Chapter 5
OLIVIA
The sun wasn’t even fully up when I woke. For a second, I forgot where I was.
The soft sheets and how warm and unfamiliar the place felt. I quickly remembered.
This is day 3 in Ryan's house since my dad left.
I grabbed my robe and dragged myself out of bed. My head was still a mess from everything that happened.
Him leaving me. Him picking me up. Him kind-of apologizing without actually apologizing. My brain was still trying to process it, and I didn’t have the energy to argue with myself this early.
I needed tea.
Barefoot, I walked downstairs. The house was quiet. And i doubted if anyone was up. No maids moving around. No sound from Ryan’s office. Just silence.
I entered the kitchen, grabbed a mug, and put the kettle on. I stood there, rubbing my eyes, trying to shake off sleep.
I forgot to mention, the size of Ryan's kitchen is my whole house.
I walked out of the kitchen to the living room and was standing at the full long window that cascaded from upstairs to down stairs.
While still thinking, something caught my attention…
Out the window parked across the street were black cars. About three or more. Tinted windows. Engine running. And to top it all, no one was coming out.
At first, I brushed it off. Rich people probably knew rich people who owned expensive cars. Whatever.
But then… another black car slowly turned the corner and parked right behind it. Same model. Same tint. Same quiet.
My hand froze over the kettle.
What the hell?
I leaned closer to the window, pressing my forehead against the glass. I tried to look for faces, but the windows were too dark. My heartbeat picked up.
Then the back window of the first car rolled down just a little.
Someone was watching.
“Shit,” I whispered, stepping back quickly.
I went inside the kitchen immediately, I turned off the kettle without thinking and rushed out of the kitchen.
I didn’t know where I was going, I just needed to find Ryan. I stumbled into the hallway, my breath shaky.
Before I could call his name, I collided with a firm chest.
I gasped and looked up.
Ryan.
His hand caught my arm. “What’s wrong?”
“There—” I pointed toward the kitchen, my voice shaky. “Outside. There are cars. Three black ones. They’ve been sitting there. Someone’s watching the house…I swear someone’s watching.”
For a moment, Ryan didn’t move. His eyes flicked toward the window behind me, then back to my face.
He didn’t look surprised.
That was worse.
“You knew?” My voice came out soft. Almost betrayed.
He didn’t answer. Instead, he gently moved past me and walked toward the window. He stood there silently, hands behind his back like a man observing a business deal.
I stood behind him, hugging my arms. “Who are they?”
Nothing.
“Ryan.”
He exhaled like was tired of me asking too many questions but that's not important now…is it?
“People who want something from me,” he finally said.
My stomach twisted. “Like what? Money?” I questioned, wondering why that would be a problem for a man of high status like him.
He stayed silent.
That was enough to answer. They were not after money.
Fear rushed up my throat. “Why are they here? Why are they watching your house like they’re waiting to grab someone?”
His jaw tightened. His reflection in the window looked cold. Focused.
“This is why,” he said quietly, “I told you to stay away from me. Don't play with fire… Your dad knows how dark my world is.”
I swallowed hard. “You didn’t tell me anything. You just controlled everything and expected me to obey.”
His eyes cut toward me. “Because it’s safer that way.”
“For whom?” I snapped. “You? Or me?”
He finally turned to face me fully. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“Well, I am here,” I shot back. “And I’m not going to pretend I didn’t just see whatever that was.”
“They won’t touch you,” he said firmly.
“How do you know?” I demanded. “What if they break in? What if I’m alone next time? What if—”
“You won’t be alone.” His tone was final.
I shook my head. “This is stupid. I can’t just sit here and wait to be protected.”
His brows lowered. “What do you suggest?”
I took a breath. “I want to be close to you.”
His expression shifted. Barely but I saw it.
“Not—” I groaned. “Not like that. I mean, I want to know what’s happening. If I’m in danger because I’m here, then I should be aware. Prepared. Not blind.”
He stared at me like he was trying to decide if I was brave or stupid.
I lifted my chin. “Let me work at your company.”
His brows shot up. “No.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
“I’m not safe here,” I argued. “Yesterday, you left me on the road. Today, someone is stalking your house. Tomorrow what then? If I work at your company, I’ll be around people. Inside a secure building. With you.”
His jaw clenched. “Olivia—”
“I’m tired of being thrown around without knowing anything,” I cut in. “If I’m staying here, I need control. And the only way I get that is if I’m close to you.”
He stared at me long and hard. The air between us grew heavy.
I could feel my pulse in my ears.
Finally, he exhaled.
“You won’t like it,” he muttered.
“I don’t like this either,” I said, pointing toward the window.
Another beat of silence.
“Fine,” he said at last. “But you follow my rules.”
I nodded. “Deal.”
His gaze softened just slightly. “You have no idea what you’re walking into.”
I met his eyes. “Maybe not. But I’m already in it.”
He looked toward the window one last time.
“They’ll be gone soon,” he said.
“And if they’re not?” I asked quietly.
He looked back at me.
“Then they’ll have to
deal with me.”
I didn’t know whether to be comforted or terrified.
But one thing was clear:
Whatever world he was in… I had just stepped into it with him.
