The CEO's Secret Affair-Chapter 24: A Threat

~Clara’s POV~

I’d thought deliberately getting sick would be able to get Riccardo’s attention back on me, but it was clear that wasn’t happening anytime soon, not as long as she was around. She had clearly done something to him, it was obvious. If she hadn’t charmed him in some way, then there was no reason why Riccardo wouldn’t be here with me right now.

She wasn’t prettier than me, she definitely wasn’t richer than me, so what could she possibly have that has made Riccardo suddenly lose his mind? Compared to me, Anne was nothing short of a basic bitch, and the fact that I was losing my man to someone like her was not only embarrassing, but infuriating as well.

I needed to do something about it, I needed to do something about her. If only she would just disappear, then Riccardo would go back to loving me, I was certain of it. She was the only obstacle between me and living happily ever after with Riccardo, and she needed to be eliminated.

Anxious and desperate, I picked up my phone and immediately called my father.

"What is it this time, pumpkin?" The voice of my father, Ephraim Forrester, spilled from the speakers.

"Someone’s bothering me, papa." I answered in a troubled tone, the kind that always worked like a charm on my father, a retired leader of an underground mafia group. Although he wanted to steer clear of any mafia business for now, I was certain he had connections to fulfil my requests, especially if I lied that the target was someone threatening my safety.

And Anne was definitely threatening my safety. Just thinking about her gave me migraines. The thought that Riccardo was actually leaving me for someone like her was sickening, and I just can’t sit still and let something like that happen. Not under my watch!

"Who?! You’re not in danger, are you?" He inquired in a frantic tone. It was already working, just like I had expected.

"I’m fine for now," I answered, letting my voice wobble just enough, "but I don’t know how long it will remain that way."

There was a beat of silence on the line, I could already tell Papa was getting heated, and his next words confirmed that.

"Tell me the name,"

I closed my eyes, savouring the moment. This was it. The solution I’d been waiting for. I trusted my father more than anyone, I was certain that once I gave him Anne’s name, he wouldn’t need a picture or anything else to make sure that his daughter got what she wanted.

"Anne Allistair," I said, drawing out each syllable so he wouldn’t make a mistake when finding her. I needed Anne gone, and I needed her gone quickly. "She works at Riccardo’s company. She’s... she’s been threatening me, Papa. Stalking me, sending messages, showing up places she shouldn’t. I’m scared. I didn’t want to worry you, but it’s getting worse."

I didn’t need to see him to know his jaw had tightened. Ephraim Forrester didn’t tolerate threats against his only daughter, real or invented.

"How bad?" he asked.

"Bad enough that I don’t feel safe anymore. She’s obsessed. She wants Riccardo, and she thinks I’m in the way. I’ve tried to handle it quietly, but..." I let the sentence trail off, adding a tiny, trembling breath for effect.

There was another pause, only this time I vould hear papa typing away on his second phone. He probably wrote down her name, or he might already be contacting the people to do the job.

After a minute, he finally spoke. "You don’t worry about this anymore, pumpkin. I’ll take care of it."

Relief flooded through me, warm and sweet.

"You don’t have to do anything extreme," I said quickly, because I knew how his mind worked. The last thing I wanted was to have someone’s blood on my hands. I hated Anne that was for sure, but I didn’t hate her just enough to have her killed. Maybe someday, but not now.

"Just... scare her a little. Make her back off. Make her leave the city. I don’t want blood, Papa. I just want her gone."

He chuckled, dark and familiar. "I know how to be subtle when I need to be. Consider it handled. You’ll never hear her name again."

I smiled into the phone, curling deeper into the silk sheets of my bed.

"Thank you, papa. I knew I could count on you."

"Anything for my girl," he said. "Stay inside until I tell you it’s safe."

I ended the call after that and took a deep breath. Perhaps I should have done this earlier, before Riccardo even got the chance to get so attached to her. But it didn’t matter, there was no time for regrets now. The fact was that she was going to get what was coming for her, and that alone made me happy.

Thoughts of me together with Riccardo filled my mind once more. It will be soon, I said to myself, a bright smile illuminating my face at the thought of us. I’d missed it, his touch, his lips, I’d missed it all.

Desperate, I picked up my phone and called him. It rang for a few seconds before directing me to voicemail. I tried again, but the same thing happened. He was probably busy, it was still work hours after all. He was the CEO, so of course he’d be busy in a meeting or signing some important documents. It was probably why he didn’t answer.

It’s all good though, I reasoned. Soon he’ll be coming back to me after work. I’d take care of him like no one had ever back, like Anne had never before. Once she was out of the city, I’d make sure he forgets her for good, and that was a promise.

With a smile, I lowered my phone onto the table next to me and got comfortable in my bed. I didn’t need to move a muscle anymore, all I had to do now was wait, and soon papa would call to tell me that the job was done.