Chapter 3
This Italian is going to be a handful. He ended the conversation without even saying goodbye—arrogant as hell. I'm cursing him out when my boss appears behind me.
“I see you've already spoken with Mattia.” He smiles.
“I'm sorry, sir.”
“No problem, I know him well and I know how he is. Come to my office, and let's talk about the project.”
“Of course, sir.” I grab my notepad where I jotted down everything the arrogant jerk and I discussed, along with the ideas I pitched, and follow my boss.
“Have a seat, Emma, make yourself comfortable,” he says, opening the door and letting me go in first.
“Thank you.” I sit in the chair facing his desk and wait for him.
“First of all, I want to apologize for how he must have treated you. Mattia's a good guy, you'll see, even if he is arrogant.”
“Don't worry about it, sir, you don't need to apologize. Shall we get started?”
“Of course. What did you two come up with to start?”
We stayed there for a good few hours. I went over everything we'd discussed—my idea for a more intimate area for meetings or dinners.
Mr. Carter thought it was great. I also talked about blending sophistication with rustic charm, which he loved too.
It would be a different kind of project from what we've done here.
I asked if he could take me to the location so I could see it and take measurements.
“I hadn't thought of that, Emma. Let's plan to go tomorrow—does that work? That way you can get started on everything before he comes for the presentation.”
“Tomorrow's perfect. I need to see the storefront to design the restaurant's brand identity, which obviously has to match the interior.”
“Of course. I'm glad Eduardo recommended you for the job. I know this project will take a while, and we'll be spending quite a bit of time together. Oh, and you can call me Carter—I'd be more comfortable with that. I feel ancient when you call me sir.” I laugh at his comment.
“Yes, it'll be a lengthy project. I'll have to study the location, the layout, and I've never designed a restaurant before. Thank you so much, si... Carter, for trusting me with this.”
“We'll talk tomorrow about the visit. In the meantime, work on the identity—you already have the name and a photo of the Venice restaurant's facade. Follow the same design, but with the sophistication you mentioned.”
“I'd already thought of that. Well, I'm heading out—my shift's over. See you tomorrow.”
“See you, Emma.”
I leave my boss's office, stop by my desk to tidy up, grab my purse, and head straight to the elevator. I'm dying to get home, take a shower, and rest. This arrogant Italian has already worn me out, and today was only the first day.
I spot Samantha and offer her a ride, which she accepts right away.
Since traffic is crazy, we chat the whole way.
We've become really good friends—we do practically everything together at the company, and sometimes we hang out on weekends too.
She was my biggest support when I broke up with my ex-fiancé.
I told her everything I was going through, and she was the one who helped me open my eyes and leave the relationship.
I finally get home after dropping my friend off at her place, which is close to mine. I walk in and see my mom already making dinner, so I go over to say hi.
“Hi, Mom, good afternoon. Mmm, what are you making?”
“Good afternoon, sweetheart. We're having pastrami sandwiches today.”[13]
“I love sandwiches! I'm going to take a shower so I can eat it while it's still hot. Has Gaby gotten home yet?”
“Yes, and she already headed upstairs—she should be almost ready. Hurry up, I’m just finishing.”
I go straight to my room, set my purse on a stool in the corner, strip off my clothes, toss them in the hamper, and head straight for the shower.
I need to relax—it’s been a rough day. I spend a few minutes under the hot water, thinking about the sandwich Mom was making, when my stomach growls, reminding me I need to get out of here fast. I step out and throw on pajamas.
When I get to the kitchen, they’re already waiting for me.
“I’m starving, sis. You could’ve been faster.”
“Sorry, Gaby, I’m so tired I stayed in the shower a little longer.”
“Has work been wearing you out?” my mother asks.
“This week was really tough. We started a project with a client who was never satisfied—we had to keep changing things constantly, only to end up right back where we started. And today I got an offer that made me really happy at first, but it’s already exhausting me, and I haven’t even begun. ” I make a face.
“So you’re going to work on a project by yourself? Congratulations, Emma.”
“Thanks, sis, but it won’t be easy at all. I’m going to be working with an Italian guy who’s super arrogant.”
“Sounds like the guy who contacted the company today. He’s opening a restaurant here, already has his design team, but he wants us to handle all the furniture and kitchen stuff for him.”
“Wait, what’s his name?”
“Matthew, ah, I don’t know, something like that.”
“Mattia, Mattia Bianchi?”
“That’s it, that’s him. Wait, are we going to be working with the same client?” My sister works at a department store—the fanciest one around—and they have everything, but they only handle commercial accounts.
“Yep, we are, and he’s an arrogant jerk.”
“Don’t talk like that, sweetheart. His culture is different from ours—you have to respect that.”
“I do respect it, Mom, but good manners are universal—everyone should have them.”
The two of them laugh at me, at the way I talk.
I finish eating and say goodnight. I lie down in bed and can’t stop thinking about how a man that handsome can be such a jerk.
It’s going to be tough, but I want to take it on.
After all, it’s my first solo project. I just hope he doesn’t test what little patience I have left, and with the thought of those blue eyes, I drift off.