Page 57 of Return on Love

I work on the other presentation, the actual one. Whatever happens with Bernard, I don’t want to risk MooreGames’ funding because of my personal issues. It’ll not compromise my work. I take a brief lunch break when I meet Nora. She tells me she has lined up three gamers for the initial feedback. “They’ll have access to the game on Thursday and they’re expected to give their initial views by Friday or latest Saturday. It’s cutting it close, but that’s the best we can do as of now,” she says.

I’m amazed she has enlisted three influencers to agree to work at such short notice and respond within a day! She’s an excellent resource, that much I can see.

“Only you could’ve pulled this off, Nora,” I tell her in all earnestness.

She smiles. “Yeah, Ryan said the exact same words. But it’s not that big a deal. I wanted more, but the short time frame made it impossible for many. Now, let’s just hope they like the game.”

I cross my fingers. Just as we’re heading back, she says, “There’s news about your firm getting some new investment partner. Hopefully, MooreGames will get some share of it.”

“The news is already out?” I’ve been so busy with my spy plans that I’ve really not looked at the alerts I’ve set for news about the firm.

“I mean, there is no official statement, but there are conjectures that Stephen Stratham is the new investor.”

Stratham! The billionaire whose daughter is marrying Priscilla’s brother. Bob must be over the top by this news. He’d be connected with billionaires now. He probably considers breaking up with me as a blessing. The one who wouldn’t take a penny from her dad (if at all he’d give her any, which, to be honest, we don’t really know), the one who was clumsy in bed, non-experimental, and the one who was so vanilla.

Yup, that’s what he always called me—vanilla. Lacking excitement. I always thought he was right, that our kisses were bad because I didn’t know how to kiss, that our sex was bad due to me. The past couple of days have, however, been amazing to break that notion. I’ve had the best kisses and the best sex I’ve ever had, and if Ryan’s expressions and sounds were anything to go by, I was not alone in feeling that.

Everyone at office is totally swamped with work for the next few days. Ryan and I haven’t spent any time together outside of work, if you know what I mean. I’ve been leaving a little early, so he doesn’t need to drop me home and he works very late into the night. The only reprieve is the daily treat that he gets from his home and the few minutes we spend together eating it in my room or his. He always gets some extra, in case anyone else pops in at that same time.

I think Gabriel is onto our little secret. He somehow manages to come at exactly the same time every day, so it’s usually the three of us sharing the snack. But it’s fun and makes me feel wanted and cared for. I already feel a loss as the days go by and I realize this is all about to end.

Our flight is on Thursday evening. On that morning, Ryan finally hands me a flash drive. “Here you go. You just need to insert it in the computer when Weber’s logged in. The virus will copy itself and give access to me.”

“To you? It should be me. I don’t want you getting into trouble. You think you can find proof better than me?”

“And you think I want you to get into trouble?” He smiles and crinkles his eyes a little. “I have access not because I’m better, but simply because I can start doing it immediately. It’s your office and you’ll be going there after some weeks. There might be people wanting to talk to you or whatever. It might not give you the right opportunity. That’s all.”

The man had a point. “Okay, but I’m taking over as soon as I reach you. Now, what about the game? Is it ready?”

“The first bit is more or less done. Nora will send access links to the gamers in some time.”

“Great, I’ll ask her to send me the link as well. I’ve been busy with the financials and the presentation and haven’t had time to look at the actual game.”

Before we leave for the airport, Ryan tells everyone to be available at all times for the next few days, even during the weekend. It gives the impression that we’re going to war, like when Princess Leia’s rebels attacked the death star.

Somehow, I have a bad feeling about this. As we sit on the plane, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to do what I’ve planned. Things are in motion, but my confidence is at the edge of a cliff, ready to fall off.

“Hey,” Ryan says, tapping my thigh and looking at me with steady eyes. “You’ve got this. I believe in you.”

Chapter 17

“Who’s the more foolish: the fool or the fool who follows him?”—Obi-Wan Kenobi

I reach my apartment in LA late in the evening, and I’m completely drained out. Ryan came along to my tiny place, and after placing my bags down and taking a quick look around, he went ahead with his plan of staying in a nearby hotel. I mean, I know he had reserved a room and all. I just thought it’d be nice to cuddle with him here tonight.

As soon as I lower myself on my bed, I change my opinion. I should’ve gone to the hotel with him and cuddled there. This bed is no place for cuddling or even sleeping. I don’t know how I ever got a good night’s sleep on this rock-like thing they call a mattress. It’s an insult to all mattresses. I lie down, groaning and grunting. I remember the previous weekend at Ryan’s home, in his soft bed with his arms around me and before long, I drift off to sleep.

Next morning, I have a body ache. What’s worse is I have to wear my formal clothes. Ugh! I pick up a black skirt, blazer and beige shirt from my wardrobe. This used to be one of favorites and now I just hope I could wear a casual dress or a pair of jeans and a top. I can’t help but squint my eyes in disgust as I put on my black high-heeled sandals.

I walk out, or rather stumble out, of my apartment and walk the short distance to the hotel where Ryan is staying. That’s where we’ve decided to have breakfast together. Thankfully, he hadn’t suggested my house because, well, I don’t really cook. I think he got that from when I cooked those eggs for him and his visit to my home in Boston. Oops! Not my home, but the temporary accommodation that Ryan had provided, and that seemed more like home than this silly suite here that I call mine.

I message Lily that I’m back and I’ll see her in the office just as I enter the hotel lobby. I almost gasp as I see a transformed Ryan standing in front of me, smiling. He has completely shaven his usually rugged facial hair. Instead of a T-shirt and jeans, he’s wearing a well-fitted blue pin-striped suit. With a tie! The way he’s standing, leaning against the reception table, looking at me with a slight tilt of his head, he seems like a model straight out of a magazine.

He struts over to me and gives me his arm. My cheeks flush a little as I see so many eyes following us to the restaurant.

“You look good,” I say, when we’re seated.

“Not too bad yourself,” he says, loosening his tie. “But tell me, is it worth wearing these clothes? I mean, you look beautiful and smart, and maybe I do too, but I was so much more comfortable in my usual clothes. What’s with you finance people and uncomfortable clothes? Anyway, has to be done for a few days in a year.”

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