Billionaire's wife by Ashleh Queen (best ereader for epub TXT) 📕

“Good evening,…” Liam spoke while taking out some papers.

In an attempt to get me out of this situation with Matteo I was quick to add. "Mrs Anderson...?" I looked at the woman and wanted her to show the way to the dining but Matteo was quick to hold my hand before he asked Liam, "Why don't you join us for the meal too?"

"Oh...yeah...I called you at the last minute. You should totally stay." Mr Anderson added and I had to look at Liam again to only find he was looking at me too. It was obvious he was expecting me to acknowledge him.

“You should totally stay, Liam,” I called him by his name and felt my hand squeezed by Matteo at that very moment.                                                                                      

“You know him?” Mr Anderson asked.

“We were in high school together. And, he was also my neighbour.” I replied,

“Yes…we were used to be neighbours,” Liam replied and in the next fifteen minutes, we were sitting around the dining table where just like others it was my first time eating too.

“How long it’s been to your wedding?” Mrs Anderson asked making me look at her.

“Oh…it’s been a couple of months.” My reply got me everyone’s stare.

I looked at Matteo to notice his smile. “And, what’s with not telling anyone about your wedding…I get to know about this for like two minutes ago…There are still many women I know who would do anything to marry Matteo…Guess I need to tell them.” Mrs Anderson chirped.

“Thank you…but our wedding happened in a very tight schedule. And, I don’t care who these women are because no one can match the compassion of Julie. I am sure that you know that already. It’s so natural to be amazed by her.” Matteo said making me look at him. He had said the last part to Liam.

“I am sure that it must be amazing to know her. I wasn’t very talkative and Julie had led a busy life given she literally brought up her two sisters. But my mother knows her. And, she had always spoken so highly of you.” Liam said the last line looking at me giving that rare half-smile that I once tried to capture in my cellphone but failed.

My mouth was bitter recalling how life used to be easy.

“Wow…it seems nature works in its particular way. No doubt Matteo deserves a girl like Julie.” Mr Anderson spoke.

“And,...I guess I have always seen her whenever it was about raising funds for orphan kids…” Liam started again making me even more embarrassed. I didn’t want him to mention this.

“Wow,…it seems you two never really talk.” Mrs Anderson narrowed her eyes.

“Yea…we were not class fellows…but Liam was in the quarterback and also got into Harvard…everyone in the school knew him…” I tried to neutralize the situation for me but one look at Liam told me how he was surprised by my statement. But it was true. Despite one incident on my eighteenth birthday where I got drunk for the first time and told him I have a crush on him. We never had a talk like individuals.

But I couldn’t care more about how Liam was looking at me when Matteo held my hand on the table. His hold was gentle but only I knew that whatever was going through his mind was lethal for me.  But for now, it was enough to tell me that he doesn’t like my attention on Liam.

“I am posting this young guy to senior marketing position soon. Youngblood, lots of energy and innovation…” Mr Anderson started making Mrs Anderson say, “Wow, congratulations Liam.”

“That’s sounds interesting…” Matteo intervenes a little bored as he held his drink.

“Congratulation…” I said and could see from the corner of my eyes how Matteo’s hand stopped in the mid as he stared at me for a few seconds.

“I don’t know if it is after so long or what. But you have become a lot gorgeous. I hope we stay in touch.” Liam spoke making me only smile a little and I managed, “Of course,”

I don’t know how the three of them couldn’t see Matteo’s tight jaw all the time even though his voice was as normal as could be. Maybe everyone was really absorbed listening to how Mrs Anderson met her Mr Anderson.

“How you two met?” Liam asked once Mrs Anderson finished. His voice came with a lot of curiosity.

“At my dad’s place…one look at her and I knew she was the one.” Matteo covered for me.

“And, what you were doing at his dad’s place?” Liam asked me with his mischievous smile. Of course, Liam knew what kind of jobs I was always up to support my family. It was a partial reason that he would have never see me as someone he can spend his life with. He was my neighbour and his mother always knew about my whereabouts.

“She was his chef.” Matteo lied.

“Wow,” Liam added and I wonder what he wanted. I could only offer him a tight lip smile but felt Matteo’s shoe on my feet. It wasn’t hard but was more like a warning.

In a few minutes, we were back to the guest area where one thing was changed now. No matter what we talk about Matteo had his one hand on my waist all the time. One man was serving the Champaign and Matteo took a glass and passed me. I accepted the drink from his hand while we all continued how Mr Anderson believes that Matteo getting into banking will be a smart move.

“It’s not banking…it’s just a mode of transactions. It’s nothing big.” Matteo had repeated for the third time but Mr Anderson was still so absorbed and bent on. And, apparently, Matteo listening to Mr Anderson would knead my waist whenever Liam standing behind Mr Anderson looked at me.

“If he looked at you like this one more time. I am going to kill him.” Matteo whispered over my ear making my eyes widen as I look at his smile he was offering to Mrs Anderson.

“Liam…Call our driver to prepare the car.” Mr Anderson said making me exhale as Liam left.

“You loved him…didn’t you?” Matteo whispered while I catch his hand that had tightened on my waist.