Chapter 13: Hotshot

**Valerie**

I cleared my throat, trying to hide my surprise. “Uh, yeah.”

My heart raced. Lucas was the investor?

“Well, I've been working. I just decided to cool off a bit by coming here,” I quickly added.

"Oh, okay, then, I could help if you need anything,” she offered.

“Sure, thank you.”

With that, I hung up, and then I saw Matt walking towards me.

“Any problem?” He asked, taking the seat beside me.

I sighed. “Well, the presentation I told you about... I just realized that the investor I'll be pitching to is someone I don't like.”

“Someone you don't like?” Matthew cocked a questioning eyebrow at me but didn't say anything more.

“Well, I kind of encountered him before, and we started on the wrong foot,” I explained, my fingers playing with my brush.

His jaw clenched visibly, and his brows furrowed.

“Val? Did he do something bad to you?”

“No, no. I was the one who answered his call,” I blurted out without thinking.

Shit… How could I have said that?

Even though I don't owe Matt any