His muscles tensed, preparing to fight as he realised Matthew was there, pinning Ellie with his glare. Looking ready to kill her.
“Matthew,” Joseph growled as anger flashed through his chest. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten what you did to her, asshole! I owe you a trip to the emergency room.”
Matthew’s eyes remained on Eleanor. “What do you actually see in this guy?”
She stared at him in disbelief. “I’m sure you don’t really want me to answer that. What the hell are you doing here?”
“I wanted you to know Robertson fired me. He said I wasn’t performing to the high standards of his company, but I’ll bet it’s got something to do with whatever’s going on between you and Stinger, huh? You must think it’s hilarious – me losing my fiancée and my job in the same week.”
“You’re drunk,” Eleanor said. “Go home.”
“Home? And be on my own?”
“What did you expect?” Joseph asked. “Sympathy? After the way you treated her?”
Matthew spun to face him. “You! You piece of shit – you ruined my life. I gave you everything, and this is how you repay me!”
The flames of tension simmered between them. “You lost Ellie because she deserves better than you. And you lost your job because you were working for an asshole and you behaved like an asshole.”
“He fired me because of her!”
Eleanor’s patience snapped. “If your life isn’t working out the way you want, then you need to do something about it, Matthew.”
He shot daggers from his eyes. “Well I will… How about I tell everyone what you’re doing here. I’ll tell the world you’re screwing each other and that you’re planning to bring down News Scape.”
Eleanor’s face flashed with worry. “What are you talking about? We’re not planning to do that.”
“I’m not stupid, Eleanor. What the hell else would you be doing typing up a story at this time of night? I don’t know what dirt you’ve found on them, but you’ve obviously got something.” Matthew pulled out his phone. “Maybe Blair will give me back my job if I give him the heads up.”
Matthew started to dial the number, but Joseph had had enough of him now. He strode over and halted, almost nose-to-nose. “Matthew… I should’ve done this months ago.”
He glanced up from the phone. “What?”
“This.”
With all his pent-up fury, Joseph swung back his fist and punched Matthew hard in the face. Matthew stumbled backwards, dropping his phone to the floor with a clatter.
“Now get out and leave us alone,” Joseph hissed.
He started to turn around to check Ellie was okay, but Matthew grabbed him and slugged him hard, sending glass-shard pain into his cheek and flinging him backwards. Shit! What was it Ivan had always taught him? Punch someone to knock them out; fight someone to the ground and make them stay there. Or they’ll get up and punch you right back.
“You can’t get rid of me that easy, Joseph! I’m gonna tell everyone what you’re doing here!”
Joseph tried to stand upright, but Matthew ran at him like a man possessed and punched him again. Joseph felt his nose drip with warm blood, stinging his eyes. That was it. No one punched him twice. He summoned up Ivan’s spirit; fight dirty – fight to win.
With the force of all his frustration behind him, he lashed out and punched Matthew hard on the nose, making him jolt backwards. But Matthew wasn’t going down without a fight. He ran at Joseph again and threw his arms around him, trying to squeeze him in a bear-hug. They twisted and turned together, wrestling on the spot, until Joseph raised his knee and managed to skim Matthew’s balls – hard enough to make him spring away.
But Matthew refused to quit. He ran at Joseph again, shoving him so he stumbled back through the kitchen doors – which left Matthew out there with Ellie. Joseph scrambled to his feet, intending to dart back to the office, but Matthew surged through the doors, pursuing Joseph – meaning at least Ellie was safe.
But then she ran into the kitchen too, looking frantic. “Oh my god, you two – stop this!”
“I intend to,” Joseph growled. He stood firm. “Come on, fucker. Want some?”
Matthew ran at Joseph and swung to punch him again, but Joseph ducked out the way and Matthew thumped the printing press instead, causing the bones in his hand to crunch. He let out a groan of pain.
Joseph grabbed Matthew by the shoulder and spun him to face him, then he punched him again, with all his force. Matthew stumbled towards the sink, so Joseph pushed his shoulders down, bending him backwards over the drainboard. He balled Matthew’s shirt in one fist, then raised his other arm to punch him again, but Matthew kicked him hard in the shin.
“Argh!”