To Intrigue a Cavelli [The Seven Cavelli Brothers #1]

16. | Schemers at Work |

"I am not so sure if I like that smile," Luca says as Dimitri shoves his phone into his pocket with a self-satisfied grin. He and Luca were on an art-hunt (as Dimitri placed it) for their newest viewing at the Kolovos galleries the coming month. Luca wanted something modern and completely outrageous this time and since he was married to the epitome of all those things, bringing Dimitri along was inevitable. None of them liked leaving Ollie alone at home but neither had a choice, they had been putting it off for quite awhile now and Ollie was not having neither of her best friend's compromising their professional lives for her.

Dimitri smirks at his husband. "I believe you owe me 500 bucks." He says holding out his hand. "You mean Cavelli actually came?" Luca blinks with slight surprise. "Yup!" Dimitri appears gleeful, "You know better than to question my instincts." He says as Luca hands him the money. 

Dimitri pockets the bills and takes a cursory glance around the small gallery they were currently planning on entering. "Shall we proceed?" He asks and Luca glances briefly at his watch.

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Vitelli doesn't bother hiding the heat in his eyes, Miss Olivia Clarkson looked as edible in a plain T-shirt and jeans as she did nearly naked. Ollie had her hair up in a careless bun and has nothing more than clear lip-gloss on her face.

She gestures Vitelli to sit down by the coffee table, offering to get him something to drink. "Thanks but you'd already offered me wine." He says with a slight smirk. "So why'd you come visit Mr. Cavelli?" Ollie asks, trying to look anywhere but his tempting lips. The kiss they'd shared.

"Someone broke into your apartment," Vitelli says, "And this wasn't the first time it happened." He says it as a fact and Ollie nods. "With the kind of work I do part-time makes me quite liable for break-ins. It's nothing new." She shrugs, "They are usually harmless, minor break-ins. The offenders usually gave empty threats and stole some stuff." Ollie offers.

"But this one's escalated." Vitelli states and Ollie's silence answers for her. "You've clearly done your research before coming." She drawls with an accusing glance. "Indeed, I had Barnard and Silas investigate," Ollie gives him a questioning look. "My head of security and my IT head." He offers.

"You've moved quite a lot over the years too." Vitelli looks directly at her and Ollie doesn't bother answering. "You are still going to work though."

"Yes." Ollie answers with heat, "Just because a madman threatened me for doing what was right doesn't and shouldn't stop me from living my life. I refuse to live in fear," Ollie stands up, "And this isn't the first time this happened, so I know quite well how to deal with it." She says.

"I appreciate your concern Mr. Cavelli, but as you can see I am clearly not at my best." She gestures to the mess on the counter. "And I would very much like to clean up this mess and continue with my daily routine." Her dismissal was clear in those pretty eyes.

Vitelli barely manages to resist the wide grin threatening to take over his features. Olivia Clarkson excited him, the maddening woman was determind not to get involved with him despite their obvious attraction to the other. 

But as far as he was concerned, Olivia was going to get involved with him and they were going to get close and personal. And there was nothing in the world that could stop Vitelli Cavelli from claiming Olivia Clarkson as his.

"Ah, then I'll leave you to it." Vitelli says as he too stands up, "And before I forget, Martha loved the flowers you'd sent her." Vitelli winks and leaves through the door with that unwavering Cavelli confidence he and his brothers were famous for.

Vitelli nods at the guard who had previously let him in as he handed back the pass. Once inside his car, he phones Barnard and switches to Bluetooth as Vitelli backs out of the driveway. "Get someone to keep an eye on Olivia Clarkson." Vitelli says. There is a brief pause before Barnard replies. "Right away sir." 

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Juliette sits by the small table placed over looking her gardens, her husband sat by her side, his hands was resting atop hers on the glass table, both of them had identical expressions. They enjoyed the comfortable silence. Lucian peeks at his lovely wife from the corner of his eyes. Even after nearly two decades of being together, she still took his breath away.

"Yes, mio amore, I can feel you staring." Juliette says her eyes still admiring the flowers. Lucian grins. "Do you think she'll do?" Lucian asks his darling, "For Vitelli I mean?" 

Juliette turns to face her husband with a small grin. "Vitelli is dense as they come when it comes to following his own feelings, the boy thinks he's on top of the world with his achievements and believes he doesn't need love. Even as a boy he detested falling in love and our Carlos's divorce only made his even more stubborn," Juliette says, "But I know the expression a Cavelli man wears when he's deep, Vitelli might not recognize it, but his brothers do- I do. He looks at Olivia the way you would look at the one who completes you. She's the one." Lucian chuckles this time.

"Indeed, and dear Olivia seems rather conflicted herself. But I am sure that'll work out. I recognize the expression our son had when his brothers met his lady. I had the same one when I was courting you." Lucian's voice was fond as he places a kiss on his wife's cheeks, "He's determined to have her." Both husband and wife share a knowing look.

Miss Olivia Clarkson was going to experience first hand how stubborn a Cavelli can be. And if Olivia was anything like what Juliette had seen her to be, then Vitelli was in for the greatest challenge of his life.

And while the youngsters keep themselves busy with each other, Juliette and Lucian make plans to experience being grandparents again. 

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*throws confetti in the air* 

Second update of the day! Am I great or what?