A Thousand Ways To Say I Love You

CHAPTER XXXIV

Matteo sat in his office, surrounded by the clatter of phones and the murmur of tense discussions among his friends, Teros, Albert, Joo, and Nathan. The weight of the world seemed to press down on his shoulders as they strategized about the upcoming deal with BK Co. Every decision felt critical, but his mind kept drifting back to Isabella.

He glanced at his phone, heart tightening as he saw a string of missed calls and messages from her. "Are you okay?" "I haven’t heard from you." "Please let me know you’re safe." Each notification pulled at his heart, but he hesitated to respond. He didn’t want to drag her into the dangerous mess he was entangled in.

"Matteo, are you with us?" Teros's voice broke through his thoughts.

Matteo shook his head, forcing himself back to the moment. "Yeah, sorry. Just thinking about the deal."

"Thinking about something else, it seems," Nathan chimed in, noticing the distraction on Matteo’s face.

"Let’s focus," Matteo snapped, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. He didn’t want to discuss his feelings for Isabella, not now. They had too much at stake.

As they continued their discussion, Matteo’s phone buzzed again. Another message from Isabella. "I just want to know you're okay." The sincerity in her words made his chest tighten. He missed her, missed the way her laughter could light up a room, but he couldn’t afford to let her in right now.

"Matteo!" Albert's voice pulled him back. "You’re zoning out again. What’s the plan?"

Matteo took a deep breath, steeling himself. "We need to stay ahead of Carter and his team. We can’t let them gain any ground on this deal." He glanced at his phone one last time, then silenced it, pushing aside the gnawing guilt. "Let’s get to work."

The tension mounted as they strategized. He couldn’t afford to let emotions cloud his judgment, but each unreturned message felt like a weight on his conscience. The feeling that he was protecting her, while also pushing her away, was a battle he didn’t know how to win.

"Matteo!" Mia's voice cut through his thoughts, and he turned to see her approaching. "You need to talk to BK Co chairman, he said he wanted to meet you, tommorow"

"Okay," he replied,

Mia sighed, seeing the conflict in his eyes. "Okay, I'll finalize the meeting tommorow at 2, and clear all your schedule."

Matteo just hummed
Matteo turned away, staring out the window, his thoughts swirling on Isabella

Was he really protecting her, or just running away? As the sun dipped below the horizon, he felt the weight of his decisions pressing down harder than ever.

Meanwhile, as the hours passed, Isabella sat at her desk at the hospital, worry gnawing at her. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. She had called and texted Matteo, but there was no response. It was unlike him to go silent, especially when they had been growing closer.

"What’s wrong?" her colleague asked, noticing her distracted demeanor.

Isabella forced a smile. "Nothing. Just... waiting to hear from a friend."

"That doesn’t sound like nothing," the colleague pressed. "You look worried."

Isabella sighed, glancing at her phone again. "I just wish he’d reply."

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Isabella sat across from her friend Andria in a cozy café, stirring her coffee absentmindedly. The noise of the bustling street outside did little to drown out the thoughts spinning in her mind.

Andria, noticing Isabella’s silence, leaned forward. “You’ve been quiet since you've got here. What’s going on?”

Isabella sighed, setting her cup down. “It’s Matteo. I haven’t heard from him in days. No calls, no texts. It’s unlike him.”

Andria raised an eyebrow. “That is strange, especially with how close you two have gotten. Have you tried reaching out?”

“I’ve called and texted him,” Isabella replied, biting her lip. “It’s like he’s just... disappeared. I don’t know what to think. It’s making me feel anxious, like something’s wrong.”

Andria studied her for a moment before speaking. “Do you think it could be work? You did mention he’s been really busy lately with those business deals.”

“I thought that too at first, but this feels different. I can’t shake this feeling that he’s hiding something from me.” Isabella paused, her fingers fidgeting with her coffee cup. “Maybe I’m just overthinking, but it’s hard not to worry. We were getting closer, and now it’s like he’s pushing himself away.”

Andria gave her a sympathetic look. “You’re not overthinking. If you feel something’s off, it probably is. But maybe he’s just overwhelmed and doesn’t know how to talk about it yet.”

Isabella sighed again. “I just wish he’d say something. Anything. It’s the silence that’s driving me crazy.”

Andria reached across the table, giving her hand a comforting squeeze. “Listen, give him a little more time, but if he doesn’t reach out soon, you deserve answers. Don’t let him leave you in the dark.”

“I know,” Isabella whispered, a mix of frustration and worry swirling in her chest. “I just hope this isn’t a sign that something’s seriously wrong.”

Andria leaned back in her chair, her eyes narrowing slightly as she spoke with a more serious tone. "Bella, listen to me. If Matteo is keeping things from you or if something about him doesn’t feel right, you need to be careful. I know you care about him, but secrets in a relationship can be dangerous. If he’s hiding something big, and it affects you...you might need to walk away before it’s too late."

Isabella blinked, surprised at her friend's bluntness. "Andria, you don’t think I should just wait and try to understand what’s going on?"

Andria shook her head gently, her voice firm but caring. "I’m not saying jump to conclusions, but don’t let your feelings for him blind you. If something doesn’t add up, don’t wait for it to hurt you. You’ve worked so hard to build your life—your career, everything. You deserve someone who’s open with you. If Matteo does something that makes you doubt his intentions or trust, you have to consider your future. Don’t let his issues become yours, Bella."

Isabella lowered her gaze, feeling torn. She wanted to believe there was a good reason for Matteo’s silence, but Andria’s words echoed in her mind. "You really think it could come to that?" Isabella asked softly, her heart heavy.

"I hope not," Andria said, softening her tone. "But I’ve seen too many people stay in situations that hurt them because they didn’t act soon enough. I just don’t want that for you. If Matteo does anything that feels wrong, don’t ignore it. Leave before you lose yourself in whatever he’s hiding."

Isabella nodded, biting her lip. Andria’s words lingered in her mind, adding another layer of uncertainty to her already conflicted feelings.

Andria added, her expression thoughtful. “Matteo seems like the kind of guy who cares about you, so maybe he’s just trying to deal with something on his own. But don’t wait too long, Bella. You deserve to know what’s going on.”

Isabella nodded, trying to hold onto that hope. But as each day passed without a word from Matteo, the knot of uncertainty in her stomach tightened, leaving her wondering what he was hiding from her.