Away From Him

Reaching in front of May's apartment after a 2 hour drive, Luca got out of his car and opened the door for the lady to get out. She smiled in return and bowed slightly at  him and Devin. 

"Thank you so much for your help. Darah could've been seriously hurt without you." May was very much grateful for Devin's presense. Darah pouted at her words and May smiled like a caring mother and pinched her cheek. 

"She can be a knucklehead at times. But it's alright, I can handle it." Devin's finding didn't impress Darah who was frowning at the back. She sneakily gave a light punch on his arm from behind the seat but he pretended it didn't happen, maintaining his smile at May. 

"May… If anything doesn't feel right, or if you feel like you need me, please give me a call. I'll be right here! And most importantly..." Darah pressed her hand softly and smiled. 

"Move on. He's not worth your time. You deserve the best. " 

May paused for a moment and then her eyes felt like it welled up again. She held in her tears and nodded with a cheerful smile. Darah wanted to go too but what if she put May in danger, just like what happened back at home. She began fidgeting with her fingers and hadn't noticed that the car had started moving. She couldn't deny that if Ryu were here, he'd have given her a solid solution. He somehow always had her covered. But then again, why did I think of him...

"Darah!? Are you even there?" Devin called for the nth time and was now beside her, leaving Luca alone in the front to drive. 

"Devin!" She exclaimed all of a sudden. 

"What?" He sighed. 

"What if… what if someone does something to her!? After we're gone!? What if those bad guys saw us coming here!?" 

"That's very unlikely, considering how you and your friends love to live in dungeons without people nearby. By the time they find this place, she'd be rich and married with two kids." 

"Why two?"

"Because I want two kids." Devin grinned, earning a slap on his head from Darah. 

"Was that a joke!? Oh my poor May… I won't let you be an inch close to her, you ugly face!" She scowled, his grin slowly vanishing off of his lips. He smirked, advancing closer with a dead gaze aimed right at her wide brown orbs. 

"Look at me and say that again." His voice dropped an octave lower sending chills down Darah's spine. By the time she knew it, her whole face had turned red like a ripe tomato. His smirk, his gaze, his face, his whole existence! This smartass knew he was a whole package.

"Hey, lighten up. I was just joking." Devin smiled, breaking out of his serious character but Darah was still not over it. He was bullying her with his beauty!

_________

Back at the building of Altec's import and export services, Ryu was silent alongside his father who seemed pale to say the least. Currently being the Managing Director and the next CEO, he felt challenged at the fact that their company, the most prestigious of all of China's businesses ranging from oil mining to automobile manufacturing, was under threat. A recent import of oil to one of the harbours in South China Sea was interrupted midway and was even stolen by certain "bandits". These men had also stolen many of their imported jewels and it was speculated to be done under the supervision of their enemy. Ryu knew for sure who it was but he wanted to prove his doubts. 

"No one was harmed. They were either threatened or-"

"What do you mean to say Mr. Dan? They broke into our security system and manipulated our men into moving tonnes of oil under the threat of killing them? Our men aren't rats who don't fight back. Do you intend to say that our men are weak?" Ryu suggested strongly to the Chief executive who was equally worried as his father. 

"No Ryu... What I mean to state is the obvious. You, out of all people, would know that. How would these men know the exact routes, the exact time of arrival of the ships unless they are regular workers... " Dan looked at them gravely, all of the members in the meeting listening with curious ears. 

"There are men pretending to be one of us." Ryu said coldly as the Chief nodded. A smirk appeared on the younger's face as he gestured to call off the meeting. 

"We'll discuss the rest some other time. For now, let me handle this. Meeting dispersed. " Ryu concluded while the rest of them stood up from their seats. Most of them were old men who had stood by Aldric for years and were remarkably interested and impressed at Aldric's capabilities so it was not a surprise that they expected the same from his son too. Ryu was young but not inexperienced. He walked down the same path as his father and it showed when every one of the men in the room looked at him with immense respect. But none of them knew what was going on behind that proud gaze of his.

"I hope you know what you're doing." Aldric muttered suddenly as he patted Ryu's shoulder. He could almost see what was coming. 

"I hope you don't come to me with warnings. That is, if you want us in safe hands." Ryu replied with an unshakable look in his eyes. Aldric smiled. He knew better than to doubt Ryu's actions. 

After he saw that his father had left too, he slowly pulled out his phone and dialled an unknown person. A gentle voice greeted on the other end. 

"Find out who's stupid enough to trample into my territory. But before you do that, I'm issuing a death warrant for each and everyone who decided to betray, one by one. Prove to me just how good you are, Leo." Ryu ordered, a faint smile playing on his lips. 

"As you say Boss." The polite voice on the other side sounded. Ryu nodded to himself slowly, ending the call. If Leo was worthy enough then he'd be the best guard for a certain someone when Ryu wasn't around. A thought crossed his mind, bringing a light of curiosity on his face. He felt a sudden need to call Mrs. Ruo but then he changed his mind and kept his phone aside while looking at the ceiling.

"What's wrong with me…" He muttered to himself, feeling irritated.

An  hour had already passed by and Devin decided to take Darah and Luca to a decent restaurant on the way because he skipped lunch for some reason. It was almost 6 at dusk when the trio got home… 

"I wasn't hungry!" Luca grumbled, trailing behind a satisfied Darah.

"But it tasted good didn't it!?" Devin exclaimed happily as he walked through the door. He saw how Darah held in a grin, recalling how she devoured the eggrolls a while ago. How pleasant. Maybe I could live a lifetime like this... He stopped her happy trut with a grip over her wrist. She turned around with a raised brow, watching a smirk playing through his lips. 

"Where's my thank you?" He was quite in a mood to annoy her. Darah squinted her eyes and pulled back her hand.

"Thanks!" She replied in a sassy tone, making him smile but watched as Luca suddenly began to step backwards, throwing gestures at her until he vanished out of the door. She understood nothing until she turned around and met eyes with a tired figure leaning over the stair railing, his black coat over his arm. He didn't look happy or sad. Devin had an apologetic look in his eyes even though he felt like he had nothing to apologise for. 

"Where were you?" He asked all of a sudden, looking at the time.

"To meet a friend." Devin replied before Darah could to spare her the trouble. He didn't expect it but Ryu looked calm instead.. 

"Hm… Alright." 

Darah looked at him in daze. Will I be in trouble?