Vows of Vengeance

Chapter 5: First Glance

“I’m sorry?” Elara turned to see a strikingly handsome man standing behind her.

“Are you Elara Hamilton?” he asked again.

“Yes, I am. And you are?” Elara racked her brain but couldn’t place the familiar face.

“Apologies for not introducing myself sooner. I’m Matteo Bianchi. I believe your friend Sophie might have mentioned me.”

“Oh! Nice to meet you. She did mention you.” Elara replied, surprised that the man before her was the Matteo Sophie had spoken about. He was dressed in a perfectly tailored suit that accentuated his tall, athletic frame. His hair was slicked back in a classic style, and his piercing blue eyes held a depth that instantly captivated her.

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person, Elara. Sophie speaks very highly of you.” Matteo said, extending his hand.

“The pleasure’s mine.” Elara replied, shaking his hand. His grip was firm yet gentle, and she felt a surprising warmth from the brief contact.

“Are you enjoying the reunion so far?” Matteo asked, his eyes locking onto hers with genuine interest.

“I am, though it’s a bit overwhelming. So many faces and names to remember.” Elara admitted with a small laugh.

“I can imagine. These events can be a bit much, but they’re also a great opportunity to reconnect and make new acquaintances.” Matteo said.

During the brief conversation at the dessert section, several people approached Matteo to greet him, clearly indicating his popularity and success as a businessman.

“Hey, man! Long time no see. Who’s this lady?” Another person came over to greet Matteo.

“Long time no see! This is Elara, a friend of mine.” Matteo responded smoothly, introducing Elara to the newcomer.

“I’m Elara Hamilton, nice to meet you.”

“Hi, I’m Ian Wilson, nice to meet you too. Matteo, how long are you planning to stay this time?” Ian greeted Elara and then turned back to Matteo to continue their conversation.

Sensing they had business to discuss, Elara politely moved to another spot. She couldn't help but notice how his suit fit him perfectly, highlighting his broad shoulders and narrow waist. He looked every bit the successful and cultured man Sophie had described.

“Are you guys done talking?” Elara asked as Matteo walked over to her.

“Yeah, just a quick chat about work. Sorry about that.” Matteo explained.

“No worries. By the way, Ian asked how long you’re staying. Don’t you work here?” Elara asked.

“For various reasons, I’m mainly based in Valteria now, but I often travel back and forth.” Matteo replied, not willing to go into too much detail.

Elara noticed Matteo’s reluctance to elaborate and didn’t press further. Just then, she received a call from Sophie, saying she was about to arrive at the banquet hall.

“Sophie says she’s almost here. I’ll go meet her at the entrance.” Elara told Matteo after hanging up.

“I’ll come with you. I need some fresh air.” Matteo suggested.

Elara nodded, not minding Matteo's company. They walked to the entrance together.

After waiting a few minutes, they saw Sophie driving up. She handed her car keys to the valet and walked over to Elara and Matteo.

“Hope I’m not too late.” Sophie said, hugging Elara.

“Not at all.” Elara responded, hugging her back.

“Hey, Matteo! Long time no see. Didn’t expect you two to meet first.” Sophie said, giving Matteo a quick hug.

“We had a brief chat while waiting for you. The dinner’s about to start, so we should head back in.” Elara suggested, checking the time. The three of them walked back into the banquet hall together.

After the speeches, the hall opened up for free mingling. The initial awkwardness faded, and everyone seemed more relaxed.

“Babe, did you ask Matteo about that project?” Sophie inquired.

“Not yet. We just met, and it felt a bit forward to bring it up so soon.” Elara admitted.

“Leave it to me. I’ve known him longer.” Sophie winked at Elara. “Let’s head over; he texted me saying he’s finished his conversation and is waiting for us in the upstairs lounge.” Sophie checked her phone and told Elara.

“Alright, let’s go.” Elara agreed, following Sophie upstairs.

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In the Private Lounge

Matteo lit a cigarette as he sat on the lounge sofa waiting for Elara and Sophie. He couldn’t help but shake his head, recalling his earlier encounter with Elara. This wasn’t their first meeting. They were not only college alumni but also attended the same high school. When he greeted her earlier, she didn’t recognize him, so he figured she had forgotten about their past. He decided to let it go and start fresh, thinking it might not be such a bad idea.

After finishing his cigarette and waiting a bit longer, he heard the door open and saw Sophie and Elara enter.

“Matteo, you picked a nice spot!” Sophie said, looking around the lounge.

“Well, if we’re going to discuss business, we need a quiet place.” Matteo replied, standing up to greet the ladies.

“Sophie said you needed my help with something?” Matteo asked Elara as they sat down, pouring drinks for the two women.

“Yes, it's about an investment project my father is considering...” Elara began, explaining the details of the project to Matteo.

“Hmm. I haven’t seen the specific details, but I can tell you there’s something off about this project. Sophie might have mentioned, I work in the medical field, specifically with AI. This community is quite small. Any new AI product, especially in healthcare, would definitely be on my radar. Unfortunately, I haven’t heard of the project you’re describing. If this project were legitimate and as promising as it’s portrayed, it’s unlikely your father’s company would even have the chance to get involved.” Matteo explained, being straightforward with his insights due to their friendship.

“I believe you. Honestly, I’ve had my doubts about this project too. If it were really that good, my father’s company shouldn’t have access to it.” Elara said, appreciating Matteo’s honesty.

“I'm not sure who recommended this project to your father, but in the medical AI field, especially something as perfect as described in your proposal, everyone would know about it. Such projects wouldn’t seek financing from outside their industry—they’d be very cautious. If you need, I can help you investigate.” Matteo suggested, taking a sip of his whiskey.

“Thank you. To be honest, this project was recommended by my boyfriend—actually, fiancé—Alex. I could really use your help with some investigation. The points you mentioned have been on my mind, but without evidence, convincing my father and the company’s shareholders is challenging. Since you offered, I won’t be shy about accepting your help.” Elara raising her glass to Matteo. Matteo smiled and clinked his glass with hers.

“Your boyfriend, huh? Alright, I’ll look into it and get the information to you.” Matteo agreed, understanding there might be some conflict between Elara and her boyfriend but refraining from commenting on it.

“By the way, have you two exchanged contact info yet? How else will you keep in touch?” Sophie interjected, noticing how absorbed they were in their conversation.

“We got so caught up in talking that we forgot something so basic. My bad.” Matteo joked, pulling out his phone. Elara laughed and took out her phone as well. They exchanged contact information and followed each other on social media.

“I don’t know how to thank you both. This drink’s on me.” Elara said, raising her glass to Sophie and Matteo after they exchanged contact details.

“Come on, E. You know your problem is my problem. As for Matteo, just treat him to dinner sometime, right Matteo?” Sophie nudged Matteo playfully.

“Exactly, dinner will do.” Matteo nodded with a smile.

“Dinner it is. You can pick the place.” Elara agreed, feeling relieved that with Matteo’s help, her father might avoid falling into Alex’s trap.

With the business talk out of the way, the trio relaxed and enjoyed the rest of the evening. Sophie ordered another bottle of wine, and they chatted about life and shared some laughs before eventually parting ways and heading home.