CHAPTER 07: ROSE

𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦. 𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦. 𝘐𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦. 𝘐𝘵. 𝘐𝘴. 𝘕𝘰𝘵. 𝘈. 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦. I kept telling myself that since we left the banquet. I was surprised that Ryan wanted to eat outside. We barely went out on dinners except for when Bree would invite us. None of us liked going out or socializing so I didn't mind, I like being alone.

Although, as much as I am surprised that he's taking me out, I'm also shook by what he said earlier when I asked if it was rude of us to leave—

𝘕𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵, 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵.

S𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵. He called me sweetheart. He never called me sweet names and not only the fact that he called me sweetheart tonight but he almost smiled.

This has to be a dream, Ryan can't call me sweetheart and also almost smile in one night. Its too much to take.

I silently pinched my arm after Ryan and I took our places on our table.

"ow" yup, not a dream. This is real life. I'm having dinner outside with Ryan. He called me sweetheart and he almost smiled.

𝘈𝘮 𝘐 𝘥𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨? Is that why he's being like this? Why don't I know that I'm dying—maybe this is his way of telling me—oh my God, I'm dying—

𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧?

I might sound dramatic but I don't know what else to think. What else could be the reason of Ryan acting this way?—oh my God… did Bree make him do this?... sounds like something she would do. She hates it when Ryan doesn't take me out and no matter how many times I've told her that I don't mind, she doesn't listen and neither does Ryan.

"Rose?" Ryan's firm voice brought me back to my unbelievable reality "are you okay?" his eyes landed on my hand rubbing my arm. Pinched too hard.

"yeah, I'm okay" I said and picked up the menu.

Ryan picked a fancy restaurant based on our dressing which was fine. The restaurant wasn't too fancy and wasn't crowded as well, we picked a corner table away from all the other customers. Good thing. The restaurant was big enough to fit 50 to 60 people at once, the tables were round with red cloth over them with a black bow tied at the side of the table. Sofa chairs were placed to sit on and they were very comfortable, I almost melted into one. The whole restaurant was air conditioned and it was pretty cold. 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥'𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘫𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘵.

"are you ready to order?" the waiter approached us with a notepad in hand.

Ryan placed down his menu and started to order "I'll take a steak."

"Alright," the waiter wrote down Ryan's order and turned towards me "and you ma'am?"

"I'll get a bowl of alfredo pasta, thank you" I handed my menu to the waiter with a smile and got a smile in exchange.

"great, I'll bring that as soon as possible till then you can decide your drinks" the waiter gave another warm smile which Ryan, of course, didn't give back but I did before he left.

Its getting colder. I wrapped my arms around myself trying to warm myself but that didn't help. i should go get my jacket from the car but I don't want to leave him maybe if I rub my hands together, I'll be fine—

"you're cold" Ryan said making me look at him, he was looking at me.

"I'm fine" I said with a reassuring smile but he didn't take it. He opened his mouth to say something but then closed it and took off his coat. He got up and walked behind my chair

"wear this, it'll help" he helped me put on his coat and it did help. I was warm and comfortable. He went back to his seat.

"thank you"

He nodded "no problem"

Since I was wearing his coat, it left him wearing his button down and—God—he looked so attractive. Every one of his button down shirt traced down his muscles perfectly. I don't know when or where he works out but it is so hard not to be attracted towards him.

I'm sometimes jealous of Ryan's ex's because maybe they got to see a part of Ryan, I wouldn't be able to. I want to be close to Ryan—not because he's handsome or stuff—but because I want him to open up to me, I know he has so much to say or loose up but he doesn't trust anyone so he keeps quiet.

The environment around us was getting awkward, none of us has said a word since he handed me his coat. We busy ourselves by looking away but then we lock eyes and it gets awkward, I smile and he just presses his lips together. Please smile. I can't do this, we need to talk or I'll die out of awkwardness.

"why are you not attending Joseph's opening ceremony?" my question took him by surprise. He looked at me, not saying anything for a few minutes. 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵.

Still nothing. He's studying me.

He finally moved and sat back in his chair.

"I told you, I'm busy that night" he said.

"from what I remember, you are free next month. You don't have any important meetings or any business trips to attend—" I stopped myself when I noticed Ryan staring at me—speechless—"I—I bumped into your secretary last week," he frowned "she's very talkative…"

I did bump into his secretary last week at the market, she was really talkative and between our conversation she ended up telling me Ryan's schedule for next month.

Ryan still looked confused so I had to explain how her secretary told me his schedule and I memorized it.. for some reason.

"She told you my whole schedule because you were… nice to her?" he finally said after I finished

"yes…?"

Ryan sighed and rubbed his hand over his face "you've got to be kidding me"

𝘐𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥?

"Sorry…" I found myself saying, Ryan looked at me

"why?"

"I don't know…" I started playing with my fingers "you seem offended… maybe I wasn't suppose to know…"

"no, its not that—" he let out an exhausting breath, I looked at him "I'm fine with you knowing my schedule, I don't mind at all." He rubbed the back of his neck and looked at me before speaking "I'm worried she might've told someone else information which isn't suppose to be let out"

"oh—oh" that's bad. Ryan is very careful with the information about his business being leaked, he makes sure nothing important gets in the wrong hands. Now I'm scared, what if his secretary told someone something they weren't suppose to know? "what if she did tell someone?" I couldn't stop myself from asking.

"I'll have to handle them myself and she'll loose her job"

"oh…"

"you don't have to worry about it" I looked up to find him looking at me with reassuring eyes that it would be alright.

"are you sure?"

He nodded "yes"

I sighed "okay"

"let's talk about something else to get your mind off this"

"you don't have to," I paused before adding "I know you hate making conversations."

"I do." A pause "but I want to talk to you"

My eyes widened at his confession "you do?" he nodded "oh… okay" I shifted in my seat "how was your day?"

"fine"

"what about the event?"

He groaned "boring," a pause before added "but the night took a good turn"

"oh really? How?"

"I decided to have dinner with a certain girl and it's going good"

I couldn't help but smile "really?" he nodded "she's not awkward?"

He shook his head "her awkwardness is one thing that's cute,"

I laughed "you didn't just used the word 'cute'"

"I did, is it bad?"

I shook my head "its unbelievable. Ryan Hartford never uses the word 'cute'"

"well, what else word am I suppose to use to describe a cute girl?"

"Ryan, stop using that word, it sounds weird"

"seriously?" he looked pissed now and I was smiling

"yes, seriously. You can't use those words"

"what else am I suppose to say to describe a girl?"

"hm, let's see" I placed my elbows on the table and rested my chin in my palms "to be sure, we're talking about your wife"

"is it so obvious?"

"yes"

"well, then, yes. We are talking about my wife"

"hm, you could use the word… 'intelligent'"

He frowned "I wouldn't call a 'bookworm' intelligent"

Now I frowned and I was offended "why not?"

"smutty books don't give valid information"

"oh come on, they're fun to read"

"that's one way to give yourself pleasure" he said and picked up his glass of water to take a sip

"well, for your information, book boyfriends are better"

He rose an eye brow "really?"

"yes" I lifted my chin and sat back in my chair "no doubt."

He nodded and placed his glass back on the table "explain how please."

"hm, let's see, they're perfect in every way. They spoil their girls and," I rose my finger "they're incredibly good in bed"

My last comment made him laugh. He laughed. 𝘙𝘺𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥. I couldn't stop myself but grin. As much as I was offended right now, I loved how Ryan had a smile on his face, he looked more attractive than ever.

He caught me staring but he didn't stop smiling "you're staring."

"you're smiling" I said, not being able to hide my excitement.

"do I look bad?"

I shook my head "not at all"

"good then"

We kept staring at each other and he still had his little smile over his lips.

"By the way, book boyfriends aren't real so they're not better" my smile dropped at that comment and I knew Ryan was holding back his laugh

"they're not real that's why they're perfect, Ryan."

"wouldn't it be better to find someone like that in real life? Like your husband."

I scrunched my nose and he smiled again "my husband doesn't believe in love, I'm sure he's not interested in me."

He hummed "that's sad,"

"you have no idea," I sighed and wrapped my arms around myself "he's very nice though and he respects me."

"he sounds nice"

I laughed "he's not"

"ouch"

I laughed again.

I think we both drank too much wine at the event because Ryan was smiling, I was giggling like a teenager and we both were… flirting.

We both stared at each other before our food came and Ryan wore his cold expression again, my smile slowly faded away. I like his smile.

"I'm going to go use the restroom," I told him.

"okay, I'll order us drinks"

"okay" I waited, hoping he'd smile at me but he didn't so I got up and went towards the restroom with my purse.

As I entered the restroom and looked at myself in the mirror, I found myself smiling. This night has been great so far.

I made Ryan laugh.

We talked.

We smiled.

We flirted.

We were getting closer and it felt really good till he wore his cold expression again.

A part of me says that he might be a little drunk that's why he's acting like this but the other part of me wants to believe that whatever he said out there, he meant it and he is really willing to give our marriage a try.

I opened the faucet and started washing my hands when a familiar voice called my name from behind.

"Rose?"

I paused once I recognized the sweet female voice. She can't be here. This night is going perfectly, I don't want to meet her and get the night ruined.

I turned off the faucet and slowly turned to find a blonde head with her blue eyes looking at me. Hannah. Ryan's ex.

"Hey Hannah," I was able to say with a smile "how are you?"

"I'm great, how are you?" she chuckled and took a step forward me "I haven't seen you in so long—you look…" she scanned me from head to toe before adding "better than before."

𝘐𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵?

"thank you and I'm doing good,"

Her eyes stopped at my engagement ring and a slight gasp left her lips "your ring…" she took my hand and traced her thumb over my ring "you're engaged?"

"married, actually…" she looked at me

"really? Who's the guy?"

I hesitated. She doesn't know. "Um," I looked down at her thumb slightly creasing my ring "Ryan." Her thumb stopped and I felt her staring at me, I looked up at her.

"Ryan? As in… my ex?"

"Bree's brother, yes." 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘐𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦? I should take off this jacket.

Hannah laughed and let go of my hand "Ryan wasn't going to marry someone… how could he possibly marry you?"

She held me with a hard gaze and I was scared she might kill me.

"it's complicated…" I found myself saying, Hannah kept glaring at me.

Ryan and Hannah were in an almost serious relationship for a year but then after Hannah found out that Ryan was giving more attention to his business then in spoiling her, she decided to cheat on him to teach him a lesson. That didn't end well, Hannah lost Ryan and the guy whom Hannah cheated on Ryan with turned out to be a married man and got divorced after his wife found out that he hooked up with another girl.

Ryan wasn't sad at all, Bree and Finn both asked him if he was okay and he said that he couldn't be better, he went on a business trip to Russia next week. He really wasn't devastated at all.

My throat felt dry and Hannah was still glaring at me. Of course she was offended, she wanted to marry Ryan but he didn't want to and the only reason, Ryan and I are married is because dad told him to take care of me.

We're only together because dad asked him to…

The realization hit me hard.

"well," Hannah said with an exhausting sigh "I wish you both best of luck,"

𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘥𝘪𝘦.

I managed to smile as she turned and started walking towards the door. As soon as she left, I let out a heavy breath placing my hand on my chest. My heart was beating hella fast. I turned and looked at myself in the mirror.

I sighed at my earlier realization. It was true, Ryan wasn't interested in me, he was doing me a favor by taking care of me and tonight… no matter how much I want to believe that Ryan wants this marriage to work, I need to keep in mind that Ryan Hardford does not believe in love.