A Thousand Ways To Say I Love You

CHAPTER LIII

Andria sat on the couch in Isabella’s apartment, her expression a mixture of concern and sympathy. “Bella, what happened last night? Did you break up with Matteo?” she asked gently, searching Isabella's eyes for answers.

Isabella looked away, unable to hold back the tears that had been building since the party. “Yes,” she finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. The word felt heavy on her tongue, a weight that crushed her heart all over again.

Andria felt a pang of sorrow for her friend. She knew how deeply Isabella cared for Matteo, how his presence filled her life with warmth and hope. “Oh, Bella,” she said softly, moving closer to wrap her arms around her in a comforting embrace. “I’m so sorry. I know how much you love him.”

Isabella buried her face in Andria’s shoulder, letting the tears flow freely. “It hurts so much, Andria. I didn’t want it to end this way. I just wanted him to be honest with me. But he kept pushing me away, and I couldn’t take it anymore.”

Andria held her friend tightly, wishing she could take away the pain. “You deserve to be with someone who values you and communicates with you, Bella. You deserve happiness.”

“I thought Matteo was that person,” Isabella sobbed, pulling away slightly to look into Andria's eyes. “But he isn't being honest with me, I came up with a fact that whatever he does, I would stay by his side and not leave him to be his support when he's weak, I love him so much, I just wanted to know the truth, him to be honest with me, but whenever I tried that it’s like he’s a completely different person.”

Andria nodded, her heart aching for Isabella. “Sometimes, people have their reasons for keeping secrets. But you can’t force someone to open up if they’re not ready. It’s not your fault.”

Isabella took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “I just wish things could go back to how they were. Before all the lies and misunderstandings.”

“I know, but you’re strong, Bella. You’ll get through this,” Andria reassured her, offering a warm smile. “You have me by your side. We’ll figure it out together.”

As they sat in the living room, surrounded by the comforting silence of their friendship, Isabella felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, with time, she could heal and find clarity amidst the chaos of her emotions.

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It's been a week since Matteo and Isabella broke up, and the pain of their separation still lingers heavily in the air. While Isabella has thrown herself into her work, trying to distract herself from the heartbreak, Matteo has become increasingly wary of Mia. He’s noticed subtle changes in her demeanor—her tone a bit too cheerful, her laughter a little too flirtatious, and the way her eyes linger on him has begun to feel uncomfortable.

At the office, Mia moves with a confidence that seems out of place, and she often finds opportunities to be near Matteo. Whether it’s stopping by his office under the guise of discussing work or laughing a little too loudly at his jokes, Matteo can’t shake the feeling that something is off. His instincts tell him she’s playing a game, but he can’t quite figure out her angle.

One afternoon, while reviewing some documents in his office, Matteo glances up to find Mia leaning against the doorframe, a playful smile dancing on her lips.

“Hey, Matteo. You’ve been so focused lately. Want to take a break?” she asks, her voice dripping with a sugary sweetness that puts him on edge.

Matteo raises an eyebrow, forcing a smile as he pushes aside his thoughts. “I have a lot on my plate right now, Mia. Maybe later.”

“Come on, just a quick coffee break. It’ll do you good,” she insists, stepping further into the room, her presence almost invasive.

Matteo's mind races, assessing the situation. He can't afford to let his guard down. “I really can’t, Mia. I need to finish this report for Mrs. Bala,” he replies, trying to keep the conversation professional.

Mia pouts slightly but quickly masks it with a giggle. “Alright, if you insist. Just remember, I’m here if you need a distraction.”

As she turns to leave, Matteo can’t help but feel a wave of unease wash over him. He knows Mia is hiding something, and he’s determined to uncover the truth behind her sudden shift in behavior.

That evening, back at his apartment, Matteo sits in the dim light of his living room, wrestling with his thoughts. He knows he needs to finds out the prove on Mia, to find out what her intentions are, but he also knows it won’t be easy. As the night stretches on, he resolves to keep a closer eye on her movements—he can't let his guard down again. The stakes are too high. He kept thinking about Isabella his Bella "wait until the deal is sealed the I'll come back to you clear and clean my love"

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Matteo had been deeply engrossed in the BK.Co deal, his mind focused and determined. While Mia continued to flirt and act overly friendly, he was laying the groundwork for a plan that she was completely unaware of.

Behind the scenes, Matteo was in constant communication with his trusted team. They worked late into the nights, meticulously crafting strategies to ensure the deal went through without a hitch.

In meetings, he maintained his cool, professional demeanor, presenting ideas with confidence while keeping his true thoughts to himself. Every suggestion Mia made, every enthusiastic comment she threw his way, Matteo filed away mentally, assessing how her words fit into his broader strategy.

“Matteo, what do you think about this approach for the BK.Co presentation?” Mia asked one afternoon, leaning over his desk. Her closeness was intentional, but he refused to react.

“It’s not bad, but we need to make sure we emphasize our unique selling points,” he replied, steering the conversation toward their company’s strengths without revealing any weaknesses.

Mia nodded, seemingly pleased, but Matteo could sense her eagerness to steer things in her favor. What she didn’t know was that he had already formulated a more aggressive proposal to present to Mrs. Bala that would outshine anything she could suggest. He had been in touch with several key stakeholders, gathering insights that would give him the upper hand.

As days passed, Matteo's resolve strengthened. He knew he had to stay focused, blocking out any distractions, especially Mia’s attempts to get closer. Every time she laughed a little too hard at his jokes or touched his arm during discussions, he felt  disgusted and he reminded himself of Bella, that way he could cool his mind.