In Mateo’s office, he was quickly adapting to his new secretary.


    “Cam, could you bring me some coffee, please?” Mateo requested through the inte.


    “Of course, Mr. Liardi,” Cam hurried to do as her boss asked. She wanted to be indispensable to him; she had heard that when secretaries were efficient, their bosses created a certain type of dependence on them.


    He found that girl amusing, believing that she wouldst a long time in the position. She was good at her job, and he didn’t think a girl like her would get married soon. She was so in that surely she didn’t have a boyfriend.


    With the way she dressed and groomed herself, she wouldn’t find a partner even if she turned the world upside down. He chuckled at the thought, not that he was belittling her, but Cam urgently needed a makeover.


    The girl soon brought him the coffee. As she entered the office, she stumbled and nearly fell t on her face. Mateo, who was nearby, caught her by the waist to stop her from falling, luckily saving both her and the coffee.


    Cam exited visibly nervous. She had made a great effort to resist the sensations that the contact with her boss had provoked in her. She returned to her seat, trying to distract her mind from the temptation of going back into the office and making a foolish mistake that would jeopardize her job.


    Shortly after, Ava arrived at Mateo’s office, ready to initiate her n to win him over. She wouldter let him know who she really was and why she had distanced herself. She asked Cam if Mr. Liardi was in, but the secretary did not take kindly to the new visitor. She didn’t seem to be the type of personing for business matters, and Cam found her very beautiful.


    “Buongiorno, is Mr. Liardi in?” Ava asked with a smile, while the secretary scanned her with disdain.


    “Mr. Liardi is not here,” Cam replied with an unpleasant expression, unable to hide her dislike.


    “Ah, okay. I’ll call him to see if he’ll be back soon. If not, I’ll wait for him,” Ava said, causing a change in Cam’s demeanor.


    “Uhmm, let me see if he’s returned. I stepped out for a moment and didn’t realize if he’s back yet,” Cam said, looking at Ava with disapproval.


    To Ava, that girl seemed fake, trying to portray an innocent appearance. However, Ava, who couldn’t see, had learned to feel the true essence of people when her sight was absent.


    “Go ahead. Mr. Liardi says you cane in. I apologize; I really thought he hadn’t returned yet,” Cam apologized, unsure of the importance of this woman to her boss and not wanting to be fired so soon.


    “Don’t worry, miss.” Ava turned around and headed for Mateo’s office, the secretary watched her.


    Upon entering the office, Ava could see that the ce was very sober, just like Mateo’s penthouse. Large windows revealed the picturesque cityscape. The furniture was all mahogany wood, and Mateo’s desk was ced near the window. He was there, devilishly handsome as always. When he saw her enter, he stood up and walked towards her.


    She looked beautiful, wearing a wine-colored halter dress that was short, revealing the upper part of her back. The dress reminded him of Ava, as if that girl was determined to remind him of her. He approached her and greeted her with a warm kiss on the cheek. She closed her eyes, enjoying the scent of his masculinity – that woody and musky aroma she loved so much.


    “Ciao be, what brings you here?” he asked with a smile.


    “Hello, Mateo. I wanted to see how you’re doing and invite you to breakfast. I have a feeling you haven’t had it yet,” Ava said.


    “Thank you for caring, and as for breakfast, I ept. I haven’t had time to eat, and what betterpany to do so?” He said, shing a charming smile. Ava found it hard to resist Mateo’s charms and had to make a great effort to behave in his presence.


    At that moment, Cam knocked on the door. Mateo asked her toe in, and she entered, carrying a tray of food and drinks in her hands.


    “Mr. Liardi, I ordered you breakfast since you haven’t eaten yet. They just delivered it,” Cam said, trying to ignore Ava, her gaze fixed on her boss.


    “I appreciate it, miss, but I’m about to go out for breakfast. You can have that breakfast yourself. I apologize for the inconvenience. Enjoy,” Mateo replied.


    “Very well, Mr. Liardi. Please excuse me,” the secretary said, feeling humiliated. She felt like she was being disregarded for the woman who was with him.


    Cam left the office, trying to contain her anger. She knew how to pretend to be calm. She entered the small coffee preparation area and began to destroy everything on the tray. That girl had ruined her n. She was determined to gradually win Mateo’s love, and this so-called Grecia was not going to stop her. She was willing to do whatever it took to ensure that didn’t happen.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    She would find the opportunity and the way to please her boss. She wasn’t going to give up easily.


    Mateo and Grecia left the office, and he held her by the waist as they walked. Cam, who had already returned to her desk, noticed it, and her anger grew. She clenched her lips and lowered her gaze so they wouldn’t notice. The couple headed to the elevator, and inside, Ava was nervous. It was difficult for her to be close to him.


    He restrained himself because the memory of Ava was very present in his mind. At all times, colors, situations, certain details reminded him of her. He liked Grecia a lot, but he felt like he was betraying Ava. He knew he was hurting himself and was willing to let her go. He would remove all those memories from his mind. It wouldn’t be easy, but he would try.


    Ava felt like she waspeting against herself, against her own ghost. Anyone looking at the situation from the outside might think it was as easy as telling the truth, but it wasn’t. She knew Mateo would react badly, and rightly so. He could take it as a mockery, and perhaps he wouldn’t forgive her, especially when he found out that she had hidden their child from him. She would lose him definitively.


    She wished she could tell him about their beautiful child, but her fear was greater. She didn’t want to lose him. She had to find the right way and moment to tell him.


    The girl had learned that there would be a bondage event at Akiro’s club a few dayster. She was sure that Mateo would attend. He always went to support his friend. She believed it was the perfect opportunity to get closer to him.


    Tadeo also attended those events. Ava had asked him to get her an invitation because it was very exclusive, and not just anyone could enter. She had found out by chance when a card fell from his jacket. She could see that it was from Akiro’s club, a golden card that only VIP members had.


    The detective felt exposed and embarrassed. He didn’t n to tell her that he went to such ces because it might give her a bad impression.


    He only went there because he felt lonely. He found a way to vent his feelings for a moment and felt apanied, even though the next day, he returned to his usual solitude.


    He confessed that he was at the club when she was brought to the center of the stage. Ava blushed; she couldn’t believe that someone she knew, apart from Mateo, Akiro, and Ima, had witnessed that performance. She felt embarrassed knowing that he had seen her exposed in that way.


    That day, Mateo took her to a restaurant very close to his office, so they walked there. At no point did he remove his arm from her waist, which made her feel very close to him. They entered the restaurant, and they were quickly led to a table. A man of his importance was never kept waiting anywhere.


    “Thank you for remembering me, Grecia. Lately, I’ve been feeling very lonely,” Mateo said because it was true that he felt that way.


    “To be honest, I enjoy yourpany,” Ava wished to say so many things, but for now, it was better to keep them to herself.


    “I imagine Tadeo isn’t aware of this; it could be bothersome for him,” Mateo wanted to know where he stood with her.


    “Tadeo is my partner, but he’s not my owner. He doesn’t interfere in my friendships. He knows I wouldn’t allow that,” she replied confidently. Mateo stared at her intensely, and Ava could feel his gaze was very strong.


    “The problem is that I like you. I like you for more than just a simple friendship,” Mateo chose to be direct; he didn’t intend to silence it any longer.