"Huh!" I stared at him, dazed, almost visibly shaking from anxiety. I don't think I am cut out for this detective shit.
Instead of clarifying, Ryan reached into his pocket, took out a pristine white handkerchief, neatly folded into a perfect square, and reached across the seat to wipe my forehead.
Not expecting his action, I shrank from his touch, but he gave me a look that pushed my head forward again, letting him clean the mist off my forehead.
"Don't worry, they are not going to find anything," he reassures me after cleaning my face, and starts the car.
I exhale in relief when I realize he thought I was nervous because of Daniel's inquiry. I didn't get caught. Looks like I could make a good detective, I think to myself with a smug smirk.
On our way, I turn to Ryan to ask where we are going. He only said he had an outside meeting and wants me to accompany him. But I need to know what the meeting is about so I can prepare myself.
"Where are we going?"
Ryan answers without taking his attention from the road. "Dynasty is trying to acquire this small real estate company and make it a subsidiary."
Real Estate is one of the many sectors in the industry that Dynasty dabbles in, and they are also corporate sharks who swallow smaller companies that are no longer able to sustain themselves, and sometimes bigger companies. They get these companies at a very low price and, when they return to a stellar level, sell them at a high price or keep them, whichever makes them more money.
We arrive at Sunshine Real Estate and are led to their conference room by an assistant. We walk into the room, and there are lots of suited men and ladies sitting around the long table waiting for my boss.
They seemed to be in the middle of a deep chat when we walked close to the conference room, but it died down as soon as the door opened to reveal our presence.
A small, rotund man with frontal baldness sat at the head of the table, and by the flustered and anxious look on his face, I take he is the owner of this establishment.
Ryan walked toward the man like he owned the room, and I followed like his loyal dog. When he got to the bald gentleman, he told him in a deep, authoritative tone.
"You are in my seat."
"Right," the man muttered nervously, scooting off the executive seat like he had ants in his pants.
The people on his left made adjustments to make the seat closest to the one he just vacated available, and the man settled down, panting a little as if he had just run a marathon.
Ryan settled down on the seat like the King he is not, but is pulling off with perfect accuracy. He looks to the man on his right, his stare freezing.
"That is my assistant's seat," he tells him flatly.
The man, a white-skinned, huge-bodied man with an air of importance oozing from him, looks at Ryan like he can't be serious.
"You want me to stand up for your assistant?" He questions with a look of disbelief and affront, as if Ryan's request had just been an insult.
Ryan's expression remains impassive as he stares at the man coldly, not at all affected by the indignant look on the man's face.
Some of the people in the room seem to share the man's opinion that an assistant shouldn't have a seat in an executive meeting and air it openly, though in a hushed tone.
I could hear some of them commenting on Ryan's arrogance and pride. Muttering who the hell he thinks he is, waltzing into the room like he is god, and throwing orders around.
For some annoying reason, I didn't like them speaking about Ryan like that. I know he can sometimes be conceited, but beneath his rough edges lies a man with a good heart, gentle and kind to his employees.
These people don't know him as I do and are just judging him based on what they can see.
"I can stand," I say with a nervous smile, to make peace.
Ryan looked at me, and I gulped at the annoyance in his stare. Right, I need to keep quiet from now on.
Next, he turns to the bald man on his left. "It seems I have wasted my time coming here. Let me know when you are ready to talk business." He gets to his feet and heads for the door.
What! My eyes widen. Is he going to walk away from this meeting just because the room refused to vacate a seat for me?
I stared at my boss like he was insane.
Of course, he is. You will never know which Ryan you will get at any given time.
Seems arrogant and stubborn is the one we have been gifted.
The atmosphere in the room shifted. Panic and anger surged toward the ceiling as the men and women around the table glared at my boss with hateful eyes.
Only one person seemed bothered by my boss's leaving.
"Mr. Blackwell, wait!" The bald man yells, flying to his feet at the speed I didn't believe could come from someone of his weight.
Of course, Ryan ignores him and heads for the door. When he says something, he means it.
I followed him, a part of me feeling pity for the old man.
I guess this is the power of money and wealth. You dictate to people what they can and can't do, even when you are trying to buy something from them.
The man met us in the corridor and ran to block our path. "Please, Mr. Blackwell, don't leave," he pleads with Ryan, looking very desperate.
His company must be in huge trouble if he is this eager to offload it to Dynasty.
Despite his desperation and plea for understanding, Ryan regards the man coldly, his stern expression never faltering.
How can he remain stoic in the face of such despair?
Again, I am reminded of Ryan from the past. Judging from how I have seen him deal with his employees, something else is driving him to act this cruelly.
What could it be?
"I am sorry, Mr Baldwin, but I am a man with lots of things on my plate to have my precious time wasted by frivolity. Book another meeting with my assistant, and next time, I want two seats available for my assistant and me."
At his words, my eyes widen.
Is it me?
Is he punishing the company for treating me unkindly?
I didn't know whether to feel good or bad about this.
After speaking, Ryan walked around the man to leave, then stopped midway to address him again.
"And Mr. Baldwin," he gets the man's attention.
Mr Baldwin stood with his head bowed and his shoulders slumped; he quickly straightened up when he heard Ryan call him.
"My offer just dropped by ten percent," Ryan tells the man, and turned to leave, therefore missing the crestfallen expression that fell on the man's face at his words, or how low his head and shoulders sank.
The sight of defeat on his face touched something inside me, and I quickly caught up with Ryan.
"Do you have to?"
Ryan gives me a side glance full of confusion. "Do I have to do what?"
"Cut the money, I know you are already paying so little for the company."
"And why does that bother you?" He looks at me curiously, his blue eyes staring intently at me.
I remembered the look in the old man's eyes, a look that I am very familiar with.
I avert my eyes from his, staring at the ground. "Because I know how it feels to be at the bottom of your life, to feel so defeated in life that you feel so desperate."
As I spoke, my voice quivered to my mortification.
I wait for Ryan's response, but he hesitates before speaking. "First," he reached out to wipe the single tear from my eyes, shit! I didn't know I was crying. Fuck me! Then he said.
"You can tell him we are upping the price by 20%."
What! My eyes snap up to meet his in shock. "You will do that?!"
He shrugs, like his actions aren't a big deal. Before I could think twice about my action, I quickly hugged him, shocking him.
I, too, shocked myself.
I have never willingly hugged anyone in a long while, not since that night.
Ryan stood stiff in my embrace for a second before his body melted into mine and he hugged me back.
"Thank you," I whispered and pulled back. I hurried back to the room to give them the good news.
I walked in to hear them discussing what they were going to do in line with Ryan's words.
They stopped talking at my entrance and glared at me with open hostility. I guess they blame me for what happened.
I recoiled at their unwelcoming stare, tempted to hightail it out of the room. Then Ryan's face flashed across my mind, his confidence, the way he carries himself without fear, and I straightened to my full height, walked further into the room with my head held high.
"My boss has a message for you guys," I tell them confidently, looking them straight in the eyes.