Transmigrated Into The True Heiress-Chapter 58: Juliana

The restaurant doors swung open, and Matteo stepped inside, his bodyguard following close behind. A haze of cigar smoke trailed after him like a signature, curling and twisting in the air. Dressed in a black silk shirt unbuttoned halfway to reveal a striking gold chain and the edge of a tattoo peeking from his collarbone, he moved with the arrogance of a man who owned the room before even setting foot in it.

In one hand, he held a smoldering cigar, the rich scent of tobacco clashing with the subtle aroma of roasted spices that lingered in the restaurant. His other hand casually adjusted a heavy gold ring on his finger, the afternoon light catching its surface.

His polished leather shoes struck the tiled floor as Matteo’s piercing blue eyes swept across the crowd, daring anyone to hold his gaze. When no one did, a faint smirk tugged at his lips, satisfaction glinting in his expression as he exhaled a slow plume of smoke.

A young staff member, standing just a few feet away, gripped the edge of her notepad tightly before stepping forward. She had been briefed about the arrival of a VIP guest, but now, standing in front of him, the man seemed far more intimidating than she had imagined. Still, her professional smile remained intact as she took a breath.

"Excuse me, sir," she said, her voice steady despite the faint tightness in her throat. "Are you Mr. Matteo Herrera?"

Matteo shifted his gaze to her, dragging his cigar lazily before exhaling a cloud of smoke that curled directly toward her face. He studied her for a beat longer than necessary, his smirk deepening.

"You’re looking at him," he said, his voice low and edged with indifference.

The staff member resisted the urge to cough as the smoke swirled around her. Instead, she gestured with a polite nod and a hand toward the back of the restaurant.

"Please follow me, sir," she said, keeping her tone even and professional.

Matteo took another drag of his cigar, tapping the ash to the floor as he gave her a slow nod. He didn’t speak again, instead following her lead with the same measured strides.

The waiter led them up a staircase, then through a series of corridors. Each room along the way looked like a sealed, shadowed box from the outside, radiating an air of exclusivity. Finally, they stopped at a pair of heavy double doors. The staff member opened them and stepped aside, gesturing for Matteo and his bodyguard to enter.

"Here we are, sir. Please go in. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call the waiters on standby—" Her words were cut short as Matteo walked in without so much as a glance in her direction, his bodyguard trailing close behind.

The doors closed softly behind them, and Matteo stopped in his tracks, his sharp blue eyes surveying the room. Contrary to his expectations of a small, dimly lit space, the room was spacious and flooded with light. Large arched windows lined three walls, allowing golden sunlight to pour in. At the center stood a round table with two chairs set beside it.

Sitting in one of the chairs was a dark-haired woman, her posture relaxed. She wore an off-the-shoulder black top that accentuated her figure, paired with oversized gray cargo pants adorned with multiple pockets and distressed details. Sharp black pointed heels completed her outfit. The moment Matteo stepped inside, she rose, a teasing smile tugging at her lips.

"Matteo."

"Juliana! Mi amor!" Matteo exclaimed, spreading his arms dramatically as though he were greeting a long-lost lover.

"It’s Jania, Herrera," she corrected, shaking her head as she stepped forward to hug him briefly.

"I like the Colombian version better," he replied with a smirk.

"And I’ve told you, I’m not Colombian," Jania retorted as she pulled back, already moving back to her seat.

Matteo’s gaze swept her up and down, his smirk widening. "Ay, but your taste in clothing, mi querida... It has improved over the years. Used to be... ¿cómo se dice? Horrible."

Jania arched a brow, unbothered, as she took her seat. Matteo turned toward his bodyguard, gesturing lightly. "¿Verdad, Iván?"

Iván, standing stoically by the door, nodded. "Sí, El Jefe."

Jania, now seated, gestured toward the chair opposite her. "Sit," she said, her tone dry but amused.

Matteo took the offered seat, adjusting the cuffs of his silk shirt as a waiter approached to take their orders. They both requested an array of dishes, and as soon as the waiter left, Matteo leaned back in his chair, his gaze sweeping the sunlit room.

"You still prefer public spaces for meetings, mi querida." His tone was light, but there was a hint of disapproval. "You could’ve come to my mansion nearby. Much safer."

Jania scoffed, shaking her head. "As if Han would let me go anywhere alone," she muttered. "And no, thank you. I’d rather take my chances with danger than deal with Juan and his constant harassment."

Matteo chuckled, taking a slow drag from his cigar. "Han—the Asian statue? I haven’t seen him in years. Dios mío, maybe nine or ten. Still the stubborn iceberg, I presume?" He exhaled the smoke with a grin. "As for Juan, he’s a good kid. He just needs someone to teach him the meaning of boundaries."

"Right," Jania said flatly, just as the waiters returned with their food. The dishes were placed before them with practiced efficiency, and once everything was arranged, the staff bowed and exited quietly.

"So," Matteo began, lifting his fork but pausing to fix her with a pointed look, "what’s this about? Why did you call me here?"

Jania didn’t miss a beat. "I need your help with something. There’s too much on my plate, and I can’t handle it all at once."

Matteo quirked a brow, setting his fork down. "And what is this ’something’?"

Sliding a folder across the table, Jania replied, "I need you to track down the survivors of the Caso gang in El Barrio and dig up every piece of information on this woman." She tapped a photo in the file—a stern-looking Marianna—and continued, "Also, I want details on the orphanage she stayed in."

Matteo glanced at the file before chuckling, his golden ring catching the light as he leaned back. "Juliana—" freewebnøvel.com

"It’s Jania."

He ignored her. "What do you take me for, huh? ¿Un chico de los recados? An errand boy?" He leaned back, crossing his legs with exaggerated ease. "Last I checked, I only take orders from the boss."

"Matteo, listen." Jania’s voice was steady, her expression firm. "It’s not an order—it’s a favor. And it concerns the boss. So technically, you’re doing Master Lyle’s bidding." She paused before adding, "It’s a simple task. You don’t even need to oversee it personally. Just assign it to your best investigators and have them report back within a week."

For a moment, silence stretched between them. Matteo stared at her, his jaw tightening, but Jania didn’t waver. Finally, with a sigh, he picked up the file and handed it to Iván.

"I’ll do this—solo porque parece importante para ti. But can I ask why?" His tone was softer now, curious.

Jania sighed, brushing a hand through her hair. "You’ll find out soon enough. Now, can we eat, please?"

Matteo shook his head with a faint smile, picking up his fork. "Lo que tú digas, Juliana."

Thirty minutes later, they had finished their meals and were standing outside the restaurant.

"I guess this is farewell," Matteo said as he leaned casually against Jania’s car, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

Jania chuckled as she unlocked the car door. "You’re acting like we’ll never see each other again, Matteo. Once you’ve gathered all the information, give me a call, and we’ll meet. It’s only a week. Stop being so dramatic. Then again, I suppose it depends on how good and fast your men are."

Matteo smirked, his tone dripping with confidence. "My men are very good. You’ll see."

"I’ll hold you to that." Jania opened the car door and glanced back at him. "I’m heading out now."

"See you later, Juliana," Matteo quipped, stepping back as the car roared to life.

Jania narrowed her eyes at him through the window. "It’s Jania, you bastard!" she yelled before driving off.

Matteo watched the car until it disappeared around the corner, his smirk lingering. Another car sped past him, following closely behind Jania’s vehicle.

"Who is she?" he asked, turning toward the shadowy figure that emerged from the alley.

"She’s the stepmother of the girl who’s been visiting the Master’s estate," the figure replied.

"I see..." Matteo’s lips curled into a sly grin as he stared down the street.

Jania stepped out of the car a few minutes later, her expression calm despite the figure already waiting in the shadows. Without a glance back, she grabbed her handbag and strode toward the mansion’s entrance.

"Why do you think Matteo hid his second bodyguard?" she asked as the man, Han, fell into step beside her.

"Because he’s already investigating Miss Ephyra," Han replied, his voice measured.

Jania sighed as they entered the mansion. She handed her bag to a waiting maid and turned toward Han. "Fine. Let him investigate. But he’d better stay away from her. Though I doubt he will."

She collapsed onto the nearest sofa, massaging her temple. "If he’s looking for trouble, he’ll find it. Now, how’s the test progressing?"

"It’s advancing rapidly," Han said, standing at attention.

"Good." Jania leaned forward, her tone shifting to business. "Oh, before I forget—organize a partnership competition for laboratory companies interested in working with us. Make it two weeks long. The Lathams won’t miss this chance, but it’s up to them if they can win. Also, draft a contract for Alc Architectures to finalize after the competition."

Han gave a respectful bow. "I’ll see to it."

Jania stood and stretched, cracking her neck. "I’m going to rest for a bit before picking up Ephyra from school. Let Miles and his partner know I’ll handle it."

"Understood," Han replied.