FINALLY, PHOEBE IS BACK BITCHES AS WELL AS I.

___________

❝Even if it's simple to touch him but how can I forget the thorns around him?❞

"YOU LOOK like a tadpole." The kid chuckles while popping out the lollipop from his mouth his father gave it to him. I roll my eyes at his inconsistent shit talk.

The pouch arm sling hand support has been placed on my left side which probably got fractured when my body fell diagonally but this kiddo for the past twenty minutes is talking as if the whole world was waiting for his content.

I sigh and crouch down but stop by the gauge wrapped around my chest. Can't I just be better off dead? My cast will be removed after a week and a half probably because the pain it consumed wasn't that major, it was a minor dislocation of bones.

There are so many restrictions and damn the flow of blood month that had to happen last night after Stephan walked through in the meantime. Just imagine the embarrassment I faced and the snicker that escaped from his godly face.

"Are we done?" I whine at Stephan who indicates with his finger five which means five more minutes which he has been showing for the past few minutes and if next time he shows them I will cut them off.

"You are so whiny." Again the kid replies.

I glare at the boy. "And you are too sweet to be in this world."

His eyes furrowed in confusion. "What does that mean?"

"That means-" I am cut off by Stephan who answers, "We are done."

I look at the boy and whisper. "That means good boys get treated to sweetness not the bad ones and you are one of them so this," I take out the lollipop which is smeared with his saliva, and smirk at the fright on his face, "don't deserve it." With that, I throw it down and crush it under my foot ignoring his sobs.

"Next time do watch where you talk and to whom," I growl.

His teary eyes don't have any effect on me. "You are a bad girl."

"Oh, I am bad enough to make you fall and crush you like a piece of shit."

"Bad word. Dad, she said a bad word." He yells and he must thank Stephan because he drags me with him ignoring my fight to go back and teach the kid a lifetime lesson.

"That piece of shit thinks he is just a kid so he can do anything. Like huh, dude I am the fucking giant nightmare dressed in a white gown. He is just so frustrating." I ramble while Stephan seems to dodge my words.

"Hey, you rotten egg I am talking to you too." I poke him with my right hand which isn't injured.

"And I am ignoring you." I roll my eyes and go inside the car and wait for Stephan to come inside. "Put on the seatbelt," I say.

He looks at me and nods his head. "Thanks." And then puts on his seatbelt. I again roll my eyes.

"Idiota. I was talking about my seatbelt." I grumble.

"You have a good hand use that." He replies starting the engine. His casual attire is another chaos to my hormones. I brush it off quickly.

"Don't forget that the gauge around my chest is restraining the effect so my oh so dear husband do a single responsibility." I mock him.

He fists his hand around the steering wheel and looks at me with deadly eyes. "Be thankful it's that time of the month otherwise your mouth wouldn't stay put." With that, he harshly slides the belt and clips it.

"Grazie." I smile sweetly at him and look forward. The engine revives and we speed off to our destination.

"But don't forget to stop in between to grab my breakfast. Wait at Starbucks, maybe near, look at the map and take us there." I say.

"I am not your driver, Oli." I scoff at his remark but don't say anything and suddenly the urge to cry surfaces my angry emotion.

"Hey, why are you crying?"

"Y-you are n-not tak-taking me to st-Starbucks." I sob.

"But-" I glare at him which made him stop mid-sentence. "Okay, fine let's go." A smile placed on my face and I beam with happiness.

"Thanks, Stephano," I say smiling. He looks puzzled but also stuck in awe. Do I look that good with a waterfall through my eyes and nose?

I shrug it off and soon we pause in front of traffic. He opens the glove compartment after he halts his car and pulls out two passport-looking cards. I eye them suspiciously.

"What are these?" I ask him. He looks at me and smirks. This smirk will get me into deep trouble. The way the sun kissed his face at an acute angle made his grey orbs glow.

I cough lightly and wait for his response. "Well, these are marriage cards. You have your name and all the information that you have in my office has been inserted here along with mine."

I scoff at how easily he spoke as if he is glad to have me as his wife as if it will ever happen. "Isn't it funny you are going to marry someone who is still going to kill you?" Now it's my time to smirk at him.

He soon poses his cold posture. "It's amusing that Hunter needs you recently yet you didn't tell me who sent you to kill me." I  close my eyes feeling the agitation growing in my nerves. I rub the tip of my nose and look at the other side.

"You don't have only one enemy Mr. Romano. You have more than hundreds consider me from one of them." I grumble back.

He chuckles humorlessly. "When the time comes and I get to know about the truth, remember my sweet Oliver I am going to unleash my beast and pounce upon you and ruthlessly kill you until you beg for mercy." I turn back and glance at him where his eyes shimmer with the hidden promise which somehow made me shiver not in fear but in excitement.

I smile sweetly. "Get ready for the actual game, Mr. Romano."

We both look ahead and when the traffic light glowed in green, Stephan presses the break and pulls the gear racing the car, and off we go.

∞

"Keep that animal out of my league," I yell in agony when the dog tries to come in front of me.

Stephan chuckles as he lifts the dog and approaches me. Is this the way he wants to keep his promise by killing me? I press my back at the wall arching my face to the other side when the beast's face comes near to mine, way too close if I may add. I thought he will bark or at least bite my beautiful face but the action happened the opposite. He starts to wag his tail which is positioned high in the air and licks my face with a long slurp. Yuck.

I scrunch my nose and hold my breath for a while. Later, he lowly barks as if urging me to showcase my gratitude. I smile awkwardly. "Hey, I am Oliver who will soon die in your hands."

Stephan laughs lowly, like those deep throaty laugh that is contagious making me smile a little. He doesn't know the effect he proclaims on me but the way he unknowingly does the act pulls out an affection that even I don't know ever existed.

Later, the dog barks loudly wagging his tail downward. I smile at it but when my eyes land on its parts I get to know it's a he. Stephan slowly stops his laugh yet the snicker doesn't stop. I glare at him but don't say anything.

"It's Ben and he won't hurt you until." He eyes me with an evil glint.

"Until?" I ask lowly.

"Until you harm me." My eyes widen and I look at Ben who after knowing what his master told eyes me with a demon running over his head.

I smile nervously. "Oh-okay."

He smirks at me. "Brava ragazza, now touch his fur." I am not going to die in the hands of a dog. Oh my God, what will happen when my future grandchildren will read my history knowing that she died in the hands of a dog?

He snorts at my situation and places my shaky hands on the head of the dog. Instead, of biting me he cools down. The fur is so soft, my fingers tangle his fur and move back and forth making him purr. I smile as if winning an auspicious reward. I look at Stephan who catches the act and now his eyes carry the softness within them.

"Muchas gracias por eliminar el miedo que tenía contra ellos."

(Thanks a lot for removing the fear I had against them)

He lets down Ben who happily wanders wherever his master walks by. He looks at me and acknowledges my gratitude. I smile at him and walk to my room to get a change and rest.

He pauses his walk and turns to the side where his face shows partially. "Next time speak Italian. I know you know."

Nothing has been hidden from Stephan about Oliver. I sigh and nod my head.

"You can go to your room and take some rest."

"Sure and I am hungry. Can you make something for me?" I ask him knowing the answer will be negative.

"I don't know how it will be but let's hope for the best." I again nod my head but then remember his earlier words. "You told me your servants will come but none came."

He shrugs, rolling up his sleeves, and walks towards the cabinet to bring the ingredients for his dish. The way his muscles flex and the veins pop up aches my fingers to trace them and kinky thoughts prevailed in my menstrual mind.

"Did you listen to what I said?" I jerk back looking at him with wide eyes.

"Scusi?" I ask.

He rolls his eyes lighting the stove and places the pan on it. " I told that servants won't be needed-"

"Do you think I am going to act like a proper housewife?" I shriek, letting my pitch high. His gaze harden at my voice and in a quick move, he pins me against the wall with his one hand wrapped across my cheeks squishing to form a pout on my lips.

"Never raise your voice at me. Let me finish the line which I wanted to end up as servants won't be needed to have their nightshifts. They will do everything starting from cooking to cleaning and other chores in the daytime. Let me finish then start your line. Am I clear?"

I want to roll my eyes at him. How can I reply when he almost closes my mouth? Instead, I nod my head and after a few minutes he let me go and walks to his chamber to do God knows what.

I quickly scramble back to my room and lock the door. I open the wardrobe to find any loose clothes which finally set on a loose shirt and shorts. I slowly yet carefully lift my shirt after unclipping the sling. I wince when a sudden sound like a crack is heard by. I hope I am not a werewolf.

I do my necessities, taking my time as if the whole world is there waiting for me and my commands. I look at myself in the mirror and smile slowly.

"Sei una talpa, presto la tirerà fuori."

(A/N: Find it out by yourself and do comment on what the statement means.)

∞

"Mr. and Mrs. Müller will be there in tomorrow's gala and I want you to know whatever we are playing the couple game it's to impress them. One mistake and we will lose £577866.81. Our act will increase the pay and that's what will make us grab the largest seat." I hum while my head is busy digging in the bowl of noodles.

I slurp the soup and place the bowl down. "Well, why are they so important? I think we arrived here to shake hands with the Pisano?"

"We will but the amount we will gain from the Müller will increase. We not only get huge support in the fields of art but also in my other business."

I eye him carefully. "And what business?'

He shrugs before saying, "Clubs, weapons, drugs, and a company that will soon start and it's not like you don't know." I giggle and thank him. After that, walking to my room greeting him good night.

I close the door but the sudden realization hit me that I forgot to ask him to give me the medications. I open the door and head to his room which makes a scraping noise while opening it.

I head inside the room which was dark and gloomy just like him. The color black flowed everywhere. My eyes will have a huge problem once I get out of this black hole.

But then my eyes land on the radiant object illuminated in the dim light. I walk toward it and find it's coming from my laptop. I sigh but then my eyes glance at the screen.

A tender?

I take out my camera and click it and quickly put it in my pocket.

"What are you doing here?" I jump in fright.

"Can you at least make a sound of your appearance?" I lower my voice to hide the fear of getting caught but when the fear slowly starts to dissipate, my eyes widen at the scene in front of me. I quickly turn my back and put my right hand on my eyes.

"At least wear something. A towel wrapped around your waist has less than a cent not to fall." My face is red. The toned muscles and the veins that pop out at the back of his palm when he rested his hand on his hip don't help me to calm down my nerves.

A chuckle erupts behind me yet I don't take my hand off. "Mi fa piacere che tu stia arrossendo tesoro."

(It pleases me that you are blushing sweetheart)

I snort at his true remark yet didn't reply. The chuckle cools down. "But can you tell me what are you doing here?" The thick tension between us can be cut through a knife.

"I wanted to take the medicines but didn't know which one to take as all of them were with you." He hums in reply.

"You can look at me. I am fully dressed." I sigh in relief but when my eyes rake at the half-naked Stephan I shriek and again turn back.

"When I heard fully dressed it also means the shirt on your upper body and pant on your lower body. I know you have a God-gifted structure but don't flex it boy, it's not good for your health."

"Okay, I am now fully and I mean fully dressed like you said shirt on my upper body and pant on my lower body." Yet I  can hear the snicker behind his statement.

He hands me the medicines and guides me to the timetable along with which one to take.

I thank him and walk to my room and lock it from behind. I have one of the medicines but then I open my phone and zoom the screen where the words are placed.

"𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘠𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘭𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 300 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢 𝘩𝘶𝘨𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭.

𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭. 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶."

-𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥
ℜ

I smile through the photo and whisper the surname that is a little delayed to all the play they followed.

"Rizzo."

∞

Can we quickly reach up to 8.5k and 850 votes? Pwetty pwease.

Too many surnames that start with R yet I like every one of them. However, do tell me in the comment section which one is your favorite surname and why.

Also, how are you even if COVID is visiting each er of the world?

This chap has >2800 words.

Ｋｉｎｄｌｙ Ｖｏｔｅ ａｎｄ Ｃｏｍｍｅｎｔ.