The CEO's Secret Affair-Chapter 19: I Understand You...

~Anne’s POV~

I remained motionless for at least a minute, completely unsure of what to do next. Although I wanted Riccardo here, I didn’t actually expect that he would be back. Then there was Thomas Brown, who wouldn’t leave no matter how many times I asked him too, he wouldn’t let me call for help either. I didn’t want the two of them to see each other, at least not like this.

My eyes turned towards Riccardo who also seemed to stop moving the moment he locked eyes with Thomas. I couldn’t begin to imagine the number of things going on in his head at the moment, but I could tell that he had definitely misunderstood everything.

"Riccardo—"

He stopped me with a raised hand, his first motion since entering my residence. Then slowly he turned towards me, disappointment etched onto every corner of his face as we locked eyes.

"Don’t," he said quietly, his voice low but firm. Not angry.

That hurt more than if he’d shouted.

My throat tightened as he looked at me like that, like he’d already reached a conclusion I hadn’t been allowed to explain. I took a step toward him instinctively, but he didn’t move. Didn’t come closer. Didn’t pull away either. He just stood there, still holding my hand, his grip no longer warm, just steady.

"This isn’t what you think," I said quickly, the words tumbling over each other. Why was I even this bothered? Should I really be explaining myself to him this much, especially after everything I had told him earlier? I had the right to invite anyone into my home, and I didn’t need to explain my decisions to anyone. Yet, I felt compelled to do so, like my life would completely be over if I didn’t make Riccardo understand that Thomas was here uninvited.

"I...I didn’t invite him here, I don’t even want him here—"

Thomas chuckled behind us, the sound cutting through the rest of my words. Riccardo and I turned towards him, and it didn’t take him any second to try to make things worse than they already were.

"Well now, that’s not entirely true, is it, Anne?" he drawled. "You did open the door."

My stomach churned.

Riccardo’s jaw clenched. I felt it in the way his hand tightened around mine for half a second before he finally let go. He turned towards me for another second, then returned his gaze back to Thomas who was now on his feet.

The tension in the room immediately tripled, and I could feel the temperature slowly rising as the two men stared each other down. Riccardo was the first to speak after what seemed like an hour, and his words weren’t exactly what Thomas wanted to hear.

"She doesn’t want you here, I think it’s best that you leave."

Although I could see Thomas’s face visibly contort in anger and very obvious hatred, the sly smile on his face only grew wider. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"Funny. I was about to say the same thing. And if anyone is to ask me out, it will be Anne, not the city’s infamous slut."

"Riccardo—"

I called out, holding him back before he had the chance to pounce on Thomas. I didn’t have the energy to stop a fight, especially between two figures that towered over mine.

He listened, let out a rough chuckle before finally turning towards me like he wanted something from me.

"He’s right, it’s your call so do it now, Anne. Tell him to leave." He cleared out after realising that I had failed to understand what his wanting eyes demanded.

It wasn’t a difficult task for me, but at that moment it felt as though hell would break loose if I took a side. Regardless, I had a choice and I knew who I wanted to be by my side even though we weren’t exactly on good terms.

"Thomas, could you please leave?" My request had been a calm one, but as expected Thomas didn’t take it very well. The rage he had been fighting to contain finally imploded, and his eyes darkened in an instant.

"You sick bastard!" He sneered at Riccardo with curled fists. "I’m going to break that pretty face of yours one day, I swear it!"

"Thomas! Leave!"

Thomas didn’t move at first.

For a split second, I thought he might actually lunge at Riccardo. His fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles had gone white, his chest rising and falling like a cornered animal’s. The hatred in his eyes was raw, unfiltered—and terrifyingly familiar.

"Say a word," he hissed at Riccardo. "Say something again and see what happens."

Riccardo didn’t flinch, he just stood there watching Thomas rant like a heartbroken teenager.

After realizing his taunts weren’t working, Thomas laughed, sharp and humorless. "You really think you’re some kind of savior?" His eyes flicked to me. "Ask her. She knows exactly what kind of men we are."

That did it.

"Get out." My voice cracked, but it was loud. Clear. Final. "Get out of my house. Now."

For the first time, Thomas looked at me like he hadn’t expected that. Like he’d assumed I’d fold. Like he always did.

This time Riccardo moved, this time opening the door without looking away from Thomas. "Leave. Before I call the police and make this very public."

Thomas took one slow step back, then another, still smirking as if he needed the last word. Then without saying anything else, he stormed out of the house, his eyes locked on mine until we walked out of the room.

Once again the entire place fell silent. Riccardo and I kept our gaze on each other until I was no longer able to deal with the silence and tension.

"Thank you..." I murmured, hoping he would hear me.

"You don’t need to thank me, I didn’t do anything. You asked him to leave, and he did." Riccardo argued even though he knew damn well the only reason Thomas even considered listening to me was because he was here.

Once more there was a loud silence, only this time I didn’t have the courage to maintain eye contact with him.

"About earlier—"

"It’s fine, Anne. I understand everything perfectly well now. I was wrong to try and force something you didn’t want. I will respect your opinion from now onwards. I won’t bother you anymore, unless it’s work related of course."

But that wasn’t what I wanted. I wanted him to bother me, I loved the company, the fights, I wanted it all. But I didn’t have the courage to ask that of him. All I could do at that moment was force up a smile and answer like a sheep.

"Understood, Mr Antonelli..."

Riccardo mirrored my forced smile, then without another word, he turned around and stepped out of the room.