Love in the ER

CHAPTER 30

It was late in the evening when Matteo sat alone in his office, the overhead light casting a dim glow over the room. He was still simmering from his earlier conversation with Paris. Her rejection had stung—again. Every time he tried to reach out, she shut him down, and now that Oliver was in the picture with all his complications, Matteo's frustration had reached a boiling point.

He leaned back in his chair, glaring at his phone, half tempted to send Paris another message to try and get her to understand how much better off she'd be with him. But he stopped himself. It was pointless. She wasn't going to leave Oliver.

The knock at his office door startled him, and he frowned, glancing at the clock. Who would be here this late?

"Come in," Matteo called, sitting up straighter.

The door creaked open, and to his surprise, Denise stepped inside, closing the door softly behind her. She smiled—a calculated, knowing smile—as she crossed the room toward his desk, her heels clicking against the floor.

"Denise?" Matteo asked, confusion flickering across his face. "What are you doing here?"

Denise gave a small, almost amused shrug as she sat down across from him. "I figured it was time we had a little chat."

Matteo raised an eyebrow, leaning forward. "About what?"

Denise's smile widened, her eyes glinting with something dangerous. "About Paris. And Oliver."

Matteo's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Paris's name, but he kept his face impassive. "I don't see how that concerns you."

"Oh, but it does," Denise said smoothly, crossing her legs and leaning back in the chair as though she were settling in for a long conversation. "You see, I've been watching. I know you've got feelings for Paris, and I know that you've been trying to get her to leave Oliver."

Matteo's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond. Denise was right, but there was no way he was going to admit it—not to her.

Denise leaned forward slightly, her smile turning into a sly smirk. "What if I told you we could help each other?"

Matteo frowned, his confusion deepening. "What are you talking about?"

Denise's expression became more serious, her tone calculated. "It's simple. You want Paris, and I want Oliver back. We both have something to gain if we work together."

Matteo stared at her, unsure of where she was going with this. "And how exactly would that work?"

Denise tilted her head, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "You saw how Paris reacted when you confronted her today. She's vulnerable. She's second-guessing everything because of the baby, and that's where you come in. All you need to do is plant a little more doubt in her mind. Make her think that Oliver's already pulling away from her, that this baby is going to change everything. If she starts believing that Oliver is drifting, she'll turn to you."

Matteo leaned back, his arms crossed as he considered her words. "And what's in it for you?"

Denise's smile returned, colder this time. "If Paris starts doubting Oliver, she'll pull away. And if she pulls away, Oliver will feel abandoned, vulnerable. That's where I come in. Once he feels like Paris isn't there for him anymore, he'll turn to me." Her eyes glinted with satisfaction. "We both get what we want."

Matteo stared at her for a long moment, the idea slowly sinking in. He had spent so much time trying to win Paris over, but she had been too focused on Oliver to even give him a chance. But now... if he could just push her in the right direction, make her doubt what she had with Oliver, maybe things could change.

"You really think this will work?" Matteo asked, his voice low.

Denise's smile was sharp. "I know it will. I've already planted seeds of doubt in Oliver's mind. All it takes is a little push from you, and Paris will start questioning everything. You just have to make her feel like Oliver's slipping away."

Matteo hesitated for a moment, a flicker of guilt creeping into his chest. But then he thought about Paris—about how much he wanted her, how much he believed he was the right person for her. And if Oliver was going to let her down, wasn't it better for him to step in and show her what she deserved?

"What do you need me to do?" Matteo finally asked, his voice steady.

Denise's smile widened. "Just keep doing what you've been doing. Keep pushing her, keep reminding her that Oliver's future is with his child, not with her. Make her doubt his commitment. Once she starts pulling away, it'll be easy for you to swoop in and comfort her."

Matteo nodded slowly, his mind racing with possibilities. "And what about Oliver?"

Denise waved a hand dismissively. "I'll handle him. Once Paris is out of the picture, Oliver will have no choice but to come back to me—for the baby's sake."

There was a moment of silence as Matteo processed everything. The plan was risky—manipulative even—but the promise of finally winning Paris over was too tempting to ignore. And if Denise was right, if this baby really was going to drive a wedge between Oliver and Paris, then maybe it was only a matter of time before Paris realized Matteo was the one who could offer her real stability.

"Fine," Matteo said finally, meeting Denise's gaze. "I'm in."

Denise's smile grew triumphant as she stood up, smoothing out her dress. "Good. You won't regret this."

Matteo watched as Denise made her way to the door, her heels clicking against the floor. Just before she left, she paused, glancing back at him with a sly smile.

"Just remember," she said softly, "we both win if they lose."

With that, she disappeared into the hallway, leaving Matteo alone with his thoughts. The deal had been made, and now, all that was left was to follow through.

As Matteo sat back in his chair, his mind buzzing with the plan, he couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation. He had wanted Paris for so long, and now, with Denise's help, he finally saw a path to make it happen. It wasn't how he had imagined it—but in the end, what mattered was the result.

Meanwhile, Denise left the hospital with a satisfied smile on her face. Her plan was in motion, and if everything went as expected, Paris and Oliver's relationship would be in shambles soon enough. All she had to do was wait, and soon, Oliver would come running back to her—just like she had always planned.