A sudden ring from a certain phone broke the contentment they both felt. They both swam to the side of the pool and got out of there. Violet picked up her phone while Ryan fetched two towels from the room beside the pool. It was a short trip, but when he came back, Violet looked like she was seeing a ghost. Or hearing what a ghost sounded like right in her ear. “What is it?” Ryan asked her, frowning ever so slightly. He dropped the towel on her shoulders while wearing his own with his baggy t-shirt still on. Violet didn’t answer right away. She looked at him and accepted the towel, troubled. Something big weighted heavily on her mind, that was for sure. Then, when he contemplated whether he should ask her again in case she didn’t hear or if he should just ignore it for its probably unimportant feel, Violet grabbed the sleeve of his towel. She said, “Mom leaves home.” Ryan blinked, yet confused again. “Ugh… sure?” Clicking her tongue, Violet crossed her arms in front of her che
Ryan got on the plane after he had breakfast with Violet. There was some small change in the ceremony. Or whatever people call it, this handling of the company he didn't want. He only needed less than three three-hour drive if Ashford Group's headquarters was still in Lancaster. But, through all of his disappearance in the last ten years, he didn't think that Howard would move the company's headquarters halfway through all the States. Located in Seattle, it was basically on the other side of America. Then, after a few hours of flight, the plane was ready to land. Ryan watched for a moment as other people around him were getting ready to board off the plane. Looking back out the window, Ryan wondered if he should ask Violet to accompany him. She might say yes, and they might explore Seattle for some time. Although, he would leave the next day, so he'd prefer to get some rest any other way. Exiting the small loading bridge from the plane, he was relieved when he stepped on solid fl
There really was nothing amusing about the loss of someone's personal space.Reaching their destination, Ryan practically threw himself inside the short limo that was waiting for him. He never felt so glad to be inside a car."We tried our best to keep them away, sir. But as you can see, it is a hard work." Thomas said as he sat beside the driver.Ryan slumped on the back seat, murmuring, "Could be worse." He tried his best to avoid looking out the darkened windows. "I probably woud have punch someone if I was here by myself."Sighing, Ryan watched the array of people slowly disappear as the car began to move forward. He really was crazy if he thought he'd ask Violet to come with him, too. Sure, she could handle it more elegantly, what with her being used to being in the light. But that would still cost her extra stress.All in all, the drive to the hotel was smooth, and there were no more reporters waiting for them.Ryan parted away with Thomas and the others, choosing to have some p
Ryan followed Thomas to the conference room that was at the very end of the hallway.The double doors were opened for him as he stepped inside, finding a large table that was seated with at least eleven men who all suddenly fell quiet. Seated against the wall were a few more people. No matter where he looked, everyone seemed a little tense.“Have a seat, Rayven Ashford,” an even voice said.Looking up at who had said his name, Ryan’s eyes fell on a dark-haired man who looked fairly old. Wearing a slim-fitted black vest with dark red tie, his suit jacket was neatly perched behind him against the back of his chair.The old man studied Ryan for a moment, glancing back down a thick packet of documents before him on the table. After seeing Edric seated next to the man, without another thought, he knew it had to be someone he should know because his voice sounded familiar in his ears.Everyone else around the table stared with a mix of
Ryan came home to Violet’s angry face.“What is it again?” he asked carelessly.She huffed and crossed her arms in front of her chest. Face scowling, she didn’t waste the time to glare dagger at him either. “Really, that’s how you greet me now?”He frowned at her accusing words. Wait, what did she accuse him of, now?“Okay, I’ll step back and restart.” He did precisely that, even closing the door again just for the hell of it. Then, he knocked on the door, waiting for his wife to open it for him. “Hello, good evening, Ma’am. How are you today?”“Oh, fuck you, scum!”Bam!Great.She slammed the door right in his face.What more could he expect?Sighing and ruffling the back of his head, Ryan waited for a minute to pass before he opened the door again. This time, Violet wasn’t waiting on the other side anymore. Instead, s
Sitting opposite each other in the dining room, they locked their gaze. The dark sea and its chill night breeze called for them, but they had the most important discussion in the whole universe happening now.Ryan smiled a little. "Do you know why Edric did all of this?"Violet frowned, thinking for a minute about what he was asking. Kind of ridiculous, really. They both knew why Edric fucking did all of this. Because he was a psychopath.But, just to humor Ryan as he had worked so hard today. "He wants the company for himself.""Yes, but he's the only child Howard have. He will get it no matter what.""You're right," Violet nodded, "But, then, your father found out that you're alive.""That doesn't mean anything. As far as I'm concern, Howard hated my gut since I was born. Even if I'm still there, he will treat me as usual, like a dog he can take his stress out on.""What are you trying to say, exactly?"Ryan prepared himself
What was the thing Edric wanted the most?Grinning to himself, Ryan thought, ‘I want to expose every crimes Edric ever do in his entire life.’In a matter of seconds, TEETS’s mechanical voice rang in his head as the transparent dark panel floated before his eyes.[New objectives have been submitted.][Objective Six: Expose Edric Ahsford’s crimes.]Peep!Ryan’s attention went to TEETS again. Would he get a new mission right away?[You have one on-going mission.][Current Mission – Kill the Lover: Confront Marissa Crowne when she is dating another man.][Time Left: 8 hours 34 minutes.][Rewarded Ability: Spoiler Alert Lvl 1.][New Mission can not be assigned to Host until Mission completion.]Shit.Ryan forgot he had an ongoing mission with Marissa as the center of attention. He only had eight hours, no less. He didn’t know what kind of Ability Spoiler A
The clock showed 09.34, but nobody cared about that.Moon bright, hanging high above the skyscrapers of New York, lighting the rooftop restaurant in a soft glow. The night air sent a chill down their spine, reminding them that fall was near. Colorful disco lights here and there, clashing softly against blue and pink drinks on their hands. Music blared, sending a slow rhythm of oldies jazz.However, nobody also paid attention to any of that.Particularly, for Marissa.Tonight, this rooftop restaurant was fully reserved to host a party for her friend’s 35th marriage anniversary. Ferry and Rosanda clearly spent money for it, and she would enjoy every penny, like all guests should do.Besides, she could ignore all of the fuss in favor of giving the handsome man in front of her the attention he deserved. “It must be exciting, flying all over the world to sing in big theaters like you, Rhome.”The man in a black and soft purple t