2: Of Declarations
1135 Words
Let it never be said that Ryan was a fit man.
The concrete was everything he wished for. It was cold. It was comforting. It was dirty. Maybe that's one thing he didn't wish for. Running three blocks from the restaurant had taken everything he had, leaving him sweaty and panting for air.
Physical exertion. Ugh.
He was sure that if the girls themselves would not murder him then all the running away he was doing surely would. The only other time he remembered running so hard was to catch Fluffy, Jenny's 'adorable' cat. The cat that ended up nearly gouging his eyes out when he did manage to catch it.
He hated felines.
A taunting voice cut in his inner musings. "What a man. Can't even run for a block-"
"Shut up." He managed to gather enough energy to say those two words before returning to his original position-spread eagle shaped on the ground.
Cierra rolled her eyes before sitting beside him. Drawing her knees to her chest, she stared at what was visible of the sky. The alley way they were in was definitely not the place to gaze and admire the beauty of the stars. "Clara Houston is officially blacklisted."
He struggled to a sitting position beside her. "What about the other nutcase that seems intent on killing me?"
"Myra? She is only showing how much she loves you." Cierra replied cheerfully. At Ryan's blank look, she grinned. "Well, now we know that it's time to move on before she catches up to you." Ryan's face paled at the thought of facing the red headed monster again.
"Then what are we waiting for? Which place do you want to go to next?" He asked.
"Do you really want to discuss it here?" He shot her another blank look. "In an alleyway near the restaurant where the red headed monster lurks..." It was like she had read his mind.
"Fine, fine. You made your point." It was only the threat of Myra that made Ryan capable of standing up so quickly. His self-preservation instincts were strong after all, even if his body wasn't. Even though he didn't have to, the manners instilled into him by his real, living parents made him extend a hand towards Cierra. She accepted it and pulled herself up.
After a look on both side of the street, they both scurried out and started walking in the opposite direction of the restaurant.
Despite his scruffy appearance, when he winked at a group of girls passing by, they giggled and blushed.
"What a lady-killer." Cierra mocked lightly.
"Merely using the good looks I was bestowed with." He winked.
Cierra clutched her side as she laughed freely.
-----------------
Cierra had shed all her clothes as soon as they entered their humble abode. With only a shirt that was three sizes too large and shorts that wasn't visible from underneath the huge shirt, she curled up in front of the TV, her long pink hair contrasting against the white of the sofa.
Ryan shook his head as he took his time to change into something more comfortable before occupying the dining table to pore over a list of prospects. They had already been to many of the cites and the number of places they could visit without being recognised was dwindling as fast the money in their accounts.
He was sure that he wouldn't be recognised in most of the places since he had taken great precautions to mask his original appearance with the use of wigs and fashionable glasses. His black hair was hidden by a blonde wig for this mission and the blue contact lens kept his grey eyes hidden.
He recalled using a similar disguise when dating Myra. It must've made it easier for her to recognise him. But he never reckoned running into her in Liverpool of all places. He still maintained the thought that she was a demon sent from hell. Though that didn't stop him from conning her out of money.
He tried to tune out the audio from the TV as he poured over the list of cities they never visited.
"—has donated two million dollars to charity today. The young CEO of the world's largest multinational company, Jared Winston, has been faithfully continuing his mother's business after her death. The Forbes has listed him in the top ten richest people—"
"He's what?" That grabbed his attention well enough. Abandoning his attempts to work, he focused on the TV.
"He is now going to address the gathering."
A man roughly his age ascended the podium. Ryan catalogued the above average looks; his green eyes being the most eye catching feature. There was nothing too remarkable about his looks when compared to Ryan but the con artist was more interested in his money.
"First of all, I would like to thank my parents for everything they have given me even after their death. I dearly hope that-"
"I think this boy is—" Cierra muttered but Ryan's entire attention was focused on the TV.
"The Pioneer Group of Companies has a lot of future plans and—"
Cierra started murmuring again and Ryan was quick to hush her. "Shut up! I am trying to listen."
"—any message for the single ladies out there?" The reporter was grinning as he poised the question.
"He is single." A grin was forming on Ryan's face as well as he thought of the thousands of possibilities.
Cierra snorted. "He is also—"
"Cierra shut up! I think this is the biggest thing that could happen to us since Tania. You could do it this time. We would be rich!" Ryan could almost imagine what all they could do with all that money in their hands.
Cierra glared at him. "If you would actually listen to me for a second you would know that he's—"
"—actually gay." Jared Winston was grinning sheepishly.
The reporters' eyebrows rose at the nonchalant admission. "That will be a disappointment for all the ladies out there then. Any special someone's then?"
Winston smiled wistfully. "Afraid not. I'm still searching for the special one."
"There were speculations in the gossip magazines about his sexuality and I guess they are now officially proven." Cierra commented lightly. When there was no reply forthcoming from her companion, she shifted her attention to him.
Cierra abandoned her spot on the sofa to stand in front of him. "Ryan?" She shook him lightly.
Forbes rated Winston in the 'Top Ten Richest Men in the World'
"Ryan?"
He was rich.
He was also single.
"Ryan!"
He was rich, single and-
"He's gay!"
Ryan rose from his seat with a manic look on his face as his eyes locked onto digital green ones on the TV.
"I'll do it."
- Writer
