Meant To Be

NICCOLO MORETTI

(Few days back)

”Sir, Ms. Ilaria Salvo checked in yesterday.” Said Eric, my assistant.

I smirked. ”Where is Niven? I haven’t seen him since morning.”

”He is out to get a deal from Mr. Barnard, regarding his shares” Eric said with a hint of a smile.

”You are not going easy on him, good.” I said, giving him a knowing look.

Niven is a carefree asshole, pampered and spoiled rotten by my mother. But Dad wants him to get on the right track, so I’m stuck with him until he learns how to run a business efficiently.

I wrapped things at the office by noon and headed to NewView. As soon as I entered, I saw Ria sitting in the lobby, pretending to read a newspaper wearing a blonde wig and sunglasses.

I scoffed. Who wears sunglasses while reading a newspaper? That too indoors. As always, she sucks at spying. I ordered my guards to leave her alone and let her do her thing. At first, I thought about changing my guards as they almost caught her last time at the mall but went against it. Cause she is hopeless. I wonder how she survived this long all alone.

Most of our guards are mixed with civilians. Only one or two guards are always with us dressed formally.

Eric and I went past Ria and entered the elevator. When the doors were about to close, I saw her stumbling in front of the elevator looking side to side with wide eyes. I suppressed my smile and decided to play along.

”Are you getting in, miss?” I asked her, pressing re-open.

”M-Me?” She asked, pointing to herself.

I smiled tightly. ”I don’t see anyone else behind you.”

”Yes” she said faintly and entered.Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

I tapped her shoulder, making her flinch. “Floor?”

”Oh, I forgot. Silly me” she chuckled nervously and took her sweet time. Her fingers dangled around the buttons for a few seconds and finally pressed a number, a few floors below mine.

She was so stiff throughout the ride but relaxed when the elevator doors opened. She stepped out and shrieked loudly when she saw a group of men pass her wearing nothing but towels or boxers, and ran back into the elevator.

She hissed loudly, slapping her forehead when she saw me and ran out again.

I chuckled and Eric snickered but covered his mouth when I gave him a look. I shook my head in amusement because she pressed the sauna floor for men.

I went into my office and attended a few online meetings. My dinner meeting with Carlo Terzi, one of the major shareholders of an investment company, got cancelled today. He wanted to reschedule, so his daughter could make it to the meeting.

Great. He is trying to hook me up with his daughter.

I’m too tired to go home. So I decided to stay for the night. Eric took his leave and I went into my penthouse. After a nice hot shower, I made a call.

”What?”

”Where the hell are you?” I asked when I heard some background music.

”At a birthday party. Why did you call me? Did something happen?”

”Kind of, Yeah”

”Can’t you handle it? I’m busy here”

”Fine, but I’m doing it my way. No questions asked”

He grunted before ending the call.

I sighed, lying on the bed thinking what I should do about Ria and Lucy. Lucy is the most complicated one. I don’t even know how or why she was involved in this except for the accident she mentioned to Ria.

And Ria. She will not stop until she gets to the bottom of this. Will she mind her own business if I tell her what she wants to know? No, she is stubborn like her sister, she will dig her own grave.

Surprisingly, for the next few days, my visits to NewView were enjoyable. It was amusing to watch her fool of herself. But everything has an end and I didn’t know that my little game with Ria would end today and something more would begin.

?》

I took a sip of my wine, wishing I could be anywhere else but here.

Listening to a father who praises his daughter is torture. That too, when you have a stalker who sucks at playing Spy.

”My baby has 3 million followers on her Instagram and even has that- ah checkmark” Mr. Carlo Terzi said proudly, looking at his daughter.

”That’s great, Ms. Terzi. For how long have you been an influencer?” I asked her, trying hard not to look at my right, where Ria was seated and eavesdropping.

She is making it so obvious that even Mr. Terzi is starting to notice her. She ordered a lemonade, sipping it for almost an hour.

”Please call me Laura. And it’s been six, almost seven years. Are you free tonight Nick? We can go live! My followers would love to see you. I know I would.” Laura asked, smiling suggestively.

Ms. Spy snorted loudly. Loud enough to make us all look at her.

”Are you eavesdropping on us, Ms? Who are you? Paparazzi?” Carlo asked her sternly.

”I-Im not. Sorry”. She muttered, looking embarrassed.

Carlo scoffed. ”I can’t believe this is happening. Security here is so poor Niccolo.”

I frowned. I don’t like where this is going. He still hasn’t signed the documents and I don’t think he will until I agree to spend time with his daughter.

”I’m sorry sir, I’m not paparazzi. It won’t happen again.” Ria stood in front of us and apologized. Her cheeks flushed and she looked like she was about to cry.

I groaned internally. Don’t do this Nick, don’t blow this up.

Too late.

I caught her wrist before she could escape and made her sit beside me.

”You don’t need to be sorry Cielo. I should be the one apologizing. I’m sorry, I was so rude to you before.” I said, pecking at her ridiculous blonde wig.

God! It stings.

Everyone was looking at me in disbelief. I forced a smile and wrapped my arm around Ria’s waist and pulled her close to me.

”Sorry for the interruption, Mr. Terzi. This is my girlfriend, Ilaria Salvo. She is upset with me that I cancelled our date tonight. You know, the usual couples quarrel.” I said and looked at Ria.

She was about to say something but I squeezed her waist firmly, indicating her to follow my lead.

”And I can’t go on live, Ms. Terzi. There is a reason why we don’t have our faces on the internet or social media. We give importance to our privacy.” Both father and daughter look pissed at this point.

”Why don’t you go and wait in our room, Cielo ? I’ll wrap this meeting up and meet you there. Hmm?”

~~

ILARIA

W-What? In his room? Me? Wait?

I snapped out of my scrambled thoughts when Niccolo squeezed my waist again. I feel nauseated just sitting beside him and now I want to puke my guts out.

I nodded my head and literally ran from there. I went to the restroom and hid in one of the stalls. I hurriedly tried to find my phone and cursed when I couldn’t. I slapped my forehead and groaned, realizing I had left it at the restaurant.

I took a deep breath. Everything’s going to be alright. I’ll wait here for a few minutes and I will get the hell out of this Hotel.

After what felt like forever, this place started to feel stuffy. Will it be okay to get out now? What if they are still searching for me? Suddenly, I started to question all my life choices that led me to this stall.

”Ilaria? Where are you hiding, sweetheart? I know you are in here.”

My heart dropped when I heard that voice. He is the same guy that hit me in the mall. I never saw him during my stay here, so I assumed-fuck! it doesn’t matter now.

God! Please not him. Anyone but him!!

”It will be painless if you come out willingly. I think you know what will happen otherwise.” He said, chuckling as if he was pleased with himself.

I slapped my mouth shut when I choked out a cry. I feel sick in my stomach. That’s it, I’m gonna die today.

”I’m going to count three. If you aren’t out by then-” I opened the door before he could finish his sentence.

He stood tall and broad, over six feet, with a creepy smirk and dirty brown eyes studying my every move. He looks like he is in his late thirties or early forties.

I cried out loud when he ripped out my wig along with the pins I secured to my hair, making my head burn and throb.

”Shut the fuck up cunt!” He cursed, gripping my jaw tightly. It was like he was using all his energy, the grip was painfully strong.

I whimpered, nodding my head and tried to pry his hands off me, but he didn’t budge.

”P-Please” I begged. Hot tears are running down my cheeks. ”Please- don’t hurt me” I felt embarrassed when I heard the desperation in my voice and cried hard.

He clicked his tongue twice and moved his grip from my jaw to my cheeks. He groaned, pinching my lower lip hard using his other hand, with his thumb and forefinger, digging his nail in.

I closed my eyes shut and cried when I felt the metallic taste in my mouth.

”Look. at. me” He growled, pinching harder. I whimpered but looked at him with teary eyes.

”You will make no sound and follow me. Got it?” He asked, pulling my face near him.

I nodded my head or atleast tried to. I hissed as his thumb traced along my bleeding lip. He sucked it and muttered ”Next time”, releasing me.

Next time?

I hope to lord not!

I opened the bathroom door with trembling hands and walked out. There were two more men outside and one of them gestured me to follow. I tucked my chin down and followed them into the elevator. I didn’t make a sound throughout the ride and only concentrated on my breathing. In, out. In, out.

As soon as the elevator doors opened, my feet stuck in place. I don’t want to go there. I somehow knew I wouldn’t come out in one piece or even alive. That thought sent a shudder down my spine.

”Fucking move bitch” I hissed when that giant asshole gripped my hand tightly and dragged me with him. After opening the 2nd or 3rd door, he pushed me inside and closed the door shut, leaving me alone with the last person I wanted to see. Or not! It’s better than being in the presence of that giant. At this point, I don’t know who I hate the most. The Giant or Niccolo.

I hugged my waist to stop myself from trembling. I blinked back the tears that were threatening to fall and looked up.

My breath caught in my throat when I saw Niccolo’s green eyes darkening with rage. His jaw was clenched and he looked ready to pounce. He sat on the sofa with a drink in his hand.

”Sit down” He growled lowly, still clenching his teeth. His voice sent another shudder through my body.

I gulped loudly and sat on the corner of the sofa, leaning away from him.

”Do you know how important that deal was for me? I swallowed my pride there and almost got that fucking pimp to sign the papers I needed but you wanted to ruin it, didn’t you?” He sneered, tightening his grip around the glass like he wanted it to be my neck instead.

My breathing increased but I kept my mouth shut, not trusting my voice.

”What the fuck do you want from me, woman? I left you alone thinking you’d give up when you find there is nothing here linking to your sister. But of course, I should have guessed that you were too dense and too busy playing Spy. In which you suck, by the way.”

Fury ragged inside me when he mentioned my sister. All fear and pain are temporarily tucked aside when I feel the adrenaline rush through my body. I clenched my fists on my lap.

”Don’t you dare mention my sister.” I snapped, glaring at him.

He raised his eyebrow. ”She talks. Nice. Let me tell you, your sister is good at spying. Too good that it got her fucking killed. Should have listened to me when I told her to fucking stop. Now I’m telling you the same. Stop. Stop before you end up like your sister”

I don’t know how, but I used all my pent up frustration, fear, embarrassment and channeled it into my fist and punched him hard. So hard, that I bruised my knuckles.

That felt good.