Exclusively Yours - Episode 22
Subtitle; {Please, Love Me}
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Olivia's POV
Life has thrown curveballs at me, and the biggest one so far is Riccardo Torrence. I have no idea what I did in my previous life to deserve this punishmeñt, but it must have been something significant.
My head keeps spinning as I try to figure out where exactly he saw me. I know it was at a bar, but which one? And what was I wearing that day?
As I shampooed my hair, I massaged my scalp with my fingers, deep in thought. Closing my eyes, I let the water cascade down my body, staying under the shower longer than necessary.
•••
Taking one last glance at my reflection in the mirror, I observed my outfit—a dark blue long-sleeved denim dress, brown ankle boots, and a baseball cap on my head. I swept my straightened hair to rest on my back before leaving the house.
It was almost noon, and I needed to pick up Felicity from work and then head to Axel's office. But before that, I needed my Starbucks fix. After a quick stop at the drive-through, I got my caramel frappuccino and drove to Felicity's workplace.
"Thank you so much, Livvie," Felicity chimed as she got into the car, taking the iced coffee I got for her. She sipped it once and let out a satisfied sigh. "I really needed this."
Nodding, I sipped on my own drink while keeping my hands on the steering wheel. "By the way, how are things with Lucas?"
He was supposed to propose to her two weeks ago, but I haven't seen a ring on her finger yet. I didn't want to spoil the surprise, so I kept quiet.
"He traveled to his hometown. I'm sure he's fine," Felicity replied.
Wait.
What's wrong with him?
Is he playing with her heart?
He better not!
"He didn't propose before leaving?" I blurted out, immediately regretting my words.
"Ah!" Felicity exclaimed suddenly, causing me to flinch. "I thought you knew about it, and yes, he did propose to me."
What?
Why am I just finding out about this now?
I turned to her with a shocked expression. "And you didn't tell me?"
"Well, yeah," she shrugged nonchalantly, sipping her iced coffee.
"Why?!"
"You didn't tell me about yours, so why should I tell you about mine?"
"It's not the same!"
She shook her head. "It's literally the same thing. You dated Riccardo for three years, he proposed to you, and you said yes. I dated Lucas for four years, he proposed to me, and I said yes."
"It's not fair," I whined with a sad pout. "Where's the ring?"
Felicity unzipped her handbag, took out a small ring box, opened it, and showed me the ring inside. "Here."
"Do you like it?"
"Of course, I do. You chose it, and you can't choose something that isn't pretty."
A grin appeared on my lips, pleased with her compliment and her confidence in my choice. Back in middle school, she was the one who approached me with her sandwich, saying, "Would you like some? I'm Felicity, and you?" Since then, we became besties.
☆☆☆☆
Axel's secretary didn't even attempt to stop us from entering his office because she knows who we are. Felicity went in first, while I exchanged greetings with Farrah, the secretary, before joining them.
"What are you doing here?" I heard Axel ask City as he got up from his seat and walked over to her. "And you too? Did something happen?"
"Nope."
"I got you some tea." I approached him, holding it out. "Sorry, it got warm in the car."
"It's fine." Axel waved it off. "So, why are you here?"
"You don't want us to come see you?" Felicity retorted, folding her arms over her chest. She paused for a moment and gasped dramatically, placing her palm on her chest. "You're kicking us out of your office? You just broke my heart."
Axel chuckled, shaking his head slightly as he enjoyed the playful banter.
"Left side, City," I whispered, and she quickly adjusted her palm position. "You won't offer us a seat?"
Axel's gaze shifted to me, his eyes roaming down my outfit. A small smile tugged at his lips as he held my wrist and led me to the sofa. "Sorry, peach. Please sit."
"What about me?"
"Sorry, honey. Come sit."
Felicity sat beside me, placing her cup on the table in front of her. She crossed her legs, leaning against the backrest of the sofa, giving me a subtle nudge.
I glanced at her as she raised her eyebrows. I understood what she meant but shook my head, pretending to be clueless.
"Are you two putting on a mime show? Talk to me. I'm a busy man," he grumbled, sitting on the table between us. "Come on, girls. Out with it."
"You've been acting really, really strange lately, and we're worried about you. If you need a break from work, I suggest you take it because overstressing yourself isn't good. Stress is detrimental to your health. It's been going on for about two weeks now, and we're concerned," Felicity finally concluded, taking a deep breath.
"I'm fine."
I stared at him, searching his face for any signs of deception, but found none. "Are you sure?"
"I'm absolutely alright. Why wouldn't I be?"
"I don't know. I was thinking maybe it's work-related."
"Actually, work is going pretty well," Axel beamed at Felicity, who nodded. "How are you both? You two are engaged, and I'm the only single person now."
How am I?
I honestly don't know.
I mean, yes, I think I'm getting used to Riccardo's presence in my life, but his behavior actually scares me.
He needs therapy urgently; he's becoming increasingly unpredictable.
"I'm good," I lied, or maybe I chose to call it that.
"I'm good too. Can't believe I'm getting married next month."
I can't believe I'm getting married in two days.
Felicity placed her hand on my lap and turned her head towards me. "Meanwhile, my beautiful BFF here will become Mrs. Torrence the day after tomorrow. Purr-fect!"
Yep.
I know it's obviously impossible, but I want the day to be longer by so many hours so that day doesn't come.
I forced a smile on my face, hoping they wouldn't doubt its authenticity. "Yay! I'm getting married!"
"Yeah, I'm happy for you."
I looked up at him and smiled back. "Thanks."
"So, Axel, are you also hiding your girlfriend from us?" Felicity's question made both of us turn to her.
"No."
My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I retrieved it. I rolled my eyes at the caller ID and ignored the call.
"Are you sure?"
It vibrated again, and I took it out once more. Seeing his name, I put the phone on silent mode.
"I don't have a girlfriend."
"Yet," I completed his sentence, meeting his gaze.
"You're right, peach. I don't have a girlfriend yet."
Felicity uncrossed her legs, picked up her drink, and crossed them again. She tilted her head at him. "Do you have someone in mind?"
"Yes." He replied without hesitation, as if he had been waiting for that question since birth.
"Really? Who?" I asked, genuinely curious to know who had him all giddy and smiling like a teenager in love.
The Axel I knew would never blush like he is doing right now. His eyes wouldn't sparkle with so much happiness if he wasn't in love with the mystery girl.
"Who is she?" Felicity blurted out, jumping on the sofa.
"Someone." His vague answer made Felicity hiss in annoyance. "She's really beautiful."
"On a scale of one to ten, how beautiful is she?"
I bit my lip, waiting for his response. Leaning back against the backrest, I hummed softly.
"A hundred."
"Whoa, I really want to see her now."
The door flew open, and I feared it would break off its hinges, but luckily it didn't. I closed my eyes and let out a low hiss.
"Why aren't you picking up your calls?" Riccardo threw the question at me, his eyes fixed on me.
"Because I'm with my friends." I looked between Axel and Felicity. One was furious, and the other frozen.
"That doesn't justify you not picking up my calls. I was worried."
I rolled my eyes in exasperation and folded my arms. "There was no need to be. I'm fine."
Riccardo ran his fingers through his hair, the anger in his dark eyes slowly fading. "Let's go."
I hadn't even noticed Axel standing up from the table, but when I blinked, he was in front of Riccardo.
"You can't just barge into my office like you own it and order her to leave with you."
Riccardo glanced at him mockingly, his disdaín evident as if Axel were dirt on his designer shoes. "And who, pray tell, will stop me?" The scoff that leaves his mouth is insultíng and degradíng, to say the least. "Because I don't see anyone here who can."
"She won't leave with you."
"SHE is MY fiancee." The emphasis on the first and third word is heavy enough to show his possessiveness. "Sunshine, let's go."
"I said she won't go." Axel insists, stepping further towards Riccardo, displaying his seriousness, I guess. The latter chuckles, and everyone in the room can sense the darkness in his laughter.
"If bravery had a face, it certainly wouldn't look anything like yours. So why don't you be a mummy's boy and get out of my sight?"
Mummy's boy?
He knows about Axel's mother.
But how?
The comment seems to upset Axel so much that he throws a punch at Riccardo's face. Two gasps follow—one from me and the other from Felicity. I glance at her before rushing to stand between them.
"Enough," I snap, my back to Riccardo as I manage to hold his fist. "Are you okay?" I ask, touching his face. His eyes are intently fixed on Axel, dark and villaiñous. "Look at me." I stand on the tip of my toes, holding his face between my two palms, my thumbs stroking his cheeks. His gaze falls on me with an immediate response, and in a flash, his anger vanishes, and he smiles, wrapping his hands around my waist. "You're okay, right?"
"Yeah," he mutters.
"Let's go," I tell him. Without saying a word to either Felicity or Axel, I leave with Riccardo.
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"You're okay, right?" I ask him, breaking the silence in the car. It's only been ten minutes, but it feels like ten hours as we sit in the quiet car.
"I'm good."
"Right." I nod once and lick my lips. "So, you're really not going to tell me what the issue is between you and Axel?"
"No, I'm not."
"Don't snap at me."
"I did not."
"You did."
Riccardo suddenly pulls the car to a halt. My body jerks forward a little, thanks to the seatbelt; otherwise, I'd have hit my head.
"Hey!" I breathe out, one hand on my chest, feeling my racing heart, while the other one grips the seatbelt tightly. "What the héck is wrong with you?!"
"I don't want you hanging out with Morris," he says, his eyes hooded with angér, not towards me but at Axel. "And don't you dare tell me all that nonseñse about me not telling you what to do, wear, or say. I'm honestly not in the mood for that right now."
"Okay. Listen. I don't know what's going on or what went on between you and Axel in the past, but he is my friend, and I'm going to hang out with him."
"Stop being stubborn."
"Stop being controlling."
"Olivia."
"Riccardo."
He clicks his tongue and starts driving again. The silence reigns over the atmosphere once more, and I make no attempt to break it.
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After driving for about two hours, Riccardo finally pulls over. I look outside the window to check the surroundings. Without sparing him a glance, I step out of the car, and immediately, my eyes meet the huge building standing in front of me.
My mouth drops in both shock and awe at the size of the building. I notice him standing beside me from the corner of my eye but ignore him.
"This is our house," his voice reaches my ears in its usual deep and rich tone.
"Our?"
"Yes. We will live here together as husband and wife for 731 days. Isn't that awesome?"
"No, not really."
"Let's go in."
I huff and storm towards the house. When I reach the front door, I hiss when I see the lock. I wait for him to reach me to unlock the door, but he seems to be taking his sweet time.
"The passcode is 8642."
I waste no time tapping the numbers. The door dings, and I push down the knob. The hesitation I didn't have before seems to overwhelm me, and I struggle to take a step forward.
I flinch when his strong hand snakes around my waist, and I throw a quick glance at him before taking one step forward.
Step.
Step.
Step.
I pause in my tracks, a gasp breaking out of my parted lips as my eyes roam all over the place. I blink once, twice, thrice, and four times to see if my eyes are deceiving me.
The walls were painted a soft, neutral color, just as I had envisioned for my dream home. As I took a few more steps forward, I couldn't help but feel elated.
He knows.
How does he know?
"Do you like it?" he asked.
I spun around to face him, my wide smile impossible to hide. "I love it," I replied.
"So, for being such a good and thoughtful husband-to-be, what do I get?" Riccardo pulled me closer, his hand removing the cap from my head as his fingers slid into my hair.
"What do you want?" I blurted out for the second time today, immediately regretting it.
His cologne, a rich blend of woodsy and rainy scents, wafted into my nose. I held onto his jacket tightly as our eyes locked in an unbreakable trance. "Since your heart is still pending, I'll have to ask for something else."
"What?" I dared to ask.
"Kiss me."
I don't know what came over me, but I leaned in and pecked his lips. He smiled, tucking my hair behind my ear and pulling me closer.
"Kiss me, Olivia."
My gaze dropped to his lips, and I swallowed anxiously. The desire to kiss him was overwhelming, both intoxicatiñgly good and bàd. Riccardo waited, patiently waiting for me to make the first move.
When my tongue darted out to wet my lips, I could taste the hint of raspberry lip gloss. I tried to pull away from his grip, but he shook his head, disapproving my attempt.
Riccardo turned around, pinning me against the wall. He tilted his head, his lips slightly parted, inviting me in. Slowly, I rested my hands on his shoulders and intertwined my fingers. Closing the gap between our lips, I gave in to the kiss. He let out an approving sound, somewhere between a grunt and a groan.
I tried to deepen the kiss, but he had other plans. He wanted it slow, savoring every moment. He wanted to taste every bit of my mouth in the slowest way possible. It was a torturoús pleasure, and I squirmed in response.
Desperate for his usual passionate kisses, the ones that ignited an unquenchable firé within me, the ones that made my heart race in ways it shouldn't, in ways that weren't normal. His lips sucked on mine with the gentleness of a feather, delighting in me. He tightened his grip on my waist as the sensation affected him too. Pulling away a few inches, our chests rose and fell in rhythm.
Unable to wait for him to recover, I took control of the kiss. It intensified, and he allowed me, pushing one leg between mine. My body heated up, and I felt like I was about to explode as his knee pressed against my sensitive core through my clothe.
The throbbing between my legs made me press them together, a sound escaping my mouth involuntarily. His hand held my neck, slightly tilting my head to his preferred position. He bit my lips, teasing and licking them as if they were a treat.
I tugged at his hair, and he grunted in response. Riccardo let our tongues dance together in a battle, each of us desperate to emerge as the winner.
The ringing of a phone interrupted us, eliciting a sigh from both of us. Ignoring the call, we continued, but it rang again, forcing me to break the kiss.
"This better be worth it," Riccardo snapped at whoever was on the other end of the line, running a hand through his hair.
I tuned out their conversation, needing to distract myself from the overwhelming sensations coursing through my body. I took in every corner of the living room, trying to regain control. But the throbbiñg between my legs persisted, aching with desiré and an insatiàble want for the man responsible. I sat down on the sofa, crossing my legs in an attempt to lessen the sensation. My gaze fell upon the man now engrossed in a professional phone call, and I wondered if that was the same person I had kissed just moments ago.
I bit down on my lip, stifling the sound that threatened to escape. I didn't understand the allure Riccardo possessed, but it affected me deeply. "The Riccardo Torrence effect" was real, and it had ensnared me. I was trapped.
So trapped that I didn't even want to escape.
Riccardo Torrence was a unique kind of man. Yes, he was enigmàtic and peculiar, but there was something about him that drew me in. I knew the type of person he was; he didn't hide it from me. And yet, I wanted him.
I wanted him so bàd.
What's wrong with me?
TBC 📖✍️
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