Chapter Fifteen: Owned

"I'm not one for repeating myself, cara mia. Am I interrupting something?"

Matteo repeats.

I must have stared at him without answering for longer than I thought.

"This is a non-smoking zone, Mr D’Amico.”

"Answer me."

He commands with a scowl when I try to change the subject.

I hate it. I hate how I always seem to take commands from anyone who thinks they know better: Vincent, sometimes Mum and now him.

"This is Mr Edward Lee, head of Athleisure’s creative department. I want to debrief with him over coffee. Now then, Mr D'Amico, how else can I help you, aside from pointing you towards the smoking zone?"

He sneers when I use ‘Mr. D’Amico’.

"I know a good coffee place; why don't I take you?"

He asks.

"You are missing the 'debriefing’ part. I would much rather keep corporate discussions private.”

I respond through gritted teeth.

"Ah!"

He exclaims with a smile as he reaches for his wallet in his back pocket, pulls it out and removes a few notes.

"Silly me: here, for your coffee. I'll make