A Thousand Ways To Say I Love You

CHAPTER XLVI

Matteo walked back into his office, his mind still buzzing with thoughts of Isabella and Carter. The jealousy he felt hadn’t faded, but he forced himself to focus. He knew he couldn’t afford distractions right now—not with this deal. This deal with BK.Co meant everything for his empire, and failure wasn’t an option.

The office was silent except for the soft hum of the city outside. Papers were spread across his desk, files containing crucial details about the deal. He had spent weeks preparing for this, analyzing every angle, making sure everything was perfect. He wanted it to be successful—not just for his business, but also to show everyone, including Carter, that he wasn’t someone to be underestimated.

Matteo sat down, taking a deep breath to steady himself. His team had done their part, and now it was his turn to seal the deal. He was relentless when it came to business. His reputation as a sharp, ruthless businessman was known throughout the underground world, and to also the world, he wasn’t going to let anyone take this opportunity from him.

But something about Carter’s involvement gnawed at him. Carter had always been a thorn in his side, a rival in every sense. If Carter was gunning for this deal too, Matteo knew he’d have to stay two steps ahead. The thought of losing to him, especially now, felt unbearable.

He pulled out the contract again, scanning through it for any weaknesses, anything Carter might exploit. His eyes flicked to his phone, and he saw the missed calls and texts from Isabella. Guilt stabbed at him, but he couldn’t bring himself to reply—not yet. He wanted to keep her far away from the dangerous games he was playing in the business world.

For now, his focus had to be on this deal. His empire depended on it, and if he was going to win from people like Carter, he needed power. Winning this deal would solidify that power.

With renewed determination, Matteo began reviewing the final details of the deal. He couldn’t afford any mistakes. Every move had to be perfect. Carter might think he could play mind games, but Matteo wasn’t going to let him win—not in business, and certainly not with Isabella.

Matteo had always been cautious, but after his last encounter with Carter, something felt off. He had sensed it—a shift, a leak in his tightly controlled circle. Someone close to him was feeding information to Carter, but he didn’t know who. The realization had come slowly, gnawing at him since their meeting. Carter had been too confident, too well-informed. It wasn’t just business tactics; it was personal. Matteo knew his rival too well to miss the signs.

He sat in his office, staring out the window, deep in thought. His mind raced over the people closest to him—Teros, Joo, Albert, Nathan, Mia. He trusted them all, but now he wasn’t so sure. They had been by his side for years, but one of them had to be the traitor. The thought made his stomach turn, but he couldn’t let emotion cloud his judgment. He needed to be certain before making any moves.

Matteo started piecing together everything he knew. Carter had known about his business strategies before they’d even been executed, and the timing of Carter’s moves had been too precise. This was more than just a clever rival—it was inside information. Someone was feeding Carter the details he needed to stay one step ahead.

His fingers drummed against the desk as he thought of his next steps. He had to tread carefully. If he made a false accusation or showed his hand too soon, the traitor might get spooked and disappear, making it harder to catch them. Worse, they might inform Carter of Matteo's suspicions, and the game would be over before it began.

Matteo decided to lay a trap. He would feed different pieces of false information to each of his closest associates and see which one made it to Carter. It was a risky move, but it was the only way to flush out the mole.

His eyes narrowed as he planned the details. He’d make the information seem critical, something that would be too tempting for the traitor not to pass on. And when they did, Matteo would be ready. He wasn’t about to let anyone, not even someone close, sabotage everything he had built.

Carter might think he was winning, but Matteo was about to turn the tables. He just needed to stay calm and play his cards right. The game had only just begun, and Matteo wasn’t the type to lose.