Chapter 12: A Chase?
2037 Words
Ryan stared at the duo on the top floor; it was Mia and some guy who couldn't seem to stop touching her.
Why can't he keep his hands to himself?
Ryan came up here again for some quiet time, secretly hoping Mia would be out of her apartment. His day had been very uneventful.
Well, most of it. The interview was the next day and Leo alongside the rest had loaded themselves with preparation and checked out the last details of the company.
The renovations were done and the place looked radiate with the hope of serving its purpose once again.
Maria was a great help to the men as regards the furniture. Ryan was grateful to have Maria around; if not, the place would look more like a bachelor's hideout. The men even suggested a snooker board for the staff room! The place looks amazing all thanks to Maria as well as the interior decor that was hired to furnish the place to taste.
They had successfully managed to annoy the decor lady so much that she broke down in tears.
Jason and Leo alongside the software engineers dealt delightfully well with the gadgets as well as setting up a control room.
The place was ready to go and all it needed now is staff running here and there and bringing the lonely place back to life.
Ryan wasn't left with much to do and had to return home early as Leo went on and on about having to make a payroll.
Ryan had just finished doing that when he came up to see this sight that made him angrier by the passing minute. They were both seated on the long but short table just outside Mia's flat.
And he was unnecessarily close to her on that table; Ryan wished he could break tables instead of having the gift of speed.
What was he doing at her place so late at night?
Doesn't he know she's a lady?
And why wouldn't he stop patting her hair so fondly?
What is the matter with this man? Can't he keep his hands to himself?
Ryan had no idea why he cared this much. Mia was just his neighbour. He was very aware of that fact but one thing was clear: he didn't fancy the idea of men flirting with her.
He had almost snapped Leo's head off when he did and now? He wanted to twirl this man around his finger and send him outside the earth into space.
And again, why does he care so much?
"You'll do just fine Mia" Ryan heard the man say and scoffed.
What an excuse to see a lady at night; encouragement.
What a lovely man
Ryan thought sarcastically.
He wanted to make his presence known and put an end to all this madness. He intentionally hit his hand on the metal rim and pretended to watch the sky.
"Hey there"
About time
Ryan faced the man with a cold look on his face. The fact that he was touching Mia made him unreasonably mad. It was none of his business but here he was cracking himself up with unnecessary trouble.
"Hey to you too," Ryan said and glanced at Mia who bit her lower lip in a way that Ryan wanted to run his fingers across them…..
What was he thinking?!
She had her head bowed as though she was avoiding his gaze; did she recall what happened that night?
She had better. Ryan thought.
"I'm Mark. I live below Mia's apartment" Mark introduced with a gentle look on his face. He was still in his work clothes and doesn't seem to have settled down yet.
What kind of relationship is between Mia and this Mark of a guy?
Just great; the first alphabet of their names were even the same. The letter M.
As much as he is a replica of that superhero, Barry Allen, Ryan wished he could break tables instead or shoot people into space.
Like Mark for instance.
"Ryan," he said, trying not to show the internal conflicts he had.
"Ah, the new neighbour. Nice to meet you" Mark said walking towards the edge.
Ryan was secretly relieved that Mark wasn't so close to Mia anymore.
Relieve was an underestimation of what he felt at the moment.
"Uhm," Ryan said. If he replied with 'same here' he was going to be a complete liar. And he wanted to be as open as possible with his attitude.
"You're pretty young. What do you do for a living?" Mark asked with genuine curiosity
"An entrepreneur" That was all he needed to know about him. Ryan rarely talks about himself and most often, Leo had to force words out of his mouth.
So antisocial. Leo had accused Ryan several times.
"Uhm. I'm a doctor by the way. I work at a small hospital not far from here"
"Good to know," Ryan said.
"Nice talking to you Ryan"
"Uhm"
Mark smiled and walked back towards Mia making Ryan's cold glare at a minus 0 degrees Celsius.
Why couldn't that man keep his hands to himself?
Ryan asked no one in particular for the hundredth time that evening.
"Go through those questions again okay?" Mark said, picking up his safe.
"I will. Thank you" Mia said smiling.
"Good luck and Good night. Sweet dreams"
Ryan almost bolts over to Mia's and pushes the man out the door, turning the key behind him.
He has overstayed his welcome.
Mark heads out and Mia picks up all the paper she had on the table with her eyes stealing glances at Ryan to know if he was watching her.
She had embarrassed herself so much that evening. Why couldn't she go somewhere else? Why did it have to him? Mia made a turn to tiptoe into her apartment...
"Where do you think you're going?" Ryan asked.
Mia bit her again. If only he was affected by her freezing time, she would have done just that and gone into her room without having to face him.
This must have been her punishment.
The Creator chose this man to teach her a lesson.
Mia turned and almost flinched back on seeing Ryan right in front of her. She almost tripped back but Ryan had caught her just before she fell. His face was so close to her as she opened her eyes wide in shock; she was so clumsy.
Not all the time but most of the time and that has been able to successfully put her in trouble.
"I…"
Ryan held her up until she was standing on her feet, his arms still wrapped around her waist.
"Thank you," she said, stammering.
Ryan releases her reluctantly; her skin was so warm and he wanted them to stay that way.
'RYAN O'BRIEN. YOU ARE CROSSING THE LINE!!!'
He said to himself.
"Were you running away?" Ryan asked his hands loosely by his side.
"Uh?" Mia asked with wide-opened eyes again.
"You threw a tantrum in front of my house the other night," Ryan said.
"When did I?" Mia asked, playing innocent.
Ryan narrowed his eyes at her.
"I... I don't remember what you're talking about" Mia said.
"Why were you avoiding me then?"
Mia chuckled.
"We aren't even friends talkless of close neighbours"
"I am your next-door neighbour," Ryan said and Mia stared at him with a puzzled expression; what is he talking about?
"I mean close enough. Like friends. Why wouldn't I avoid you?" Mia said darting her eyes here and there; she's such a terrible liar.
"You caused quite a ruckus that night. Since you can't recall what happened, I'll tell you exactly what happened '' Ryan said, walking around her in circles like a wolf examining his mate.
"W..what exactly did I do?" Mia asked.
"You threw up at my door"
"I.."
Ryan faced her with raised eyebrows. Mia smiled nervously.
"Never mind," she said.
"And I had to carry you home"
"I appreciate your help even though I don't remember…"
Ryan stopped right in front of her and leaned in close to her, making Mia stare at him in shock. He was so close to her that there was barely an inch distance between them as their noses grazed each other.
"We had a lovely night," he said smirking while staring at her lips and then her eyes.
"W..what?"
"You were so beautiful.." Ryan ran his fingers over her chin slightly
"Excuse me, Mister Ryan! " Mia said, breaking the spell Ryan had cast on her with his lovely eyes as she took a reluctant step backwards.
"I did no such thing"
"But you don't remember, do you?" Ryan asked with mischief in his eyes.
Mia bowed her head in embarrassment; she had been caught.
She could have just told the truth and avoided this awkwardness in the first place. Or better still, run.
What's the worst that could happen?
"I'm sorry" Mia apologized
"You could have just said that and avoided the chase," Ryan said with his hands behind his back.
Was it a chase? Mia felt all kinds of things in just that minute.
"I'm sorry" Mia apologized again.
Ryan sighed.
"Don't ever drink again. You could have fallen to the hands of the wrong people that night!" Ryan scolded.
"Why are you and Grannie being so hard on me?" Mia muttered.
"Go to bed. And don't let anyone come see you so late at night." Ryan said not understanding why that had to slip out of his mouth.
"I will," Mia muttered.
Ryan bolts back to his apartment and turns to face Mia; she has already gone into her room and soon he hears her whining.
"That was so embarrassing…."
Ryan chuckled and went in; it was high time he went to bed.
Tomorrow is a big day
*******************
Ryan drove into the company and stared in concealed shock as he saw security guards direct his car to a space in the parking lot. Cleaners were outside sweeping and mopping the floors; they even had a tee shirt with the company's name on it in gold italics
Queen's Empire.
Maria had kept her word; she had oriented the cleaners and guards during the week and had handled their employment all alone. She had told Ryan to leave this to her and he could see the result of his trust written in the name SUCCESS.
She had even chosen the head of each department and had gotten three products they were going to launch once the company started running.
If only Leo was such a picky manic, Maria would have been such a lovely partner. Maria is a petite woman with curly short black hair that had bangs and she was always wearing a pair of round glasses that made her eyes look extremely large.
Leo must have cancelled her off his list but Ryan knew Maria is a lovely lady.
"Good morning boss" The guards greeted Ryan.
What's with the 'boss'?
Ryan nodded and headed towards the ground floor where two female receptionists sat in front of a highland table with length outrageously….long.
"Good morning Mister Ryan" they greeted in unison.
Ryan nodded. He walked on towards the elevator and pushed the button to the top floor only for the door to stop as a hand slipped in between causing the doors to swing open again.
It was Leo and Ken
"I almost missed you," Leo said with a smile.
"Good morning g boss!" Ken said enthusiastically
The doors swing shut again.
"The staff?" Ryan asked. He didn't know they were going to start working immediately.
"Maria did a bit of orientation for them yesterday" Leo offered, her name was a bit strained making Ryan arch his eyebrows.
"She said it was important that we make the people coming for the interview see us running smoothly and create a bit of tension," Ken said.
"She's right. We might need that to find those that are confident in their work" Ryan said.
Ken nodded in approval.
"We're using the middle floor. I got the guards to set the place up with tables and chairs too."
"Is everyone else there?" Ryan asked.
"Yes boss," Ken said.
Ryan nodded in approval.
- Writer
