The Performance That Burns
1020 Words
When Alessandro De Luca came into the spot, the great hall was knocked dumb.
Would I inform them about what happened between us last night?
The words hit like a slap.
The heart of Giulia struck against her rib.
What? she hissed, and her eyes blazed.
Her waist was tightened by the hand of Matteo.
Hard.
Possessive.
Be careful, brother, be careful, said Matteo. You do not wish to lie before the board.
Alessandro smirked.
“Oh, I don’t need to lie.”
His eyes locked on Giulia.
“Tell them, Giulia. Didst, thou come or didst thou not come last night and see me?
The room was bursting into whispers.
Giulia’s chest rose sharply.
She took one step forward.
“You’re twisting things.”
Carlo Ventresca bent forward in interest.
This turns out to be quite entertaining.
Speaking in low tones, Matteo turned to her.
“Did you go to him?”
Giulia’s jaw tightened.
“I didn’t go to him.”
A beat.
“He came to me.”
Silence.
The face of Matteo grew dark.
Dangerous.
Alessandro chuckled softly.
“And yet… You didn’t send me away.”
Giulia experienced a warmth in the chest.
Anger. Embarrassment. Something sharper.
“I didn’t know who you were.”
Alessandro stepped closer.
Near enough that by the instant Matteo raised his arm, he had the delight of dragging her against his body.
You were sufficiently aware to hear, Alessandro said.
Consequence.
Matteo snapped.
“That’s enough.”
His voice was like a blade slicing through the room.
The shift was immediate.
The jocular billionaire had disappeared.
This was the man who manipulated empires.
Matteo charged Giulia and faced her.
His grip was firm.
Demanding.
You do not speak to him without my knowing.
Giulia shoved his chest.
“Don’t tell me what to do.”
Gasps ran through the crowd.
Power Shift.
Matteo’s eyes flickered.
For a second—
She had broken his control.
Then he leaned in.
Close.
Too close.
His voice dropped.
Would you like to play this game before them?
Giulia met his gaze.
“I’m not playing.”
The hand of Matteo slithered down her waist to her chin.
Tilting her face up.
“Then prove it.”
Her breath hitched.
Damn him.
Damn the way her body reacted.
He kissed her.
Hard.
Not gentle.
Not fake.
Possessive. Claiming. Burning.
The room disappeared.
The whispers.
The tension.
Everything.
Gone.
Consequence.
As he withdrew, Giulia was gasping.
His shirt was being held by her fingers.
And she was not even conscious when it happened.
Matteo turned around towards the investors.
Is that what you want to know?
A few of them chuckled.
Others watched carefully.
Calculating.
But Alessandro didn’t move.
Didn’t react.
He simply smiled.
Cold.
“You’re good,” he said. “Both of you.”
Giulia frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Alessandro put his hand into his pocket.
And pulled out his phone.
The face of Matteo became hardened.
“What are you doing?”
Alessandro gave a single tap on the screen.
Then wheeled it around to the room.
A video began to play.
Grainy.
Dark.
But clear enough.
Giulia’s breath caught.
It was her.
Outside her apartment.
Last night.
Talking to Alessandro.
And then—
The angle shifted.
It seemed she moved nearer, so that we made it appear she did.
Like she leaned in.
Like—
“No,” she whispered.
The room erupted.
“She was with him?”
“This is your girlfriend?”
“Matteo, explain this.”
Matteo’s jaw tightened.
Dangerously.
Giulia turned to him.
“This isn’t what it looks like.”
Matteo didn’t answer.
Didn’t look at her.
He was staring at Alessandro.
Murder in his eyes.
You have established this, Matteo, said.
Alessandro shrugged.
“I revealed the truth.”
Giulia came between Matteo and himself.
“Say something.”
He didn’t.
Didn’t even blink.
That silence was more of a blow than a charge.
Her chest tightened.
“You think I betrayed you?”
Still nothing.
Giulia laughed bitterly.
“Unbelievable.”
She stepped back.
Out of his reach.
And just like that—
The power shifted again.
Carlo Ventresca was cold-throated.
Your judgment, Matteo, still fails.
Another investor nodded.
You introduce a woman in this house... and she is compromised already?
Giulia’s hands clenched.
“I am not compromised.”
No one listened.
Alessandro stepped forward.
This is precisely the reason why Matteo is not fit to lead.
Giulia’s anger snapped.
She turned sharply—
And caught up Matteo by the collar.
Pulling him down to her level.
The room froze.
“Look at me,” she demanded.
He did.
Finally.
You want the truth? She said, fainting with fury. “I didn’t even know who he was.”
Silence.
“I didn’t go to him. I didn’t betray you. And when you are so proud you cannot see that--
She released him.
Well, then you do not have any right to win.
The room had become absolutely silent.
Matteo stared at her.
Something had altered in his eyes.
Something deeper than anger.
Then—
He turned.
Slowly.
Toward the investors.
“She stays,” Matteo said.
Firm.
Final.
Carlo frowned.
“After this?”
“Yes.”
Matteo stepped forward.
His voice was colder than ever.
“Because unlike all of you…”
He glanced briefly at Giulia.
I am perfectly aware of what loyalty looks like.
The room shifted.
Again.
But Alessandro only smiled.
As though he was expecting this.
“Interesting,” he said softly.
Then he bent over to Matteo.
And whispered something.
Matteo’s expression froze.
Completely.
Giulia saw it.
That moment.
That c***k.
“What did he say?” she demanded.
Matteo didn’t answer.
Didn’t move.
Because across the room—
A new figure had just entered.
And the voice of Alessandro sounded faintly:
I should like to present you to the woman Matteo lost all.
Giulia turned.
And her blood ran cold.
Since the woman who is standing at the entrance...
Was glancing at Matteo full in the face.
Like she still owned him.
- Writer
