Sturniolo Tower (Matt Sturniolo)

Epilogue 3

Usually celebrating our success would be something I relish. We have a ritual, we make a habit of celebrating our successes either alone or together. But tonight, I'm not in the mood for celebrating.

The drive to the hotel was nothing short of tranquil.

Matt watched as I kicked my heels off and sat on the edge of the bed. "Mom texted, she got Cody back to sleep. Are you okay? You've been quiet since we left dinner"

"It's four in the morning over there" I said, looking at my watch. "I'm just tired"

"I'm going to call Mom. Wanna lie again?" He commented and I sighed, wrapping my arms around my stomach.

"I feel like being sick...but I'm tired too" I smiled, covering up the truth a bit.

He slid his jacket off and threw it over a chair before walking towards me and sitting beside me.

He rubbed my forehead. "You're a bit warm"

"Matt, it's thirty five degrees outside, of course I'm going to be warm" I mumbled and he threw his arm loose around me. "Go to bed, the heat is just getting to me"

"If that's the case, you need to drink water. We don't need a hospital trip for dehydration"

"You have a degree in business, not medicine" I joked, resting my head on his shoulder and he kissed my head.

"Smart ass" he responded. "Do you want me to get you something?"

"I just need rest"

"Babe, are you sure? I'm happy to run and get you something to make you feel better"

"I'll be okay, I promise" I assured, lifting my head and looking at him

He sighed. "Okay" he kissed my forehead. "If you change your mind, let me know. I'll call Mom and head to bed...you should do the same" He rubbed my thigh before standing up.

I watched as he walked around the room, talking to his Mom on the phone.

"Yes, Y/N is fine. No, she doesn't hate you. She's been busy, Mom. She hasn't had time to text you back" he laughed, assuring his Mom our lack of texting isn't us ignoring her.

"She kicked ass. I'm proud of her, I didn't do anything today" he winked at me and I smiled back at him. "Yes, Mom" he sighed. "I'm a gentleman, you ask me this everyday. I promise she still loves me" He smiled, amused at his Mom. "Okay...I'll let you go. Call me if you need us, okay? Okay, kiss Cody for us...I love you too. Goodnight"

"I take it everything's okay?" I asked when he ended the call and threw his phone on the bed.

"Yeah, Cody just needed some cuddles before falling back to sleep"

"That's good...hey, Matt?" I asked as he stepped towards the mini fridge.

He hummed and leaned over for a bottle of water. "I don't want to go ahead with Austin"

He nodded. "What's the tipping point?"

I shrugged. "It doesn't feel right...after he brought up our downfall and I don't like low blows...I don't want to"

"Okay"

"You seem annoyed"

"That means we flew here for no reason...We wasted three days here and now you want to back out. Y/N, you had the chance to back out hours ago, our lawyers are writing up contracts" he trailed off, shaking his head and handing me bottle of water. "Drink it"

"What are you saying? You said you'd support me either way"

He nodded. "I still stand by that, but you're throwing away an opportunity. I'm not going to fly back here again when you find another opportunity"

"You're the one who told me not to settle for less than what I deserve?"

"Y/N" he groaned. "Do what you want, I'm just here to help"

"Seems like you're scrutinising me. If you don't want to support me, you don't have to..I'm going to bed" I mumbled, standing up from the bed and putting the water back in the fridge.

He doesn't have to support my decisions. "Y/N, can we talk?"

"About what? You made it clear"

"I don't think I did"

I rolled my eyes, sliding out of my navy dress, letting it fall to the floor. "Matt, I get it. I'm not in the mood, drop it" I said, throwing a shirt over my body.

I looked at Matt as he ran his hand through his hair. "Since you're not going ahead with the offer...I have an offer to expand Sturniolo & Co and buy in Manhattan to branch the company...and by branch, I mean starting it from the ground up"

"So you're stealing my thunder? You're doing the same thing as me"

I'm surprised he tried to out stage me, I didn't expect that.

He cleared his throat. "No"

"How?" I scoffed. "You're buying in New York to expand, that's what I'm doing"

"Well you can't commit. I've been waiting for you to close your deals before I brought it up. I'm putting in my offer to branch the company"

"I like how you didn't bother to talk about it with me"

"I am, right now"

"And if I say no?" I asked and he shrugged.

"You can say no, but I'm doing this...I want to move to New York, Y/N. If they accept my offer, we'll be moving to New York for a year"

He wants to pick our family up and move us to New York for a year.

I'm more surprised he didn't bother to ask me how I felt about it.

"Are you going to say anything?" He asked, staring back at me as I process what he just said.

Not once during our marriage has he ever made big decisions without telling me. He always asked for my opinion when it comes to moving. When he offered to branch out in L.A, we had a long conversation about the pros and cons, before deciding it wasn't the best choice.

I shook my head at him. "I'm going to bed"

"That's all you have to say?"

I nodded, pulling the blankets back before falling into bed, ignoring the fact Matt was still staring at me. There is nothing for me to say, my husband made his decision.