Chapter 281: Jealousy
"I’ve never seen him smile like that before..." The receptionist’s protest reached his ears, likely shared with another employee who had just walked in. He couldn’t help but chuckle as he stepped into the elevator.
From enduring the complexities of his ex-girlfriend to navigating the unexpected hurdles throw by his own brother, their relationship had weathered storms that would have torn many apart. Yet, rather than weakening their bond, these challenges had only tightened what they had together. Still, a lingering thought tugged at him.
He could not help thinking just how much he’d let himself be concerned with matters concerning Stella. She had grown into his skin, like a comfortable familiarity he hadn’t anticipated. In the beginning, their arrangement had been just that—an arrangement, a means to an end. But now, as he traced back their journey, he realized that somewhere along the way, lines had blurred.
The thought of its potential end never held much weight, for neither of them had broached the subject. Yet, as days turned to weeks, and weeks into months, the prospect of her slipping through his fingers began to gnaw at him. One would detach at that point, given the nature of their agreement. but as much as that was the required thing to do, Matteo found himself unwilling to sever the growing connection.
And so, rather than letting go, he found himself getting jealous, and even acting on it. What prompted these actions? Perhaps it was a primal instinct, a possessive desire to keep her for himself, an urge to shield her from the gaze of others, to safeguard the intimate synchrony of their movements—the symphony of her moans as he delved into her depths, the fervent melding of their lips, and his intoxication in her potent passion.
Jealousy... who wouldn’t get jealous having such a woman open to the whims of others?! Who, in his shoes, wouldn’t experience it? After all, Stella was an enigma, a tempest of allure and fire. He justified his possessive inclinations with a barrage of ’rational’ explanations as he stepped into the confines of his office.
The room held echoes of a bittersweet memory, one where Stella had fled at the sight of him entangled with Lorena, their closeness spiking a misunderstanding. The image of her retreating form, wounded and betrayed, reverberated in his thoughts.
That particular episode had left a lingering bitterness, a taste of regret he still savored. He remembered the countless times he’d called her, only to be met with silence. Those days, he had continued in his work, albeit with lost focus, and nearly lost a crucial deal due to his lack of concentration and the erratic pulse of his emotions.
A great feeling of loss had overwhelmed him, a sensation more intense than he had anticipated. It was during that moment that he truly grasped the gravity of what losing her would entail.
He chuckled as memories of that day came flooding his mind. It was a simple truth—sharing one’s thoughts, fears, and hopes was the cornerstone of any relationship.
Communication.