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Our interactions had been marked by banter and clashes of wit, each encounter leaving me both annoyed and intrigued.
Now, I was preparing to step into a world lightyears away from the comfort of my coding cave.
With a final check in the mirror, I turned away from my reflection and headed to the door, my heart beating faster with each step.
As I stepped outside my house, I was met with a surprise. A sleek car was waiting for me at the curb, its engine idling softly.
I hadn't expected such a luxurious mode of transportation. The door was opened by a well-dressed chauffeur who gave me a polite nod.
"Miss Sophia, Mr. De Luca has arranged for your transportation," he informed me with a professional smile.
I hesitated for a moment, slightly taken aback by the unexpected arrangement. Matteo's involvement seemed to extend beyond just providing the dress.
As I settled into the car, I realized I wouldn't attend the gala alone. My eyes widened in surprise as I saw him already seated inside.
"Matteo?" I exclaimed, my voice betraying my surprise as his unexpected presence caught me off guard.
He turned to me, his lips curving into a faint but undeniably charming smile. "Good evening, Sophia."
"I... I didn't know you were going with me," I stammered, my words faltering as a sudden rush of surprise and warmth washed over me.
My cheeks tinged with a shade of pink that I hoped he wouldn't notice.
My eyes involuntarily scanned him, taking in his appearance for the first time tonight.
He wore a tailored black suit that seemed to accentuate every confident angle of his frame and a perfectly fitted white shirt underneath that highlighted his composed demeanor.
The ensemble exuded elegance and sophistication, a far cry from our usual encounters.
I was taken aback, not just by his unexpected presence, but by the undeniable fact that he looked exceptionally handsome tonight.
It was as if he had taken extra care to refine his appearance for this particular occasion.
The realization left me momentarily speechless, my thoughts struggling to catch up with the change in dynamics.
His gaze lingered on me as if he was assessing something beyond my words. "Well, I thought it would be a shame for such beauty to arrive unaccompanied."
The compliment he offered was so unexpected that I found myself momentarily speechless.
My fingers fumbled with the edge of my clutch as I managed to mumble, "Thank you."
As the car smoothly glided away from the curb, the city streets unfolding before us, I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions.
Nervousness, curiosity, and a touch of awkwardness swirled within me.
This wasn't the usual banter or snarky exchanges we engaged in. It was a different kind of conversation, and it felt strangely unfamiliar.
"You look beautiful, by the way," he said, his voice casual yet laced with sincerity.
His compliment caught me off guard once more, and I shot him a quick sidelong glance. There was something genuine in his tone, something that seemed out of place given our usual interactions.
"Thank you. The dress is... stunning."
He nodded, his attention seemingly drawn to the passing scenery outside the window. The quiet hum of the car's engine created a backdrop for my racing thoughts.
It was surreal to be sitting here, engaging in such a conversation with Matteo De Luca.
The memory of the first time we had spoken like this flickered in my mind. That evening at the charity event, we shared a more civil exchange.
