After I Met Him

Chapter 12-who knows?

Ryan's POV.

Vanessa and I were sitting together on the couch in my office while she complained about one of her friends for what felt like the tenth time.

As she talked dramatically, moving her hands around while explaining the story, I gently rubbed her foot absentmindedly and simply watched her with a small smile resting on my lips.

She looked beautiful.Really beautiful.

And honestly… I wished things between us could stay like this more often.

Peaceful.

No arguments. No shouting. No endless fights about who was wrong, who was right, or who was supposed to apologize first.

Just this.

Vanessa suddenly stopped talking and narrowed her eyes playfully at me.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked, a faint blush spreading across her face.

I smiled lightly before shifting closer to her and crossing an arm over her shoulder.

“Did I tell you that you look absolutely stunning today?”

Her smile widened immediately.

“Hm? Tell me more,” she said proudly.

I chuckled softly.“I love your shoes… and your dress looks really nice on you.”

Then I leaned slightly closer, catching the soft, sweet scent of her perfume.

“And you smell really nice too,” I said, gliding my fingertips slowly up her thighs.

She moved closer and straddled my lap. “How about I give you a taste of this beauty?”

I gripped her waist firmly. “I’m all yours, baby,” I whispered.

She smiled, biting her lower lip seductively before kissing me deeply.

Her lips were soft and hungry, sending heat rushing through my body. I could feel her warmth pressing against me, her breasts brushing my chest as our tongues danced. My hands roamed her body, enjoying the smoothness of her skin and the way she trembled slightly under my touch.

I laid her down on the couch slowly, positioning myself between her thighs. The feeling of her legs wrapping around me, her wet heat so close to my throbbing c**k, made my body burn with need. I wanted to bury myself inside her right there.

Suddenly—

Knock, knock, knock.

"Ignoring it. The person will go away," she mumbled against my lips, still kissing me.

After a few seconds, the knock came again. I wanted to answer it, but I also didn’t want to stop.

"Sirrr? Are you okay?" Harmony called from the other side.

I pulled away slowly.

"Why did you stop?" Vanessa asked, frowning.

"It might be important," I replied.

"What could be more important than this?"

"Baby, just hold on. Let me answer her, then I’ll continue," I said as I stood up.

I quickly arranged my clothes and cleared my throat. "Come in."

Harmony entered, holding some papers.

"I’m so sorry for disturbing you, sir," she said politely.

"You better be sorry!" Vanessa snapped.

Harmony ignored her. "These are some papers that need your signature, and you also have a meeting with the investors today."

"Okay, just put the papers on the table," I said, pointing. She obeyed.

"What time is the meeting again?"

"In about…" she checked her wristwatch, "30 minutes."

"Okay. When they arrive, just inform me. You can go."

She nodded and left the office. I turned back to Vanessa and saw the angry look on her face.

"When are you going to fire her?" she asked bluntly.

"Come on, babe. She just started."

"So?" she shrugged.

"So I can’t fire her yet. Harmony is really helping me a lot. She does her job very effectively and efficiently," I explained.

Vanessa stood up from the couch.

"You’re unbelievable," she murmured, heading toward the door.

The moment her hand touched the door handle, I grabbed her, turned her around, and pushed her against the wall. I pinned both her hands above her head with one of mine while the other gripped her waist.

"Where do you think you’re going?" I asked softly.

"Let me go," she said, struggling against my grip.

"No, baby. You aren’t going anywhere," I said calmly.

I trailed hot kisses from her neck down to her shoulders.

"Ryan, get off me," she whined.

My free hand slid into her panties, rubbing her c**t gently. She grabbed my wrist, trying to resist, but her body was already responding.

"Ryan… stop," she moaned.

"Do you want me to stop?" I whispered against her ear.

After the question, she released my wrist and wrapped her arms tightly around my body, pulling me closer.

I smirked against her neck and pushed two fingers deep inside her wetness, stroking her slowly.

"Good girl," I growled. "Now be quiet… we don't want to draw attention to ourselves.”

Harmony’s POV.

“Okay, Mom. Love you too. Bye,” I said with a smile before ending the call.

I placed my phone down and continued typing on the keyboard quietly.

Suddenly,a Hermes bag landed heavily on my desk.My fingers paused over the keyboard immediately.

Slowly, I lifted my head and met the unfriendly gaze of my boss’s girlfriend.

Of course.

“Can I help you, ma’am?” I asked casually.

“Take this bag and follow me.”

I blinked once.“With all due respect, that isn’t part of my job.”

A slight frown appeared on her face instantly.“So what exactly did I hire you for?”

“Actually…” I replied calmly, “Ryan hired me, not you. And carrying your handbag still isn’t part of my job.”

Her expression hardened immediately.

Before she could say another word, Ryan suddenly walked toward us and instantly sensed the tension hanging in the air.

“Baby, I thought you were leaving?” he asked.

“I was,” Vanessa replied smoothly, her eyes still fixed on me, “but my bag is heavy and I need someone to carry it for me.”

“No problem. I’ll carry it for you,”

Ryan said immediately, reaching for the bag.

But Vanessa grabbed his wrist quickly.

“Let her do it.”

Her gaze never left mine.

Ryan sighed softly.“Come on, don’t make a scene,” he muttered quietly to her.

“What scene?” she asked innocently.

“What exactly are you paying her for if she can’t carry a simple handbag?”

Ryan closed his eyes briefly before looking at me.

“Harmony… please carry her handbag,” he said calmly.

The moment those words left his mouth, I already understood what Vanessa was trying to do.

Humiliate me.

And honestly, that seemed to be one thing some rich people especially rich women enjoyed doing. They acted like money, power, and connections gave them the right to push people around however they wanted.

“I respect you very much, Mr. Mercer,” I said calmly, “but I can’t carry her handbag.”

I glanced at the documents and computer on my desk.

“What I’m working on right now is important.”

He frowned immediately.“How can you speak to me in that tone?” he asked firmly. “I’m your boss, not your younger brother. What exactly am I paying you for if you can’t carry a simple handbag?”

“And what could possibly be so important that you can’t do this?” he added.

Every part of me wanted to react immediately, but I forced myself to stay calm.

I inhaled slowly.“In about seven minutes, you have a meeting with top investors coming in from China,” I replied professionally. “You asked me to prepare the financial projections, partnership contracts, shipment reports, and presentation files for the negotiation.”

Then I paused slightly.

“But since carrying a simple handbag is apparently more important…”

I reached for the bag calmly.“I’ll do it.”

Ryan’s expression changed instantly like he had completely forgotten about the meeting.He palmed his face briefly.

“Ma’am, don’t worry,” I continued calmly. “I’ll carry your simple handbag.”My tone wasn’t openly mocking…But it definitely wasn’t innocent either.

Vanessa smiled proudly like she had just won an award.“It’s good you know your place,” she said.

I stood up from my chair fully and grabbed the bag, ready to leave.

Then suddenly—

“Harmony, wait.”

Vanessa turned sharply.“What is she waiting for?” she asked in confusion.

“She needs to stay back and finish the documents,” Ryan replied quickly. “I completely forgot I had a meeting with investors from China.”

Vanessa stared at him in disbelief.“Are you serious right now?”

“Yes, I am.”

Then he pointed lightly toward the handbag.“The bag isn’t even heavy anyway. Just pick it up and go. I’ll see you later.”

I stood there quietly like a random background character pretending not to hear their relationship problem.

“Harmony,” Ryan called again, “bring the files into my office. Let me review them.”

Then he turned and walked back into his office before Vanessa could argue further.

The look on Vanessa’s face?

Absolutely priceless.

She looked between me and Ryan’s office like she couldn’t believe what had just happened.

Honestly, I wanted to laugh so badly.

But I held it professionally.

Barely.

She shot me a deadly glare before snatching up her handbag angrily and storming away.

On her way out, she accidentally bumped into an employee carrying a stack of papers.The papers scattered slightly.

“Watch where you’re going!” she snapped before walking away furiously.

The poor employee looked completely confused.“What’s her problem?” he muttered.

I shrugged lightly.“Who knows?”