Page 33 of The Tycoon's Shock Heir

He walked across the terrace, putting his empty water glass on a tray and stretching out his hand to shake that of the man coming towards his—the town’s mayor, with his wife.

Wasn’t it a marvellous event this year? So exciting!

He introduced the mayor to the winning team, photographs were taken, and they shuffled indoors as the next guests arrived. An actress and her boyfriend, fresh from Cannes.

She was looking as exquisite as ever! Was she showing at Cannes?

He listened to her reply as they too swung round for pictures. Over her shoulder David signalled Augusto and Marie-Isabelle’s arrival.

Matteo felt grim determination clutch at his heart. There was no reason to feel anxious about this and every reason to feel confident. All the signs were there—this was the delicate first step in talks towards a merger. Arturo wouldn’t have come if they weren’t going forward. But it was the old-fashioned way. Private talks to build the relationship, get the chemistry right, and only then would the lawyers be given clearance to tidy up the deal.

He watched Augusto Arturo exit the car, saw the care the old man took over his wife, waiting while she adjusted her dress, offering her his arm as they looked up and smiled and began the slow climb to meet him.

And then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw the flash of something red—something that was burned deep on his subconscious. His heart thundered. His groin tightened.

He turned back to see Augusto and Marie-Isabelle, heads down, still climbing up. He swung his head to the left to see David. His assistant’s face had changed from looking composed to a full-blown frown. He saw cameras begin to flash and felt a wave of interest pass over him and the others on the steps in the direction of the figure in red.

He turned now—fully stared. And there between two security guys, eyes fixed, wearing the same cherry-red, wide skirted dress, was... Ruby?

He stalled for a second, framed by guests and cameras, on the cusp of the most important moment of his business life. His heart crashed into his throat. Not another woman come to make a scene? Not now. Surely...?

But there was no mistaking it was her, and in a split second he read the situation. The two security were doing their, job checking to see if she was welcome or not, but they stood back respectfully, awed by her bone-deep beauty, her consummate elegance, her spirited challenge.

As if the rest of the world had dissolved he saw her she looking at him steadily, imploringly, with some deep, dark message, and he knew something was up. Something really big.

In a second David was at his side. ‘You want me to take care of this?’ he whispered as he slipped behind his shoulder.

Matteo’s hand automatically reached for David’s arm, holding him in check.

Augusto’s sharp eyes watched everything even as he held out his arm for his wife, who was mounting the last step. Matteo glanced back at Ruby, then to Augusto, who now approached with his wife on his arm.

They were only a metre apart.

This was his moment. The tone, the chemistry of their welcome had to be right. He had to pull this off without a hitch or everything else would fall like a house of cards.

Around him people sensed the tension and began to crowd closer. David hovered expectantly.

Whatever she wanted, she would have to wait until they were safely settled away from cameras.

He stepped towards the couple, arms outstretched. ‘How lovely to see you both. I’m so glad you could come.’

From the corner of his eye he saw the solitary red figure step closer.

‘Can I speak to you, Matteo, please?’ she said, her voice as clear as a midnight bell.

For a second he froze. The world was here—watching, waiting. He was swimming in a sea of staring faces with only one lifeline.

‘Darling Ruby. You’re here!’ he said, hating himself. But he would not drown—not now.

They all turned to look at her. Marie-Isabelle was happily curious, but Augusto was no fool. Matteo’s heart thundered faster. David’s eyebrows shot up. And Ruby stood there, her dark eyes burning with a story he didn’t yet know and couldn’t risk hearing in front of this man.

Because she could ruin him. With a single phrase she could lay months of work to waste, destroyed. Another untrustworthy woman...another disaster ahead.

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