Two Truths, One Lie (Games We Play, #2)

I know it's been more than a week, but I've been writing my dissertation and I finally finished it + I was dealing with heavy writer's block up until 2 days ago.

Aaanyway, here is the new chapter! Enjoy :)

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Valentina

Valentina's apartment, Tribeca, NY – June 7th, 2021

7:50pm

He's coming over to talk.

Talk about what?

We've been texting back and forth for the past week, but neither of us has made any move to see the other again.

Me because I'm still not sure how to handle it.

Him? I don't know.

But he wants to talk now. And he's so serious about it, fuck.

I've been one with the couch for a couple of hours when his text came in, and now I need to look presentable in under five minutes. If he's with his car, either at work or at home, it won't take him long.

I hear his car pull up – it's impossible not to. It's a smooth engine, deep and unmistakable, like it knows it doesn't have to try to be noticed. It demands attention simply by existing.

Cars do resemble their owners, and how Matteo's Mercedes is just like him - sleek and powerful, the kind of presence you feel before you see.

One minute later the intercom rings and I go to open the door.

He looks serious as he comes up the stairs.

"What happened?" I ask, stepping aside to let him walk past me into the hallway.

"You had a meeting with my father, and you never told me about it?"

The door closes behind me as I turn to stare at him.

Ah.

"It never occurred to me that I should tell you. It was back in November, and we weren't really...close."

It's the truth.

He crosses his arms over his chest. "Really? And here I was thinking that us getting arrested on Halloween night made our bond stronger." There's a slight hint of sarcasm in his tone, which kickstarts my defense mechanism. He's never used this tone with me.

I straighten myself up. "I don't see why it is such a big deal to you. It was just another business meeting. I've done plenty of those while working for my father."

"What was the meeting about?"

I frown. "Why does it concern you?"

My pulse spikes because we've never argued like this before. This isn't teasing or flirting. This is different.

"It concerns me if it involves both of you being in the same room. My father and my -" he stops and frustratedly exhales.

I don't prod him to continue that sentence because I don't want to know the ending. It's too soon but it also isn't, and I just don't want us to add onto whatever this discussion is.

We stare at each other, the air between us charged and heavy.

The only way out of this is to be honest. We need to talk about it because he's bothered, and I don't understand why.

"I didn't hide it from you on purpose. It was just a meeting that lasted less than fifteen minutes."

His shoulders loosen but he still isn't smiling.