"Sorry for bothering you so late at night. I must be on my way now." Rye offered a gentle smile to the girl in front of him. After a hearty meal, the tension in his face had eased, but the exhaustion from countless sleepless nights was now evident. Sherry couldn't bear the thought of letting someone like him leave, fearing he might meet with an accident—just like she once did.
Sherry stood silently, watching as the young man gathered his belongings. Her hands unconsciously clenched tightly, as if trying to hold onto something solid. Her body tensed with embarrassment, but there was a determined glint in her eyes.
"You... you don't have to go anywhere," Sherry blurted out. Her voice was small but sincere. She tried to keep her tone steady, but the words felt like a rebellion against the nervousness rising within her.
Rye paused, turning slightly to look at her. His gaze held a hint of surprise, but it quickly returned to its usual calmness, as though he was trying to decipher her emotions.
"This isn't the right time for me to stay," Rye declined gently, his tone composed but tinged with weariness. He stood there, his expression unreadable, as though struggling to maintain his composure. Yet his eyes betrayed a flicker of hesitation, a trace of doubt he couldn't entirely conceal.
Sherry's gaze lingered on him, an invisible force compelling her to stop him from leaving. She swallowed hard, her hands gripping tightly as though afraid of losing something irreplaceable. His words made her heart sink, but she couldn't stop herself. She didn't know why, but the thought of him leaving felt like it would create an unfillable void in her heart.
"Don't go!" Sherry repeated, her voice trembling slightly, each word stretching the awkwardness in the air.
Rye hesitated, seemingly unable to understand why she was so adamant about him staying. His emotions were conflicted; part of him wanted to leave quickly, but another part felt something was incomplete. He sighed, trying to gather his thoughts. Sherry stood there, her hands clenched, as though she couldn't let go.
"You should stay the night. It's late, and the roads are busy..." she stammered, her voice uneasy but her eyes filled with concern.
For a long moment, Rye said nothing, silently observing her. He couldn't fathom why Sherry cared so much about him when they barely knew each other. But deep down, something stirred within him—a gentle flutter he hadn't felt before. Her gaze, her genuine concern, tugged at his heart.
The girl before him stood motionless, seemingly waiting for his decision, even though she didn't know what it would bring. But Sherry couldn't shake the feeling that letting him leave now would mean losing something—a chance she didn't want to miss.
After a prolonged silence, Rye finally sighed and stepped toward her.
"Alright… I'll stay."
Sherry quickly prepared the guest room for him, her cheeks flushing as she wondered where she had found the courage to stop him. Yet she felt a quiet joy, her smile brighter than usual.
DING DONG
Sherry hurried to open the door. Arden, Rye's assistant, appeared with a friendly grin despite being dragged out of bed at such a late hour. He handed her a bag.
"Here are Mr. Mavis's clothes. Just let him know to put the used ones in this bag. I'll pick them up for laundry in the morning," Arden said mischievously before speeding off without waiting for a reply.
Sherry, puzzled, noticed there were two sets of clothes in the bag. Locking the door securely, she brought the clothes to the bathroom.
"Mr. Mavis, your clothes have arrived. Arden brought them over," she called awkwardly from outside the door, her mind racing with thoughts that made her cheeks burn.
What if he asked her to bring them in? Or worse—what if he came out with just a towel?
"Thank you. Just hang them on the door, please." Rye's calm voice cut through her wandering thoughts, and Sherry quickly left.
Not long after, the bathroom door opened slightly, and Rye stepped out, dressed in comfortable loungewear, his damp hair tousled. The usual stern and cold aura he exuded in his suits was replaced by an irresistible charm. His relaxed demeanor, paired with his deep eyes and flawless skin, made the air feel heavy with an indescribable allure.
Sherry turned back to check if Rye needed anything else and immediately flushed as her gaze accidentally met his. She quickly lowered her head, trying to appear composed but failing to hide her flustered state.
"Do… do you need anything else?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. Rye glanced at her, a faint, teasing smirk curling his lips.