Matteo gritted his teeth. He would never consider Catherine Laine — the woman who seduced his father and took the place of his actual mother in the family — as his mother, yet he had to politely call her that or risk his father's ire.
He still needed that bastard of a father for now, and it wouldn't do well to offend him so early.
"My apologies, Mother," Matteo said, nearly spitting out the last word. "Might I ask why you're calling?"
"I'm concerned for you," Catherine simpered, yet Matteo could detect the glee in her voice. "Pictures of you with that girl are floating all over the internet! Matteo, I know men have needs, but surely you could have chosen better than to sleep with your secretary?"
