~Anne's POV~
Just like Riccardo said, his driver did come to pick me up the second it struck seven. I had already prepared myself beforehand, though I must have changed my dress at least five times before finally settling on the one I wore now. If I was going to face Thomas Brown tonight, then it was crucial that I showed up looking a lot better than he ever expected me to be.
It was a peach colored gown, simple, yet effortlessly elegant. And while I wasn't exactly gifted with robust curves, the fabric did well to highlight the ones I was working with. The neckline was modest, not too revealing, but revealing enough to make one want to get a second peek. A thin gold belt cinched around my waist, accentuating the curve of my body without being too revealing.
I had spent more time on my hair than I cared to admit. It now cascaded down my back in loose, glossy waves, catching the faintest glimmers of light every time I moved. A few delicate strands framed my face, softening the tension that still lingered in my expression. I'd gone for minimal makeup, just a touch of shimmer on my eyelids, a sweep of mascara, and a warm nude gloss on my lips.
Without wasting much time I slid into the back of the car and spent the next twenty minutes working on my confidence. It wasn't just for Thomas, this was also my first job as Riccardo's secretary, and it was crucial that I don't embarrass him or myself in front of his peers.
The driver was a gentleman, he helped me out of the car and even held my hand until we were inside the main hall. It wasn't difficult to spot Riccardo, and right beside him was the lady from earlier today, and somehow she seemed to be more prettier than she was the last time I saw her.
"You're here, Anne Allistair." His voice streamed through the noise.
He was standing among a small circle of sharply dressed men and women, his tall frame made him stand out, not to mention the fact that he was significantly younger than the majority in the room.
When his eyes landed on me, the faintest trace of a smile touched his lips. Not the kind meant for a colleague or employee, the kind that would make any woman immediately go weak in their knee, and it made my heart tighten just a bit.
"Excuse me for a moment," he said to the group, his tone polite but firm enough that no one protested. Even the elegant woman at his side, Lisa—merely offered a knowing smile before turning back to her glass of champagne.
Riccardo crossed the room with the calm, measured stride of a man who owned every space he entered. When he reached me, he didn't waste time with pleasantries. His gaze swept over me once, brief but intense, before he murmured, "Walk with me."
I nodded, hoping he couldn't see the way my heart thudded against my ribs.
We moved together through the crowd, and heads subtly turned as we passed. It wasn't hard to see why—Riccardo had a presence that drew eyes naturally, and for reasons I couldn't quite explain, people were now looking at me, too. His hand brushed lightly against the small of my back as he led me toward the open glass doors at the far end of the hall. The evening air rushed in as we stepped outside.
The balcony was bathed in the soft glow of hanging lanterns, and the night sky was a beauty to behold. However, I didn't do much beholding before I locked eyes with man I dreaded the most.
Thomas.
He stood at the end of the balcony, surrounded by men whose face I didn't bother to commit to memory. He looked almost exactly as I remembered, tall, composed, charming to anyone who didn't know what he was capable of behind closed doors.
The confidence I had worked so hard to build in the car crumbled all at once. My fingers tightened around the hem of my dress. My pulse quickened, my throat went dry, and I could already feel the panic creeping up my spine.
Riccardo must have noticed, because he leaned closer—close enough that I could feel the warmth of his breath against my ear.
"Don't lose yourself now," he whispered, "we're here on business matters, so behave yourself."
I took a deep breath and steadied myself. I already suspected we were headed for Thomas the very second Riccardo asked me to walk with him, but it seemed I still wasn't prepared enough to face my past.
Thomas must have sensed my gaze, because almost as soon as I steadied myself, he turned.
For a heartbeat, the world seemed to still. His piercing grey eyes found mine through the soft crowd of evening guests, and that same arrogant curve pulled at his lips—the smile that once made my stomach flutter but now only made my skin crawl.
My fingers twitched at my side, but before I could look away, he began to move. He came to a stop a few feet away, his attention flicking briefly to Riccardo before returning to me. His smirk widened, sharp and taunting.
"Well, well," he drawled, voice dripping with that same smooth confidence I'd once mistaken for charm. "Ms Brown. I almost didn't recognize you."
"It's Allistair now!" I corrected sharply, but I was sure he already knew that. He just wanted to pull my strings, but I wasn't going to let him.
"Mr. Brown," Riccardo greeted coolly, offering a hand that Thomas took after a brief hesitation. He stared at me for another second before finally turning his attention back to Riccardo who had a smug smile on his face now.
"I'm glad you could make it, Mr Antonelli. And what a lovely date you brought with you…"
"Ms Allistair is my secretary, she's here with me on official duties only." Riccardo answered without hesitation. He turned towards me for a second, but before I could say a word Lisa strode in as though everything had been orchestrated. She whispered some words into Riccardo's ear, and before I could understand what was happening, I was standing alone with Thomas.
My first instinct had been to immediately turn around and leave, but Thomas had caught my hand before I had the opportunity to walk out of his reach.
"There's no need to run from me anymore, Anne, we can still be friends—"
"Let go of me!" I yelled out louder than I probably should have. The entire room went still in an instant, but even with all the eyes staring at us, Thomas refused to let go of my hand. It was for his fragile ego, but I wasn't willing to save it this time.
With a smile, I reached forward, grabbed his arm and yanked it off my body. "Have a great night, Thomas."
I strode away from the balcony with eyes glued on me. I didn't care, I was satisfied with myself and that was all that mattered. The odds of me losing my job were probably a hundred percent, but I had no intentions of apologizing to anybody. Riccardo had set me up, he and that lady friend of his. They had played me, and a part of me felt like giving them a piece of my mind too. But at that moment, I needed nothing more than to get home and savour the comfort of my bedroom. I had barely stayed for five minutes, but I was already fed up.
The cool night air hit my skin the second I stepped outside, but it did little to calm the rage inside of me. I should have known better, Riccardo's plan had been to use me whether or not I agreed to be his partner.
The sound of laughter and clinking glasses faded behind me as I reached the quieter side of the building. The breeze tugged gently at the ends of my hair, but before I could even take a proper breath, a firm hand shot out from the shadows and grabbed my wrist.
I barely had time to gasp before I was yanked sideways into the dimly lit corner beside the stone wall of the terrace. My back hit it with a dull thud.
"Thomas!" I hissed, the name slipping out before I could stop myself.
His face was shadowed, but I could still make out the fury burning in his eyes. The charming mask he wore so easily inside was gone, replaced with the raw, unfiltered anger I remembered too well.
"You've grown a lot of nerve, Anne," he seethed, his voice low and sharp as he pressed closer. "Pulling a stunt like that in front of everyone? Trying to humiliate me?"
"Let go of me!" I pushed at his chest, but he didn't move. His grip only tightened as he leaned in closer, his breath hot against my face.
"You think you can embarrass me and walk away like nothing happened?" he snapped. "It seems you've forgotten what happens when you disobey me, isn't that right?"
I shoved him again, harder this time, but he was too strong, too used to overpowering me. My pulse thundered in my ears, panic clawing up my throat. I could feel the rough edge of the wall digging into my back as he pinned me there, his hand now gripping my arm so tightly it almost hurt.
"Thomas, stop!" I shouted, trying to twist free.
But he didn't listen. He was far too determined to hurt me. "You think you're better than me now, huh? Running off to another man's side—parading yourself around like you belong in his world?"
"I said let go!"
Summoning everything I had, I drove my knee upward, catching him by surprise. He grunted, stumbling back a step, and I immediately shoved him away from me with all the force I could muster. My breath came out shaky, my hands trembling, but I didn't wait to see his reaction. I immediately turned to run before he had a chance to regain himself.
I barely made it three steps before I collided with something solid. My heart lurched until I looked up and saw Riccardo standing there. His expression changed the instant he took in my disheveled hair, the panic in my eyes, and Thomas just a few paces behind me, straightening his suit like nothing had happened.
"Anne," Riccardo called out calmly. Instinctively, I clung to him like I always did anything I could find for protection whenever Thomas abused me. My grip was strong, so strong it even scared Riccardo.
"Mr Antonelli…you should be inside. Do not concern yourself with the issues of me and my ex wife—"
"Is this how you treat women, Thomas Brown?" Riccardo cut him off, his demeanor completely different from what it was a second ago. His voice was low, cold, and I could feel his entire body trembling with rage.
"You're the one to talk!" Thomas spat out shamelessly, "you've slept with half of the city's ladies, don't lecture me on how to treat woman!"
I could tell Riccardo wanted to charge forward, but I was done with violence for the day. I just wanted to get out of here.
"Please take me out of here…" I whispered, my voice calling him back before he could spring to action. "Please…"
Riccardo didn't hesitate. One second I was on my feet, unable to move, and in the next I was up in his arms, wrapped like a defenseless baby. Although he was the reason I had gotten into that mess in the first place, I was willing to forgive him as long as he got me home safely.