Rhea had never thought, never thought that telling Ryan her date of arrival would result in something dramatic!
When she finished with her check out, she casually walked towards the exit with her luggage. A tall man who was wrapped in a black jacket and trousers who was wearing a mask and sunglasses together with a cap reached her.
"Rhea!", he called.
It was a familiar voice indeed. Just like Ryan's. This man was about his height too. But what surprised Rhea was his size. He was a lot fatter than Rhea. Rhea couldn't find out who this man is.
When he reached she silently looked at him. Even his scent felt familiar.
Rhea kept looking at that mysterious man.
"Hey, bugaboo! How is my disguise?", he leaned slightly and whispered the secret.
It's Ryan. But why? Why is he here in a disguise though?
He reached for her luggage and started to walk towards the exit.
"W..ait. Why are you here?"
"Of course, to pick you up"
"But why?"
"Your dorm is not safe for you anymore"
Rhea had known this all along. Ying Yue had indeed held a press meeting and announced that she is innocent and will 'expose' Ryan soon. Rhea too wondered if she'll say something about her as well. If something like that happens, Rhea had to definitely leave the country and continue the university online. If Ying Yue did spread some rumour about her and Ryan, there is no way Rhea will be able to live in that dorm of hers. She can't even think about living in an apartment alone. Rhea had already thought about it even before she exposed Ying Yue. If something like that breaks, she had already chosen to go back to the states.
"I know but I'll be safe for now. You don't have to help me with this" Rhea replied.
"Listen to me first"
"..." Rhea kept quiet.
"Follow me and let me show you something!" he ordered once again and started to walk towards the white car parked a little away with her luggage.
Rhea who was too reluctant to fight or give in stayed there without moving.
Ryan paused then turned towards her. "You want me to meet your friend? Then get in!"
'Tyrant!', Rhea sighed and got into the car. "Where's uncle?"
"He is on a vacation"
Rhea seriously didn't want to be alone with him so her face clearly showed her displeasure.
"Why? You are scared to be with me..... alone?" he purposely asked.
When did he ever start to talk this way? He is going overboard these days.
Rhea turned towards him and asked, "What are you up to?"
"Be patient! You'll know soon"
"But I told you I'm not going to meet you anymore"
Ryan seemed to be seriously thinking with a frown. Rhea believed he will stop pestering her like this. He turned towards her. "The contract cannot be undone!" his face showed an expression as if he wanted to help but he can't.
Once he loaded the luggage, he started the car.
After a while, Ryan spoke again.
"I apologized for my mistakes"
"What?", Rhea couldn't comprehend.
"If you want to, I can apologize again, for everything!", he turned towards her and looked deep into her eyes.
Rhea hopelessly turned to the road.
'What is he up to?', she thought!
"Can't we just stay friends, for now?"
"We can't!", she looked at him.
With a sigh, he asked, "Why?"
How many times has she had to say that she loves him? She can't stay friends with him anymore.
"Why should I?", she asked him.
"Because I want you!"
"...", This was not the first time for Rhea to be dumbstruck that day. He had already told her the same words before but when he told this looking into her eyes just like that, the wall Rhea tried to build in between them quaked, more than she expected.
"I want you and I can't continue without you. So stay with me!"
This time, Rhea couldn't take it anymore. She had already clearly told him that she loves him so why does he have to play with her heart? Her eyes started to tear up because of these confusions and her inability to withstand him. She hated herself for that. She can't look up at his face anymore with tears in her eyes, so she just focussed on the road.
"....I can't!"
He may have sensed something in her voice, he kept quiet for a while.
"...Give me a reason why"
"I wanted to get you back to your stardom. Now I have fulfilled what I wanted to do. So I have no more to deal with you"
She turned towards the window as she told him. "I don't want to stay with you anymore. You know what I had been feeling for you. I want to forget you! So let me go"
"....."
"So, you don't feel like that anymore?"
"What?" confused by that question she blabbered.
"If that's what you had been feeling, what about now? No feelings?", he explained the question.
"Does it matter?" Rhea didn't turn towards him.
'It doesn't matter as long as you don't feel the same,' she thought.
Ryan didn't speak after that. He drove into an unknown area that seemed cosy. The houses there were not apartments but individual mansions which were rare in that suburb.
He drove past the gate and stopped before a white building which is also a mansion. The surrounding seemed so beautiful with a garden around the house. But when he went to the back of the car and unloaded the luggage Rhea was way too confused.
"Why? No need? Are we changing the car?"
Rhea got off the car and followed Ryan.
"No, we're changing the house"
"What?"
"What?", he placed the luggage in the living room and turned towards her.
"I don't understand"
"You are going to stay here since it will be a lot safer"
"I won't"
"You agreed to be my assistant, didn't you? This is where my assistant needs to stay!"
"Mr Ryan!"
"Call me Ryan!"
"I don't want to"
"See Rhea, your uncle Lee lives next door. The housekeeper lives in that house" he showed the house in front of the place where they were standing. Also, the cook lives there, he showed the right side. It's the best, safest place I could think of!
"Mr Ryan, please stop joking."
"It's Ryan, just Ryan for you!" he replied.
Rhea sat on the sofa with her hands on her forehead. Of course, she was already suffering from jet lock and here he is pulling a tantrum.
"If you agree on these terms, I will nullify the agreement in six months"
"What if I don't agree?"
"There is no such case"
"Ryan, don't you think it's cruel to ask me to live in this house alone? I'm very much afraid"
"Who said you're going to live alone?"
This time, Rhea was seriously dumbfounded. 'Don't tell me he is also going to live in the same house.'
"You've got company!" he handed over her a large box.
This time Rhea was not sure what this is about. As long as the company is not him, she can manage.
Rhea silently opened the box sitting on the sofa.
When she finally unwrapped it, Rhea was not sure how to react. It was an Alaskan malamute puppy. Just looked like the one they have watched together in Alaska. But it was a lot smaller. It must be only a few months old.
"Ryan!"
"Now you call me by my name"
"But what is this?"
"He needs a mother!"
"What?"
"He needs someone to take care of him. I bought him but I can't take care of him. I'm really busy these days. So this will be added to your responsibility. Also, this house belongs to me. Stay here, Take care of my house and take care of my puppy!"
"Are you serious?"
"Of course!"
"And you'll break the contract between us if I do a good job?"
"...Yes!"
After thinking for about two hours Rhea finally came to the decision. It is not safe for her to stay in the dorm. Also, it's just Ryan's house. Ryan will not stay here. Also, she has to somehow break the contract. Also, this puppy looks so adorable for her to abandon!
As long as Ryan is not anywhere near, she should be fine!
Rhea finally agreed.
"I agree, but this house is way too luxurious so just accept the rent", Rhea told him.
"Just accept it as a paying back for my stay with you in Alaska"
Now that he mentioned it. Rhea suddenly remembered him lying about not knowing the place, back in Alaska.
"Why did you lie back then? You are a major shareholder in that hotel. You must know it has a branch in Fairbanks too"
"Why do you think I did that then?" he replied with a question.
"Of course because I looked too gullible"
"Then why am I the one at a loss every time?", he asked directly.
Rhea frowned, "What loss?"
This time, he couldn't help but smile.
"Why don't you find it yourself on your stay here?", his expression promptly turned into a challenging one.
Rhea was really at a loss for words. Even if she says something, he would come up with something she would never understand. What a crafty performer!
Rhea was taken aback this time. It was the first time he spoke to her this way! With a smirk, he left the area. But once again halted by the door.
"Select the bedroom for you. I'll arrange the other one for me"
"For you?" Rhea stood up so shocked.
"Of course, I'll drop by every weekend!", he replied then walked out the door.
What the hell is happening? Is he playing with her?
She hated herself for not being able to be harsh with him after all she had gone through.
Rhea was dumbfoundedly frozen by the sofa as the little puppy started to run around her feet!