Exclusively Yours – Episode 3

Olivia’s POV

I suddenly felt lightheaded as those words hung in the air, my heart racing and a lump forming in my throat. What could have happened? 

“Why didn’t you tell me they came, Dee Dee?” I asked, my voice filled with worry. 

“I didn’t want to bother you, Lili. I thought I could handle it,” Dee Dee replied. 

This is térrible. The bakery can’t be demolished, not after all the years we’ve spent there. Nothing must happen to it. 

“Well, you didn’t handle it, Aunt,” I snapped, running my fingers through my hair. “I’ll see what I can do. I’ll take care of it.” 

“Please do. We can’t lose the bakery for any reason. It was the last thing connecting me to my sister and parents.”

After hanging up the phone, I massaged my forehead, trying to think of a solution. My eyes searched every corner of the room, hoping for an idea to appear. They landed on the nightstand, where an unfamiliar business card lay. 

I picked it up, studying the words on the card. Memories of yesterday’s incident flooded back, anger simmering within me. 

Riccardo Torrence, that douchébag! 

No one messes with my family, or else they’ll face the consequences. 

                              ☆✯☆✯

With the card in hand, I located his company and found myself standing outside a towering skyscraper that seemed to touch the clouds. 

Determined, I walked inside. The receptionist desk was just a few feet away, but I didn’t feel like being modest. I scanned the area, noticing people entering the elevator. I decided to follow them. 

As I stood in the elevator, I waited for everyone to exit so I could reach the top floor and confront that asshóle. 

“I can’t believe I came late today, even after waking up early. Mr. Torrence will definitely fire me,” a lady complained to another woman standing next to her.

“I completely forgot about today’s meeting and overslept. I don’t know what happened to me. It feels like the universe is against me, and I’m afraid I’ll lose my job today.” 

Both of them seemed to be in utter despair, realizing the potential loss of their well-paying jobs. It’s understandable, considering they were earning nearly half a million every month. 

The elevator chimed, and they hurriedly exited. I followed them, wanting to know where the meeting was being held. Allowing them to go ahead of me, I trailed behind to ensure I knew exactly where I was headed. 

I gave myself a couple of minutes before storming into the office, my gaze fixed on one person who also had his eyes on me: Riccardo Torrence. His obnoxious grin adorned his ridiculously handsome face. 

“To what do I owe this pleasure, sunshine?” he sneered, using the nickname he had given me. He tilted his head, waiting for my response. 

Though everyone’s eyes were on me, my focus was solely on him. Riccardo and his staff were seated around the long rectangular table, already murmuring among themselves. 

“You bastàrd!” I snapped, walking up to him and stopping right in front of him. “Why did you do that?!”

He feigned cluelessness, his eyebrows raised in a confusing manner. “I simply do not know what you are talking about.”

“You…” I started to say, but before I could continue, he interrupted.

“Get out.”

Excuse me, what the héll does he mean by that? I’m here trying to teach him a lesson, and he’s sending me out?

“I said, get out!” He snapped, looking at his staff, who promptly stood up and left.

Oh, he wasn’t talking to me. 

I realized that as Riccardo turned back to me with a wide smile. “Now, you can talk.”

Assholé.

“Why did you do that?” I demanded.

“Do what?” He replied, shrugging his shoulders questioningly.

He’s really getting on my nerves.

“You know exactly what you did, and you need to fix it immediately.”

“Sunshine, I can’t rectify what I don’t know about, can I?” He retorted, responding to my demand with a question.

Jérk.

“Listen, I’m not sunshine, I’m Olivia, and you know that!” I snapped back, pointing my index finger at him. “Fix what you did.”

His gaze shifted from my face to my finger and back to my face, and then he burst into laughter, chuckling for a whole minute.

“I don’t see what’s so funny here, Riccardo,” I said, frustration evident in my voice.

He bit his lower lip, attempting to stifle his laughter but failing, as another series of laughter broke out.

I closed my eyes for a brief moment, taking a deep breath. When I opened them again, I saw that he was clearly enjoying stressing me out.

“Sorry, sorry, sorry,” he managed to say amidst his laughter. “You’re just so funny.”

What? How? What did I do or say that’s funny?

“What do you mean?” I asked, genuinely confused.

“Nobody has ever pointed their finger at me, not even my parents. But you did it. It made me laugh,” he explained, still chuckling.

Oh, I get it now. He’s a mañiac.

“Ah, I’m so glad I made you laugh,” I retorted sarcastically. “I came here to fix what you did right now.”

Riccardo exhaled and stood up, causing me to lean back subconsciously. “Fix what?” he asked, acting clueless.

“The bakery, I know you did it,” I stated firmly, knowing deep down that he was responsible for whatever was happening.

“What bakery?” he continued to act innocent. “And why do you think I did anything to it?”

“My aunt’s bakery,” I said, running my fingers through my hair. His eyes followed my every move, and it honestly creeped me out. “Yesterday, you came to my house and threatenéd me to marry you, or else something would happen. And this morning, something is happening. No one else is fuckiñg  responsible except you!”

“Alright,” he nodded and hummed thoughtfully. “Firstly, watch your language. Secondly, don’t yell, it’s not good for your throat. Thirdly, you’re right, I did it.”

Fuckiñg entitled asshóle.

“Fix it right this dàmn minute!” I demanded. 

He hissed and tsked, shaking his head. “Language, Olivia.”

“What are you, five?” I snickered.

Riccardo smirked and sat on the table, crossing his legs. “Only idióts cúrse, sunshine. And you’re not an idiót, are you?”

Did he just indirectly call me an idiót?

God, I haté this man.

“No, but I’m looking at one right now.”

“Can you see ghósts?” he asked.

What?

“You said you’re looking at an idiót right now, so that means you see ghósts. Because if there is an idiót here, it is you, darling.”

“What the héck is wrong with you?” I exclaimed.

“You’ll find out soon.”

What could that mean?

“You have a whole five hours to find a solution to your problem, or else you can say bye-bye to your precious bakery,” Riccardo emphasized the word “precious” to purposely anger me.

“Why are you doing this?” I asked, my voice filled with confusion and frustration.

He stood up from the table and walked towards me, leaning in to whisper something in my ear. “It’s because I love you,” he said, his breath brushing against my neck. It sent a shiver down my spine, causing my entire body to tremble. “You smell nice, sunshine.”

I tried to push him away, but for some inexplicable reason, I couldn’t. His proximity didn’t irritate my skin like it should have. Instead, it ignited a strange heat within me.

After he pulled back, his eyes scanned my face, his signature smile spreading across his lips. His dimples were on full display, tempting me to poke them. “Five hours, Olivia. Just five hours. Do something quick.”

Dàmn those stúpid dimples!

TBC 📖✍️