Ryan's POV
Though he had initially gone over to her hoping to get lucky, Ryan had actually enjoyed talking to Vivian. Her views on many of the things that they had discussed were quite refreshing.
Not only that, she was also very passionate when defending her points, so passionate in fact that those wonderful boobs of hers had bounced alluringly each time she had sighed in frustration. Not that he had been paying too much attention of course,(a lie, he had been stealing as many looks as possible and resisting the temptation to reach out and touch.
But now, that wonderful time was a thing of the past.
Vivian was gone.
The lovely woman, having bid Ryan farewell so that she could meet sure that her drunk friend got home safely.
Settling back in the stool, next to Mark where he had started the evening, Ryan instantly had to quash an annoyed frown when his friend let out a soft chuckle.
"Ladies and gentlemen, miracles do happen. The King has fallen. Ryan Terrell, the playboy of the century, has been turned down,"
Ignoring his friend, he's signaled for the bartender to refill his glass of water, taking a sip and staring straight ahead.
"Oh, come on, man, do not be like that. I was just making a joke," Mark said, putting his glass down, Ryan contemplated continuing to have a staring contest with the bottle of whiskey in his line of sight, and not talking to his friend.
But, Mark continued to speak and in doing so, he unexpectedly touched an nerve.
"If a regular Jane like that can turn you down then-" Before he could even finish, Ryan was cutting him off with a fierce look, a snarl twisting his features.
"Do not talk about her like that. She is not just some regular woman,"
Mark stared at him, his eyes wide, clearly stunned. To be honest, Ryan was surprised by his own reaction too.
"Whoa, dude, relax. Leaning back a bit," Mark gave him a considering look.
"She must really be something to have you all worked up after only knowing her for such a short while,"
Against his better judgement, Ryan felt his shoulder's hunch.
Why was Mark not dropping the topic? Couldn't he see it was making Ryan feel awkward?
Just as it seemed that Mark was about to continue with his awful line of conversation.
There was a throat clearing that had both of them startling.
Looking over his shoulder, Ryan opened his mouth to tell the intruder to beat it.
But when he saw who it was, the words instantly died in his throat.
Standing a bit behind the two of them, looking incredibly nervous, was none other than Vivian Rose.
***
His annoyance at his friend forgotten, Ryan instantly got to his feet and leaned against the counter.
"If it isn't Miss Vivian Rose, what brings you back here?" He drawled. Not even sparing Mark a look when the other man sniggered.
Biting at her plump lower lip, Vivian looked between the two of them, those grey eyes of hers searching.
"Ryan, may I speak to you alone?" She asked. The woman was so nervous, she was vibrating in place.
Taking her in, Ryan began to worry.
Had something happened, was her friend alright? Was someone bothering them? Whatever it was, it was clear that Vivian did not feel comfortable talking about it with Mark there.
Sending a meaningful look his friend's way, Ryan did not even have to wait two seconds
for Mark to get the message.
"You know what? I just remembered some paperwork that I forgot back at the office. Why don't you stay here, talk to this lovely lady and we'll catch up some other time,"
Good man, Mark, good man.
Ryan slapped him lightly on the shoulder as the other man made himself scarce.
But even with it being just the two of them, Vivian still did not seem comfortable. Her gaze kept shifting around the room, looking at all of the occupants like they were somehow a threat to her.
"How about we go someplace more quiet?"
Ryan offered and she instantly nodded. Her grey eyes betraying just how grateful she was for the suggestion.
***
Though it was not something that he liked to advertise,
Ryan was actually the owner of the bar that they were in. He could have very easily taken her to his office.
But he got the feeling that such a display of wealth would put her off. So instead, he moved her to a darkened corner outside of the drinking area.
The hallway leading to his private restroom. It was an area of the establishment that very few people
ever walked towards because they had no reason to.
Most thought it was a dead end.
"All right, I am listening," Ryan told her as they came to a stop, looking at him. Vivian's entire face just suddenly went red. She briefly looked down at the floor, before looking back into his eyes with what seemed to be great effort on her part.
"I am here," She finally managed. Then she stared at him like he was supposed to understand what that meant.
"Yes, you are," He agreed. Vivian nodded.
Then she continued to stare at him. Ryan met her gaze. Not knowing what was going on in her mind.
Tucking a lock of dark hair behind her ear. Vivian squared her shoulders and took a breath.
"When I left earlier, you promised me that if you ever saw me again, you would rock my world…So here I am,"
Oh, oh, oh my…