Chapter 178 No Payment

Words : 1111 Updated : May 20th, 2025

"Condition?!" Emily was perplexed. She knew nothing in this world came for free, but the thought of what Matteo Vinci might want terrified her. His connections were powerful. He was best friends with Alessandro Valentino, one of the most dangerous men around, and he worked for him too. Although Emily didn't know Alessandro's true identity, she had her suspicions. Men like him didn't just kill without consequences unless they had serious power—either the police or the mafia. She nervously licked her lips, her heart pounding loudly. "What do you want, Mr. Vinci?" she asked, trying to steady her voice. Matteo's smile softened as he looked at her, his eyes lingering. "A date with you," he whispered seductively, making Emily wonder if she was hearing things. "What did you just say?" she asked in disbelief. "I said I want you to go on a date with me. Time and place—your choice," Matteo rephrased his proposition. "A date?" she repeated, still in disbelief. "Yes," Matteo confirmed. "That's... all?" she asked, furrowing her brow skeptically. "Yeah, a date is all I want. In exchange, I'll take your case and represent you in court until you win against your evil ex-husband. No payment," Matteo said calmly, as if this arrangement were the most ordinary thing in the world. Emily shook her head, still struggling to process how simple and easy this seemed. She glanced at Matteo from the corner of her eye, searching for any sign of mockery or deception, but he remained calm and serious. Sighing, Emily turned her head to gaze out the car window. She did need help, and if someone as skilled and successful as Matteo Vinci were to take her case, she knew her parents would finally get justice, and their murderer would be punished. Otherwise, she had tried countless times before. With the money and power her ex-husband wielded, he had either forced her attorneys to drop the case or had them killed. She didn't want to reveal this to Matteo just yet. What if he got scared and abandoned her case too? Still, a date with the notorious playboy attorney didn't seem like a bad idea. She could do this, at least for her late parents. They deserved peace, and she wouldn't rest until their murderer was behind bars, facing a death sentence. Nothing less would satisfy her when it came to that monster of an ex-husband. After a while, the car came to a stop in front of a tall building, pulling her out of her thoughts. "Where are we?" Emily asked, her curiosity rising as she looked up at the imposing structure. "It's where I live," Matteo replied before opening the door for her. Emily unbuckled her seatbelt and took Matteo's extended hand as he helped her out of the car. She felt both stunned and nervous, knowing that an apartment in this building was incredibly expensive. "Wow, it's a dream building. I've always wanted to live here," Emily murmured absentmindedly. Matteo looked at her with an emotion she couldn't quite place. "That's not a problem. I can get you an apartment here, and you could move in as soon as tomorrow," he said casually. Emily laughed awkwardly. "No, no! I was just blabbering. It was just a thought. It's..." She gestured to the building with an awkward shrug. "It's way too expensive for me to even consider," she said, shaking her head at the idea of spending all her money on a flat. Besides, she had Mia's home, where she'd been living comfortably for the past five years. "That's still not an issue. You don't have to pay for the apartment," Matteo said. "Consider it a gift from me." "Haha! You're talking as if you own the whole building," Emily said, rolling her eyes. She knew Matteo was teasing her. But Matteo smiled warmly. "Well, I do own the whole building, and I can give you any apartment you like. If you prefer one that's currently occupied, I can have the residents vacate it," he shrugged. "You're not serious," Emily gasped, her eyes widening in shock. "Are you?" Matteo just smiled and shrugged. "Huh! Who are you, Matteo Vinci? What else do you do besides practicing law?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at him with suspicion. Matteo chuckled as he led her to a private elevator. "You'll learn more about me in time. All you have to do is spend more time with me," he said, his voice dropping to a sensual whisper as he leaned closer. Emily blushed; she wasn't used to the attention and flirting from someone as hot and successful as Matteo. She considered herself too dull for dating and flirting. Men these days seemed to go for hot chicks, just like the ones Matteo had been seen with recently at the hotel. She didn't respond, remaining silent. Matteo scanned his apartment key card for elevator access, and the doors slid open. With a gentle hand on the small of her back, he ushered her inside before stepping in himself. He then scanned his fingerprint, and the floor where he lived illuminated on the call board. As the elevator began to ascend, Matteo stood close to Emily, his eyes locked on her. Emily felt her thoughts suddenly go blank. In the confined space of the elevator, the manly scent of the gorgeous man—tinged with a hint of spice and wood—overwhelmed her senses. She felt breathless just from being near this dangerously charming man. His intense gaze alone was enough to affect her, making her cheeks flush with heat. She was sure she looked both flushed and flustered. Feeling awkward, she bit her lip and turned her eyes to the elevator indicator, wishing for the doors to open so she could create some distance. To her relief, the elevator stopped, and the doors began to open. She didn't wait for them to fully open and hurried out, mentally cringing as she heard Matteo Vinci chuckle behind her. "This way," Matteo gestured for her to walk ahead. Emily noticed there was only one apartment on this floor. Matteo scanned his fingerprint on the passcode panel, and the light blinked, confirming access. "After you," he said with a smile, opening the door and stepping aside. Emily blushed, smiling shyly, and slowly stepped inside, but a loud gasp escaped her lips as she took in the scene before her. A naked woman was lying on the couch in the living room, striking a very seductive pose.

Chapter 178 No Payment

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