Page 47 of Meet You Half Way
It was getting late but it didn’t feel at all as though the night was yet over. We’d eaten dessert already and I was so full I could hardly move. Dante and Giulia were great fun and I was enjoying spending time with them. We’d just moved into the front lounge, yes thefancyfront lounge, and Mateo was currently edging closer to where we sat together on the two seater lounge.
Dante had just refilled our glasses with a delicious Marsala and I started to think I should slow down as I still had to drive Mateo home safely after this. I didn’t mind if he kept drinking though because each sip seemed to send him another inch closer to where I was sitting and I didn’t mind that at all as his arm brushed up against mine.
“How is your modelling work going, Mateo?” Dante asked as he sat on his brown leather armchair.
“Really good,” Mateo replied, perking up in his seat. “Jamie came up with me to Sydney for my last photoshoot.” He swivelled to look at me and I smiled down at him, seeing the way his eyes sparkled when talking about something he loved.
“Did you?” Dante asked, eyebrows raised.
“I did. It was quite eye opening,” I replied, deciding not to mention the fact I’d only gone because Mateo’s car had broken down. He could add that disclaimer in if he wanted to because I was sure he couldn’t have missed the significant looks his aunty and uncle had shared at that little piece of news.
“You weren’t bored standing around for hours?” Mateo asked, a little tease in his voice.
“Far from it,” I returned, trying to hide the heat in my eyes as I pinched his waist. “You should tell your uncle about your talk with your agent,” I prompted, knowing I should probably have just shut up but also knowing Mateo would likely never say anything without being pushed.
“Oh? What did your agent say?” Dante asked, picking up on my hint immediately.
“Nothing,zio,” Mateo returned, shooting me an unimpressed look.
“Don’t be shy now,” he smiled, waiting expectantly for Mateo to speak.
“It was nothing important.”
“Just that he had a whole bunch of clients a mile long desperate to work with you,” I threw in, hoping that the dark glare in Mateo’s eyes would not curtail my hopes for the rest of the evening.
“Does he?” Dante asked in a way which said he was not surprised.
“That’s hardly a surprise. You can’t be as beautiful as Mateo for nothing,” Giulia added in a tone that was so matter of fact I almost laughed. Well, would have if Mateo wasn’t still shooting daggers at me.
“He’s an absolute natural in front of the camera,” I added, in for a penny now. “You should have seen him.”
“I have zero doubt of that,” Giulia added with a nod. She shared a glance with Dante, a significant look passing between them that had me suddenly thinking that maybe I’d made the right call here in speaking up.
“And Mateo, is that something you want to consider?” Dante prompted. “Taking on more modelling jobs?”
“No, Dante,” Mateo grumped. “I won’t leave you to deal with the firm on your own.”
Dante let out a breath before he sank back in his seat, a contemplative look on his face. “I’ve been speaking with my doctor,” he finally said, causing Mateo to glance up with concern in his eyes. “He is not altogetherenthusiasticabout my return to work.”
“Really?” Mateo asked. “What did he say?”
“I told him I was ready to go back full time and he said if I did, I should expect to see him back in the ICU within the next few months.”
“Dante, no.”
“Well, I’m sixty-five this year, Mateo. I’m not exactly a spring chicken anymore,” he said.
“So, what …” Mateo started but stopped. I felt him shift beside me, like he was on some kind of precipice and was afraid of the answer to his unspoken question.
“So what am I going to do?” Dante guessed. “That was what I wanted to talk to you about. I know the firm is not your passion, Mateo, but if you want to take over the business I will gladlyhand it over to you. My guess though, is that this is not what you want.”
Mateo was quiet, the thoughts running across his face as I reached over and squeezed his hand, letting him know I was there.
“Dante, I …” he began.
“You don’t need to say anything to me right now, Mateo,” Dante said, holding his hand up. “I’ve already started putting feelers out in the industry and I’ve had a few bites. I won’t have any trouble selling the business if that is what’s holding you back. But I want you to know I’d give it to you in a heartbeat but I will only do that if you want it.”
“But what will you do?” Mateo asked. “You love the firm.”
