Exclusively Yours – Episode 7

Riccardo’s POV

The bar is bustling with excitement as people dance to the loud music, fully embracing the night. I stand on the second floor, resting my elbows on the balcony railing as I observe the crowd below.

Beck, my closest friend, comes up next to me, casually draping his arm around my shoulder while holding his drink in the other hand. “Come on, man, don’t be a downer. Let loose and enjoy the party.”

I take a sip of my drink, the sour taste hitting my taste buds. “I am.”

“Not like this, you’re not. Lighten up a little, dude.”

“I want to go home,” Phil interrupts, causing both Beck and I to turn towards him. “It’s too noisy.”

“That’s because it’s a bar,” Beck groans, frustrated by Phil’s complaint. “Why are you guys like this? Just relax and have some fun.” He tries to convince us. “Look around, there are plenty of girls here to have a good time with.”

But I have no interest in having fun.

My social battery is already at 15%, and when it reaches 5%, I tend to get cranky.

“I’ll order an Uber,” I tell Phil, who nods in agreement, standing beside me and looking down at the cheerful partygoers.

“I don’t understand how we’re friends,” Beck says jokingly, or at least I hope he’s joking. “You two are so boring.”

We’ve known each other since we were in diapers. Our parents are close friends and practically raised us as brothers. We may have grown up together and become best friends, but that’s about the only thing we have in common.

Beckett Blackstone is a full-blown extrovert who loves being outside and has blond hair, black eyes. His social battery never seems to run low. Philip Darrell, on the other hand, is an introvert who prefers the comfort of his own home. He has black hair, brown eyes, and his social battery is always low. And then there’s me, Riccardo Torrence, an ambivert who takes a few hours for their social battery to run low. Despite our differences, we get along just fine.

“I’m not boring.”

“I’ll admit, I am,” Phil remarks, taking a sip of his drink before turning to me. “When will the Uber get here?”

“About…” I’m cut off when a captivating sight catches my eye. I blink repeatedly, making sure I’m not dreaming as I gaze at the beautiful creature dancing before me.

Before I can fully take in her beauty, Phil nudges my stomach and I turn to face him. “What is it?”

“Nothing.” I redirect my attention to the dance floor, but she’s nowhere to be found. I search every inch, desperate to catch another glimpse of her.

I excuse myself to go to the bathroom to wash my face. The drinks have already started to affect me, causing me to question how I could possibly see someone so stunning.

As I make my way through the crowd, a figure accidentally bumps into me. Normally, I would ignore it and keep walking, but when I hear an apology with a sweet, melodious voice, I can’t help but turn to see who it belongs to.

My eyes lock with two captivating caramel brown eyes. They belonged to a girl, not just any girl, but the one who had caught my eye a few minutes ago.

She stumbled on her feet, unable to stand straight, clearly intoxicated. A small smile adorned her face, lighting it up. “Sorry. I don’t know why, but the ground is spinning and it’s getting on my nerves.”

A laugh escaped me involuntarily as I gazed at her. She was dressed in a sky blue lacy tulle that made her appear like a doll. The slight pout on her red lips made me desire to kiss her, something I had never felt for a stranger before.

“Hey, you look familiar,” she mumbled unsteadily as she tottered towards me. Her wobbly steps made me want to reach out and steady her, but I restrained myself. “I’ve seen you somewhere, but I can’t remember. What’s your name?” The fragrance of her perfume filled my senses as she leaned in to whisper something in my ear. “I’m Olivia.”

“Riccardo.”

“I am going to go now.” Olivia, as she introduced herself, started to walk away, but she stumbled and nearly fell. Instinctively, I reached out and wrapped my arm around her waist, pulling her flush against my chest. She gasped in surprise, her cheeks turning crimson. “You’re hot. I think I have a crush on you. Wanna make out?”

I blinked in disbelief at the bold request from the intoxicated woman in my arms. My hands moved involuntarily, brushing her black strands of hair behind her ear. “As tempting as that offer is, my answer is no.”

She nodded, a persistent smile still on her face. “I feel like I’m going to vomit.”

“The bathroom is…” My words were interrupted as she promptly vomited on my clothes. I looked down at my soiled shirt and winced. “Geez, Olivia!”

Olivia pouted again, her brown eyes glassy with tears. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

My heart melted at her doe eyes and sad pout, and I sighed in resignation. “It’s alright, I’ll clean up.”

“Okay, see you.” Those were the last words she uttered before she ran off. 

Concerned for her well-being, I discreetly ensured her safety after witnessing her intoxicated state. Guided by my desire to protect her, I arranged for her to stay in a luxury five-star hotel. All the while, my intention remained resolute in making her mine. 

The brief minutes I spent with her brought me immense joy, making it the happiest I’ve been in months. I couldn’t help but smile for days afterward. I took the initiative to gather as much information as possible about her, waited, patiently waited for the right opportunity to make my move and it has finally arrived. 

A grin spreads across my face as I reread the message for the third time. The words from Olivia make my heart race and I can’t help but feel giddy inside. She truly is one of a kind, a gem that deserves to be protected even though she’s perfectly capable of taking care of herself.

I chuckle and run my fingers through my hair, feeling the anticipation building up inside of me. Olivia doesn’t know it yet, but she has me wrapped around her little finger. 

I am willing and capable of fulfilling any request she may have. Even if she asks me to cút open my chest and show her that my heart truly beats for her, I would. There is nothing I wouldn’t do to earn Olivia’s love, even if it involves taking unconventional and crooked measures. I will approach this pursuit with enthusiasm and a genuine smile.

TBC 📖✍️

I want you, Riccardo, if Olivia doesn’t.