~LISA'S POV~
I stood still for a whole minute, unsure of what to make of everything that had just happened. Had Riccardo really said all that? Did he really mean everything he said? I was his sister! How could he pick the side of that wretch over mine?! I had done what I did because I cared for us, for our family, for him!
No, it wasn't Riccardo, it was that woman, Anne Allistair.
Clara stood up slowly, her face softening as she stepped toward me. "Lisa… I'm so sorry," she murmured, reaching for my arm. "He didn't mean it. He's just confused. You know how Riccardo gets when—"
"Don't touch me."
I shoved her hand away harder than I intended, my chest heaving. The sympathy in her eyes only made it worse. I didn't want comfort. I didn't want logic. I wanted blood.
Clara stumbled back, her face pale with shock. It was probably the first time I had acted that way with her, and everything was because of her!!
That woman had walked into our lives and turned everything upside down. I had no idea how she had managed to do it, but somehow she had managed to get to Riccardo. Riccardo and I disagree on things from time to time, but not once had it gotten this extreme. I needed to teach her a lesson, to make sure she doesn't get to Riccardo anymore than she already has.
Enraged and determined, I grabbed my coat and keys, my anger and hate for Anne growing with my every movement.
"Lisa, wait—" Clara yelled out, but I didn't listen. This might probably get me in more trouble with Riccardo, but at this juncture I couldn't care less. I just needed to pour out my anger somewhere, and also made sure she understood exactly what her position was!
I stormed out of the house, slamming the door so hard the walls rattled. By the time I slid into my car, my hands were shaking with rage. I punched the steering wheel once before starting the engine.
In a matter of seconds I had her details, and in a few minutes, I brought my car to a halt in front of her apartment.
I took the stairs two at a time, determined to make sure I got to her before I forgot what I had in mind,
The door swung open almost immediately I knocked. Anne stood there, breathless, eyes lighting up for a split second before it was replaced with utter shock. She had thought I was Riccardo, and realising that made my blood boil even more.
Before she could speak, I shoved her back, forcing my way inside. She stumbled, barely catching herself on the wall.
Her eyes widened. "Lisa—?"
"Listen to me very carefully," I hissed, stepping into her space. "You will stay away from my brother."
She stared at me, stunned, like she couldn't process what was happening.
"I—I don't understand—"
"Oh, you understand perfectly," I cut in sharply, my voice towering over her feeble and confused one. "I don't know what sort of game you're playing with Riccardo but I've had enough of it!"
I shoved her again, harder this time, and her back hit the wall. I leaned in, lowering my voice into something cold and deliberate.
"You have one hour," I said. "One. Hour. To convince Riccardo to reverse my transfer."
Anne froze for a second, her face paling as she slowly began to make sense of something I wasn't entirely sure of.
"He transferred you? Why…?" She asked innocently, concern visible across her face. However, I couldn't care less about her concern or pity, I had given her the orders, and I needed for her to know that there would be consequences if she didn't get Riccardo to call off the transfer.
"You don't have the right to ask questions here!" I thundered while I did my best to remain calm. "You have one hour! I don't care what you do, or how you do it, but get him to change his mind! If you don't, I'll make sure Thomas Brown gets just all the information he needs…"
My voice faltered a little when I saw Anne's eyes widen in fear at the mention of her ex husband. Perhaps I had gone too far with the threat. I had no serious intention of working with a horrible man like Thomas, however I was desperate at that moment. And desperate times called for desperate measures.
The shock on Anne's face vanished almost as quickly as it appeared. She took slow, steady breaths, then lifted her face to look me dead in the eyes before finally speaking.
"Get out of my house,"
Now I was the speechless and shocked one. I blinked, genuinely stunned by the sudden change in her demeanor and audacity.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me," Anne replied almost swiftly, her voice calm but firm, the kind of tone that didn't beg or plead. "You have no right to be here. Leave. Now."
For a moment, I actually laughed. "You think you get to give me orders?" I scoffed, stepping closer, trying to tower over her again. "Do you have any idea who I am?"
She didn't back away. Didn't even blink. She just stood still, her eyes locked onto mine in a serious gaze.
"I know exactly who you are, and while I respect you deeply, I won't have you threaten me in my own house!" She gestured toward the door, the pointed finger trembling slightly. "So I'm going to say this once more. Leave. Or I'll call security and have you thrown out."
The audacity in her voice made me more surprised than angry. I wanted to get heated, intimidate her with rage or something else. But when I stared at her face, those thoughts were quickly dismantled. She was dead serious, there weren't any signs of hesitation behind those eyes.
I wasn't afraid of her threats or her in the slightest, but I knew she definitely had more power here in her apartment. If she should call security, there was no doubt that I'd get disgraced and thrown out for invading her space and trespassing on private property.
My jaw tightened, and I locked eyes with her one more time.
"You have one hour, Anne Hollister. Don't think I won't do all I've said."
With that I turned around and stormed out of her apartment. I knew she would speak with Riccardo, and if Riccardo had truly fallen for her, he would listen. He would yell at me again for threatening Anne, but that was the least of my problems. What mattered most now was me not getting transferred.