As soon as the car stopped in front of the mansion, she got out.
She hadn't taken more than two steps before Eric's voice stopped her.
/Excuse me, ma'am?
She turned back.
- Yeah? Something wrong?
/No, not really... but please, next time, let us know before you get out of the car. You shouldn't stay alone in the lobby, it's visible from outside. It's not safe for you.
Sorry if I'm overstepping, but there shouldn't be the slightest risk to your safety.
Diana smiled softly. Poor guy, she'd really worried him. And he was right.
-Of course, Eric. Thanks for saying that. You can rest now. Good night.
/Good night, ma'am.
When the elevator doors opened inside the mansion, she trudged up the stairs, exhausted.
She threw herself onto the bed, wrestled with her thoughts for a while, then finally fell asleep.
...
...
Two hours later, Matthew stirred awake.
He'd slept almost seven hours. Still half-dazed, he looked around, trying to remember why he'd even fallen asleep there.
Diana.
Her name echoed in his mind.
He grabbed the hair tie lying on the bed, clenched it in his hand, and called her name out loud but there was no answer.
He checked his office. Nothing. He could feel his pulse climbing.
+Where the hell did you go?
He called Enzo.
A groggy voice came through the phone.
/Yes, sir?
+Where's Diana?
/Um… Diana…
Enzo was clearly half-asleep, trying to piece together the info in his fogged brain.
+Wake the hell up and answer me, damn it!
He shouted loud enough to jolt the guy.
/Yes, yes..sorry, sir! She came back to the mansion around four in the morning with her guards. She's probably asleep now.
Matthew hung up and tried to calm himself down. A short, bitter laugh escaped him.
Couldn't believe it.
+You sneaky little thing… how dare you?
The fact that she'd left him like that while he was asleep burned more than he wanted to admit.
He raked a hand through his hair and stepped under the shower.
+Serves you right, idiot. That's what you get for letting your guard down.
Hot water hit his shoulders as he tried to steady his nerves. he grabbed some clean clothes from the small closet.
Diana's thin hair tie was still around his wrist.
He thought about taking it off but then decided to keep it. Said it was because it smelled good.
He grabbed her cap from the office and tucked it into the cabinet in his resting room.
+Lucky for you I've got work to do, or I'd already have taught you a lesson.
He muttered to himself while getting dressed.
Brewed some coffee. Drank it.
A few minutes later, he walked out and went back to his sketches.
He hated admitting it, but somehow he could focus better, work faster now.
He'd planned to make her pay for what she did but her stupid presence was already enough to keep everything running exactly how he wanted.
He promised himself the moment he saw her, he'd remind her who she was dealing with.
If he let her stay in his bed, then she stayed till morning.
He wasn't some damn toy she could walk away from halfway through.
He bit his lip.
+Why are you pretending she hasn't given you the kind of calm you've been craving?
He thought it but was too damn stubborn to ever say it out loud.
So he swallowed it down, focusing the rest of his energy on finishing the design.
He worked till dusk without letting his mind drift again. erased a few lines, started over, until he finally got it right.
Even though the first draft was already solid, he wasn't satisfied.
So he kept at it. Day after day.
After a week, he finally finished the final version.
Signed it at the bottom like always, added the technical notes, and leaned back.
Maybe a short break wouldn't hurt.
He lay down on the couch, staring up at the sky.
The moon was right there above him.
He whispered a few names under his breath until..bang...it clicked.
He shot up, grabbed a pencil, and added the project name above his signature.
Took a deep breath.
This time it was really done.
He uploaded the last details into the system and texted Jacob.
+Where are you?
A few seconds later:
Jacob: At the office. Why?
+How much longer? I'm heading to the mansion. You coming tonight?
Jacob: Got a bit left. Half an hour, tops. We'll go together.
+Okay. Sending a few things to your email. Check them.
Jacob: Got it.
He sent a few lists and went back to clearing unread emails and messages.
Work was going smoothly, which helped ease the tension in his shoulders.
An hour later, Jacob texted again:
do you want me to come up?
+No need. I'm on my way down.
He grabbed his coat and stepped out.
Activated the alarm.
His guards were already waiting by the elevator.
He nodded and headed toward the exit.
Jacob looked up from his phone and stretched out a hand.
Matthew shook it, smirking.
+What, skipped your shower today?
Jacob rolled his eyes, fixing his messy hair.
_Took one. I just ripped at my hair all day from stress, that's why it looks like this.
Matthew followed his glance to the car beside them.
+Uh-huh. Good.
And then..
+So, talk. What's going on?
Jacob exhaled deeply.
_Four of the projects are about seventy percent done. The rest are under thirty.
+Let me guess. Those four, one's the club project, one's the Georgia villas… what about the others?
Jacob closed a tab on his phone.
_Two hotels in Vegas. Once those designs are done, we'll shift focus to the L.A. towers.
Matthew nodded.
+My personal project's done. I'll get to it soon.
Jacob turned to him.
_You finished it? No way. What'd you name it?
Matthew rolled his eyes.
+I'll tell you later.
_Come on, at least give me something to call it. I hate saying that damn Stone name every time when it wasn't even made for him.
He murmured quietly:
+DM.
_DM? Jacob frowned.
_Seriously?
Matthew sighed.
+You said you needed a name. I gave you one. Call it that for now.
Jacob shrugged, letting it go.
If Matthew didn't want to talk, he wouldn't push.
A brief silence settled. Then Jacob's eyes caught on a fruit stand.
Bright boxes of strawberries lined up neatly.
_Oh.
+What?
He told the driver to stop.
_Nothing. Be right back.
He got out, walked to the stand.
Matthew watched, confused.
There was fruit at the mansion, obviously.
But when Jacob came back with a few boxes of strawberries, Matthew sighed.
He could already guess why.