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Matteo's intellect was undeniable, his insights and suggestions enhancing my work in ways I hadn't anticipated.
It was a paradox. The very person I had come to despise was becoming an integral part of my professional journey.
Despite my underlying attraction for him, I despised him because he had killed someone. I didn’t know which one came first.
Did my attraction for him overshadow the negativity? Or was it my fear of him? Perhaps my dislike for him came first. Who knew?
I had been meticulously working on my project, the lines of code becoming a refuge from the complexities of our dynamic.
The office hummed with the usual activity as Matteo remained seated, his presence announced only by the intensity of his gaze.
"Progress report, Sophia," he demanded, his voice cutting through the air.
I suppressed an eye roll, meeting his gaze head-on. "Considering the number of lines of code I've written, I'm making significant progress."
He smirked, a gesture that made my guts twist into knots. "Ah, but lines of code can be deceiving, can't they? Quality over quantity, Sophia."
My fingers clenched around the mouse, my patience wearing thin. "Trust me, Matteo, I'm well aware of the importance of quality. I don't need a lecture from you."
He leaned back in his chair, his gaze unwavering.
"You know, I've been thinking. I don’t understand where all this animosity is coming from. Did I do something to offend you?"
I replied with a touch of sarcasm, "Oh, I don't know, Matteo. Maybe it's your winning smile or a knack for making friends wherever you go."
He arched an eyebrow, his smirk still firmly in place. "Ah, so that's what this is about. You're not a fan of my charming personality."
My jaw tightened, my fingers gripping the mouse as if it were the only thing keeping me grounded. "Charming? That's one word for it."
He leaned back further, his expression turning thoughtful. " I thought we had a pretty good time that night. Or was I mistaken?"
I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks, a mix of embarrassment and frustration. "Oh, please. Don't act like that night meant anything more than it did."
His laughter danced in the air, a low and strangely intimate sound that only fueled my irritation. "And what did it mean to you, Sophia?"
I averted my gaze, my fingers tapping impatiently on the mousepad. "It was a momentary lapse in judgment, that's all. Let's not dwell on it."
He chuckled, the sound like a soft caress against my defenses. "Lapse in judgment? Is that what you're calling it now?"
My irritation flared, and I shot him a pointed glare. "You know exactly what I mean."
He leaned forward, his gaze locking onto mine. "I do, but it's fun watching you squirm."
I clenched my jaw, refusing to let him see how much his teasing affected me. "You're insufferable."
"Ah, but you seem to find me quite memorable," he replied, his tone a mixture of amusement and something else I couldn't quite place.
I rolled my eyes, my irritation warring with the flutter of nerves in my stomach. "Don't flatter yourself, Matteo. You're not that unforgettable."
He leaned back in his chair, his smirk never wavering. "We'll see about that, won't we?" I shot him a sharp glare, unamused by his attempt at banter.
"Save your mind games for someone interested, Matteo."
He chuckled, the sound reverberating through the tense air. "But you are interested, Sophia. I can see it in your eyes."
I scoffed, trying to ignore how my pulse quickened under his scrutiny. "You're delusional if you think I'm interested in anything beyond finishing this project."
His gaze held mine, the intensity of it almost unnerving. "You're a terrible liar, you know. I can practically feel the tension radiating between us."
