Ryley felt his chest tightened in an instant, as if a rope was strangling his neck, preventing him from breathing free.
And more so when the woman swiftly changed her sour face into a forced smile.
"Rayray…."
The blond couldn't believe his ears. She still had the gall to call him with his little name. But the model endured the disgusting sight and forced his head to nod, showing respect to someone who's supposed to support him in this difficult time but instead became the reason for all the misfortune that befell him.
He gracefully took his seat and faced the crowd of media with a calm look though a great storm literally broke inside him.
There's no way Rachel wasn't involved in the incident. Otherwise, how could she suddenly come here with Scott?
However, thinking of the faint bruise on the corner of her lips, Ryley was sure she must be dragged here by force.
"Good morning, everyone. I'm Scott Morrison and today I'll speak on behalf of the Grand Falcon Hotel." The old man cleared his throat after he greeted the media, then proceeded to explain the incident.
"It's true that a few days ago, Mr. Ryley Schwartz and his sister Ms. Rachel Schwartz were having a dinner in our restaurant. Mr. Ryley was then announced missing after a report was filed in the middle of the night." He glanced towards the blond, then rolled his eyes back to the other blond beside him.
The old man then took a short breath and said with repressed anger in his eyes, "We would like to express our apology for causing trouble with the news. Now we will clarify the incident so that the problem can be resolved soon."
Scott clarified the incident, explaining the order of the events according to the script.
But actually, it wasn't the script that made him talk this way— Clyde did.
Scott had to tell the media that he was partly responsible for the incident, saying that he dismissed some security guards out of anger and delayed the CCTV maintenance, causing some 'interns' from Hyacinthia to enter the area they're not supposed to and the real footage from that night to disappear.
All just to save himself from getting sacked.
"We were holding a closed meeting and invited some fashion experts from Hyacinthia to consult with the attires for board members. But we didn't think that some of their intern staffs would do such an impudent act. We sincerely apologize to Mr. Ryley for the unpleasant experience."
The attention then shifted to the woman with cat-eye glasses. She glanced at the VIP area where a beautiful figure with sunglasses and an elegant trench coat sat cross-legged, then nodded and went on explaining the case.
However, nearing the end of her speech, Hyacinthia's official account wreaked havoc on the internet by liking a post from a Ryley's stan account that said the interns involved in this case previously worked at AA.
And it didn't take long for people to understand what those two letters stood for.
"We will be more careful in selecting our interns next time. I hope this can be taken as a valuable lesson for people in fashion and clothing lines business to consider their workers' track records, including their previous company."
Ryley was pretty taken aback when he heard it. He thought of something, but then decided to focus on himself when it was finally his chance to explain his part. He spoke eloquently, showing some class and elegance as he answered the questions asked by the media with appropriate measures.
Then, a few minutes before the press conference was supposed to end, interesting questions caught his attention.
"Ryley, your fans are still attacking Asteria's social media accounts, deeming that your sister was behind the kidnapping case. What's your response towards this?"
"Their main office was also vandalized yesterday. Did your fans have anything to do with this?"
Asteria was a small agency where Rachel worked as a staff. The company didn't help her with anything. Instead, they closed the comments sections and even went on private, blocking hundreds if not thousands of angry Ryley's stans.
Rachel could only sink her claws on her lap as she lowered her head in shame. She wasn't given an opportunity to utter a word, only sitting idly by the old man's side like a broken doll.
"First of all, I'd like to apologize if this problem in any way creates all sorts of disturbance both online and offline. I understand there's a misunderstanding that needs to be cleared, so I'd like to stress it again that…" Ryley gulped down his throat, as if swallowing a hard pill.
"Ms. Rachel and her agency have nothing to do with the problem."
Low gasps echoed throughout the hall, as if everyone present couldn't believe what Ryley had just stated.
The same look crossed his sister face, whom he had just disowned with that cold and indifferent 'Ms. Rachel'.
Rachel was shocked, her bird brain thought she was safe but actually, it was the other way around. That woman couldn't read her brother's dull eyes when he conveyed his words.
Meanwhile, Gracia shot her gaze at the VIP area again, this time looking alert. The only woman sitting with tall and scary-looking men guarding around her squinted her eyes, making her pair of blue ocean irises to sharpen.
"This incident was purely the individuals' fault. Neither Hyacinthia nor Ms. Rachel's agency should take the blame. I agree with Miss Clark that this should be a great lesson, especially for me."
The media returned to shout their questions, but Scott stood up from his seat then announced that the press conference had finished and official statements would be soon released on Falcon Group's website.
Nobody knew what had gotten into Rachel but she suddenly ran towards Ryley and hugged him.
"Ryley! My little brother…!" She sobbed, tears running down her cheeks. "I'm so glad you are fine! I couldn't imagine what I would do if something bad happened to you!" Rachel made sure her voice could be heard throughout the place.
The journalists obviously didn't want to miss this rare moment for their next issue's front page.
'Wouldn't you celebrate it?' The blond's gaze went blank as the thought crossed his mind.
Though the unexpected 'reunion' between the two siblings seemed so movingly warm, anyone with good eyes would see the crocodile tears that Rachel shed.
Ryley smiled, but the joy didn't reach his brown eyes. "I will be more careful next time," he said before his hands slowly let go of his sister's embrace.
Gracia then led him out of the stage with a slightly worried face. What Ryley said just now wasn't included in the script.
"Mr. Ryley, do you have any schedule this afternoon? I need to discuss a few things with you," she said, letting out a deep sigh while adjusting her glasses.
Ryley smiled, this time looking sincere. "If you want to talk about the last questions, I still have some free time now."
Gracia tried to see through the curtain that prevented her from reading Ryley's mind, but she couldn't. Her intuition told her that the blond had something in mind when he decided to answer the last two questions but she couldn't figure it out.
"Alright then. But I need to inform you that my superior also wishes to talk to you."
The blond voiced out his ignorance innocently, "Who is it?"
Martin had been observing Gracia's furrowed brows and only by then he realized the answer.
"Could it be…"
***
The elevator brought them back to the top floor. Ryley accelerated his steps as he walked through the corridor with Martin scolding him for speaking so carelessly.
"Brother please, I didn't mean it. I'm sorry, okay? I promise it won't happen again," he said, his handsome face looking somewhat panicked.
Martin felt like screeching in frustration. "How come you asked her who it was?! I know we haven't met her in person but at least you should've known—"
His words hung in the air as soon as Ryley abruptly stopped his long steps. Martin was about to open his mouth and scold the model again but he canceled his intention once he caught the same sight that made Ryley pause their journey back to the room.
"Oh, so you're staying in this floor, huh? Do you feel familiar with this place?" Scott said, loosening his tie and looking at Ryley with contempt.
The old man walked with some guards behind him, approaching the figure who seemed to have stood in his way.
Ryley clenched his hands, his nails almost pierced the surface of his palm. But he calmly recollected his composure again and took his steps forward.
They crossed path— the former prey and the predator.
But who knew if the role would change soon?
"Do you recall what happened behind that room's door at that time? Because there's no way I would forget it." Scott said, almost whispering.
Hearing the taunt coming out of his disgusting mouth made Ryley turn his gaze sharply.
His brown irises glared at the old man, then he said with a murderous look on his face, "Don't worry, I wouldn't either. I won't forget it until I make sure that you pay for what you did."
Scott was so angry upon hearing the blond's reply, he couldn't accept a mere celeb like Ryley threatening him with his life. But he couldn't do anything when he saw the two guards tailing behind the blond and his manager.
He wasn't stupid, he knew he couldn't take the model's words lightly.
And there's only one reason why he couldn't touch Ryley for now.
"You… What are you doing here?"
Ryley felt his anger disappeared in an instant when he saw a familiar figure sitting on the couch near the glass window once he opened the door to the presidential suite where he stayed.
Stiffness suddenly invaded his nerves, the blond didn't know why his legs moved on their own as soon as a deep voice commanded him.
"Come here."