Chapter 16

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Fixing his tie, Matteo's heart raced as he knocked on the Naughtons house door. Every year, Robert and Mary threw an annual dinner party and they would invite everyone they knew; family, friends, neighbors and their colleagues. Matteo was nervous because he knew Ivy would be here tonight and it would be his first time seeing her since their breakup. He didn't know how he would react when he saw her or how she would react seeing him.

He heard the loud talking, boisterous laughter and the music playing from inside just before the door swung open revealing one of the butlers. Stepping inside, the butler asked if he would take his jacket but Matteo politely declined and made his way towards Robert and Mary who were standing in the middle of the room surrounded by a group of people.

"Matteo! Finally, you made it!" Roberts loud voice boomed out as soon as he caught sight of him.

Letting out a laugh, he clapped Robert on the shoulder cheerfully. "Wouldn't miss it for the world." Shortly after introducing himself to the rest of the group he quickly fell into conversation but every once in a while he would look around, trying to get a glimpse of Ivy but she would be nowhere in sight.

Suddenly he felt someone place a hand on his shoulder, "Matteo, I'm so happy you're here." Vanessa said, leaning in to place a kiss on each cheek.

"Vanessa" he nodded his head in greeting, "you look great." He said politely.

Vanessa blushed, running her hands down her blue cocktail dress, she had put extra effort into looking good tonight knowing she would be seeing Matteo. "Thank you. I was actually thinking maybe tonight yo-" her next words were cut off by Robert.

"There she is! There's my beautiful girl."

Matteo felt his heart jump in his chest and his head swung towards Ivy as she made her way towards them. His jaw dropped as soon as he caught sight of her. Clad in a short, strapless skin tight black dress that showed off her long legs, which were made even longer by a pair of precarious heels. Her usually long blonde hair was now cut shoulder length and it looked as if she had gotten highlights making her hair look platinum blonde. Completing the look with dark red lipstick, she looked like a Bond girl straight out of the sixties and all eyes were on her.

He was so caught up in seeing Ivy that it took him a moment to notice that she didn't arrive alone, but when he looked over at the man next to her he felt his jaw clench in anger. The tall blond man, who looked to be in his early thirties had his arms wrapped around Ivy's waist as they made their way to them. Matteo couldn't help but notice what a good looking pair they made; both tall, blonde and good looking, they looked like real life Barbie and ken. This was the type of man people would imagine Ivy being with, not him and he couldn't stop the streak of jealousy and anger that ran through him at the thought of Ivy being with another man.

He had been too caught up in his thoughts that it took him a second to realize Robert calling his name. "I'm sorry." He said, shaking his head desperate to clear it and willing his body under control. "What did you say?"

"I said this is Raphael Cassel" he said gesturing towards the man standing next to Ivy. "Jean-Pierres son. He's going to be working with us for the next couple of months."

"Pleasure to meet you." Raphael said in what Matteo detected as a french accent, and stuck his hand out for him to shake.

"Nice to meet you." Shaking his hand, he made sure to squeeze extra hard and by the clench in his jaw he knew it hurt before he released it.

The move didn't go unnoticed by Ivy and she arched her brow with mocking inquiry, before her eyes shifted to the person standing next to him and her eyes hardened. Sticking her hands out she introduced herself, "Hello, nice to meet you. I'm Ivy, Roberts daughter and you are..?"

Matteo stiffened when he remembered Vanessa was standing next to him. He didn't want Ivy to think he came here with her or that she was his date. Glancing at her from the corner of his eyes, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion when he noticed the slight look of shock on her face. Giving her a small nudge on her shoulders, he called out her name. "Vanessa?"

Jumping slightly, she shook her head as though she was clearing her thoughts, "I'm Vanessa, I'm a friend of your moms. I'm sorry it's just that I just forgot that Robert and Mary had a daughter." She let out a laugh but it sounded a bit shaky, "I remember them telling me you just graduated high school, I thought you were 18."

Ivy's lips lifted up in a smirk, "well you're not that much far off, I'm only 20."

Vanessa stuttered in shock, "O-oh wow you're young. Really young." She muttered the last words under her breath before taking a large gulp of her champagne. She noticed her glass was almost empty. "Excuse me, I need another drink." Turning around she quickly walked away.

Matteo was confused by her behavior but chose to ignore it, he had other things to worry about, like getting Ivy somewhere where they could be alone. As if reading his mind, He heard Ivy excuse herself from her "date".

"I'll be right back, I just want to freshen up a bit. Would you be okay here alone for a few minutes?" She whispered to Raphael.

"Of course belle, take your time." He said, placing a gentle kiss on her hands. Matteo fought the urge to punch that smug bastard.

He watched her walk away, before following her seconds later. As they reached the hallway, she was about to turner the corner where the bathrooms were but Matteo quickly caught her forearms and pulled her to a vacant room, closing the door and pushing her back against it.

Ivy gasped in shock, "wha-" when she noticed Matteo was the one who pulled her into the room, her shock turned into anger. "What are yo-"

Matteo didn't let her finish; grabbing the sides of her face, he dipped his head low and pressed his lips against hers.

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