Chapter 9

Mateo dried his hair, the heat from the shower still clinging to him, making him warm enough to walk around in just his pyjama shirt and trousers, although he still grabbed a zip up hoodie, so that he’d not get cold when sitting outside on the patio.

Opening the door, he slipped through and closed it after him, grinning when he saw that his family already had the alcohol and card games prepared. [Ah, Matelito is here. Where is Paulita?] Emiliano asked in Mateo’s direction, but his son just shrugged.

[I don’t know, I didn’t see her inside. Want me to go look?] he asked, gesturing in the direction he’d just come. His father shook his head, already dealing the cards out and handing Carla her pile and passing some in Mateo’s direction.

[No need, she’ll be here soon. We can start mixing our drinks in the meantime,] Emiliano said with a glint in his eye. Mateo snorted, taking the spirit bottle from Carla and pouring himself a weak drink, adding plenty of a soft drink to offset the strength of the alcohol.

It was games night in the Montero family, which meant card games and getting tipsy together. But Mateo had work the day after tomorrow, so he didn’t particularly want to get trashed and spend all of the next day being hungover. 

When Paula arrived, they finally got started, and as per usual, Carla absolutely dominated the card games, meaning that after only a few rounds, Mateo had to call it a night on the drinking front. 

He wasn’t particularly a lightweight, but he knew his limits, and that it would all hit him at once - and he really didn’t fancy dealing with that, so instead he just drank water every time he lost a round. The fun was still the same because it came from being around family rather than the alcohol, plus now Mateo didn’t have to worry about feeling like shit the next day. 

Eventually, Carla was the last one still playing, closely followed by Paula, who was notorious for being a heavyweight. 

That night, Carla decided to sleep in Mateo’s room so that the two could have their usual tipsy hang out after games night. Carla shifted around on his bed so that they were facing each other. She rested her head on her folded arm beneath her head, chewing her lip for a moment.

[I want to tell you something, but you have to promise me not to go in to overprotective big brother mode, ok?]

Mateo frowned slightly before reluctantly nodding. [Ok, I promise. What’s up?]

Carla sighed for a moment, then drew in a long breath. [So, the cute guy from the coffee shop kind of asked me on a date. And I said yes.]

Mateo was silent for a moment, before smiling gently. [Congrats, I hope it goes well. When is it? And what’s this guy’s name by the way?]

Carla smiled relievedly, reaching out and poking Mateo’s forehead. [Thanks. His name is Rodney, and he’s super sweet. He’s taking me out for dinner next weekend. Who knows, maybe I’ll get a boyfriend before you,] she said with a wink. 

Huffing, Mateo poked her forehead in return. [Talking of boys though,] Carla began, a spark in her eye. [Your boss is hot, don’t you think so?]

Mateo groaned, rubbing his eyes. He knew Carla would bring this up; she tried to matchmake him with every remotely attractive guy they came across. [Carlita you know I’m trying to keep this job; flirting with my boss doesn’t sound like a great way to do that. Besides, he’s probably straight.]

Carla grumbled something unintelligible before shifting onto her back and sighing. [That’s true, but you never know. Maybe he’s not, and maybe he fell in love with you at first sight after he saw you rescue him the other day. It’s possible, you know. Because the entire time we were at his house earlier, he kept looking at you.]

Mateo stared wide-eyed at his sister. [No he wasn’t. He was probably just- I don’t know, but don’t make me think about pointless things, ok? He’s just my boss, and the only contact I’ll have with him is in the office. I want to keep my private and professional lives entirely separate, ok?]

Snorting, Carla rolled onto her other side, so that her back was facing Mateo. [Mm sure tell that to him then, not me.]

Rolling his eyes, Mateo draped his arm over Carla’s waist and finally let his eyes drop closed; his long day and the alcohol sending him to sleep quickly and effectively. 

—————

Mateo greeted Haley the receptionist again; she hadn’t always been at the front desk when he arrived each morning during his first week, but she was back again on Monday morning, so Mateo assumed it was just varying shifts. 

Haley wished him a good day as usual and the two smiled at each other before Mateo continued on to the staff lift which went all the way up to the top floor, where Jedidiah’s office was located. Mateo passed James on the way, and the two stopped for a quick chat before parting ways again.

Quickly checking his new work email address, Mateo saw the reminder for a meeting with a journalist next week, filing that away as a mental reminder as well as setting a physical one too. 

Knocking on Jedidiah’s door, Mateo entered quickly after, smiling when Jedidiah waved gently at him, his eyebrows scrunched together slightly as he checked over some list. 

“Ah Mateo, turns out we have to go meet someone today about some of our suppliers. It seems fairly average, but I have a suspicion that there’s something foul at play here, so just…be careful, ok? Just in case something happens. Don’t get hurt.”

Mateo blinked a few times, crossing his arms and taking the document about the suppliers from Jedidiah. “It’s my job to protect you, so really I should be saying that, not you. What makes you think it might be dangerous in the first place?”

Jedidiah chewed on his lip slightly before sighing, sweeping his hair from his eyes. “I thought I recognised the name there, under the logo,” he explained, pointing to the top corner of the page. “And I think that’s because this person used to work for the Lincolns- not really important, but basically they are a family like mine used to be, and they aren’t the biggest fan of us. So, just in case…we should be on our toes.”

Mateo nodded, looking the name over. “Serenity Wilkins?” He asked, glancing back up at Jedidiah. The man nodded, clasping his hands together. “Yes, she uh- if she’s who I’m thinking of, then she was someone who we…suspect to have been involved in my father’s death.”

Mateo’s eyes widened as he swallowed thickly, piecing it together. “Was your father murdered?”

Jedidiah closed his eyes for a moment before opening them again, locking his gaze with Mateo’s. “He was, yes. By the Lincoln family, and probably by Serenity Wilkins herself.”