Page 33 of The Runaway Bride and the Billionaire

Ivy wasn’t satisfied. “Why? Is there something going on between you two?”

I considered completely ignoring her. After all, I didn’t owe her any explanation. While that was true, I also wanted to avoid making an enemy out of her. I was still the new girl at work and I didn’t want to have an issue with someone who’d been at the company longer than me.

“No, there’s nothing between us.”

A wide smile took over her face and she laced her arm with mine. “Good because I’m interested in him.” Ivy talked as we walked into the office building. “I’ve actually been trying to make him mine for a while now. He’s so handsome and well-mannered. It’s hard not to like him.”

I offered her a small smile and nodded because I didn’t know what to say. Ivy didn’t mind my lack of contribution. She rambled on anyway. “He’s the perfect catch and any woman would be lucky to be with him. Right girls?”

She turned to the other women in the office. They’d gathered at one of the tables and were all staring at something. A few of them lifted their heads to look at Ivy. “Who are we talking about here?” one asked.

“Matteo Hayes,” Ivy answered.

That was enough to get every woman to abandon whatever they were looking at.

“Then yes!”

“He’s the perfect catch!”

“Absolutely!”

“I would simply love to climb that mountain of a man.”

Loud laughter followed after that last comment. “Hey!” Ivy cautioned after she’d sobered up. “Slow your roll there, Gwen. Matteo is my date to the company gala so I’m the only one who’s gonna climb that mountain.”

Phoenix Consulting would be hosting a gala next week. From what I gathered it was an annual occasion and every employee was expected to attend. I was looking forward to it before but now not so much. I had no desire to watch Ivy and Matteo flirt and dance all evening.

Thankfully, Ivy finally released my arm, and I walked away from the group of women still gushing about the upcoming gala. I went about my tasks for the day but through it all, my mind kept going back to Matteo and Ivy. I wondered if he would agree to go to the gala with her. I tried not to let it bother me. At the end of the day, Matteo didn’t owe me anything and he was free to go out with whoever he wanted.

After work, I decided not to go home immediately. I needed to go somewhere to clear my head and being home with Matteo would not give me that. I grabbed my bag, said goodbye to my coworkers, and left the office.

I walked aimlessly down the street, enjoying the chilly evening air. It was cold enough to make me put on my jacket but notso much that I needed gloves or a scarf. It was perfect. The streetlights brightened the sidewalk and I looked around at all the people walking, driving, or cycling.

A bright sign caught my attention on the other side of the street. It was a cafe called The Daily Grind. I’d heard a few of my coworkers talking about it. They often stopped by here to grab their morning coffee or some donuts for lunch. I’d never been here because I was always so preoccupied with work. I was new and I worried about being seen as lazy. That worry meant I worked twice as hard because I was desperate to prove myself.

Deep down I knew it wasn’t my boss I was trying to prove myself to or even myself. It was my parents. Every time I went to work, it was like I could hear their voices in the back of my head telling me I was wasting my time. They didn’t believe I could handle this, and I had to prove them wrong.

I sucked in a deep breath just as the pedestrian traffic light signaled it was okay to cross. I joined half a dozen other people, and we crossed the street together. Once on the other side, I headed straight for the cafe.

I walked into the dimly lit room and smiled when I saw the glazed donuts on display. I’d been craving something sweet for a while now. After scanning the room, I found an empty table in the corner. Sitting there would allow me to watch people as they came in and left the cafe. People-watching had always been a great way for me to clear my head. Alternatively, I could just look outside the large windows and watch the cars drive by.

I placed my order and walked over to the available table. There, I sat down and stared at the bustling street. A young woman lifted her toddler into her arms and settled him on her hips. He hugged her, happy to be high enough to see the world from her perspective.

In front of the woman, a group of men laughed as they strolled down the street. Their suits and briefcases told me that they’djust gotten off work. I sighed. I was yet to make any real friends at Phoenix Consulting.

Friendships often involved personal conversations, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready to reveal the complicated nature of my life to anyone. I wasn’t ready to explain that I was living with my ex-boyfriend. The same man that my parents forced me to leave five years ago.

I also wasn’t ready to tell them that the man in question was Matteo Hayes. Nearly every woman in my office had a crush on Matteo so telling them I live with him would only serve to complicate my life further.

I sighed again as I turned away from the window to take a bite of my donut. My eyes widened when I saw a man standing beside my table. I’d been so focused on staring outside that I hadn’t noticed him walk up to me.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said. “I wanted to speak to you but I didn’t want to interrupt your thoughts. You were in pretty deep there.”

“Oh okay.”

He gestured to the chair opposite me. “Mind if I… ”

“Sure,” I said, and he took a seat. I wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone but I didn’t want to be rude. One conversation couldn’t hurt.

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