ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤA LESSON IN PROFESSIONALISM * MATT STURNIOLO
SUMMARY :: Y/N is very, very patient. Just not when it comes to women flirting with her husband.
FEATURING husband!Matt Sturniolo x reader REQUESTED? yes.
WARNINGS :: inspired by that one scene from 50 shades of grey.
AUTHOR'S NOTE :: that is my work, I DON'T authorize any form of plagiarism; copy, "inspiration" or translation! | english isn't my first language, so I'm sorry if there's any grammar error.
The building still smells like dust and fresh paint when Y/N steps inside.
The entrance hall was half finished, the floor covered in protective sheets and scattered tools, ladders leaning against unfinished walls. Voices echo somewhere deeper in the structure, construction workers moving in and out of rooms that don’t yet look like rooms.
In the center of the hall sits a temporary wooden table, scratched and powdered with a thin layer of white dust. A portable coffee machine hums quietly beside a stack of rolled blueprints.
Matt’s arm settles around Y/N’s waist as they approach the table, his thumb brushing lightly against her side as if he does it without thinking. She leans into it just enough to feel the warmth of his body.
Across the table, Brittany is already smiling.
Now, let me tell you something: Y/N is a very patient woman. She really is. She grew up in a house where perfection was an obligation, raised by parents who believed there was a right way to do everything and a wrong way to do the rest. She spent most of her life studying alongside the Sturniolo triplets, three boys who might share a face but not a personality, and learning how to exist between their childhood and teenage chaos required a level of patience most people never develop.
She helped coordinate their move from Boston to Los Angeles when their careers demanded something bigger years ago, balancing logistics, schedules, and emotions while quietly building her own path. Somewhere in the middle of all that, she managed to go from girlfriend to fiancée to wife of one of the biggest YouTubers of their generation without letting her studies or her work fall behind; and just that one last thing already meant she had the patience of a saint.
But what Y/N doesn’t have is patience for a parasite, a parasite in the form of the architect hired to oversee the remodeling of the triplets new office building.
The recommendation came directly from Tara, fresh off moving into a new big ass mansion in Los Angeles that had been completely designed by the same architect. The place looked flawless. If Tara was satisfied, if the work spoke for itself, then bringing the architect on board for the first major project in the brothers new era seemed like an easy decision.
It isn’t until they see Brittany that Y/N realizes good design doesn’t always come with good manners.
Brittany is all bright teeth and eager energy. She spreads the blueprints with a dramatic sweep of her hands, leaning a little too far forward toward Matt as she starts explaining the layout. Her voice lifts when she talks to him, animated and sugary.
"So what I was thinking for the main storage area." Brittany starts, tapping the paper and then, inexplicably, Matt’s forearm with her perfect hands and perfect manicured nails. "Is that we keep it open concept. It’ll feel modern and clean, something that Nicolas mentioned in one of his emails, right?"
Y/N watches the touch, raising her eyebrows at how Brittany’s fingers linger half a second too long. Matt doesn’t react beyond a polite nod, his arm tightening slightly around Y/N’s waist.
Y/N asks a question about the flow between the storage area and the filming rooms. Brittany answers without looking at her.
"Well, the idea is to keep the traffic minimal." Brittany says to Matt, smiling at him like Y/N wasn't the one who asked. "You wouldn’t want unnecessary interruptions while you’re recording your little... videos."
Y/N’s smile stays in place. She asks another question, this time about accessibility and brand visibility from the entrance. Brittany finally glances at her, quick and dismissive, before turning back to Matt to explain a concept Y/N already understands perfectly.
It’s subtle, the way Brittany does it. If Y/N weren’t paying attention, she might miss it. The redirection of her shoulders, the way her body angles toward Matt, and Matt only, the light brush of her hand against his sleeve when she laughs at something that isn’t fucking funny.
Y/N feels the irritation settle low in her chest.
She rests her fingertips on the edge of the table and studies the blueprints while Brittany continues her performance.
The layout is decent. It lacks personality, though, and the circulation between sections is inefficient. Y/N points it out gently, suggesting a minor adjustment that would improve the flow of inventory between the brand's storage spaces.
Brittany gives a small, airy laugh.
"That might complicate the structure." She says. To Matt. "Sometimes simpler is better, am I right?"
Matt’s free hand scratches his beard as he looks down at the plans, considering, but before he can answer, his phone rings. He pulls it from his dark blue jeans pocket and glances at the screen.
"It's Nick." He says, already stepping back. He looks at Y/N. "I’m gonna take this, sweetheart. I’ll be right back."
He squeezes her waist once more before walking toward a side corridor, his voice fading as he answers the call.
The moment he disappears, the atmosphere shifts. Brittany straightens, her smile faltering as she finally looks at Y/N directly.
Y/N meets her gaze calmly. She leans her hip against the table, her palm flat against the surface, the gold ring on her left ring finger full on display as she looked at the stupefied architect.
"Brittany-" She starts. "That is your name, right?"
"I’m sure you’re very good at what you do." Y/N continues, her tone warm and polite. "You wouldn’t be here otherwise." She tilts her head slightly, studying the woman in front of her.
Brittany nods, about to speak but was abruptly cut off by a low scoff from Y/N.
"But, please refrain from speaking to my husband as if I am not here. Ignoring me doesn’t make me disappear. It just makes this collaboration unnecessarily difficult."
"Ms. Y/L/N, I have designed countless office building's before-"
"Ms. Sturniolo." She cuts her off. "You may call me Ms. Sturniolo, I have the pleasure to tell you that I have changed my name and took Matt's without second thoughts. And, may I be honest here?" She continues. "This building isn’t just another project."
"It represents multiple brands that I’ve helped build from the ground up. The functionality of this space is directly tied to my work. Which means when I speak about layout or flow, you listen, because I’m not making casual suggestions."
Brittany opens her mouth, then closes it.
"And." Y/N adds smoothly without raising her voice. "There’s also the matter of professionalism." Her gaze drops briefly to Brittany’s hand, still resting on the edge of the blueprint near where Matt had been standing. "Touching clients tends to blur boundaries. I’m sure that’s not the impression you want to give."
Color rises in Brittany’s cheeks.
Y/N slightly raises her eyebrows, and silence stretches between them. The sound of the coffee machine seems to suddenly echo louder.
"I’m sorry, Ms. Sturniolo." She says quietly. "That won’t happen again."
Y/N holds her eyes for a beat longer, measuring the sincerity there. Then she smiles. Of course.
"Good." She says. "Because your portfolio is impressive, and I’d hate for something avoidable to interfere with your work here. Or anywhere, for that matter."
The implication settles heavily in the air. Brittany nods quickly.
"Of course." She murmurs.
Footsteps echo from the corridor. Matt’s voice grows louder as he ends the call and walks back into the hall. Y/N turns slightly, her expression easing into something relaxed and neutral by the time he reaches the table.
"So." He says, slipping back into place beside her. His arm firmly finds her waist again. "What’d I miss?"
"Ms. Brittany was just explaining an alternative approach to the storage layout." Y/N replies smoothly. She gestures to a section of the blueprint. "We were discussing how to make the transitions between departments more efficient without sacrificing the open concept."
"Yes. I think Y/N’s suggestions will actually improve the flow a lot. I’m happy to revise the plans."
Matt looks between them, a hint of surprise flickering in his eyes. He smiles, clearly pleased.
"That sounds good." He says. "As long as Y/N likes it, we're on board." He glances at Brittany. "She’s got a great eye for this stuff, you know? With her whole background in interior architecture thingy, you’ll want her input."
The woman paled, of course, of fucking course, Y/N had a background in architecture.
"I absolutely will." Brittany says quickly.
The rest of the meeting passes without incident. Brittany listens carefully when Y/N speaks, taking notes and asking thoughtful questions. The tension that was close to exploding in Y/N’s chest earlier unwinds, replaced by a cool sense of control.
Eventually, Brittany rolls up the blueprints.
"I’ll have the revisions ready by Monday." She says. "It’s an honor to work with you both and, of course, your brothers."
"We’ll see you then." Y/N replies.
Brittany offers a final tight smile and heads for the exit, her footsteps brisk against the covered floor. The heavy door swings shut behind her, and the hall falls quiet.
Matt looks down at Y/N, one eyebrow lifting.
"Okay." He says slowly. "What did you do?"
She blinks up at him, innocence settling easily into her features.
"She was a completely different person when I came back. Sweetheart, I know that look."
Y/N steps closer, sliding her hands into the front pockets of his hoodie, caressing his covered stomach.
"I didn’t do anything." She says lightly. "We just... clarified expectations."
Matt studies her for a moment, amusement warming his gaze. His hands settle low on her hips, squeezing her covered skin.
"Uh-huh." He murmurs. "And I’m sure it was very polite."
"Extremely." She replies.
He smiles, leaning down just enough to brush a quick kiss against her temple and other one against her lips.
"You’re scary when you want to be." He says against her mouth, not sounding bothered in the slightest.
"Only when it’s necessary."
"Remind me to thank Tara for the recommendation."
"You're not firing her, right?"
Y/N dials Tara’s number and lifts the phone to her ear.
Tara answers on the third tone.
"You’re a bitch." Y/N says by way of greeting. "Why would you send us Brittany?"
There’s a beat of silence, and then Tara laughs.
"You know exactly what happened." She replies dryly. "Next time you recommend someone, try not to pick a flirt who forgets basic professional etiquette."
"I swear I didn’t think she’d be that bad."
"Yeah, well-" Y/N mutters. "You owe me a drink for this."
"Deal." Tara says, still laughing. "I’ll make it up to you."