"I am not saying you shouldn't call the police if you want, but you should take a look at this first so that you will know who to get arrested," Ryan said.
Stephanie glanced from the papers Ryan was holding to him. She wondered what he was up to. She grabbed the papers from him and opened it. Inside was the details of the debts that Anderson owed and something else… she scanned through the evidence She had been drugged the night before. She let out a gasp as she realized who had planned the whole thing. Anderson! There were pictures that had been taken from the CCTV camera of the bar where she had been last night. The bar man had added something to her drink after he was seen with Anderson. "What…?" Her lips quivered. The papers fell from her. She slowly looked at Anderson. "What's wrong?" Anderson scrambled from the floor. He ran up the stairs to where she was and picked the papers from the floor. His eyes scanned through the page. He ran his hand through his hair in frustration. It was enough that what he planned didn't work out yesterday, but what is with the careless attendant who spiked Stephanie's drink? "Anderson, shouldn't you explain to her what really happened?" Ryan asked, enjoying the scene. He had only gotten the information about Stephanie being drugged so that he could clear his conscience. The way she had suddenly slept after the incident of last night had been somehow confusing to him. If Anderson had not lied to Stephanie about him pushing Anderson down the stairs, Stephanie wouldn't have known about neither the incident that happened last night nor the debts Anderson owed. The last thing Ryan wanted at the moment was to be arrested. Adding the police station's problem to his already numerous problems would only make things harder for him. Anderson wanted to cuss Ryan out for doing something as stupid as this and still having the gut to talk, but he stopped himself and looked at Stephanie. She was staring at him, clearly needing an explanation of what happened. "I am sor—" Anderson started to say but Stephanie interrupted him. "Explain what happened. Now," she snapped. Anderson ran his hand through his hair again as he watched Stephanie's furious and hurt eyes. "Actually… well, it happened. Someone spiked your drink at the bar. And… I called you. Remember? You were supposed to come see me at the hotel, but you didn't show up," Anderson said. Stephanie had felt drowsy after taking two cups of vodka. She remembered that Anderson called that she should meet him at a hotel, but she had probably told her driver to drive her home. She had thought… well, she had thought she was meeting Anderson in the hotel. She actually thought she had sex with Anderson last night and she had woken up this morning to find herself naked in Ryan's bed. Her face coloured and she became very self-conscious of what had happened. She had not given much thought to it for the past few hours. But… Anderson had drugged her and asked her to meet him in a hotel. What was that supposed to mean? She gasped. Done with watching the drama between the two, Ryan went inside and packed his stuff. When got back outside, he took one last look at the woman he once loved. Right there, he felt all the love he once had for her disappearing. And for the first time in the last few hours, he could feel the heaviness from the heartbreak reduce slightly. "You know what, Steph? I think you and your family don't really deserve me."After Ryan left, his words seemed to hang on and cause an uncomfortable silence in the room. Stephanie remained where she was, staring at Anderson. But Anderson needed no one to tell him that even though she was staring at him, her mind was faraway. Anderson finally decided to move closer to her. He took a step toward her, but she took two steps backward. "Babe—" "Stop. Don't come closer." She raised her hand to accompany how well she meant what she said. "I am sorry, babe. I didn't do it for my own selfish interest. I did it for you," Anderson said. Noticing Stephanie's puzzled face, he continued talking, adding his excuses together. "I wanted to help you escape this miserable life quickly. Even if you had come to me last night, nothing would have happened between us. I swear. You mean a lot more to me than you can ever imagine," Anderson said. His lies seemed to have some effects on her as her face slowly began to lit up. "Can't you see the freedom you have now? Tha
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.
"I only want to be the executive director." He noticed her frown, so he added, "you are handling things pretty well. I don't want to intervene.""Alright." She stared at him as he looked at the paintings on the wall. He looked more handsome."I still can't believe you didn't call me…""I said I am sorry, Brenda!" She is such a nag. "If you really are, come with me to a party this evening. And…" She added before Ryan could say anything. "I will get you some new clothes."Ryan chuckled and continued looking at the paintings.Later that evening, Ryan, dressed in the expensive black suit that Brenda had bought for him, drove them to the venue of the party.As he drove, Brenda noted that he looked even more handsome in the suit. "You've been in Atlanta all these while?" She asked."Yeah.""Dated anyone?" Ryan chuckled. "Married and divorced." As he drove, Ryan filled her in on his marriage to Stephanie, leaving out the details of how he was brought into the Hill family. For now, only hi
Stephanie pushed Anderson away from her and dashed across to where Ryan and Brenda were. They were on the last step of the staircase that led to the hall and had stopped to look at her."Have you been cheating on me all this while?" She shouted at Ryan. Her face, a mask of anger. She looked at Brenda through the corner of her eyes."What?" Ryan frowned, completely surprised with her accusation."If you haven't been cheating on me, there is no way you have gotten involved with her all of a sudden." She looked from Ryan to Brenda. "She is a famous and capable managing director in the city." Ryan wanted to ask her why she would think of something like that but he didn't. There was no use of wasting his energy on an argument with her."Your slanderous words would be taken to court, Miss Stephanie," Brenda said. She shot Stephanie a cold stare. Does she think she can say whatever she wants to Ryan and get away with it? Not anymore. Stephanie had done enough to Ryan and now that she found
"Apologize for what you just said to Brenda right now," Ryan said in a no nonsense tone.Anderson scoffed. "Never. I only exposed what was going on between you and her. Why should I apologize for that?" If Ryan thinks he can make him do what he wants just because he is holding him slightly by the collar, Ryan should stop fooling… Anderson suppressed a groan as Ryan's grip on his collar tightened."Do all you can. I will never apologize," Anderson said. Although he wished Ryan would release the grip on his collar, he didn't make it obvious in his voice.Ryan lifted him higher. Anderson's feet were no longer touching the ground. A sense of fear overcame him. It slowly turned to one of oppression. One that he had never felt before. He had never thought Ryan had this much power. And somewhere at the back of his mind, Anderson realized that Ryan was no longer the househusband he used to know."I am sorry!" He tried not to yelp out the words."Say it well," Ryan said."I am sorry, Brenda. I
Brenda glanced at Ryan, seeing it as an avenue to have a dance with him. She had not known how to approach him before but Stewart seemed to have provided her with a good opportunity.She glanced back at Stewart. "I only accept one person's invitation."Stewart grinned at her. "Which will be mine?"Brenda turned to Ryan. "Will you dance with me, Ryan?" Ryan smiled at her and nodded. Stewart's mouth hung open as he watched Brenda and Ryan walk to the dance floor. Did Brenda just turn down his invitation because of that poor man?He glanced at his hand and realized that he was still extending it like he did when he had invited Brenda to dance with him. He scoffed, Straightened up and grabbed a cup of drink from one of the waiters walking around. He down the content while staring at Brenda and Ryan on the dance floor.People stared at Ryan and Brenda on the dance floor as they danced. The appearance of the two looked very great as it blended with the lively atmosphere of the party. Rya
Ryan glanced at Brenda and smiled at her. "I will be back," He said.He asked one of the waiters around and he directed him to where the garden was.In the garden, Ryan saw Stewart. His hands were thrust in his pocket.When Ryan got nearer, Stewart took out one of his hands from his pocket, bringing out a bank card. He stretched it to Ryan."There is 300, 000 dollars on this card. Take it and leave the city," Stewart said.Ryan looked at Stewart before looking at the card. He laughed bitterly. He cannot even buy a new pair of shoes with 300, 000 dollars and Stewart is telling him to leave the city with it. Does Stewart think the fact that he appears poor means he cannot reason like the rest of human beings?Stewart smiled proudly when he heard the laughter from Ryan. Right now, he was sure Ryan's mind would be in catastrophe as he thought of what he would buy with all that much money. He would probably think he would become the first rich man in Atlanta with the money in the card."Yo
Ryan leaned on the pole behind him and concentrated on his smoking while he waited for a reply to the message he sent. Stewart glanced at the expressionless face of Ryan. Ryan had not made any attempt to collect the card from him. Does he have to think for such a long period? Even if he has to, he should collect the card from him and go elsewhere to do the rest of his thinking. "Take the card fast before I change my mind," Stewart said, starting to get impatient. Still, he got no reaction from Ryan. Just as Ryan let out the light from the cigarette and tossed it away, one of the bodyguards who had come with the butler earlier today appeared. He was carrying a black box. Before Stewart could say anything, he saw the box flying toward him. His face suddenly stung, and then the entire box of cash hit his head and floated down from above, covering the ground. Green banknot