Chapter 61

We kept staring at each other's face trying to figure out what was really missing. I still couldn't believe they had to put so much effort in an answer that didn't need too much thinking to get.

"What do you think is missing?",Ryan finally asked after failing to get the answer.

"Yes Ash, tell us",Jennie added more salt to the soup .

"You are finally tired of thinking? Why do you…?"

"Reuben", Ryder suddenly mentioned his name making me stop mid sentence. " Reuben is the missing part of the reconciliation, right?",he asked directing his gaze to me. He actually got the answer that I was expecting. I never knew they could forget about a member of their gang that badly.

"At long last you came out with the answer "I said to him getting Ryan , Keenan and Jennie confused. "Ryan, how could you possibly forget your beloved Reuben at the crucial moment?", I asked him.

"I thought of him but I didn't know if he was the one you were referring to",he said rubbing his cheek trying to make some point.

"Good for you. So now that you have been reminded, do you mind asking him to join us?", I asked no one in particular.

"No problem with that but I think he would have a problem with it", Ryder was fast to answer that. I knew Reuben had never been on good terms with Jennie and I but since it was time for reconciliation, maybe he could put his hatred aside besides his boss had even accepted it.

"No need to worry about that, I'd handle him", Ryan sounded like the one who owned Reuben.

"Says the ruler", Keenan teased making us burst into laughter. Ryan took out his phone and dialed Reuben's number. The call was answered immediately at the other end.

"Come to my place now", Ryan commanded and then hanged up not waiting for any answer.

"How can you speak to him like that? What if he doesn't come due your rudeness?", I asked him trying to scold him but he seemed not to care.

"Well, he dares not disobey my command", he said messing up my hair. He was getting used to touching me but I didn't mind. The other part of me was thinking maybe getting body contact with guys was not a bad idea to help me with my phobia. As we sat chitchatting about nothing in particular, we heard the door opened then a masculine figure emerge . It was Reuben.

"Oh, you are already here", Ryder said while looking at him.

"What is going on here?", he asked directing the question to Ryan. I could see he was boiling up with anger but he couldn't do anything to us without the order from Ryan so we felt a little safe.

"Sit", there came another command from the almighty Ryan. It seemed there was no way Reuben could disobey Ryan .

'No wonder he said he would handle him', I thought to myself.

"What's going on here Ryan? Why are these people in your house?", he couldn't stop himself from asking those questions.

"Well, since you can't control your curiosity, I'd help you out with it", Ryan started getting Reuben's attention fully on him. "I invited them to my place today so we could settle the grudge we hold against each other", he ended.

"Settle what? Ryan you can't be serious right? What is there to be settled? And why is she sitting with him?", he was asking so many question but the last one purposely was for Jennie and Ryder.

"Can you please ask your questions one after the other? I can't give you accurate answers if you keep throwing the questions at me in that manner. Besides you know I don't like explaining myself to people.", Ryan said sounding like his cold self at the end of his sentence.

"I'm sorry", Reuben apologized.

"Good. You first asked to settle what, the answer is to settle the grudge. Second, do I look like someone who is in the mood for jokes? Finally, they are sitting together because they are dating", he ended pouring a glass of wine for himself and for Reuben. He was really annoying when he sounded so domineering.

"What did they say or do to you? You can't forgive them just like that", he complained.

"I think you know the answer to that right. And besides, they never caused any problem for me, I was the one who was always hurting them first", Ryan answered sounding regretful.

"And what about him?", he asked shooting Keenan a deadly glare.

"It was a misunderstanding which has already been settled ", he simply answered. The room became quiet suddenly after Ryan's last answer.