Page 3 of Business Temptations

Maybe that was why he was here in this hellish school. Had the Marquesso sent Matteo away because he’d won too many fights in the local village? Was his father embarrassed that Matteo couldn’t be beaten by the village boys anymore?

That explanation made a certain sense. It was as good of an explanation as any, Matteo thought. The old man had shipped his bastard son off to boarding school because Matteo was learning to be strong. He’d been shipped away from everything that was familiar and away from the only person in the world who cared. Matteo refused to admit that he was lonely or that he missed his mother. And right now, he refused to admit to something he hadn’t done. He hadn’t started the fight. But he’d finished it. Besides, the other students, the three that had attacked him, hadn’t been punished.

Headmaster Daniels didn’t seem impressed by Matteo’s stoic silence. “So, you think you’re better than us?” he demanded, his white, bushy eyebrows furrowing with rage. His nose twitched with disdain. “I’ve broken better kids than you,” he announced, leaning forward slightly. “And you will learn humility!”

Matteo refused to look the man in the eye. He refused to be intimidated. He’d would never let this man break him!

“Am I to remain in here, sir?” he asked. “Or should I get to class?”

The man spun the keys around on his finger once more, a smug smirk curling at the corners of his lips. With an air of arrogance, he scowled, as if daring anyone to challenge his authority.

“Get to class!” Headmaster Daniels snapped, fisting the keys in one hand. “And hurry. You’re already late for first period.”

Matteo stepped gingerly around the man and rushed out. He wasn’t sure what time it was, but he assumed that the man had ensured that Matteo would be too late for breakfast this morning.

Sure enough, as Matteo rushed across the quad, his footsteps echoing in the empty courtyard, the familiar chime of the bell for the first class sliced through the air like a blade. Panic surged within him as he quickened his pace, the weight of yesterday's uniform clinging to his body like a shroud of shame. Books and backpack swung haphazardly from his shoulder, threatening to spill their contents with each hurried step.

With a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, Matteo reached the cafeteria doors, only to find them firmly closed, barricading him from the tantalizing aroma of breakfast. The realization hit him like a physical blow, a cruel reminder of his perpetual struggle against time and circumstance. He was too late, condemned to face the day on an empty stomach, his hunger gnawing at his insides like a relentless beast.

With a muttered curse, he changed direction. Matteo couldn’t be late for his first class. That would result in additional demerits and he wasn’t going to sleep on the floor again tonight!

He was just about to enter the building where his class was located when a flash of something to his left caught his eye. A little blond haired girl, maybe five or six years old, was running across the grass. She had a determined, almost angry, expression on her adorable face. Matteo knew that he’d have to hurry, but there was something…intriguing…about the child. At fourteen, he was very interested in girls, but not children. So, why was it so hard to pull his eyes away from her?

Not only was she interesting to look at, with her long, flaxen hair flying out in small curls behind her, but she was heading right for him!

Matteo tried to pull his eyes away, but there was just…something about her. So it wasn’t a surprise when the small girl rushed over to him and handed him…an odd bundle of something. Before he could ask her about it, she turned and raced away, her short, skinny legs carrying her faster than he would have expected. The little sprite was speedy!

Looking down, he noticed that the package was actually a paper napkin. And inside, was a warm biscuit stuffed with scrambled eggs and a sausage patty!

Matteo didn’t hesitate. He had less than three minutes to eat and get to class. Plus, food wasn’t allowed outside of the cafeteria, so he ate the egg and sausage biscuit with his head down as he hurried to the building that housed his first class of the day. As he stepped into the classroom, the second bell rang and he was able to drop the now-empty napkin into the trashcan by the doorway and take his seat.

With the delicious breakfast warming his stomach, Matteo opened his notebook and, because he was angry about the unjustified punishment, he raised his hand for every question the teacher asked, showing up the other students. For Matteo, this was not merely a display of academic prowess; it was a calculated act of defiance, a twisted game of psychological warfare designed to assert his dominance and exact vengeance upon those who dared to cross him.

Back in the damn room! Matteo was hungry, tired, and frustrated that the headmaster was more than willing to dole out unjust punishments.

At least he’d been shoved into the attic room early enough that there was enough light. The early evening sunshine allowed him to look around and get his bearings. Was the blanket still in the closet? It had been over a week since he’d been in here; had anyone else been punished during that time? Matteo had been diligently trying to keep his head down and out of trouble over the past seven days. One night in this horrible room, alone and with only his secret visitor to ease the aching loneliness, had been enough.

He waited until the footsteps of his captor had faded before he moved to the closet. Sure enough, the wool blanket was there, exactly where he’d left it.

Grabbing the blanket, he shook it out and spread it over the floor. Before he sat down, he took off his blazer and laid it carefully aside so it wouldn’t get wrinkled. He hated ironing and would do just about anything to avoid the chore.

He was hungry, but ignored the gnawing sensation in his stomach. He was always hungry here at the school. It seemed that several of the teachers thought meal times were a good time to lecture him on one subject or another. So missing meals was a regular thing lately.

An image of a blond-haired sprite popped into his head. Was she going to show up tonight? He glanced through the high window. The sun was still out, but dusk filtered the sunshine through the trees. Everyone would be having dinner about now. What was the girl doing? And what was her name? Why was she here, at an all-boys’ boarding school?

The little darling was a mystery he wanted to solve. But he hadn’t seen her since that morning when she’d slipped him that biscuit. He’d sensed her, but no glimpse of blond curls had appeared in his line of sight.

However, maybe thirty minutes later, he heard the sounds of a lighter tread coming up the stairs. He almost smiled when he heard the soft scraping sounds.

“I know you’re hungry,” the small voice called out underneath the doorway. “I wish I could sneak you something warm, but this is all I can find that will fit under the doorway.”

“This is great,” Matteo said, eagerly taking the three protein bars that appeared under the doorway. “What’s your name?”

“I can’t tell you,” she whispered back.

“Are you the blond girl that gave me a breakfast sandwich last week?”

There was a long silence, then the girl whispered, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

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