Teach You About Me

Linking her hand with Lucian's, Rye walked around the place, exchanging greetings and accepting the well wishes. Lucian beside her looked at her with loving expression and didn't hold himself back from vocalizing about his fondness.

Instead of being bound together for the sake of business, the two of them really appeared to be a couple in love.

Of course, many of the young female socialites showed off their dissatisfactions in their gazes, but none had the courage to come in front of Rye with their thoughts. Those pampered young ladies felt too intimidated by Rye presence that was honed through experience.

"Valerie, Lucian," a woman enunciated.

Rye's eyes fell on the blonde. Her eyes didn't hide the hostility. Charlotte was a petite beauty. In a emerald green dress, that went with her green eyes and blond hair, she fascinated those around her. Charlotte was the top socialite and loved by most. Although the women envied her, they still wanted to be acquainted with her and admired her charisma.

"Congratulations although this came as a surprise," Charlotte expressed, "the two of you really kept this a secret."

Charlotte's efforts to name this as an engagement down for the sake of business, not for love— as Rye was wanted the headlines to mention— didn't go unnoticed by Rye.

"It must make you really bitter, right? After all, you have been aiming for my man for a long time," Rye bluntly said, "nothing you should be surprised about though. He has taste after all."

That smile on Charlotte's face went stiff for a second before she fixed it and voiced out, "What are you talking about, Valerie? Don't slander me in this manner. Lucian had never been anything more than a good friend to me."

Then, turning her gaze towards Lucian, Charlotte added, "Valerie must be really special to you to settle down like this. I hope both of you are happy together for the long future to come."

"Thank you," Lucian gently responded.

Then, Charlotte stopped the waiter and grabbed two glasses of wine. She forwarded it towards Rye and Lucian, expecting them to accept it.

"Wine?"

As Lucian extended his hand, Rye grabbed his wrist. Her eyes darkened, and she gave Charlotte no further attention as she walked away with Lucian. Low pressure emanated from her, capable of choking one.

Rye hated that gaze Charlotte used on Lucian; it held her unadulterated desire. Everyone women in this room did, and Rye wanted to shield Lucian from that. Lucian should only be hers to look at.

This made her grip on Lucian tighten.

A hiss escaped from Lucian's mouth at that, and this brought Rye out of her murderous thoughts. She loosened her hold on him and stared at his hand. It had gone red, and the mark of her fingers were obvious.

"Really delicate."

As those words left her mouth, she intertwined her finger with Lucian's and lifted his hand, leaving behind a soft kiss at the mark. Those eyes of hers showed how she was looking at some precious treasure.

Lucian silently stared at Rye as he did for most of the night.

°°°

Rye left the party early with Lucian once the main events were done and pictures were clicked. The party was a formality after all to properly inform everyone of their relationship, and as this an engagement done for business purpose, most of the time was spent talking about the new business ventures.

Both of them stood at the rooftop of the hotel. Rye leaned against the railings as she stared at Lucian, and her eyes didn't hide the infatuation she had with him.

Lucian's eyes were on the ring in his hand. He touched and rotated it. There was a hint of smile on his face.

"What's going on in that pretty head of yours?" she questioned.

Lifting his head to face her, he gently asked, "Do you want to know?"

She arched her eyebrows.

Then, curling his lips up more, he removed the ring from his hand and tossed it down the hotel rooftop. His eyes were on Rye's as he did that, and he enjoyed how her expression twisted.

"This, I wanted to do this ever since you put it on me." He then looked at her challengingly as though questioning what she would do next.

Rye's eyes darkened. She stood up straight, and the temperature dropped as the tension grew thicker. A grim look settled on her face after a dry chuckle escaped from her lips.

He stared at her in interest while Rye stepped over to him— rage clear in those orbs of hers. She resembled a stalking panther, eyeing its prey. She placed her hands on the railing, trapping the man.

Those eyes of hers met with his.

"You really don't know me enough," she said before grabbing on to his hand. She effortlessly raised it, and his eyes widened in surprise at her next action.

She bit down on the ring finger while her eyes were intense as if she wanted to gobble him up entirely. They were enticing.

Lucian hissed at the pain, trying to remove his hand from her hold, but Rye didn't let go. And by the time she did, a circular mark formed on his finger due to the wound.

She then said, "No worries. I can teach you all about me with time."

This woman was totally crazy.