บท 7: The Attention
VINCENZO'S POV
I woke up feeling excited for the first time in a long time. Maybe it was the calming effect of talking to my parents or the damn good bottle of whiskey Matteo bought me. I felt pumped and ready for action. I stood up from my bed and quickly scanned my room.
I hadn't paid attention to it in weeks which was unlike me. Aside from my office space, my bedroom was the next thing after my heart. It was designed in a way that made me feel in control. I loved to feel in control. I debated taking a shower before hitting my gym or going directly to the gym myself.
I decided on the latter and made my way downstairs. Walking into the gym, I got a renewed energy but paused when I noticed a figure moving.
"Don't just stand there. Come work," Matteo called out.
"What are you doing in my house unannounced?" I asked, wondering if my security personnel was getting weak.
"Common man, it's not like I'm a stranger here."
"Why don't you ever stay in your house?" I asked, doing some arm work. "You paid big money for a mansion but still won't leave my house alone."
"That's because I like being around you. Is that such a bad thing?" Matteo pouted, and I rolled my eyes.
"Just workout and don't speak to me."
"Yes, princess," he replied, laughing. As I worked out, my mind drifted to the first time I met Matteo.
It was shortly after the Caruso crash, and I was mourning Marco. Mainly because we parted on terrible terms. One day, my driver decided to drive me around to take in a breath of fresh air. We passed this stand, and a little boy was selling porchetta, a portion of popular street food with so much allure. He looked dirt poor and was wearing torn clothes. However, the food looked outstanding, so I asked the driver to stop. We got some, and the little boy even gave us extra. The food was delicious, and instantly, it became my and my driver's routine.
Slowly, a friendship began to form between the little boy who smelt like smoke and me. He was the opposite of everything I was. Cheerful, playful, kind, and thoughtful. I was young but knew I needed that energy, mainly because I didn't get it from home. Slowly, I began to open up to him. With every story, Matteo would make me a new finger food. He was so good with his hands. It was unbelievable. Finally, I convinced my parents to take Matteo under their wings. It didn't take too much work. Everyone loved Matteo. It was impossible not to.
"What are you fantasizing about, man? Is there a new baddie I know nothing about?" Matteo asked. I paused for a bit to take water breaks.
"You know my stance on women," I replied, gulping my water.
"Yeah. Good enough to be bed partners but not life partners."
"Exactly"
"But you forget we're not getting any younger. Don't you want to settle down? I mean, I'm surprised your mum isn't hounding you already" I looked at Matteo in disbelief.
I couldn't believe he was talking to me about marriage when he knew my stance on it.
"Do not say the M-word around me ever again," I warned.
"Why? Your parents didn't have a successful marriage, so automatically, all marriages are doomed?"
"Matteo!"
"Oh, I forgot, women are just pawns in your sick game. You're too good for them"
"Matteo!"
"What did she do to you?" The world instantly grew quiet as I fought my rage.
I wasn't going to be put in a position where I had to defend my thoughts and actions. Today's man was formed by experiences and life lessons I was dealt with. Every one of my ideas was borne out of experiences, and I'll be damned if it is questioned.
"What do you mean by that," I asked, trying to calm myself.
"Maria, I mean. What did she do with your heart?"
"What does this have to do with her? I had a boy crush on her many years ago, and that's that"
"But is it? Cus she still has a hold on you."
"Nah, you can't be serious, bro" I made to leave, sick of all the Maria talks.
"Prove me wrong then. Move on. Do not try to get back at her. Do not use revenge as an excuse to see her again" I stopped dead in my tracks and turned to Matteo.
"What did you just say?"
"You heard me. If you're truly over the boyish crush on her, you wouldn't be working so hard to meet her again."
"She stole my fucking prototype! My hard work and efforts all went down the drain because of one woman, and you expect me to onlook? For fucks sake, Matteo!" I held my head in anger.
I don't know what Matteo was trying to do, but I was on the brink of losing it.
"You can get back at her without ever having to see her, no?"
"Well, that's where you've got it wrong. I want to see her face when I strip her of her pride. I want to see her face when I give her a taste of her own medicine. I want to see her face when she realizes the mistake she made when she came for me unprovoked. I want to hear her beg for mercy because I will not be Vincenzo Santoro if I do otherwise."
"I'm going to enjoy this game from the sidelines then. I will be rooting for you as always, Amico. I hope you emerge victoriously," Matteo said. Just then, I got a text on my phone.
"This is a reminder of your invitation to the annual fundraiser of Madame Marcella's foundation. You're yet to RSVP. Please do so as soon as possible."
I had forgotten all about that event. I didn't plan on going either. I probably would send in my donation.
"What's that about?" Matteo asked, breaking the ice.
"Nothing interesting. Just a reminder to RSVP for Madame Marcella's event"
"Oh. That's the talk of the town. Everyone who is someone is expected to be there."
"Not my concern. I don't plan on attending"
"Why, if I may ask?"
"Because I don't feel up to it. You know how much I hate playing dress-up and attending these events when I could use that time coming up with money-making ideas," I replied, seething.
I hated these boring events to death. It was always some faux pretense going on. "Well, you may want to change your mind," Matteo said.
"Why?" I asked, wondering where this was heading to. There was always some news with Matteo.
"Roy is coming" he dropped the bombshell and made to leave.
"Matteo!"
"I swear I was going to email it to you, but last night was such a blur. Between Asa the Indian beauty and Haziran, the Turkish damsel, I lost track of time and my mind" he smirked.
"You think this is a joke, don't you?"
"Okay fine. I should have told you earlier on, but it isn't too late, is it?"
"You're lucky I've not made my initial intention of not coming known," I said, picking up my phone to RSVP.
"I thought you said you've both settled your issues?"
"As if you don't know how much of a sly bastard he can be. If Roy is in Milan, you best believe some tough shit is about to go down. I will not be caught unawares."
"True. It's also my cue not to attend. I do not want to be involved in that mess," Matteo said, munching on some magically appearing chips.
I shook my head at the irony of ingesting that much cholesterol barely seconds after working out. Matteo was such a strange man, and I knew precisely how to get back at him.
"And that's exactly why you'll be coming with me" he paused mid-chew and opened his mouth in disbelief.
"No, no, no, Vince. You can't do that to me," he begged.
"You should have thought of that when you were being all smart mouth and forgetting to tell me things," I replied with a smirk of my own.
"Okay, let's think about this logically. If we go together, Roy would feel we're tag-teaming against him, which would be bad for business.
"Isn't it better if you face him on your own?" Matteo scrawled.
"No," I answered shortly.
"Oh, don't answer quickly. Carefully think about it" I positioned myself in a way that looked like I was thinking, and Matteo smiled victoriously.
"No," I repeated and began to walk away.
"You cannot do this to me," Matteo begged, trailing behind me. His discomfort was music to my ear. If there was anyone who hated these events more than I did, it was Matteo. He was more of a club man.
"Boys go take a shower and come down for breakfast," my housekeeper suddenly appeared from nowhere. Matteo and I trembled in shock at her voice.
"Is everyone just coming and going as they please now?" I screamed in frustration, making my way to my room.
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