CHAPTER 06: RYAN

The banquet was crowded than I expected it to be. I didn't expect so many people to attend charity events but then again, there are paparazzi here so no one knows who's here just for show. I attend this event every year not to show off my money but to help the poor in need. I might look the rudest and coldest person in the world—maybe I am but I try my best to volunteer to help poor people, it's an act of kindness and I don't do it to show it off to people, I do it because it's right thing to do.

As much as I enjoy volunteering, I hate communicating with people on these events—though I shouldn't be so cruel but there are people I do not like to meet—mostly all the people.

Like Brian Juan; man's a millionaire and have donated tons of money to many charities only to brag about how rich he is. The audacity. As much he looks as a charming, good looking, well-mannered man, he's the most selfish, annoying piece of shit who only cares about himself and how much fame he gets. You could ask him any question in the world and somehow he would still make the topic be about himself.

"I told them that they don't have to write a report about how I got so rich" Brian said with a laugh "but they insisted and I couldn't say no" he took a gulp of his champagne while I just watched him in disbelief. The amount of lies this man tells is unbelievable. What kind of a reporter would write a report just to tell how rich he is? I bet my company, he bribed the reporter to do this shit.

While he bragged about how much he makes in a year--even though he barely does any work himself—I scanned the room trying to find Rose.

I decided to bring her here thinking it wouldn't be crowded and I'll have plenty of time to make a conversation and give our relationship a try just so she trusts me more. You're making a mistake. The inner voice scolded me. I knew I was making a mistake, using her trust to get something for my benefit but I'm tired of trying and I'd be giving both of us a favor—and Bree. Bree wanted me to make our relationship work so I am going to make this relationship work but I am no shape to be fully attracted towards. If Rose doesn't feel right spending rest of her life with me—or falls in love with someone else, I'd let her go if that's what she wants.

My jaw tensed at the last thought—her falling in love with someone—Rose is the kind of girl anyone would be lucky to have but she never been into a serious relationship and after we got married, I'm probably sure she even gave up on love.

My eyes stopped scanning the room once they focused on a brunette head, Rose. She was smiling, listening to another brunette head standing beside her. We ran into one of her old school friends here and then she walked away with her when Brian came towards me to make a conversation.

Rose's smile was always sweet and polite, the kind of smile everyone adores, her dimple showed whenever her smile got wider and she looked like an angel.

But behind that angelic smile is a girl who knows the darkest secrets of people around her but still she keeps a smile and gives the most positive vibes. She hides her scars behind that smile. The darkest secrets, her mistakes, her sins, her regrets, all lie behind that one smile everyone love.

Rose laughed at something her friend said and that was the most beautiful moment I've ever seen. I watched as her dimple became more visible and she looked more happy like no one could ever break her.

My eyes went down and scanned her dress; she wore a silk green dress which went down just beneath her knees and it fitted her perfectly. Even from standing far away, I could draw out her collar bone. Her lips were tinted, just like the color of her name, even from a distance she bloomed in the whole banquet.

"…that's your wife, I assume" I snapped out of my thoughts and noticed that Brian had stopped talking and was now staring at Rose with his back facing me.

"yes," I said and watched as he hummed and took another sip from his champagne.

"how did you two meet?"

"it was an arrange marriage"

"ah, of course," he turned towards me with a mischievous smile "Ryan Hartford could never make a mistake of falling in love" he laughed at his own joke while I just watched him get more drunk.

I hummed as he chugged down the rest of his drink "I'm getting a refill" with that, he spun around and walked towards the side bar.

I let out an exhausted sigh and turned my attention back towards Rose; she was listening to her friend tell her something and kept a smile while listening to her, attentively.

I wanted to spend this night with Rose to get to know her better so that we would be able trust each other—so that she could trust me more.

"Ryan" a familiar voice called my name from behind and my shoulders immediately tensed as I turned to see who it was

"Mr William," I said. 𝘑𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘱𝘩 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘮. My worst nemesis. Although it turned into business rivalry after my business took off and got ahead of his. We were close, before, he and Rose's father, both were like my guardians and helped me start my business.

While Rose's father guided me through every secret to my success, Joseph, on the other hand wanted me not to listen to Rose's dad because he knew what I was capable of and how I would easily handle a business and make it successful.

I wasn't a kid, I saw what Joseph wanted so did Rose's father. We kept him close but I listened to Rose's father guidance. I've always given more than half of the credit of my successful business to Rose's father because truly, he did guide me to where I am today. He trusted me and he was one of the few people I had respect for. I wasn't surprised when he told me that he wants me to take care of Rose, he had seen how people were not trustworthy, he had enough trust in me to ask me to take care of his only daughter. And I did. I am.

"I heard about your partnership with Mr Ross," William spoke with his charming yet manipulative smile. "congratulations, that's one big win for your company."

𝘍𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘥.

"Thank you," I said, "I can't say, it was easy. You see, there are a lot of people trying to sabotage my company's reputation by their false rumors." William's shoulders tensed. He knows who I'm talking about.

"Ah, I see." He said, his shoulders finally relaxing, he was holding his drink in one hand while his other hand was shoved in his pocket. He twirled the glass in his hands then his eyes travelled behind me and a warming smile touched his lips. "you brought Rose."

"yes, I thought it wouldn't be crowded so I decided it was okay to bring her" as I said this, his eyes stayed behind me, I know he's trying to take Rose's attention and he 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘴 it bugs me.

His hand rose from his pocket and waved. He was waving at someone. He was waving behind me. He caught her attention.

Soon, I heard clicking of heels coming toward us. Smell of Roses was surrounding us. 𝘚𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦.

"Mr William," the soft voice came from beside me, I tilted my head and Rose was standing beside me, wearing her angelic smile as she shook Joseph's hand.

"Rose," he said as they stopped shaking hands and his hand went back in his pocket, "it is so nice to see you after so long, dear." 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘳? 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺?

"it's nice to see you too. I didn't know you were invited here as well, I would've come and met you."

Went and met him? Yeah, right like I would've let that happen. Joseph has always been sweet and caring towards Rose, he always tried to spoil her whenever he was at their house for work but Rose's father didn't like Joseph, I never knew why but he didn't like Joseph being around Rose, he always asked Rose to leave the room whenever Joseph was around. And according to Bree, Rose once got into an argument with her father because of Joseph.

"Ryan." Joseph's voice brought me back to my place "why don't you bring Rose to our opening next month?"

Before I answered, Rose interrupted me.

"you're opening a new branch?" she asked

"yes, in New York—you didn't know?"

Rose shook her head slightly, Joseph looked at me for answers.

William's Designs was going to open one of its branches in New York next month and I was invited to attend the opening ceremony. I had already decided that I wasn't going so I didn't try telling Rose.

"we're busy that night so we wouldn't be able to attend," I said, Rose turned to me but I didn't look back at her, I'll explain it to her later if I have to.

"Ah, well I was looking forward to meeting Rose," Joseph's attention turned behind me again, he brought his wine glass up in the air as in signaling someone "excuse me, I need to go."

I nodded.

"I'd like to see you and Rose again"

𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘙𝘰𝘴𝘦.

I didn't reply and let Joseph walk away. He wants to talk to Rose about something, he has always tried to get closer to Rose since she was young but I'd be damned to let him near her. If Rose's father didn't want her near Joseph, I'm not letting her near him either. I don't care how much he wants to meet her, I'm not letting her—

"you didn't tell me we were invited," Rose's voice brought my attention towards her. Our eyes locked. I didn't tell her we were invited and I wasn't going to.

"I'm busy that night so I can't go, I wouldn't be able to drive you either,"

"oh, okay" she looked down her hands, my eyes travelled to her hands as she started playing with her engagement ring.

"did you catch up with your friend?"

She looked up at me again, we locked gaze again then she nodded.

"yes," a pause as she looked away "it was mostly her braging about her husband and how… good he is in.. bed" I held back my smile as she made a disgusted expression.

"do you want to leave?"

My question took her by surprise.

"huh?"

"do you want to leave?" she hesitated so I continued "we'll go have dinner somewhere—you haven't eaten, have you?"

She shook her head.

"okay, let's leave."

"but…" she looked around the room as if someone was listening to us "wouldn't it be rude?"

I bit back another smile.

"Nobody will notice we left, sweetheart."