Accardi by allison franklin novel

You Were My Favorite Hurt, And My Hardest Goodbye by Ava Knight 78 Summary Genevieve had been trying to focus on work since early morning, but Matteo, the man she had spent the last three nights with, was making it difficult. His provocative texts distracted her, and despite her attempts to maintain professionalism, he continued to push boundaries. When Kaitlin informed her about a meeting, Gen prepared herself and noticed Matteo's unusual seating arrangement, signaling he was up to something.

During the meeting, Matteo deliberately placed Gen across from him but then redirected her to another seat, causing tension. As Bella, who was leading the meeting, discussed recent security incidents at their casinos and tracks, Matteo's hand provocatively roamed under Gen's skirt, creating a mix of discomfort and secret excitement. Gen struggled to maintain composure while Matteo flirted openly, ignoring the presence of others. Matteo described the incidents where security was breached, leading to injuries and financial losses, all while continuing his inappropriate physical advances on Gen.

Despite the serious topic, the intimate and risky interaction between them added a charged layer to the meeting. Gen tried to answer questions professionally but was visibly affected by Matteo's touch. As Bella outlined plans to address the security issues, Gen finally pushed back against Matteo's hand, causing him to withdraw with a glare. The meeting ended with Matteo dismissing everyone except Gen, indicating that their complicated dynamic was far from over and that she was still very much under his control in both professional and personal realms.

Continue Regular Chapter Reading Below Seventy-Eight Genevieve had been attempting to focus on her work since early that morning, starting promptly at eight o'clock. Yet, despite her best efforts, the man who had occupied her nights over the past three days seemed determined to disrupt any chance she had at productivity. Her phone buzzed again on the polished surface of her desk, and she let out a frustrated groan. Still, curiosity won out, and she unlocked her screen, immediately feeling a flush rise to her cheeks. Matteo: Our meeting is in ten minutes.

That leaves just enough time for you to come in here and let me fuck you. It could be our new daily ritual: defiling my desk. Think about it. Genevieve sighed deeply, her fingers hesitating over the keyboard as she considered her response. Gen: Mr. Accardi, as we discussed this morning, while we are at work, I want to focus on work. Don't make me involve HR. Barely a minute passed before another message appeared. Matteo: I've never been a big fan of Benjamin, but if having him there is a deal breaker, he can sit in the corner and watch.

Gen cracked her knuckles in frustration, ready to retort, when a sudden knock at her door startled her so much that she let out a small shriek and dropped her phone onto the floor. She quickly spun around to see Kaitlin standing in the doorway, her eyes wide with concern. "Uh, you okay, Miss Sinclair?" Kaitlin asked gently, stepping inside. She bent down to retrieve the phone, but Gen was quicker, lunging forward to snatch it up herself. "I got it, I got it," Gen repeated anxiously, clutching the device tightly as she locked the screen. "Okay...

I just wanted to let you know everyone's gathering in the conference room," Kaitlin informed her. "Thanks, I'll... be right there," Gen replied, gathering the papers and notes she would need for the meeting. As she made her way toward the conference room, she glanced into Matteo's open office but saw that he wasn't there. Outside the conference room, a small crowd had already formed, their quiet conversations blocking her view inside. "Oh, for God's sake, everyone, get in here and take a seat," Matteo's sharp voice called out from within. The group hurried inside, searching for seats.

Gen entered and immediately understood the source of the confusion: Matteo wasn't sitting at the head of the table as usual. Instead, he positioned himself in the middle, facing the hallway, with empty chairs on either side. Their eyes met, and a slow, mischievous smile curved his lips. He was definitely plotting something. Gen narrowed her eyes and moved to the opposite side of the table. She pulled out the chair directly across from him. Matteo shook his head slowly, his gaze shifting toward the seat on his right without turning his head.

Frustrated, Gen threw her head back, squeezed her pen tightly enough to risk snapping it, and reluctantly took the chair he indicated. "Oh, what's this? This is new," Bella remarked, scanning the room. "I figured since you're leading this meeting today, it made sense for you to sit at the head of the table," Matteo said smoothly. Bella's cheeks flushed slightly at the gesture. "That's very kind of you, Mr. Accardi." Gen settled into her assigned seat with a heavy sigh. No sooner had she tucked her chair under the table than Matteo's hand slid beneath it, resting firmly on her thigh.

While the others tried to process the seating arrangement and Bella organized her materials, Gen discreetly pulled out her phone. Gen: This isn't funny. Act professional. The moment she sent the message, a loud, obnoxious ping echoed through the room, drawing several curious glances. Matteo's smug grin deepened as he pulled his phone from his pocket to read her text. He glanced over at her and chuckled softly, while Gen's face quickly turned shades of red. She caught Mrs. Tutt's eyes shifting between her and Matteo, the interest barely masked.

Matteo typed something on his phone and set it down just before Gen's device buzzed on the table. She tried to ignore it, but the temptation was too strong. Matteo: Send nudes. Gen's head snapped toward him, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief. Matteo covered his mouth with his hand, trying to conceal the wide smile that crinkled his eyes and revealed the dimple in his cheek. A few women in the room gawked openly, making Gen's stomach twist with a pang of jealousy. Unfazed by the exchange, Bella clapped her hands to gather attention.

"Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to join me today. I promise this will be brief. I thought it would be easier to discuss in person rather than through email, since I'm sure some of you will have questions. As Mr. Accardi and I have already discussed privately, we've been experiencing a few incidents at our tracks and casinos across the country recently, particularly in California, Texas, and Florida..." As Bella spoke, Matteo's hand began to slide higher up Gen's thigh. She fumbled under the table, trying to halt its slow ascent.

Matteo rested his left elbow on the table, propping his head up with his hand, thumb and index finger framing his face as he raised a brow at her. She scribbled furiously on her notepad. People will see! Matteo's eyes flicked down to her notes, then back up to her face. Let them, his mouth silently mouthed. "Mr. Accardi?" Bella prompted. "Hmm?" he hummed lazily, dragging his gaze from Gen back to Bella. Bella's eyes widened at his relaxed demeanor. "C-can you describe the incidents in question?" "Right..." Matteo drawled, not bothering to sit up straighter.

"We've had some individuals bypass security, break through checkpoints," he began, sliding his hand further up Gen's thigh, evading her attempts to grip him. She tapped her pen nervously against the desk, hoping no one noticed the subtle movement. "At the casinos, they manage to cheat undetected." His hand slipped beneath Gen's skirt. "At the tracks, they place bets on horses that suddenly start having lucky streaks," he continued, his fingers still moving. "And when they finally get caught, they turn violent." His hand had reached the junction of her legs now.

On the table, her pen tapped incessantly. His middle finger traced the edge of her panties, damp from their earlier encounter in front of the group. "So far, we've lost one..." He flicked his finger upward. "Two, three, four, five men due to injuries," he announced, tapping her with each number. Gen's pen stopped tapping, caught once again in her clenched fist. His finger pressed against her heated entrance. "After they hurt our security, there's a big hit the next day, and we lose even more money." "Jesus Christ, how often has this happened?" Mr. Johnson asked, alarmed.

Matteo grinned wickedly, tapping his chin as if pondering. "Hmm, let's see... one, two, three, four occurrences, I believe?" he guessed, his finger sliding between her folds with each count. Gen bit her lip hard to suppress a moan. "Four times?" Mr. Johnson repeated, incredulous. "Let me think," Matteo said, holding up his left hand and raising a finger for each incident while his right hand continued its illicit exploration. "Yes, four for certain." "Miss Sinclair, how significant has this been on our bottom line?" Bella inquired, eyes flicking between Gen and Matteo.

"Huh?" Gen blinked, startled. Bella's gaze sharpened. "How have these incidents affected our numbers?" "Oh, um," Gen stammered, trying again to dislodge Matteo's hand, but his fingers dug into her thigh, anchoring it firmly. "It won't affect our bottom line... for now," she began, struggling to think as his fingers drifted lower. "Luckily, we generate enough revenue to cover some losses, but it's crucial to get ahead of this. Two more incidents like this and... well, the investors will definitely take notice." "Good to know," Bella said, jotting down notes.

"I plan to travel to California with Mr. Accardi in a few days to address this in the media." Gen's head snapped up to meet Matteo's gaze, no longer caring who noticed their silent exchange. His face remained unreadable, focused on Bella. She slammed her pen down and jabbed it into Matteo's hand. He hissed, yanked his hand away, and shot her a glare. "For now, I'll need everyone to do their part in mitigating the issue. If anything arises, come to me first, and I'll bring it to Mr. Accardi if it's relevant. Otherwise, please be prepared in case we need you. Anything you'd like to add, Mr.

Accardi?" Bella asked, clearly proud of how she'd managed the meeting. Matteo sneered, flexing the hand Gen had just jabbed. "No. Everyone may leave." The room began to stir as people rose to leave, but no one moved as quickly as Gen. "Everyone except you, Miss Sinclair," Matteo added firmly, his voice cutting through the chatter. Conclusion The tension between Gen and Matteo lingered palpably in the room, an intoxicating mix of defiance and desire that neither could fully suppress.

Despite the professional setting and the serious matters at hand, their charged interactions revealed the complexity of their connection-a push and pull of power, vulnerability, and unspoken emotions. Gen's struggle to maintain composure amidst Matteo's relentless provocations underscored the delicate balance she sought between her personal boundaries and the magnetic pull he exerted over her. As the meeting drew to a close, the undercurrent of their complicated relationship remained unresolved but undeniably present.

The tension simmering beneath the surface of their interactions is bound to escalate, challenging Genevieve's resolve and forcing both of them to confront the consequences of their risky game. With Matteo's mischievous control growing bolder, readers can anticipate moments charged with both desire and frustration, setting the stage for emotional upheaval. Meanwhile, the looming threat posed by the security breaches at the casinos and tracks adds a layer of urgency and intrigue to the story.