Chapter 199: Are You Serious?

[Chapter 199: Are You Serious?]

It was another leisurely morning when Ryan woke up, stretching pleasantly in bed. The silk sheets and plush mattress felt luxurious, a stark contrast to his smaller apartment back in New York City. Sleeping in such comfort had its own charm, but it was mostly psychological.

"Eggs Benedict, bacon, smoked salmon, and some fruit. The doctor said I need to boost my vitamin intake. Oh, and throw in a steak... Do we still have those croissant sandwiches from last night? I'd love one of those," Taylor mumbled, half-asleep and automatically ordering breakfast.

"I'll have the staff bring it up," Ryan replied as he got out of bed and started getting dressed.

...

After completing his routine at the lavishly designed marble sink, Ryan took a seat on the toilet for a long-needed moment of relief. Even using the bathroom felt like a royal affair in the opulent finishing of his master suite. There was a huge bathtub in the adjoining room, complete with a large LCD TV mounted on the wall, perfect for watching shows while soaking away the day.

After all, isn't that what money is for? Ryan enjoyed the amenities, especially the smart toilet's features -- it truly was something else.

Just then, an alert popped up on the screen beside him. Someone had triggered the alarm. A quick touch of the screen revealed the living room's security feed.

It turned out it was just the housekeeper accidentally setting off the alarm again. The system was a bit too sensitive and needed some recalibration.

Ryan made his way downstairs via the spiraling staircase, passing under the enormous crystal chandelier that cascaded from the ceiling like a waterfall. Taylor had a penchant for anything that sparkled, and that chandelier had cost Ryan a pretty penny.

He entered the kitchen where two staff members had all the ingredients prepped -- aged beef, freshly made dough for pastries, and neatly chopped fruit. All Ryan needed to do was assemble the meal. He only cooked when Taylor was home; otherwise, the staff handled everything.

...

About forty minutes later, Taylor, with a bird's nest hairstyle and barefoot, strolled downstairs, donning her oversized plastic glasses, which had been switched to an olive green color.

She preferred to wash up after breakfast, and if she didn't have anywhere to go, she might spend the whole day without bothering to tidy herself. Makeup, in her view, was part of the job; if she wasn't working, there was no need for it.

Just as they were halfway through breakfast, the security team called from the front gate.

"A lady named Daddario is here to see you."

Are you serious? Ryan felt a headache. This situation dated back to a couple of days ago; Daddario had arrived in Florida, insisting Ryan take her home rather than let her stay at a hotel. She had worn one of Taylor's nightgowns and claimed that lying in Taylor's spot helped her experience what it was like to be the lady of the house.

Ryan had called a cleaner yesterday to eliminate any trace of Daddario from their home before dropping her off at the airport, thinking she'd be back in Los Angeles by now.

He thought Daddario arrived in Los Angeles yesterday, but he didn't expect she didn't leave at all!

"Who is it?" Taylor asked, noticing the change in Ryan's demeanor.

"Just an actress from 2 Broke Girls. She mentioned wanting to visit us. Let's just go out today and host her at another time," Ryan decided against letting Daddario in.

"Oh, come on. Didn't we say we were going to relax at home today? She made the effort to come all this way; don't you want her to see us?" Taylor countered immediately.

"I just think it would be a disruption for both of us," Ryan mumbled.

"There's no disruption! We spent so much money on this house and renovated it; we can't just hide it from everyone," Taylor was eager to show off their home.

"Sir, she just walked inside," the security guard said on the other end of the line.

'I pay you to manage security, and you can't even stop one woman? Time to step up your training.

And can the women in my life give me a break?' Ryan sighed internally, already hearing the sound of knocking on the door.

"Go let her in," Taylor instructed the staff.

She stood up and pulled her sleeves down to cover her arms.

Though her parents and friends had previously visited, this was the first time she was officially hosting a guest as the lady of the house.

...

Daddario entered the room carrying a beautifully wrapped gift, which seemed to be for Ryan and Taylor.

"Hello," she said at the doorway, taking in her surroundings with an expression of slight surprise. It was clear that she'd never been there before. Ryan noted that she was indeed a talented actress.

"Welcome!" Taylor rushed over.

"Daddario! What a surprise! It's been a while; how have you been?" Taylor smiled brightly.

She definitely recognized Daddario. One of her biggest regrets was having the actress on set with Ryan during the music video shoot.

To Taylor, there had been an unspoken tension between them, prompting Ryan to transfer Daddario to a different project to avoid any unnecessary worries.

"Well, I'm here for a honeymoon with my fiance. Once I heard you two lived in Palm Beach, I thought I would drop by. I thought you'd be busy, but luck was on my side!" Daddario responded cheerfully.

"You got engaged?" Taylor asked, suddenly surprised.

Daddario nodded and proudly showed off the ring on her left hand, "Pretty nice, right?"

"It's beautiful! That ring must have cost a pretty penny. What does he do? Why didn't he come with you?" Taylor's curiosity was piqued.

"Nowhere near the value of Ryan's. He's a businessman in import and export, always flying around. He's in Florida visiting friends today, but I'll bring him next time," Daddario explained, sounding rehearsed but more natural than in her acting roles.

If she'd brought that level of performance to her acting, she might even win an Oscar.

"Better keep an eye on him; men like those can be quite disloyal," Ryan chimed in, trying to lighten the mood.

"You're right. We should definitely share some tips," Daddario said while linking her arm with Taylor's.

"I don't have any tips," Taylor laughed shyly, then suddenly remembered something.

"Oh, oops, please sit down first. You haven't had breakfast yet, right? Eat first, I'll go upstairs to clean up. Ryan, entertain Daddario," Taylor waved as she headed upstairs.

...

Daddario looked up as soon as Taylor went into her room and promptly sat beside Ryan.

"Now that you've met her, isn't it time for you to leave?" Ryan said with a half-hearted smile.

"Leave? I'm just getting started. I'm here to check out your place," Daddario smirked softly.

"I guess I could buy you a place in Los Angeles," Ryan frowned slightly.

"I want to stay here; soon enough, we'll be neighbors," Daddario said, her toes playfully brushing against Ryan's calves.

Then she seized a bite of food from the table, savoring it dramatically.

"It's delicious! I can really feel the love you have for Taylor in this meal," she said with a look of pure enjoyment.

Leaning closer, she spoke in a low voice only Ryan could hear, "I don't want to play the lonely card anymore; I want my share of your love. If you go somewhere, I'll follow!"

*****

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