TWISTED ROMANCE

BENEATH THE SURFACE

Chapter 6

Beneath the Surface.

The grand dining room was filled with the aroma of exquisite cuisine, the sound of clinking silverware, and the soft hum of conversation. Cado sat at the head of the table, flanked by his two sons, Bryan and Stephan. Lily, his wife, sat beside him, her eyes fixed on Bryan with a mixture of disdain and calculation.

Ryder stood behind Bryan, a silent sentinel, as the staff served dish after dish of delectable food. Stephan savored each bite, his eyes lighting up with delight. "This is amazing!" he exclaimed, his enthusiasm a stark contrast to the tension simmering beneath the surface.

The room fell silent for a moment before Cado spoke up, his voice booming across the table. "Bryan, when will you start teaching Stephan about the company and business?"

Bryan's response was calm and measured. "Stephan can come to the office tomorrow. I'll make sure he learns everything he needs to know."

Stephan's eyes lit up at the prospect, but Lily's face darkened. "Honey, shouldn't Stephan be...I mean, isn't he also your son?" she asked, her voice dripping with insinuation.

Stephan's gaze snapped to his mother, his eyes flashing with anger. He shot her a warning glance, his expression saying "drop it." But Lily seemed determined to push the issue.

Cado, however, remained oblivious to the undercurrents, focused on his food and the conversation. Little did he know, the dynamics at the table were about to get a lot more complicated.

The dining room had finally fallen silent, the only sound of the clinking of silverware on plates. Lily stood up, a forced smile plastered on her face. "Let me serve you some more, Bryan," she said, her voice dripping with saccharine sweetness.

Bryan's eyes narrowed, his instincts on high alert. "No, thank you," he replied curtly, his voice firm.

Lily's smile faltered for a moment, and in that instant, her anger got the better of her. The pot of food in her hands slipped, and she let it fall to the floor, the contents splashing everywhere. She gasped, feigning shock, as the hot liquid splattered onto her dress.

"Oh no!" she cried out, her voice rising to a shrill pitch. "Bryan, you clumsy oaf! You knocked the food all over me!"

Cado's head snapped up, his face etched with concern. "What's happening? What's wrong, honey? Are you okay?"

Lily's eyes flashed with triumph as she pointed an accusing finger at Bryan. "Bryan did this! He intentionally poured this soup on me. I was just trying to be polite, and he...he just can't stand me!"

Bryan's eyes rolled in exasperation. "That's not true," he began, but Cado cut him off.

"Bryan, did you do this?" Cado's voice was stern, his expression questioning.

Stephan intervened, his voice calm and reasonable. "Dad, I don't think Bryan did it on purpose. Maybe Mom accidentally dropped the pot."

Bryan's gaze locked onto Lily, his eyes cold and unforgiving. "I don't know what you're talking about, Lily. I didn't touch you or the pot. Perhaps you should be more careful."

Cado's expression softened, and he stood up to help Lily back to her seat. "It's okay, dear. Let the servants clean this up. We'll get you something to change into."

Lily's face twisted in anger, her plan foiled once again. She folded her arms, her eyes flashing with resentment as she glared at Bryan.

As Lily glided past Bryan, her anger and resentment palpable, Ryder's eyes narrowed. He'd seen it all before - Lily's manipulative tactics, her attempts to drive a wedge between Bryan and his father. Ryder's temper simmered just below the surface, but he kept his cool, his years of training and loyalty to Bryan kicking in.

As Bryan excused himself and headed to his room, Ryder followed closely behind.

The next morning, Ryder wheeled Bryan to the car, and they drove to the office. As they arrived, the atmosphere shifted. Employees scurried about, avoiding eye contact with Bryan. To them, he was the "Cold King," a man of few words and piercing gazes.

But the employees knew a different Bryan who was stephan_ the one who cracked jokes and laughed with his staff,

who was kind and fair, despite his tough exterior.

As Ryder wheeled Bryan into the office, Precious, his PA, greeted him with a calm smile, careful not to meet his eyes. Bryan didn't respond, his focus already on the work ahead.

He strode into his office, Ryder wheeling him to his desk. Bryan sat down, his eyes scanning the documents in front of him, his mind fully engaged.

Ryder took his usual position behind Bryan, a silent sentinel, ever vigilant and protective of the man he considered more than just his employer.

Bryan's eyes scanned the documents, his brow furrowed in concentration. Suddenly, he slammed his fist on the armrest. "Precious!" he bellowed.

The door opened, and Precious slipped in, her voice trembling. "Y-yes, sir?"

"Where are the documents I asked you to set aside for me yesterday?" Bryan's tone was icy. "You know how important it is to have everything ready for Mister Anderson. He's not a man to be trifled with."

Precious's eyes welled up with tears. "I-I'm so sorry, sir. I forgot to inform you that—"

Bryan's patience snapped. He slammed his hands on his thighs, the sound making Precious jump. "Get out! Get out of my sight!" he thundered.

Precious scurried out of the office, tears streaming down her face. Ryder stepped forward, his voice calm and soothing. "Sir, I'll look into this matter. It won't happen again."

Bryan's anger slowly dissipated, replaced by a deep breath. "See to it, Ryder."

As Ryder stepped out of the office, he let out a discreet sigh. He knew Bryan's temper was a result of the pressure and stress he was under. He'd find a way to fix this, to make sure everything was taken care of. With a nod to himself, Ryder set out to resolve the issue, his eyes scanning the office floor for Precious.