The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon as Amelia made her way back to Ryan's mansion, her heart heavy with thoughts she couldn't seem to shake. The long, tree-lined driveway felt even more imposing than usual as she pulled in and parked her car. She sat behind the wheel for a few moments, gripping the steering wheel tightly and taking a deep breath to steady her nerves.
"This is your home now," she whispered to herself. "Just a house. Nothing to be scared of."
But her words didn't lessen the unease swirling in her chest.
The house was eerily quiet when she stepped inside. The vast, open space of the entryway seemed to swallow her whole. She closed the door behind her with a soft click, her footsteps echoing on the marble floor as she made her way further in.
No sign of Ryan. The silence told her he wasn't back from work yet, and for a brief moment, she felt relieved. She wasn't ready to face him. Not yet.
As she wandered into the kitchen, the familiar scent of fresh herbs and spices greeted her. Maria, the housekeeper, stood at the counter, chopping vegetables with practiced precision. The older woman glanced up and smiled warmly when she saw Amelia.
"Ah, you're home," Maria said, wiping her hands on a towel. "How was your day?"
Amelia offered a small smile in return. "It was... interesting. Classes were fine, but it's been a long day."
Maria nodded knowingly. "College can be exhausting. Would you like some tea? It'll help you relax."
"Yes, please," Amelia said gratefully, pulling out a stool at the kitchen island and sitting down.
As Maria poured the tea, her dark eyes studied Amelia with a gentle curiosity. "You look like you have something on your mind, dear."
Amelia hesitated, unsure of how much to share. "Just... adjusting to everything here. It's all so different."
Maria handed her a steaming cup of tea and nodded. "I imagine it must be. This house is very big, and Mr. Ryan... well, he can be quite intimidating."
Amelia raised her eyebrows. "You think so?"
Maria chuckled softly. "Oh, yes. He's a good man, but he's guarded. Keeps to himself. A man like that has many secrets, and it's best not to pry into them."
Her words sent a shiver down Amelia's spine. "Secrets?"
Maria's expression softened. "I don't mean to frighten you, dear. Just a word of caution. Mr. Ryan is very private. It's best to give him space."
Amelia's stomach twisted with guilt. She thought back to that morning, to the picture frame he had dropped and the glass shattering at her feet. Her chest tightened with the weight of her mistake.
"Has he ever... been angry?" she asked hesitantly.
Maria's eyes darkened slightly. "I've seen him angry before. He's not cruel, but when he's hurt, he's dangerous in ways you wouldn't expect. He doesn't show his emotions like most people."
Amelia swallowed hard. The warning was clear, and her mind raced with memories of his piercing gaze and the tension that seemed to follow him like a shadow.
"Dangerous how?" she whispered.
Maria's smile returned, gentle but firm. "Just be careful, Amelia. That's all I'll say."
The older woman turned back to her work, humming a soft tune as if their conversation had never happened.
Amelia sat in silence, staring down at her tea, her mind swirling with questions and doubts. The more she thought about it, the more her heart raced. How was she supposed to face Ryan after this morning?
And more importantly... how was she going to apologize for invading his privacy without provoking his anger?
The fear settled in her chest like a heavy stone, and she knew one thing for certain-there was no turning back now. She strolled back to the large living room, her mind occupied with the thoughts of Ryan.
**************
Her phone beeped, pulling her out of her thoughts. It was a message from Stella asking if she could come spend the night at Amelia's place because she fought her parents and was too annoyed to sleep in her room.
Amelia panicked, thinking of what to say. Revealing her situation was a big No, so she she had to think of something else to say.
Amelia: Oops. I'm not home at the moment.
Stella's response came almost immediately after.
Stella: Where are you??
Amelia: A friend's place. Now bye.
She turned off her phone to avoid more questions from Stella.
Sighing, she placed her phone beside her and closed her eyes to rest on the couch. A pair of piercing blue eyes invaded her thoughts and she wondered where the big, arrogant guy was, until she fell asleep. She wasn't sure how long she was asleep for, but she suddenly woke up when she felt a shadow moving above her. It was quite dark, she wasn't sure what time it was, but it was late and she was sure Maria would have gone home. So who was standing right above her?? She started to panic.
A big hand reached out to... choke her?! She panicked even more, and without thinking twice, she kicked the guy where the sun didn't shine, her defensive instincts kicking in. And yes, she knew he was a guy by the shape of his head. There was more. She raised her hand swiftly and smacked him on the head.
"What the hell?" The deep voice groaned in pain.
The voice sounded familiar and Amelia's eyes widened in the dark as she realized it was Ryan.
"Mr. Woods??! I'm so sorry, I..." She flew out of the couch and lost her balance but he caught her just in time before she landed on her butt. The room suddenly went bright and she saw the man she had been daydreaming about standing there in his full glory. His muscles were on display for her to see even though he was wearing a shirt.
She looked down to where their bodies connected and gulped, feeling hot suddenly. They maintained eye contact and she licked her dry lips. Ryan probably misinterpreted that, because he glared at her.
"What do you think you're doing?" He growled.
It was as if a bucket of water had been poured on her, because her eyes cleared and she wriggled in his arms.
"Let go of me," She said almost rudely.
His glare intensified, "You should learn to be grateful. You could have landed on your pretty little ass if I hadn't grab you on time." Now Ryan, where did those words come from? He asked himself.
She glared right back at him, forgetting that she was under his care. "I didn't ask for help yunno! And why did you creep on me like that?!"
Ryan released his hold on her and straightened, putting his hands in his pockets, "We need to talk, young lady."
