Ready for what?

"Ryan, Don't call me in your office often. If there are any weird rumours, I will be the only one who will suffer."

Ryan extended his fingers and held her chin so that she could face him.

"Stop commenting like that! Do you know that kind of word annoys me the most?"

Sasha pursed her lips and said, "Ryan, I am serious."

Ryan's lips tugged upward, and he chuckled softly as his scorching gaze landed on her. "That's why I bought you in Team A. Why? Because Team A works under my supervision".

Sasha didn't respond and so, Ryan pressed the crease between her knitted brows gently.

That warm expression on his face was vastly different from the cold and aloof man who had appeared before everyone earlier on. His small action conveyed his affection and love for her.

"Ryan, Kelvin will keep our secret from Jennifer, right?" Sasha questioned him.

Ryan sat down and gave her a lazy smile. "Didn't you tell her already?"

Sasha gave him a sidelong glare. "No, I didn't."

She sat down beside him and quickly said, "I-I mean, we just started dating, so it's too soon to tell her." She paused for a beat before blurting out, "I'm not ready, okay?"

Faced with her dramatic facial expressions, Ryan was greatly amused. "Ready for what?"

"What's so funny?" Sasha protested.

Ryan naturally curled his hand around her waist and asked, "Why do we have to keep it secret? She will know one day."

Suddenly disappointment and despair washed over her, making her feel depressed.

"What's wrong?" Ryan gently caressed the top of her head.

Sasha shook her head without a word.

"Okay. We will tell her when you are ready." Ryan said.

--------

In the late evening, after settling her physiological needs at the washroom, Sasha was about to get out when she realized she could not open the door at all. It felt like something had blocked it from opening.

She tried to push the door hard, but it did not budge even a little. She began to panic at the thought that there would barely be anyone visiting the washroom as it was almost time to get off work.

"Anyone there? Is anyone out there?"

She used all her might to push the washroom door as she yelled for help. However, there was no reply. There was only dead silence outside, as though no one was around.

When she remembered she could use her phone to call for help and tried to reach for it, she realized that she had left it on my desk. That meant she could not contact anybody to come and save her.

"Anybody there? Please help me!"

Sasha continued to scream for help. Similarly, no one replied from outside.

Time was ticking, but no one came to her help. It was made worse by the wind from the air conditioner in the washroom which only seemed to get colder than before.

Sasha squatted near the door of the washroom, and the increasingly cold air only made her shiver uncontrollably.

A long time had passed, and she could only feel her whole body freezing. The washroom was so cold that she felt no trace of warmth even when she curled herself up in a corner.

Spending the night in such torture only made it feel like forever. She had no clue how she persisted through the night till the next morning, and neither did she know how she got out of the washroom.

By the time she opened my eyelids again, she was already at the hospital, with Jennifer standing beside her.

"Jenni..." Her throat was parched and her body felt weak and tired.

"How are you feeling?" Jennifer asked.

"I am fine. Who found me?" Sasha asked.

"The cleaners in the company. They found you when they were cleaning the washroom. Ryan just arrived at the office then," Jennifer explained.

"Why are you here? Why don't you tell me that you came back?" Sasha tried to bring herself up. Nevertheless, she was weak and could barely pull herself up.

"Stay still. I came to attend two seminars. I have to leave again after a week...."

Someone opened the door at that moment. She looked up in that direction and saw Ryan.

"Sasha, I was pretty sure someone was targeting you deliberately, Ryan will get to the bottom of this," Jennifer said.

Sasha immediately avoided eye contact with him. Her eyes were looking everywhere except his sharp gaze.

"Ryan, Thank you for saving Sasha." Jennifer thanked him while Ryan remained impassive.

Witnessing Sasha's nervous look, Jennifer couldn't help but tease the former.

"Sasha, What are you afraid of Ryan? You can cook Ryan a meal!" Jennifer remarked.

Sasha lay down peacefully after Ryan disappeared from the room.

Shortly after she enjoyed the taste of freedom, her phone rang. Noticing that Jennifer turned over, she quickly covered her screen and answered the call.

"Take rest! I will help you discharge tomorrow."