“Are you on a super tight deadline?” I asked. “Is there anything life and death going on? If you had a stomach flu for three days, I’m sure they could survive without you.”
“A last-minute trip is a lot different than being ill,” she said angrily. “I’m not going.”
I leaned in to kiss her, but she flinched away. “Hey, I was just hoping,” I said. “Don’t be mad.”
“I can’t believe that you just told me how unimportant my job is,” she said. “Sure, I’m not on TV all the time, but that doesn’t mean that people aren’t depending on me.”
“I didn’t mean it like that,” I said. “I’m just in a hurry and was hoping that you’d want to come.”
“Well, I don’t.”
Shaking my head, I grabbed the spare key from my sock drawer and placed it on the nightstand, then left a business card for my car service beside it.
“Call a car in the morning for a ride. I’ll see you soon, sweetheart.”
Her expression seemed frozen, and I had a terrible gut wrenching feeling that as soon as I walked out the door she would start to cry. But my phone was buzzing incessantly from my pocket, telling me that the car was out front and I had to run.
“I’m going to miss you, baby. Rome is six hours ahead , but call or text me anytime.”
Grabbing my things, I raced out the door, hoping that everything would seem brighter in the light of day, once we’d both had some sleep.
Chapter 13
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Julia
It was rough trying to fall back asleep for a few hours, and I slept fitfully. I didn’t want to bother the driver too early, and when I woke up again it gave me a chance to check out more of Matt’s house.
There were some things that struck me as odd, like the extensive collection of exquisite suits. Maybe he needed them for meetings or something?
As I flitted around the house looking for clues about the real Matt, things began to piece together. There was an entire shelf full of cooking and travel books, but also a stack of titles about business leadership and investments as well as a few on presenting yourself to the media, public speaking, and being engaging on television. The lowest shelf was filled with books on getting over stage fright, and taking on impossible challenges.
There were no newer books, marking when he must have switched to his e-reader.
If I were to take a guess, it seemed like Matt’s career had taken off on him quickly, and he wasn’t really prepared. Was he actually afraid to say no to any opportunity?
I’d read about that recently. People who came from nothing, and now that things had taken off were terrified that it might end if they turned a single thing down.
In a way, it was madness. On the other hand, I could certainly understand not wanting to change anything if the boat is going full steam ahead.
The way Matt talked about food, it was clear that he was in love with cooking. Yet whenever he mentioned other aspects of his work, the light in his eyes dimmed.
That still didn’t explain why he was such an ass about my work. Or Jerry.
I gathered my things and got ready to leave but before I called the car service, I ran a search on Jerry Jonah and Matt Swansea.
Sure enough, there were a couple of gossipy blog posts from many years ago about Jerry and Matt nearly starting a business together, but the plan suddenly dissolved. Then years later, Jerry stole Matt’s sous-chef, and the rivalry between the two began. It sounded like Jerry tried to screw Matt over repeatedly.
A vague memory stirred somewhere in the back of my mind of Dad telling me that he helped dig Matt out of a financial disaster when his first business partner dissolved their agreement at the last minute. Was that Jerry?
His very first restaurant had nearly been pulled out from under him before it even started. I couldn’t imagine what that might do to someone, but it certainly might instill a bit of paranoia. The potential to l
ose everything at a moment’s notice. The need to hold on to things incredibly tightly.
At least I knew why he didn’t want me anywhere near Jerry.
After I got home to quickly change for work and get back in the car, I found it hard to sit still. My entire body was restless. Physically, I wanted more of Matt. So much more.