The Sweetest Temptation
Chapter 244: Trip

Chapter 244: Trip

"I’m fine sir, I’ll get something to clean the floor with, please excuse me," she whispered, choking down the tears that threatened to break out of her reserves. But just before she pulled the door open, he started in that stern voice that signified his metamorphosis to a man of business and seriousness once again.

"I have a business trip to Chicago later this evening."

Him travelling out means more access to other women that will better tickle his fancy like she could not, and she had to force herself not to care.

"Get prepared, you are coming with me."

Her eyes widened in disbelief when she heard the declaration. And instead of joy at the prospect of being taken along, she was left with a nagging sense of unease – not from fear or discomfort, but from uncertainty.

What is he up to this time?

******

Stella was overwhelmed with confusion at the idea of going on the trip with him. She knew nothing about what the trip was for, or what events prompted it. And when she had asked, he had told her something so utterly bizarre for someone that had hired her to be his personal assistant.

"You don’t need to understand anything, you just need to be with me."

What was that all of a sudden? Did he just want her to be in the space with him? In that moment, he sounded like an overgrown baby who was simply pretending to have some kind of control, or say over what and what she could not do to him, when in fact he needed a cuddle. Not that she cared. Now, she wanted to be out of his hair by all means, but for some reason, he wanted to make her getting over him impossible.

Was that the case?

"Whatever, we won’t be staying together in a room, so there is no risk of us doing anything that nobody wants." She said as she slung her bag over her shoulder, righting her travelling box to a standing position. It was clear that he did not want anything to do with her sexually anymore, and she would respect his wish. But making it hard to avoid such instances shouldn’t be an option.

Her phone began to ring, rousing her from her destructive chain of thoughts.

She snatched it from the pile of clothes that were on the bed, a mess she’d made from trying to get herself ready, and she picked the call without checking who it was.

"Yes, who is it?"

"Get ready. My driver is going to come over to your house."

Matteo!

She straightened up and cleared her throat as though he had just walked into the room where she was. "Um, where are you, sir?" she asked.

"In an hour, I will be having a meeting with another client in that city." And with that, he hung up the call.

She was shocked from the sudden playout of events. From the looks of things, he now detested her so much that he could not bear sitting with her for a few minutes.

"Ugh! I can’t wait for all of this to end. I need a plan. I can’t keep swooning over him forever." She said to herself in a voice filled with exasperation. She looked out the window to confirm his words, and as he had said, she did see a sleek Mercedes drive in and stop just at the main entrance of her apartment building.

Show off!

***

The journey to Chicago was smoother than she imagined, with Matteo making the private jet available to herself. It was a gesture she hadn’t expected, but then she waved it off. After all, all bosses make sure their personal assistant are not stranded. Otherwise, they lose.

Her mouth widened and her mouth fell open in disbelief as the taxi pulled up at a grandiose establishment that was believed to be the hotel. Dressed in a simple wool sweater, jogger shorts, and a pair of slides, she didn’t deem herself appropriately dressed to set foot in the hotel.

With her heart racing impatiently, she leaned toward the front seat where the driver was seated and whispered, "Is this my stop?"

"Yes, ma’am." He responded curtly, she felt guilty engaging him any further as it was likely that he had been active all day.

"Alright, thank you so much. Please open the trunk." She replied as she stepped out of the car.

"Oh, don’t worry ma’am, I’ll help you get in."

He was either too kind or he was handsomely paid. She thought to herself as he bore her travelling box and her handbag, leaving nothing for her to carry except her phone.

She rose her phone to her line of sight as she pondered on the thought of calling to let Matteo know that she had arrived. But then, she thought against it, preferring to let him reach out instead since it was likely that he was still in a meeting with his clients.

If he was free, he would call her to check in. Not for anything else, but to know if his assistant had made it smoothly to where he was.

She slumped her shoulders as she made her way to the reception, giving her details and being directed to her room.

"Thank you so much, I’ll take it from here." She said as she retrieved her luggage from her chauffeur, making her way toward the elevator, on her way to the top floor.

***

Her eyes widened in awe when she stepped into the supposed penthouse. When she had been told by the receptionist that her room was a penthouse at the top floor, she did not imagine anything this grand. As a matter of fact, it was beyond her thoughts that she would be given a place like this to sleep in, alone.

The room was a vast space clad in numerous evidence of luxury – from the vast space of the sitting area she had just walked into, to the massive sleeping space within boasting the popular twelve feet bed, which led to the see-through bathroom.

She walked into the living space, bracing herself to take a tour. But when she walked into the space that faced the balcony, she was welcomed with a soothing sight of a swimming pool.

How much did it take to acquire such a space for just one night?

She had thought that such bizarre purchases only took place in the movies. But lately, her life has been a spiral of events of the sort that were in those movies and novels alike. Beatrix, Matteo’s sister had taken her on a blindly generous cloth shopping, pouring all sort of wears in her bags without a second thought, and here was Matteo, not sparing a glance to acquire whatever he wanted – including a hundred thousand dollar penthouse, for a night alone.

Whatever, before I worry myself, I need a swim.