In my panic, I walked straight into Ryan's office without knocking.
"You called off your engagement!" I demanded loudly as I stood before his desk.
Ryan had his head bent over some files when I entered, and at the sound of my voice, he lazily raised his head, like a turtle, relaxing back into his seat.
"And you forgot your manners at the door," he said without annoyance, raising an eyebrow at me. His lack of anger at my rude interruption somehow made me feel even worse than if he had scolded me.
I blushed, averting my eyes from his intense gaze as I apologized for my sass.
"I am sorry."
"Apology accepted. You were saying?"
I cleared my throat and refocused on what was really important—his engagement. "I heard you called it off." I stared intently at my boss, hoping he would deny it and say someone was joking.
He looked at me with that lazy grin that makes me want to smack and kiss him at the same time, and he said, "Yes, and?"
"Whew!" I wiped an imaginary sweat off my forehead. "For a second, I thought you were—"
I trailed off as his reply sank in. "What! You called off your engagement!" I stared at him as if he had lost his mind, while he responded with a proud grin, as if expecting applause.
I placed both hands on his desk and leaned in slightly. "Was it because of me?" I asked, my heart trembling in fear. I was scared of what he might say. I don't know how I would feel if I were responsible for ending his engagement. I want to punish him, but not his girlfriend. The blonde might be crazy, but she hasn't really done anything to me.
"You do think very highly of yourself," he said with a sarcastically raised brow. I blushed, leaning off his desk. "I don't, it is just that the timing is a little suspicious."
"You can rest your mind, you are not responsible for me calling things off with Crystal."
Curious, I asked. "Why did you call off the engagement?"
He stares at me with a look that makes me slightly self-conscious and aware of my body, but I don't shy away from his stare.
"Because Melissa and I don't love each other."
I wasn't exactly surprised by his words. I suspected from his earlier action toward the blonde, but I don't buy that the blonde doesn't love him. One only needs to look at her when he is around to see her feelings for him. It is like a neon sign.
"Then why did you guys get engaged?"
"Our family. Melissa's family and mine are close friends and business partners. Our parents thought our marriage would further cement the relationship between the two families."
"And Melissa accepted the breakup?" I gave him a skeptical look, finding it hard to believe that the blonde would let him go that easily, not from the way she clung to him that day like a koala bear.
He shrugged, like what Melissa wants doesn't matter. "She had no choice. I told her I have no feelings for her and I have found someone that I love."
Love! I choked at his words, looking at him like he had lost his mind. "You told Melissa that!" I exclaimed, looking extremely worried that I was going to be found dead in some ditch.
He nods, looking very satisfied with himself.
"Are you crazy!" I blurt out, forgetting myself. I was so terrified of what his crazy fiancée, now ex-fiancée, would do when she found out who this mysterious woman he loves is that I forgot my place.
The smile disappears from his face, and he glares at me, his stern expression reminding me of who exactly it is I am talking to—a man who could end my life with a snap of his finger, and get away with it.
"I am sorry," I quickly apologized, staring at my feet. I heard Ryan get up and look up. He is walking around his table and heading toward me.
"You are acting as if you are the one I am in love with," he drawls, with a smoldering look in his eyes. Look, that sets my body on fire, reminding me of the desire I have been keeping at bay all day.
"D-don't come any closer," I warn him off, my voice shaking as I take a step back. I don't trust myself if he gets close to me, and doing anything with the man I vowed to destroy is not only stupid but dangerous.
He ignores my warning and continues to inch toward me, his stride slow and teasing. "Why?" He asked, a sly smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "The other night, you felt guilty about kissing me because of Melissa. Melissa is out of the picture; there is no reason for you not to kiss me." He finishes as he stands before me, caging me in against his desk.
With him standing so close, looking so sexy and gorgeous, I could barely breathe, and I only stared at him with everything I was feeling reflected in my eyes.
The same I could see reflected in his eyes. His blue eyes are almost black with lust. My eyes skirt to his lips, and all I want to do is lean on my toes and kiss him as if my life depended on it.
I felt ashamed of how much I wanted him. I shouldn't be feeling like this toward him. I should hate him, be furious with him for what he did to me, not want to tear his clothes off and have my way with him.
I looked away from him to hide my burning desire from his hungry gaze, but he stopped me midway with the tip of his finger and raised my face back to his.
I watched with my breath hanging in my throat as his head slowly descended. Just as his lips are about to touch mine, the door to his office opens.
I expected him to move away from me quickly, seeing we have an unexpected audience, but he doesn't. He looked slightly irritated at the interruption, and his large frame shielded me from seeing whoever had entered his office.
"So, is the woman beneath you the reason you broke off our engagement?" Melissa's voice rings across the office, with a bite to it.
My heart lurches hard against my rib. Shit! I am fucking dead. Now, I don't know if I want Ryan to move or stay.
I don't think I have the energy to deal with Melissa's craziness, especially given the situation.
As if he could hear my thoughts, Ryan doesn't move, but speaks to Melissa without revealing my presence.
"What are you doing here, Melissa?" He asked coldly.
"I am here to see my fiancé—"
"Ex-fiance," Ryan quickly corrects, but Melissa carries on like no one said anything. "And to ask you to fire that assistant of yours."
What! My eyes bulge out of their sockets at her words. Why the fuck does she want me fired? Well, except for the obvious, but she doesn't know that, right?
Lub-Dub! My heart pounds in my chest so loudly that I could hear it. Hopefully, others in the room can't. I wrapped my fingers tightly around Ryan's suit, using him to ground myself as I panicked from Melissa's words.
Would Ryan listen? Our history is still fresh, while he has known Melissa for years. He just admitted that their families are very close. Am I going to find myself with my stuff out the door?
"You must really think so highly of yourself to believe that I would fire one of my staff just because you said so," Ryan says casually, but his tone is steel. I am tempted to raise my head to see the look in his eyes that could reveal my presence to the blonde a few feet away, staring toward us as if she wants to cut us open with her eyes.
Ryan hasn't moved, which I am grateful for.
"As your fiancée," Melissa begins, hearing only what she wants to hear. "I think I deserve the right to eliminate any woman who poses a threat to me."
My blood ran cold at the way she said eliminate.
"And you think my assistant threatens you?" The way Ryan asked the question, you could see he was mocking the blonde, and it didn't escape her either. She is not as ditzy as she acts.
I heard her sharp intake of breath, even hiding behind Ryan.
"Are you saying she is not the one with you there?"Melissa asked, drawing out her question in a way that mocked Ryan as he had done to her earlier.
Ryan moves his body so he is facing Melissa squarely, but does it in such a way that he doesn't reveal my presence to the blonde.
My heart melts at his actions. And I am once again reminded why I am losing my heart to him, not that I should be entertaining thoughts like that, given the current situation.
"Who I am with is no longer your business, Melissa. And I have warned you never to come to my office unannounced," Ryan tells the blonde, his voice as hard as steel and cold as ice. I could feel the goosebumps on my skin just hearing him speak.
"I want you to leave."