Chapter 11

She hissed, rolled her eyes on Ryan before she looked back at the laptop to continue watching the movie she had been secretly watching. If not for the movie, she would sleep throughout all the time of her shift since nothing happens here except watching very rich people come in and go out.

"Call the general manager directly and —"

The receptionist hit her fist on her desk, interrupting Ryan.

"Do you have any difficulty in locating the door leading outside?" She asked. Irritation evident on her round face.

Ryan frowned. He looked her straight in the eye, waiting for her to do what he asked.

When she saw how determined the man dressed in Walmart clothes was, the receptionist picked the phone. She couldn't wait to see him thrown out by the security men. After all these days, maybe she could watch a live drama in the company. 

She rolled her eyes on the man in disdain again and snorted. He has a real gut. Does he think he is special or something coming here without an appointment?

"Ma'am. There is a man here asking to see you…" she said into the phone. "Yes… tall, pointed nose… cloth? Walmart clothes…" 

Ryan noticed the arrogant expression that had been on the front-desk woman's face froze. It soon turned into astonishment. Her grip on the phone was shaky.

Ryan guessed the general manager had told the front-desk woman who he was. "Where is the general manager's office?" He asked.

"The… there, Sir." Her shaky finger pointed him in the direction. "It's on the second floor. The first office, Sir."

Ryan shook his head at her incoherence. Some minutes ago, she had been so arrogant that no one would have thought she could be like this.

He climbed the stairs leading to the office of the general manager. He opened the door to the office after a knock.

He was greeted with the sight of a beautiful woman wearing a tight-fitting suit and a short skirt with long flowing hair and supermodel-like long legs. 

For a moment, Ryan wasn't sure if he was imagining things. Brenda? His stepsister is the managing director?

Ryan's parents had adopted Brenda when she was very young.

In a flash, Brenda rushed forward to him and pinched his cheek. 

"Ryan?" She hugged him tightly. So tight that Ryan thought he was going to suffocate.

"Is this you, Ryan?" She said over his shoulder.

"Yeah," he muttered.

"I can't… I can't believe this is you." She pulled away from him and pinched his cheek again.

"Are you trying to get spots on my face or something?" Ryan asked. He took her hand gently from his face.

Her eyes were teary as she stared at him. 

"I am sorry," Ryan muttered.

"No, Ryan. No. Sorry won't cut it." She shook her head slowly. "I almost… I almost committed suicide after I heard the news of your disappearance. I didn't know how I was going to survive weeks later when you weren't found." Tears flowed down her face.

Ryan wiped the tears with his thumb. "I am sorry. I couldn't contact anyone."

"What?" 

"Okay. You got me." Ryan moved away from her. He went to her table. "You've got a nice office here."

"Ryan?" She called sharply.

Ryan groaned and turned to look at her. He had thought that growing up would have taken away some of her inquisitiveness, but he was wrong.

"What now?" 

"You aren't going to tell me anything too?" She asked.

"I am sorry. Brenda, you should know I would have told you if it was possible. You know…" he walked back to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. 

"I have things to sort out now. I will tell you every single detail of what happened when I am ready." 

She looked like she wasn't going to agree with him, but after some moment she smiled, looking away.

Ryan chuckled. "Who would have known it's a kid that is inside the strong looking woman?" 

"A kid?" She raised her brow.

Ryan chuckled again. 

"Care for some coffee?" She walked over to a side of the office. 

"Yes. If that will convince you that I am not a ghost."

When the coffee arrived, Brenda watched Ryan drink from it. It's been six years! She really doesn't believe in myths about ghosts, but she had also not believed Ryan would be alive somewhere and still not try to contact her. He had always been a great big brother to her… only that she wanted more than that from him. 

"Satisfied?" Ryan showed her his empty coffee cup.

"You have no idea, but when the butler gave me your picture and told me you would be the executive manager, I thought he had gone crazy."

"It wouldn't be funny if he had gone crazy." Ryan smiled at her.

"You are taking this matter too lightly." She was happy to see Ryan again. The part of her that seemed to have gone dead seemed to have suddenly came alive at the sight of him. The part that controlled attraction to the opposite sex?

"Now that you are here, you should take over the management of the company. I have been doing that for a long time," Brenda said.

Ryan raised his hand, smiled a bit. "No, I won't."