Page 69 of Resting Grump Face
Now I’m standing here with Bruce, Ryker’s brother, who had to study business because Ryker insisted on studying the law to become a lawyer who helps people. I have seen him in pictures, but they barely do him justice. He might not be as handsome as Ryker (though to be fair, no one is), or as adorable as Roman, but he does have a certain authority to him. He carries himself like an elder statesman. There is something refined about him, something resolute, something that makes him seem almost unapproachable.
At least until you get to spend a couple of days with him. Because that’s what we do. And it turns out that he is actually quite nice. Not like Ryker in an I-am-an-asshole-but-secretly-nice sort of way, but more like a regular, well-adjusted person.
According to Barb, Ryker is busy taking care of some important business elsewhere while Bruce honors his brothers’ request and looks after me. Not that I need someone to look after me, but I do appreciate the company. Since he is part of upper management as much as Ryker, he has a lot of insights that help me with my job. We work separately but spend our lunches together, during which we mostly talk shop, although I do find out about his love for photography and his dislike for elevator music, which is something I can get on board with. All in all, spending time with his much more agreeable brother is a great way to stop thinking about Ryker. Or at least to decrease the brain capacity that is occupied with thinking about him at all times by about 50%.
When Friday comes around, I can’t wait to pick up my paycheck. I am only slightly embarrassed when Barb tells me I need to send an invoice so they can pay me, something I hadn’t even thought about until now. I’ll have to ask Earnest to help me set up whatever I need.
On Saturday, I take an hour or two to get ready for Roman’s birthday and just when I am done, my phone rings.
It’s Paul, whispering, “Sienna, run, now. The feds are here, maybe ATF. I am going to stall them for as long as I can.”
“It’s okay, Paul,” I say and check my makeup in the mirror once more. “That’s just my… my Mr. Grayson’s brother. You can send him up.”
I hear Paul threaten Bruce, who laughs heartily in response, and, a minute later, knocks on my door.
“Anyone order a lift?” he asks with a smile. He is wearing a suit, which fills me with relief because I wasn’t sure what to wear to the birthday of a billionaire heir. I went with a dress that hopefully isn’t too casual and not too formal either.
I put on some high heels, grab the present I bought, and close the door behind us.
Bruce spins me around once and then lets me hook into his arm. “You look dashing, Sienna. Ready to go?”
I nod and together we take the stairs to the lobby, where Robyn is waiting next to Paul. She looks rather surprised when I discover another person standing by the reception.
Ryker F. Grayson.
His chin almost drops to the floor when he sees the two of us descending the stairs.
Is he jealous?
For a moment, I contemplate how that would make me feel and I decide I don’t like it. I don’t like it because it would mean that Ryker has some sort of feelings for me. Feelings other than the usual‘What’s wrong with her?’-feelings.
Of course, there is nothing to be jealous of. That would be ridiculous. So I resist my urge to put distance between me and the brawny arm that’s leading me toward the small group of people watching us.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Ryker asks Bruce in a tone so polite it contradicts the content of his question.
“You must be talking to yourself,” I answer before Bruce has to. “Because I don’t thinkyouare my date to the party.”
Alright, ‘date’ might be a bit much, but that’s just how you say it!
“Oh, my,” Robyn fills the ensuing silence. “I underestimated you, Sienna.”
“So, they’re not here to arrest you?” Paul asks with relief.
“No, they’re not AFT, Paul. Don’t worry,” I say and then shift my view to Ryker. “But what are you doing here? Aren’t you busy?”
Ryker adjusts the shirt against his neck a little. “Busy, yes, very,” he answers. “I just wanted to make sure you had a way to get to the party.”
“She does. I offered to take her,” Bruce responds with a smile, begins to walk again, and pats his brother on the shoulder. “See you at Roman’s?”
The two of us exit through the doors and the last thing I hear is Robyn asking Ryker whether she should get dressed to make me jealous.
It takes a bit to reach the building where the party is supposed to take place. His driver drops us off and, to my chagrin, we’re standing in front of another skyscraper.
“13,” Bruce says when he sees me bending my neck.
“I can make that,” I answer as we head inside.
And we do make it all the way to the entrance of the stairwell before we discover Ryker, who is already waiting for us. He drops a pair of sneakers at my feet.
