foreboding

His eyes locked onto mine, a spark of recognition igniting within them. A smirk spread across his face, making my heart skip a beat. "What a pleasure to meet you here," he said, his voice low and smooth.

I took a step back, trying to escape the intensity of his gaze and the intoxicating scent that wafted from him. "I wouldn't say pleasure, Mr. Blackhood," I replied, trying to sound calm despite the turmoil brewing inside me.

He chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "What brings you here?" he asked, his tone casual, but his gaze.

"I don't think that's any of your business, Mr. Blackhood," I said, trying to maintain my composure.

He leaned in, his face inches from mine. His towering height, at least six foot nine, made me feel tiny and vulnerable at five foot five.

"It is my business," he whispered, his breath sending shivers down my spine. "I can shut down your workplace and leave you jobless."

My gulp was audible. "I apologized to the lady," I protested, attempting to hide my nervousness.

He hummed, a low, menacing sound. "Well, I can do such things. If not for my guest, I could say a waitress from Billiards Restaurant—a 4-star restaurant, I might add—is working at a strip club."

His eyes glinted with malice as he spoke, and my eyes widened in horror.

"I am not at a strip club," I denied, trying to keep my voice steady.

He smiled, a devious grin that sent chills down my spine. "Well, you are, if I say it to the media. I can ruin your life, just like that."

His words hung in the air, a thinly veiled threat that left me breathless and intimidated.

"Well, it was nice meeting you again, Miss," he said, adjusting his tailored royal blue suit. The change from his earlier attire only added to his enigmatic presence.

"Wait," I called out, and he paused, turning to face me.

"What do you want from me?" I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady.

His rich, velvety laugh filled the air, sending a shiver down my spine.

"Well, I have everything I want," he said, his eyes glinting with amusement.

"But..." He took a step closer, his voice dropping to a low, husky tone. "How about you work for my company?" He raised my chin, his fingers brushing against my skin.

I jerked away, pushing his hand aside. The touch had sparked a strange, fluttery sensation within me, leaving me confused and unsettled.

"I'll never work for someone like you," I declared, trying to sound firm despite the turmoil brewing inside.

He smirked, his eyes gleaming with a knowing light, as if he could see right through me.

"Well, too bad," he said, his smirk still plastered on his face. "You'd make a great secretary for me."

I glared at him, my anger simmering just below the surface.

"We'll see you," he said, his parting words dripping with an air of superiority.

With that, he turned and left, disappearing into the night. I let out a sigh of relief, praying to God that I'd never have to cross paths with that egomaniac again.

After standing outside for a few moments, Maya finally emerged, looking flushed and disheveled.

"I'm so sorry I took so long," she said, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of guilt and excitement.

I nodded, still trying to shake off the lingering annoyance from my encounter with Ryder.

We hailed a cab and headed back to our apartment. As soon as we walked in, I made a beeline for the shower, desperate to wash away the tension of the night.

But even as I lay in bed, surrounded by the comforting familiarity of my own space, I couldn't shake off the memory of Ryder's piercing gaze and arrogant smirk.

"I'm looking for my mom," I asked the nurse, a sense of urgency creeping into my voice. "Where is she?"

The nurse's expression turned sympathetic. "I'm afraid Mrs. Jenkins was moved to another ward."

My heart sank. "Why? What happened?"

The nurse hesitated before responding, "To be honest, it's because the payment for her care hasn't been completed. We needed the ward for another patient."

I felt a surge of frustration. "But I told you I'd pay by the end of the month! I already explained our situation."

The nurse's expression remained apologetic. "I understand, but we couldn't accommodate your mother's stay in the ward any longer. Another patient required immediate attention."

I groaned, feeling overwhelmed. "Okay, where is her new ward?" I asked, trying to compose myself.

My mom was my everything, my rock, my world. After my father's passing from a heart attack when I was just seven, she became my sole caregiver. She worked tirelessly, juggling multiple jobs and stretching our meager savings to provide for me.

But life had another cruel twist in store. On my fourteenth birthday, I received the devastating news that my mom had been diagnosed with a brain tumor. Our world was turned upside down.

I took on the responsibility of paying for her surgery and care, but it was a Herculean task. The bills piled up, and I struggled to make ends meet.

With a deep breath, I pushed open the door to my mom's new ward, my heart heavy with worry.

I rushed to my mom's side, my heart aching at her frail appearance. "Mom!" I cried, my voice shaking.

She smiled weakly, her eyes filled with gratitude. "My baby."

I sniffled, trying to hold back tears. "Come, I brought something for you to eat," I said, rummaging through the bag I'd brought.

As I tried to sit her up in bed, I cautioned, "Careful, Mom. Don't strain yourself."

She gazed at me, her eyes filled with a deep sorrow. "Ashley, I'm sorry."

I frowned, concern etched on my face. "What's wrong, Mom? Why are you saying that?"

She took a deep breath, her voice trembling. "I failed as a mom. You didn't get to enjoy your teenage years because you had to take care of your sickly mom."

I quickly wiped away her tears. "No, Mom, don't say that. You're an amazing mom. If I didn't take care of you, who would?"

My mom's expression turned sorrowful. "But look, you don't care about yourself; you only care about me."

I smiled weakly. "Leave me for now, okay, Mom? I only live for you."

Just then, the ward door creaked open, interrupting our intimate moment. A figure stood in the doorway, his presence commanding attention.

My heart sank as I met Ryder Blackwood's piercing gaze. What was he doing here?

"Ashley," he said, his voice low and smooth. "I see you're busy. But I need to talk to you."

My mom's eyes narrowed, her gaze flicking between Ryder and me. "Who is this?" she asked, her voice weak but firm.

I hesitated, unsure of how to introduce Ryder. But before I could respond, he stepped forward, his eyes locked on my mom.

"Mrs. Jenkins, I'm Ryder Blackwood. I've been...acquainted with your daughter."

My mom's gaze turned skeptical, but she nodded weakly. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Blackwood."

Ryder's smile was charming, but I knew better. There was something sinister lurking beneath his polished exterior.

"What do you want, Ryder?" I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral.

He leaned against the doorframe, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh, I think you know exactly what I want, Ashley."

My heart sank, a sense of foreboding settling over me. What did Ryder want from me now?.