Page 22 of The Chameleon

That was the key to keeping his money growing. Don’t invest all your money in one industry. The world could change overnight. Look at what happened with the Covid pandemic. Online retailers made a killing, while brick-and-mortar shops flatlined. People in business around the globe learned onevaluable lesson: if you want your money to grow, invest in different sectors.

Laughter cut through Matteo’s attempt to focus, causing him to glance up in the direction of the disturbance.

Off to his left, Levi was acting out some sort of encounter he had had with one of the guests, an act that had Isaac laughing uncontrollably.

Next to Isaac lay Teo, head resting in Isaac’s lap, as Rafael appeared to be giving Teo a foot massage on his office couch. How all three of them fit on that small-ass couch was a mystery to Matteo.

On the floor a few feet away, Jared was doing push-ups shirtless while Diesel helped him with his form. Because, of course, that was normal behavior for guys in their twenties.

Sitting across from them were Gunnar and Anders. Gunnar sat in Matteo’s large reading chair next to the fireplace while Anders sat on the floor between Gunnar’s legs, his back pressed up against the bottom of the chair. Those two never seemed to go anywhere without the other.

Separation issues?

Staring at the group of young men who had somehow become his family, Matteo couldn’t help but smile at the relaxed domestic scene unfolding before him.

Here was a group of guys who never would have met out in the wild, yet through tragedy and circumstance, they were all brought together, forming a bond like no other.

They shared in each other’s pain, working together to help one another deal with whatever emotional scars or addictions they suffered.

The more he watched the group of animated characters just “hanging out,” the more suspicious he became.

Why were they all just lounging around in his study?There was a whole mansion full of cool things to do… yet here they were… just sitting around… just… chilling…

Something was up.

“Okay, what’s going on?” Matteo asked, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms across his chest.

The group fell silent, slowly turning their guilty faces toward Matteo—all those except Diesel. He never looked guilty. His face was always set to…trouble.

They all sat there in silence, not saying a word.

“What did you do?” Matteo asked.

Nothing.

“Who are you hiding from?”

Still nothing.

Matteo exhaled. This was getting them nowhere.

“Levi? Why are you all in here?” Matteo knew that Levi always had trouble lying to him. Levi respected Matteo way too much for that.

Always go for the weakest link.

“Umm, no reason. W-we just thought we’d all come and hang out in here for a bit. Enjoy the fire and all.” He motioned toward the fireplace, looking guilty as sin.

Whatever this was… he didn’t have time for it. Clearly, no one was injured or in pain. All of their limbs seemed to still be attached, so as far as he could tell, they were just being…weird.

Needing to concentrate and get his work done, he felt annoyed. He was already having trouble focusing with all the bullshit swirling around inside his head; he didn’t need a bunch of man-children playing around at his feet.

Okay, that was mean.

Perhaps the anniversary of his parents’ death was hitting him a little harder than usual this year.

Still… he didn’t have the heart or the patience to listen to their distracting laughter and games. He wasn’t in the mood. He needed some space to think.

Picking up his laptop, he began walking toward the door when he noticed eight little puppies standing up as well. His eyes drifted over to the gang of blushing young men currently playing the statue game.

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