Ryan's POV
In hindsight, Ryan's actions.
Hiring a PI to track down his one night stand, and then showing up at her place of work were incredibly crazy. It was the type of stalker behavior that he'd to endure from some of his flings. Now he had done it to someone else.
It was not a good feeling.
To make matters worse, he had actually put thought into it.
After finding out who she was, and exactly where she worked, he had not just gone straight there. Instead, he had visited other preschools as well. Making sure that when he finally showed up at hers, it would look like a coincidence. The plan, as crazy as it was should have worked, and it almost had.
For a few moments, Ryan had been in the same building as Vivian for the first time in weeks. But then he had happened to look out the window and had seen her running away at full speed. He had wanted so badly to jump out the window and go after her. But that would not have been proper( and it would have been even crazier than what he had already done), so he had stayed behind.
The school director had provided a reason for her absence without Ryan even having to ask.
"Unfortunately, one of my best teachers is not feeling well at the moment. She really would have been honored to meet you," The director had seemed to fully buy the lie. But Ryan, who had witnessed Vivian running with his own two eyes, knew the truth. She had probably seen him first and had come up with an excuse in order to leave without the two of them meeting.
The fact that she had gone to such great lengths to get away from him made his heart hurt.
***
Despite not having wanted to stay longer after seeing Vivian leave. Ryan had stayed the usual thirty minutes as he had done with every other preschool before Vivian's. Now though, with his obligation fulfilled, it was time for him to head back to his penthouse. But Ryan found himself not wanting to do that.
Vivian running away was proof that she did not wish to see him again. It was in his best interest to just let it all go. To give up on whatever it was that he was trying to do, and keep going about his life.
Yet Ryan found even the mere thought of picking such an option to be unbearable. He had to see her just one more time.
Just once more…that was all.
Which was why instead of being in his own place, Ryan was currently standing in front of the door to Vivian's apartment. His heart in his throat as he double checked the address that the private investigator he had hired had given him.
Putting his phone down, he let out a breath, his cheeks puffing out.
Why was he so nervous?
He had literally done negotiations with much higher steaks than this. Talking to a woman that he'd had a one night stand with should have been a breeze. And yet, when Ryan raised his hand towards the door, he found that it was shaking.
'Should I ring the doorbell?' He suddenly found himself wondering, 'would it be rude to knock? Or will she find the doorbell to annoying.' Closing his eyes, he made his decision, ringing the doorbell and then pulling his hand away before the sound could become grating. Ryan waited, not daring to breathe, feeling as though his heartbeat was suddenly too loud.
"Coming," The sound of her sweet voice had him taking a relieved breath. Good, she was home. A few seconds later, the door opened and Ryan's world suddenly felt brighter for the first time in many days.
"Hey Vivian," He greeted.
***
Out of all of the reactions to seeing him again, Ryan had not expected Vivian to immediately try and slam the door in his face. Only his quick reflexes stopped that from happening, his hand reaching out to stop her from closing the door on him.
"Vivian wait!" He called out desperately. Internally, he was reeling, he had never had a door slammed in his face before.
He was the type of person that people often fell over themselves in order to open doors for him, not close them. Going against the norm and very clearly still wanting to shut the door in his face, Vivian was pressing her weight against the barrier.
Ryan, not wanting to hurt her, was simply standing in place, not pushing back at all.
"Listen, Ryan, I know that people like you normally have their one night stands, sign non-disclosures, but I swear to you, I will not be going to the press or anybody else with this. So please just go,"
Wait, what?
"Vivian, I know you would not tell anybody about what went on between the two of us. That is not why I am here,"
There was silence for a bit, then the pressure that Ryan had been withstanding in blocking the door suddenly seized. A second later, the door opened fully, and Vivian was standing there. She was in jeans in a soft blouse. The simple combo that he had seen from a distance looking even better up close. Making Ryan's mouth water as his eyes dipped to take her in before you forced himself to look up at her face.
She did not step aside to let him in, but she also was not actively trying to push him out. So Ryan took that as a win. Perking up when she spoke up.
"If you are not here to threaten me and to silence, why are you here?"