The next morning, in Ryan's study, the air was heavy and dark. With the cold man with darkened gaze seating on his chair, dressed in his signature black. Leonel sat in front of him, receiving cold stares.
"Was it my fault?" Leonel spoke, fed up of the killing look.
"Of course" Ryan said. His voice was as dark as darkness.
"Tell me, how is my fault?" he demanded.
"I gave you a job to do. You failed. Had my foods poisoned!"
"Did I intentionally poison them? I did as you told me"
"You weren't at the company. If your were... you would have known the person who came to poison them, and stopped it by then"
"Fine. I accept the blame" he said, looking the other way.
"I need that person before today runs out. Or it's your head" Ryan said.
"What do you need my head for??"
"I'll hang it where everyone could see" he just said. He was really angry at this moment but looked so relaxed. It's frightening.
"Aish! This kid!" Leonel cursed underneath.
"Kid huh...." Ryan breathed out, a smirk crawling to his face. "I was never a kid"
Leonel sighed and stood up, "I'm leaving. Please... don't haunt me" he said and walked out. Ryan's head tilted to the side as he stared at the door. And then he stood up and walked to the window. He watched Leonel climb the car and rode away. He took air.... somehow mixed with rose. Soft, fluffy footsteps rangs in his ears and he closed his eyes, his teeth clenching. Dear Lord...save him!
The door opened and she barged in. Her scent clouding his brain. "Ryan!" he heard her voice and he opened his eyes like a fed up soul. A tired sigh leaving his lips. Arianna walked closer with a huge smile, and she was just about to hug him, he moved away and walked to his seat. Not sparing her glance. He focused on his computer like he didn't know she came in.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Working" was his one reply.
"Ah... I just wanted to ask if I can resume on Monday"
"Start whenever you want"
"Okay. Ah.... Gia says "thank you'"
"For?"
"For what you do for me" she answered, and all he could say was "Mm"
She stared at him. Noticing he didn't look at her since she walked in. And his tone was cold. Did she do something wrong? There were fine just last night.
"Why aren't you looking at me?" she asked him.
"I can see you. I don't need to look your way" he answered. He hated that he was answering her this way but he had to keep her away from him. He might want to bite her again.
"Okay" she said in a pained low voice, and then walked away. He lifted his eyes and saw her walking to the couch with her head low. He shook his head. He shouldn't succumb. Arianna sat on the couch and looked at him. He wasn't looking at her, so she lowered her eyes. Why is he angry? She didn't do anything wrong. Him acting cold makes her want to cry. But before any tears could brew, her phone rang. And when she saw the caller ID, a wide smile went to her face. She picked the call and placed it on her ear.
"Hayden!!!" she exclaimed. And the man lifted his eyes.
"Hello, Anna" Hayden spoke.
"You called"
"I had to. Happy birthday, Anna" he wished her.
"Hey, my birthday was yesterday" she told him.
"Do I care? I can wish you whenever I want"
"Sure. You always do that. So what did you get for me this time?"
"I got you a lot. Of all the things you had wanted last year"
"R-really?"
"All the makeup you wanted from your favourite brand, dresses and that one sneaker"
"Oh... really? You got them all?"
"Mm. I made sure no one bought them because it's only for my Anna"
My Anna?!!!
"Oh...oh, Hayden you're the best. I really want to hug you now"
She wants to hug him?!!
"I can fly by. I just hope Mr CEO wouldn't skin me alive. Gia told he's a jealous type. Too protective"
"Ah... that's right" Aria said, and Ryan scoffed.
"Okay, I have to go now..."
"Already?"
"I'm sorry but I'm really busy. I'll make time to come see you, okay?"
"Okay. Bye Hayden"
"Bye Anna"
Her eyes were twinkling brightly and she had a huge smile on her face. He said he'll come see her. And he got her a lot of gifts. Oh...she's too lucky. She looked at Ryan who sat there glaring at the computer. His jaws clenched and gaze dark. How dare she say she wanted to hug him? If he gets guy...he's dead. Aria is only his. She belongs to him!
"Ryan " her voice came "Hayden got me gifts"
"I heard" he spoke with a harsh tone, enough to cause fear.
"Aren't you supposed to be jealous?" she blurted, and he lifted his eyes. She blinked. His eyes could kill.
"If you're doing this to make me pissed , then forget it. It won't work" he spoke and looked back at the computer. His jaws clenched hard, he felt terrible for speaking in that manner. But he just wanted her to leave. He didn't want to bite her just yet. He might drain her whole and kill her. He doesn't want that. He expected her to stand and leave. He could apologize later, but instead, the girl began to cry.
"Why are you angry at me? You're speaking coldly to me and staring at me with dangerous eyes. Why are you like this? I didn't do anything wrong " she wailed, tears streaming down her face.
Sweat broke on Ryan's forehead and he wiped it off. He wondered what he was going to do without going to her. But he can only apologize and wipe her tears. He has to touch her. He stood up, walked to her with a lump in his throat. He sat down beside her like he was seating on fire.
"Ari... Aria, I'm sorry. Please, don't cry"
"You're a bad boyfriend" she cried her eyes out.
"Don't say that. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I was very angry, that's why"
"Did I make you angry..?"
"No no,, it wasn't you..."
"Then why would you vent it on me?!"
"I'm sorry. It won't happen again. Please don't cry anymore" he pleaded, really fighting the urge to touch her. "Aria, please" he lifted his hand to wipe her tears but then clenched it into fist, taking his hand back. All of a sudden, she straddled him, and his heart sank to his stomach.
"Are you really sorry?" she asked, and he nodded. "Really? You won't vent your anger on me anymore right?"
"I won't " he answered, and she smiled. And then hugged him tightly. He was sweating bullets, heart racing wildly. Please, don't do this to me.
Aria pulled back and kissed his cheek, and then the other. She rained kisses on his face, and he really begged to be saved. He could feel his muscles stiffen. His brothers were growing excited and he pulled her away.
"I should work, Aria" he told her. Arianna could see that his canines were bit longer than normal. But she paid no attention to it.
"No, I want to play with you. Remember, you said we'll play everyday?"
He took in air, wondering how to escape this. "Please" she came again with those eyes. Damn! Why are you doing this to me?!
"So what should we play, huh..."
"Teach me martial arts" she said.
"What makes you think I know martial arts?" he asked with creased brows.
"I don't think, I know because I've seen you fight. You were so cool, so you're going to teach me so I'll be cool too" she smiled silly and and a smile went up his face.
"You just want to be cool?"
"Well....I want learn how to protect myself in case you're not there. And I also want to help you fight. I can also fight the demons in my nightmares. I want you to teach me everything. Karate, Tai Chi, Taekwondo, Kung fu...all of them."
He stared, knowing she was right. Especially now that she's going to school, she needed a lot of protection.
"You can just call me. Or I'll ask chairman Park to watch over you" he said , and she shook her head.
"I don't want to cause you pain. And I don't want to always be the damsel in distress. I want to learn how to defend myself"
He smiled at that. He loved that she wanted to protect herself and not cause pain on him. But since it's her he doesn't mind being in pain. He would protect her.
Ryan lifted his hand and touched her cheek, stroking it gently with his thumb. She stared in his eyes, blinking hers from time to time. Where did you come from? He wanted to ask. Damn! He's so lucky to have her. He has never been lucky in his entire life. But now he is.
"Okay. I'll teach you all that I know" he said, and she squealed in excitement. Hugging him tightly again. Ryan stood up, but she still held onto him like a koala up in tree. He had to walk out holding her that way. And again, as he walked, she rained kisses on his face. He could only smile.