I stayed cooped up working in my office well into the afternoon, and I didn’t even realize when it was time for lunch. June made me aware of this and I asked them to go ahead without me. I continued with what I had been doing, my gaze reviewing the spreadsheet and designs on my desk. I had been so engrossed in what I was doing that I didn’t even hear the raspy knock on my office door or the sound of the person’s footsteps when he walked into my office.
“You seem to be busy.”
I was startled, both because it was a stranger’s voice and it was so close to me. I jerked up, letting out a loud yelp. I raised quizzical eyes up to find an absolutely gorgeous sight: a blonde-haired man with the dreamy grey eyes and a beautiful smile that could melt the hardest of heart.
My brows furrowed as I stared up at him, wondering where I knew him from because he looked oddly familiar. Then my eyes grew wide with recognition as it clicked into my head. I stood up. “Mr. McMahon, good day, sir.”
He smiled. ”Now I understand why Moody is so obsessed.”
“What?” I asked, confused. It was at this instant I began to wonder if everyone around Ian Maxwell was as crazy as he was.
“Never mind.” Ryan waved me off. “I was hoping I could steal you out for lunch.”
“What!” My eyes watched the smiling man, questions churning inside me of their own free will.
He chuckled, taking in my stupefied state. “I promise you. Moody wouldn’t mind.”
“Who’s Moody?” I asked, a heavy indication of confusion in my tone.
Ryan winked at me. “Don’t tell me you don’t know our dear Moody; he’s always glued to his tablet.”
“Oh.” Realization set in more ways than one. Aside from realizing who he was referring to as Moody, I was also convinced that Ryan was a part of Ian Maxwell’s plan. “I think Asshole suits him better.”
“Ouch!” He touched his heart, faking a look of hurt before laughing. “Well, I guess I can’t deny your comment. So about lunch?”
I blinked, glancing over at the unfinished work piled on my desk. “I’m kind of still busy. Why do you want to have lunch with me though?”
Ryan wore a thoughtful look before he grinned. “Because we have a mutual friend.”
“He is not my friend!” I snapped, forgetting just who I was talking to once again.
“You really are his firecracker,” he said, folding his arms across his chest.
My ears perked up at the words.His firecracker.The whole idea left a bittersweet feeling in my belly. I hated it and at the same time, I found it a little exhilarating. I had to be crazy.
“Did Ian send you to torture me, Mr. McMahon?” I asked, also crossing my arms.
“No, he’d kill me if he knew I was here. He specifically warned me to stay away from you.” Ryan laughed.
I wondered why Ian would warn him to stay away from me.Did he actually think I was crazy?That had to be the reason, he was trying to protect his friend from me.
“By the way you can just call me Ryan, and I will call you Ashley in return, Good?” He stretched his hand towards me in a handshake.
“Good” I accepted his handshake, a smile settling on my face. I wondered why a certain someone wasn’t more like his friend and wondered why Ryan was even friends with someone like that him since they seemed to be polar opposites. One was the lord of the dark, with his dark hair and dark clothing while the other was the angel of the light with his blonde hair and light-colored clothing and much sunnier attitudes.
“So lunch? I bet you this work of yours won’t run off,” Ryan said lightly.
Frankly, I knew this was a bad idea. Although it was just lunch, but it’s a lunch with the vice president of the company in this department where I’m rumored to have gotten the job through nepotism. I could already tell what manner of rumors would spring up after this, especially because my work was suddenly getting picked for a major project. A feat that was hard for even the older employees who have been working here for years to achieve. At this point, I couldn’t care less though. Ryan seemed like a nice person, and it was obvious his main purpose for coming here was to rile Ian Maxwell up. Anything to get that Moody grumpier is something I love to participate in.
“Okay.” I closed the files I had been working with and slipped on my jacket. “Let’s go.”
“Ladies first.” Ryan motioned towards the door, a bright smile on his face which had my heart doing a quick flip.
I could already tell that this man knew his way well around the ladies. He was effortlessly smooth. Makes one wonder why some people just chose to develop the worst kind of manners.
We headed out to lunch, and I was glad that Ryan hadn’t intended to go to the staff’s cafeteria. He drove us to a nearby restaurant. Through lunch, I got to know Ryan more than I expected. Ryan was a very interesting guy. He seemed to find everything his best friend does hilarious and had a good laugh when I explained to him how Moody and I met to him.
He wasn’t so surprised about my side of the story and mentioned that he’d constantly warned Ian to stop reading emails while walking.