You have plastic plants.”
“Very fragile.”
She slipped past Matteo.
“Goodnight.”
The door closed.
Anna folded her arms.
“I’m changing the lock.”
Matteo looked at her.
“I can leave.”
She should have said yes.
Instead, “You’re already here.”
He stepped inside.
For several seconds neither spoke.
Then Matteo said, “Portwell withdrew the offer.”
“That was fast.”
“The board informed them we were conducting an independent audit.”
“And Edward?”
“Cooperating.”
“Caleb?”
“Suspended pending review.”
Anna nodded.
Everything was wrapping up.
“So that’s it.”
“For the business problem.”
She looked at him.
“There’s another?”
“Yes.”
Matteo reached into his pocket.
Anna immediately stiffened.
When his hand emerged, he held the black-and-gold De Luca ring.
“No.”
His eyebrows lifted.
“I haven’t said anything.”
“You brought the ring.”
“I’m returning it to secure storage tomorrow.”
“Good.”
“I wanted to show you something first.”
Anna reluctantly stepped closer.
Matteo turned the band over.
Inside were the initials she had already seen.
But beneath them was another inscription.
Tiny.
Italian.
“What does it say?”
“Scelto, non imposto.”
Anna waited.
“Chosen, not imposed.”
Her expression softened.
“My grandfather had it engraved after my grandmother refused his first proposal.”
Anna smiled.
“She refused him?”
“Twice.”
“Why?”
“He apparently behaved like an arrogant idiot.”
Anna looked at Matteo.
“Family tradition?”
“Yes.”
She laughed.
Matteo’s smile faded into something quieter.
“My grandmother told me today that the ring has always meant less than the choice behind it.”
Anna’s heartbeat changed.
“Matteo…”
“I’m not proposing.”
“Good.”
“That sounded relieved.”
“I am.”
“Liar.”
She stared at him.
His voice softened.
“I realized something today when I told the press we weren’t engaged.”
Anna’s chest tightened.
“What?”
“I hated saying it.”
Silence.
Matteo continued.
“I hated the lie that we were engaged. I hated why it happened. I hated what it did to you.”
He stepped closer.
“But I hated ending it too.”
Anna could hear her own breathing.
“This week was insane.”
“I know.”
“That can make people feel things that aren’t real.”
“I know.”
“We’ve been trapped together, threatened by headlines, surrounded by your family—”
“My family is the most dangerous part.”
She almost laughed.
Matteo looked at her.
“I’m not asking you to decide anything tonight.”
“Then what are you asking?”
“A real dinner.”
Anna blinked.
“What?”
“No family.”
“No board.”
“No reporters.”
“No stolen jewelry.”
She smiled.
“That last requirement seems important.”
“Very.”
“And after dinner?”
“Another one, if you want.”
Anna studied him.
This man could negotiate billion-dollar contracts without hesitation.
Yet right now Matteo looked uncertain.
Not afraid.
But vulnerable in a way she had never seen.
She realized what it cost him to stand there without control of the answer.
Anna stepped closer.
“One dinner.”
Matteo nodded.
“One.”
“And we are not engaged.”
“No.”
“And you do not tell your grandmother.”
“She already knows I’m here.”
Anna stared.
“What?”
“She told me to bring flowers.”
“Where are they?”
“I remembered you dislike grand gestures.”
“I never said that.”
“You said roses were predictable.”
“They are.”
“So I brought nothing.”
Anna laughed.
“Remarkably romantic.”
“I’m learning.”
She looked at the ring.
“Put that away.”
He did.
Then Anna surprised both of them.
She reached up and kissed his cheek.
Brief.
Gentle.
Nothing dramatic.
When she stepped back, Matteo looked genuinely stunned.
Anna smiled.
“Dinner. Friday.”
He recovered slowly.
“Seven?”
“Seven thirty.”
“Why seven thirty?”
“Because you need practice not controlling everything.”
Matteo smiled.
“I’ll pick you up at seven thirty.”
After he left, Anna leaned against the closed door.
Her heart was racing.
Emily immediately called.
Anna answered.
“You were waiting outside, weren’t you?”
“Maybe.”
“You’re impossible.”
“So?”
Anna smiled.
“One dinner.”
Emily screamed.
Anna pulled the phone away from her ear.
Across Manhattan, Matteo stepped into his car.
His phone rang.
Nonna Elena.
He answered.
“Well?”
Matteo leaned back and looked out at the city lights.
“Friday.”
His grandmother laughed.
Then Matteo reached into his pocket and looked at the old black-and-gold ring.
Chosen.
Not imposed.
May you like
For the first time in years, he finally understood what his grandfather had meant.
---
