"No. I've heard he's beautiful," she whispered, as if Matteo's looks were a secret.
As if.
It seemed the entire brunette female population of Chicago was very well acquainted with Matteo's appearance.
And his dick.
I fought back the surge of possessive jealousy. He wasn't mine, and never would be.
"So, this might sound weird, so bear with me," I laughed. "But do you want to fuck him?"
"Oh, for fuck's sake," Sadie groaned, smacking my shoulder. I winced, turning a glare her way.
"I—what?" the girl asked.
"I live with Matteo, girlfriend by force, I guess. Anywayyyy," I noted her shocked expression and realized I needed to save this conversation from crazy town. Stat. "He's a cheater. Already cheated once, but says he's changed. Blah blah you know the spiel."
"And you want to prove he'll cheat again?" she asked.
I nodded, opening up just enough to admit that Matteo had gotten to me before everything went to shit. "I want it done, before it hurts more, you know?"
"Oh honey, I mean. If he's as good looking as I've heard, then it's not exactly a hardship, is it? Are you sure you can handle knowing—?"
I nodded, though I knew there was a grimace on my face. "I want to know if he gives you any sign of interest. If he takes your number, gives you his. Whatever. I need to know."
She nodded, and I forced Simon to let her up the stairs. He played along, smirking the entire time like he was in on some huge joke.
Sadie took my hand, pulling me from my seat. "Let's go."
"Go where?"
"Dancing." She shoved past two bouncers who just trailed after us in dismay. "They won't touch you. Matteo would cut off their hands if they did. So we will not sit here so you can wait and watch him be seduced."
I swallowed, nodding. As soon as we hit the dance floor, I made it my resolution to not look at Matteo's tower. I didn't want to know. Didn't have any interest in finding out how Matteo liked to fuck the girls he took in his office. He'd admitted he didn't have sex in beds except with me, but the office saw some action.
I hated it by extension.
I threw myself into the action of dancing, trying actively to lose track of time. Song passed after song, and when there was no sign of the gorgeous girl returning to the VIP room from Matteo's tower, I felt something inside me shrivel and die.
There would be no doubt in my mind about what happened in that office, not with the time she'd spent there.
When my eyes slid away from the tower slowly, I met Simon's eyes briefly. Even his gaze was knowing, all traces of amusement gone from his features as he stared down at me. I didn't expect the anger making his face tense; the disappointment making his shoulders drop.
Hands touched my waist from behind, and barely a second passed before Scar stepped into my space and physically separated the guy from me.
I forced my best, most convincing, bullshit smile to my face as I turned to look at whoever had been brave enough to touch me with bouncers and bodyguards all around me. He was cute, if not oblivious to the off-limits aura my guys gave anyone who got too close. "It's okay," I said to Scar, stepping into the stranger’s orbit. I took his hands and placed them back on my hips as I resumed the rhythm of the music.
"Ivory—" Scar started, and I smiled at him. He didn't seem to know what to do with that smile, faltering in whatever he'd been about to say. My eyes darted back up to the Tower, and Scar winced when my eyes found his again.
"It was only a matter of time, Scar," I whispered, and his face twisted with confusion.
Like Matteo had really convinced his guys I mattered—that I was important. He probably had to, if he expected them to risk their lives to protect me.
But the secret was out. I was just another in
a long line of forgettable women who would mean nothing to Matteo. His jaw tensed, but he nodded, stepping back and letting me turn my attention to my stranger.
I smiled again, shoving down that broken part of me. I didn't get to be upset.