Chapter 6 WHAT ARE FRIENDS FOR?
Ryan barely looked up when the office door opened.
“Damn,” Axel said as he strode in. “You look terrible.”
Ryan continued attending to the document in front of him. “Nice to see you too.”
Axel dropped into the chair opposite the desk and loosened his tie. “I mean it. You look like you haven’t slept properly in days.”
“I haven’t.”
Axel studied him quietly for a second.
Ryan looked different lately. Somehow leaner. The softness that used to sit naturally on his face had thinned out over the past week. His facial structure appeared sharper too, his expression harder to read.
Still handsome though.
Tall. Lean build. His dark hair is always messy no matter how polished he dressed. Calm eyes that usually carried restraint even when angry.
Jace had charisma.
Ryan had presence.
Different things entirely.
Axel adjusted his seat back. “You punched him?”
Ryan finally got aware of his friend's presence, “News travels fast.”
“That kind of news flys.”
Ryan tossed the signed paper aside. “He deserved worse.”
“That part I agree with.”, he appeared amused.
Ryan stood and advanced few steps toward the glass wall overlooking the city.
Below, traffic crawled endlessly.
Axel watched him carefully. “How about it?”
Ryan knew what he meant.
“The proposition?”
Axel nodded.
Ryan slipped one hand into his pocket. “One chairman. One controlling stake.”
“And the loser?”
“Ten percent.”
Axel whistled quietly. “Mark really wants blood.”
Ryan gave a dry laugh. “He wants entertainment.”
“You think Jace saw it coming?”
“No……..but it will benefit him”
Axel crossed one leg over the other. “So what’s your move?”
Ryan turned, “What makes you think I have one?”
“Because you’re sitting in your office instead of drinking yourself unconscious.”
Ryan studied him for a moment before speaking.
“Construction has been undervalued for years.”
Axel raised a brow. “Go on.”
“Everyone focuses on Energy because it produces immediate numbers.”
“But?”
Ryan walked back toward the desk slowly.
“Construction controls physical leverage.”
Axel’s face lit up.
Ryan continued. “Road networks. Industrial sites. Logistics routes. Housing developments. Ports. Government infrastructure contracts.”
“Long-term assets.”
“Yes.”
Axel observed his friend intently as he opened a file on his desk and slid it over.
Axel went through it briefly.
“This is LA East?”
Ryan nodded. “The government has been delaying approval for almost a year. They’re about to reopen bidding.”
Axel looked back at him. “You want it.”
“I need it.”
“That project alone would shift valuation massively.”
“I know.”
Ryan leaned back in his chair. “The Energy division focuses on external expansion. Jace doesn’t pay attention to domestic infrastructure unless it affects him directly.”
Axel stared at him for a second.
Then a smile came. “There you are.”
Ryan frowned. “What?”
“That look.”
“What look?”
“The one that says you’ve finally stopped sulking and started thinking.”
Ryan ignored that.
Axel arched forward. “You really think you can beat him?”
Ryan’s voice stayed calm. “I think people underestimate construction because the results take longer.”
Ryan sat back down.
Axel tapped the folder lightly. “You’ll need political support for this project.”
“I know.”
“And funding.”
“I know.”
“And manpower.”
Ryan gave an unimpressed sight. “You enjoy stating obvious things.”
Axel laughed.
“That’s why I’m useful.”
Ryan shook his head slightly.
Axel’s expression softened after a moment. “You really loved her?”
Ryan’s face changed.
“Yeah.”
Axel sighed. “That bad?”
“She made me appear stupid.”
Axel corrected. “She betrayed you.”
Ryan's eyes strayed away for a moment.
Axel continued carefully. “You know everybody already knows about them, right?”
Ryan’s jaw grew tense. “The staff talks too much.”
Silence returned briefly.
Then Axel leaned back again.
“So,” he said casually, “what exactly are we doing about your tragic emotional state?”
Ryan gave him a flat look. “We?”
“Yes, we. I’m your friend. Unfortunately.”
“I’m working.”
“The point is not to turn into a miserable corporate robot before thirty.”
Ryan rubbed his temple lightly. “I’m not in the mood for this.”
“That’s exactly why I’m here…….I did some stuff though in your consideration.”
Ryan narrowed his eyes, “What did you do?”
Axel grinned devilishly.
Ryan immediately became annoyed. “Axel.”
“Relax.”
“What did you do?”
“I brought a gift.”
Ryan stared at him.
“A gift……To help you forget Lisa.”
Ryan blinked once.
Then laughed in disbelief.
“You’re insane.”
“She’s beautiful….. she's a good fuck too.”
“I don’t care.”
“She’s discreet.”
“I still don’t care.”
Axel shrugged. “Worth trying.”
Ryan moved back in his chair. “You brought a whore?”
“A high-end escort,” Axel corrected.
“Different branding, same job.”
Ryan shook his head slowly. “Get her out.”
“You haven’t even seen her.”
“I don’t want to.”
Axel sighed dramatically. “You’re making recovery difficult.”
“I’m not sleeping with some random woman because Lisa cheated.”
“Why not?”
Ryan gave him a look.
Axel raised both hands. “I’m serious.”
“I am past that life”
Axel said, pointing at him, “That is exactly your problem.”
Ryan wasn't quite happy looking.
“You get attached too easily.”
“That’s your diagnosis?”
“Yes.”
Then Axel stood.
Ryan frowned. “Where are you going?”
“To stop arguing for you.”
“I already said no.”
“You say no to everything before eventually agreeing.”
“That’s not true.”
Ryan rubbed his face lightly. Axel headed toward the door.
“Thirty minutes,” he said.
“I’m serious, Axel.”
“So am I.”
The door opened. Then closed behind him.
Ryan exhaled and stared down at the documents on his desk again.
But he wasn’t reading anymore.
His mind drifted until his phone buzzed.
It was a message from Marie.
“The investors from Australia confirmed Thursday’s meeting.”
Ryan replied quickly.
Good.
Then another message came in almost immediately.
“You should go home early today”
Ryan stared at the screen before locking the phone.
A knock came moments later.
Ryan tried to ignore it but couldn't help staring.
The door opened and a voluptuous woman walked in.
Axel had not exaggerated.
She was beautiful.
A slutty dress that exposed her full cleavage. Smooth skin. Her eyes moved across the office carefully before settling on him.
Ryan stood automatically.
The woman smiled knowingly, eyes fixated on him.
“So,” she said softly, closing the door behind her, “you’re Ryan.”
Up close, she looked even more striking. Elegant without trying too hard. Her perfume reached him lightly, expensive but subtle.
Ryan cleared his throat. “Axel told you why you’re here?”
“He told me enough.”
She smiled faintly at that.
“You don’t seem excited.”
“I didn’t ask for this.”
“And yet you didn’t send me away.”
Ryan couldn't help admiring her features for a second.
Fair point.
She entered further into the office boldly, heels clicking against the floor.
“You’re handsome,” she said casually.
Ryan gave a short laugh. “That was direct.”
“I don’t like wasting time.”
She stopped near the desk. “Poor fella…….You are tired though.”
“I’ve had a long week.”
“Bad breakup?”
Ryan gazed lustfully at her.
Axel talked too much.
She noticed the expression immediately.
“Sorry,” she said lightly. “Occupational guessing.”
Ryan sat back down slowly.
“Do you do this often?”
“Meet emotionally unavailable rich men?”
Despite the awkward situation, Ryan laughed. “Something like that.”
“Yes.”
Silence settled briefly.
Then she tilted her head. “So,” she asked softly, “what’s her name?”
He hesitated before answering, “Lisa”
“When I am done with you, you won't remember her again.”, she said, walking over to him seductively.
