CHAPTER FIVE

The tension in the room was suffocating, thick with the weight of unspoken words and unacknowledged desires. Matteo’s presence loomed over Isabella like a shadow, his dark gaze never leaving her face. The way he stood before her, unyielding and powerful, made her feel small and insignificant, yet she couldn’t bring herself to turn away. Every breath she took seemed to draw her deeper into his orbit, and despite herself, she was starting to wonder if she even wanted to break free.

He moved closer, each step measured, deliberate. His eyes were locked on hers, an unspoken promise of something dangerous, something tempting. Isabella’s pulse quickened, her body betraying her even though her mind screamed for her to resist.

“Don’t pretend you don’t feel it,” Matteo’s voice was low, almost a growl, sending a shiver down her spine. “You want me just as much as I want you.”

Isabella swallowed hard, her throat dry. She wanted to deny it, wanted to push him away, but the words caught in her chest. Did she?

Her body betrayed her yet again, her chest tightening, her breath shallow. It wasn’t just his power that made her feel this way—it was the way he had slowly started to unravel her, exposing her vulnerabilities, pushing her past every limit she had ever known.

“Why don’t you just take what you want?” Isabella managed to whisper, her voice shaking with a mix of fear and something else she couldn’t name.

Matteo’s lips curled into a smirk, a glint of amusement flashing in his eyes. “Oh, I will,” he said, his voice dark and dangerous. “But first, you need to understand that you can’t escape what’s coming. You’re mine now, Isabella. Whether you like it or not.”

Isabella’s heart skipped a beat at his words. She wanted to fight back, to tell him that he was wrong, but something inside her quivered. Something deep inside told her that he was right. She was already in too deep, tangled in a web of his making. And as much as she hated it, she couldn’t pull herself free.

Before she could say anything else, the door to the study creaked open, interrupting the charged silence between them. Isabella stiffened, turning her head toward the sound.

Lia stepped inside, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor as she walked toward them with a calculated grace. She was dressed impeccably as always, her sharp features framed by her sleek, dark hair. But it wasn’t her appearance that caught Isabella’s attention—it was the look in Lia’s eyes.

There was a strange intensity in her gaze, something almost predatory. It was clear that she was watching every interaction between Isabella and Matteo, and the subtle tension in her body suggested she wasn’t pleased with what she had just walked in on.

“Matteo,” Lia said, her voice smooth but laced with a hint of irritation. “We need to talk.”

Matteo didn’t look at her immediately. He was still focused on Isabella, his eyes dark with something unreadable. But after a long moment, he nodded, his expression neutral.

“Later,” he said, his tone final. “I’m busy.”

Lia didn’t seem fazed. In fact, her lips curled into a small, almost mocking smile as she took another step forward.

“You’ll want to take a look at this,” Lia said, her voice suddenly colder. She held up a small envelope, its edges sealed with a wax stamp. “Something from your associates. They’re growing impatient.”

Matteo’s expression darkened, and he turned away from Isabella for the first time since she entered the room. He took the envelope from Lia, his fingers brushing against hers in a fleeting, almost casual motion. But Isabella noticed it. She noticed the way Lia’s eyes flickered with something far more than professional concern.

Without saying another word, Matteo tore open the envelope, his gaze scanning the contents with a focused intensity. Isabella’s heart raced as she watched him, wondering what had just shifted in the room. What was in that letter?

After a long pause, Matteo crumpled the letter in his hand and tossed it aside. “This will have to wait,” he said, his voice tight with controlled fury. “You’re dismissed, Lia.”

Lia’s smile faded as she nodded, but not before casting one last look at Isabella. The gaze was calculating, cold, and something else that Isabella couldn’t quite decipher. It made her skin crawl.

“Of course, Matteo,” Lia said, her tone betraying no hint of the underlying tension. “But don’t forget—she’s not your only problem.”

With that, Lia turned on her heel and left the room, leaving an unsettling silence in her wake.

Matteo remained standing by the desk, his back to Isabella. She could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his jaw clenched as if trying to control the storm brewing inside him. Whatever that letter had said, it was clear that it was important, and it was clear that it was about to pull them all into something much deeper.

Isabella didn’t know what to do. The air felt thick with unspoken words, and she found herself caught between wanting to ask questions and knowing that some answers were better left unspoken.

She cleared her throat, trying to steady her nerves. “What was that about?”

Matteo turned to face her slowly, his eyes dark, distant. “Nothing for you to worry about,” he said, his voice more clipped than before. “You should go back to your room.”

Isabella wasn’t sure whether she should be relieved or even more confused. But there was something in his eyes that made her hesitate. Something that told her this wasn’t over—not by a long shot.

“I don’t want to go back to my room,” Isabella said, her voice quiet but firm. She hadn’t expected herself to speak up, but the words came out before she could stop them. “I want to know what’s going on.”

Matteo’s gaze softened, just for a moment. But the softness quickly disappeared, replaced by an unreadable expression. “You don’t need to know, Isabella. It’s not your business.”

“I want to understand,” she insisted, taking a small step forward, her breath catching in her throat. “I don’t want to be kept in the dark. I need to know what you’re really getting me involved in.”

For a moment, Matteo said nothing. His eyes studied her with an intensity that made her skin prickle. Then, in one smooth motion, he crossed the room and stood before her, towering over her with his commanding presence. He reached out, gently cupping her chin with his fingers, forcing her to look up at him.

“You are my business, Isabella,” he said softly, his voice low and dangerous. “And that’s all you need to worry about.”

Isabella’s heart hammered in her chest, and for a moment, all the words she had wanted to say seemed to fade away. His touch sent a jolt of electricity through her body, and she couldn’t look away from him. The pull between them was undeniable, even if it terrified her.

“Stay out of this,” he added, his voice hardening again. “Don’t make me say it again.”

Isabella swallowed, feeling both anger and fear rise within her. She knew she was walking a dangerous line, but she couldn’t stop herself from pushing back.

“I won’t be silenced,” she whispered, meeting his gaze with a defiance she hadn’t known she possessed.

Matteo didn’t answer. He simply released her chin, stepping back with a dark, unreadable look. Then, without another word, he turned and walked to the door.

“Go back to your room,” he said over his shoulder. “I’ll deal with this. And when I return, you’ll stay out of my way.”

Isabella watched him leave, her pulse still racing, her body still humming with the strange tension that seemed to have taken hold of her. She was in deeper than ever before, and the storm Matteo had unleashed was just beginning.

---

As she stood there alone in the study, Isabella couldn’t help but feel the weight of everything bearing down on her. Matteo was dangerous, and Lia’s warnings echoed in her mind. There were forces at play here—forces that she couldn’t control, forces that she was too weak to understand.

But one thing was certain. She was no longer the helpless girl she had once been.

And she was about to learn just how far Matteo DiCarlo would go to claim what was his