Chapter 9

Ryan stood on the balcony of his room, lost in thought, with a cigarette between his fingers. He took occasional puffs, inhaling the smoke deep into his lungs.

"What does Anabelle have on dad?" he pondered aloud. His phone chimed from inside the room, capturing his attention. Ryan entered and grabbed his phone.

A message from a friend appeared on the screen: "Yo, where should we meet? I'm in your area. Should I come over?"

Replying swiftly, Ryan typed, "Yes, come over. Let's meet here."

Ryan swiftly changed into casual shorts and a t-shirt, knowing his friend would arrive soon. He descended the stairs to the lounge, where he intended to wait.

"Bro!" Andrew exclaimed upon entering Ryan's house.

"Dude!" Ryan greeted Andrew, walking towards him and shaking his hand.

"What's up? Where's my little man?" Andrew inquired, referring to Brian.

"Oh, he'll be staying with my mom for a while," Ryan explained as they settled into their seats.

"Really? What about school?" Andrew probed further.

"He'll attend school from there," Ryan assured him.

"So, why did you want us to meet?" Andrew relaxed back into his chair.

"I need you to do some investigating for me," Ryan requested.

"Investigating? On who? And for whom?" Andrew questioned.

"For me, obviously. And... regarding two people. Anabelle and my dad," Ryan disclosed.

"Your dad? Why?" Andrew voiced his confusion.

"Anabelle is blackmailing him with something unknown to me," Ryan confessed.

"And why would she do that? If she needs money, you guys can always give her money," Andrew questioned.

"Yes, we - or my dad - can always provide her with money, but she won't stop incessantly asking for it. She even wants me to marry her. It won't be long before she requests a position in the company, and that's not something I want," Ryan explained.

"Aren't you guys engaged? Did you already call it off? I had a feeling it wouldn't work out," Andrew probed.

"Yes, I ended the engagement a few days ago," Ryan admitted.

"Then it seems like we have a lot to handle," Andrew concluded.

"That's right. Do you know what needs to be done?" Ryan inquired.

There was a brief pause as Andrew collected his thoughts.

"Yes, send me some cash. I'll start taking care of things next week," Andrew confirmed.

"Okay, sounds good," Ryan agreed.

"Do you have a cigarette?" Andrew asked.

"In the study," Ryan pointed out, prompting Andrew to rise from the sofa and make his way to Ryan's study.

"Ah, one more thing," Andrew remembered, pausing for effect.

"What is it?" Ryan asked, curious.

"Rosa is pregnant. She called me a few days ago and even sent me a picture of the test results," Andrew revealed.

"Oh. Rosa," Ryan acknowledged, nodding in understanding.

"Wait, Rosa? She's pregnant?" Ryan exclaimed, shocked as the realization sank in.

*

Ryan sat in his study, deep in thought, gently tapping his index finger on the expansive table. Suddenly, a knock interrupted his concentration.

"Come in," he said, and Juliette entered the room.

"Good evening. You requested my presence," Juliette stated.

"I apologize for summoning you at this late hour, especially beyond your usual closing time," Ryan replied politely.

"It's not a problem. How can I assist you?" Juliette inquired.

"I seem to have forgotten the password for the safe in my study," Ryan admitted.

"Oh, it's PASSWORD," Juliette swiftly answered.

"That's precisely why I asked you to come. I couldn't recall the password," Ryan confessed.

"No, the password is actually PASSWORD. P-A-S-S-W-O-R-D," Juliette clarified.

"Oh, hold on a moment," Ryan interjected.

He walked over to the safe, entered the password, and successfully unlocked it.

"Thank you," Ryan expressed his gratitude to Juliette.

"You're welcome, sir. Is there anything else you require?" Juliette asked.

"No, that will be all. Thank you again," Ryan replied.

"In that case," Juliette began to say as she turned to leave.

"Juliette," Ryan called out, causing her to pause. Ryan approached her, positioning himself behind her. However, she refrained from facing him directly.

"Do you honestly believe I forgot my password?" Ryan questioned.

"Sir?" Juliette responded, puzzled.

"If that were the case, I could have easily texted you," he explained, subtly moving closer to her.

"Don't act clueless, Jules," Ryan whispered, his warm breath grazing her neck, eliciting a shiver that ran down Juliette's spine, weakening her knees.

"Sir, I don't understand what you're insinuating," Juliette denied, her voice trembling slightly.

Then, from behind, he wrapped his hands around Juliette's waist, drawing her body nearer to his own.

"Look at me, Jules," he enjoined, placing tender kisses on her neck.

Juliette's knees grew even more feeble. The room became saturated with an intoxicating blend of desire and yearning. Her heart pounded furiously against her chest. Slowly, she turned to meet Ryan's gaze.

"Can't you see that was simply an excuse to be close to you?" Ryan whispered, sensually caressing her hair.

"You smell absolutely divine," Ryan murmured, complimenting her with a gentle kiss on her forehead.

Overwhelmed by the flood of emotions, Juliette hesitantly raised her right hand, allowing it to glide up Ryan's chest. In that moment, she became lost in the depths of their shared longing.

Feeling the rapid throb of her heart, Juliette could no longer resist the magnetic pull between them. With a sudden surge of bravery, she dropped her handbag to the floor, the sound barely registering in their minds. Her fingertips curled around the collar of Ryan's shirt, pulling him closer. Their eyes locked, filled with a mix of desire and anticipation.

In that exhilarating moment, time seemed to slow as Ryan's lips met hers. The world faded, and only their intoxicating connection mattered. Juliette's free hand found the back of Ryan's neck, her fingers entwining in his hair as she deepened the kiss, their passion igniting like wildfire.

Their bodies merged in an intense embrace as Ryan effortlessly lifted Juliette onto a nearby table, never breaking the kiss. Their mouths moved feverishly, their tongues dancing in sync. Juliette's legs dangled, held securely by his strong arms as their bodies pressed tightly together.

The heat between them was overwhelming, driving their desire higher. Ryan carried Juliette to a plush couch, their lips still entwined, and settled comfortably with Juliette nestled on his lap. Her legs straddled his, creating an intimate closeness that left them breathless.

Their kiss persisted, every touch fueling the fiery desire coursing through their veins. Ryan's hands roamed along Juliette's sides, tracing the curves of her body, evoking a symphony of sensations. Juliette's hands explored Ryan's chest, eagerly discovering the contours of his athletic physique.

Lost in their shared longing, their lips reluctantly parted, but they locked gazes filled with yearning. Their heavy breaths mingled, and they embraced, silently promising never to let go. The air crackled with an indescribable intensity, their hearts beating as one.

"Can you believe you actually thought I forgot my password?" Ryan's voice shattered the silence, causing Juliette to shudder. His warm breath brushed against her flushed cheeks, intensifying her desire for him.

Summoning all her strength, Juliette leaned in, eagerly capturing his lips in a passionate kiss that left no doubt about her longing. The room filled with the sound of their urgent kisses, the outside world fading into oblivion as they succumbed to the overwhelming bliss of their connection. After a few minutes, they finally broke apart.

As they caught their breath, the two locked eyes, remaining silent for what felt like an eternity. Suddenly, Juliette burst into laughter, and Ryan couldn't help but join in.

"This is so awkward," Juliette admitted, closing her eyes shyly.

"Are you feeling shy?" he asked, to which she nodded, prompting another round of laughter.

Ryan pulled her closer, his arm wrapping around her as he patted her back.

"Let's meet up on Saturday, alright? After the event. I'll take you somewhere fun, so we can have a great time together," Ryan suggested.

"Okay," Juliette agreed, nodding shyly as she pulled away from his chest.

Leaning in slowly, she kissed him one last time, savoring the moment.