2. Ryan Adam Anderson.

Ryan's Pov.

I wake up before my alarm goes off and I turn it off. I wear my track suit and go for run around the half of the city then come back to have shower. I eat my breakfast made by Viola the only maid who is allowed to stay here in my penthouse suite because of my Mom's insistence. So I don't go hungry as I loose myself in my work.

Viola was actually used to be my nanny. But later when she can't find job for herself , my mother asked her to be my cook. The cleaning is done by other maids who come in when I am not here. She really takes care of me a lot like she used to do when I was little. She kind of my second mother.

My parents live in Long Island luxurious mansion with private beach area. But as it is a bit far from company I bought this penthouse for myself. It is not only spacious but also very relaxing place for me.

It has private study room, library, kitchen, five bedrooms with ensuite bathroom, game room for me and my brothers, and living room with floor to ceiling windows which looks over at the beautiful view of city.

"Do I make lunch for you?" Viola asks as she sits down to have breakfast.

"No. I am going out with a friend for lunch." I say as I read a message from Kathy that says she wants to meet me.

"Okay. What would you like to have for dinner?" She asks as I eat last bite of my toast.

"Anything you like. But I would be a bit little late as Sarah is going away for a month." I say as I finish juice and wear my sunglasses.

"Ok. Lasagne it is then with some pie." Viola says as she eats her breakfast.

I kiss her cheek and wave her goodbye as I leave the apartment. I sit in my black convertible and drive through the streets. As the street pass by, I get text from Jess. She is right now my decoy against Dad.

For few months he is telling me to tie myself to one woman and get married. It is not like I am against that notion. It is just that I am too young to be married right now. I have many goals in life that I want to achieve first. 

He wants me to marry because he was married when he became CEO of company he started. His married status brought less scandal and more dealing at company. But his sons are not good at handling their affairs.

I work as a new CEO of the company, my second brother Theo looks after Mom's side of the family business of resorts, hotels all over the country. And my third brother looks after our paternal grandfather's farms and cattles.

In all of us, Theo is more scandalous as he travels a lot and is seen with different woman every other time. On the other hand, Noah is always secretive about his dating life since he reached the right age. I on the other hand don't date anymore.

There was a time when I used to like to charm a lady but after getting real taste of being in a relationship, I only believe staying in sexual relationship with discretion. Jess used to be my sexual partner long time ago but then she needed money for something personal and we ended our relationship.

I have helped her in exchange to maintain the facade of being my girlfriend in front of my parents when we attain parties but there is nothing physical between us anymore. As I don't want her to feel she is paying with her body. No she is hardworking woman who is facing small set back.

"Hi." I say as I put the phone on loud speaker.

"Hi. I want to tell you something. Can we meet right now?" Jess says with worry.

"Why? Any emergency?" I ask as I look at my watch to see it is nine right now.

"Not exactly but I have to tell you about this right now." Jess says.

"Okay I will be there in five minutes. Bye." I say and take turn to the cafe near her apartment.

Jess and I were friends with benefits for three months but then for last three months we are just friends. I reach the cafe where we usually meet. I enter and sit at our usual place. Jess enters and looks totally haggard. I order her favourite but she cancels it and asks for cake.

"I have something important to tell you." Jess says as she wrings her hand.

"What? You know I am your friend. You can tell me anything without hesitation." I say as I hold her hand.

"I am pregnant." She says after a minute of calming down.

"What? It can't be mine." I say in shock as I have not slept with her for three months. 

"Ofcourse it is not yours. You know how you said we can have relationship in secret with other as we are not sleeping with each other. Well I met this wonderful guy two months ago and we kind of started secret dating. Then slowly we started getting very serious about each other. He was telling me to ditch you and go with him. I was thinking the same that I should just go with him and then I got some weird symptoms. I got to know yesterday that I am pregnant with his child. And I want to end this so I can move on with him happily without any past obligations." Jess babbles on and on.

"Calm down first. Have some water." I say and she drinks water and takes deep breaths.

"I am sorry, Ryan but we have to end this here. I know you helped me lot during past few months but I really love this guy and want to start my family with him." Jess says as she holds back her tears.

"Okay. There is no need to cry. I understand. I told you we will end this when there is no need for me or you to be in a relationship because of some reason. Did you told your boyfriend about situation?" I ask.

"Yes. A month ago." She says.

"Fine. I hope he respects you and knows your worth." I say.

"He does. He is so nice to me. He makes me feel like I am a princess to him." She say as she takes a tissue to wipe away her tears.

After paying bills, I get in my car as Jess is going to meet her boyfriend there only. This creates a small problem. Jess was my college friend and we started sleeping together just for fun. But later we also ended it on good note. Nowadays relationships don't end like this.

I did slept with other women when we were in fake relationship as it was nothing but friends helping each other. I don't think I will have another friend who would do something like she did. I drive towards my office and park my car.

A new temp secretary is going to work for a month here. I hope she is professional like Sarah. Sarah and I have been team for five year. I have become CEO at the age of 26 because of her hard work and loyalty towards me.

She met her fiance two years ago in small party at our mansion. He was the new client of Theo and he really liked Sarah at one look. I didn't get to know about it for six months. Theo told me about it actually.

When Sarah was sick for a week and a temp joined for that time she was nothing but headache for me. Always clumsy and flirting with me. No sense of wearing professional clothes. I had difficult week that time. Now it is going to be month.

But my best friend, Vance told me that this agency has professional temp for hire. He told me he would handle it for me. I hope he is right for his sake because if he is wrong he is going to be thrown out of the ring this Sunday for sure.

When I open the door of my office, I smile at Sarah then look at the girl beside her. She must be in early 20's and is so beautiful even in professional look. 

Her hairs are burning fite red against her clear make up free fair skin. The skin which looks so smooth, if only I could touch and see it for myself. But what hits me and makes my heart literally skip a beat is her green eyes. It is looking right at me.

I try to be professional and greet them and ask for her name indirectly but I think I have same effect on her as she had on me because it takes her few seconds to reply to me.

Lily Rose Scott. Nice name with two beautiful flowers in them. Scott means half scottish maybe that says why she has red hairs. She acts professionally and forwards her hand for handshake.

I take it before she changes her mind. I want to know if she has smooth skin or not. And yes she does have smooth and silky skin. Not only that but her handshake is also firm too. I don't let her hand go and squeeze it when she goes to take it. Then let it go as this is a professional place.

I talk with Sarah for a minute then after she leaves Lily and I get back to work. After Lily leaves, I shake my head and focus on my work. I can't be distracted by certain green eyed angel. 

It is just passing attraction which would be done after one night. I can't sleep with her for a month as she is my secretary but maybe after that we can do it. Well for a month, I have to be strictly professional.

We attain some meeting together and I see her busy with her notepad as she jots down important things. After the heavy discussions and meetings I tell them mail me rest of the information as I will look into it thoroughly later.

After seeing some files, I get another text from Kathy in bold letter to meet her for lunch otherwise she will sue my company for taking up most of her friend's time. 

I go to leave but see Lily still deep in work. I ask her to have lunch with me as it is her first day and so far she is doing very good. But she refuses me politely saying she has some prior commitments. Well I do too.

I go to nearby restaurant and wait for her to come. Kathy is my high school best friend and also girlfriend of my other best friend Vance. They got married last year on Christmas. She right now lives in Long Island with him and is boss of her small but very famous event management company. 

Vance on the other hand has security services company as he is good with computers and muscles both. Day by day his company is rising to new heights. Even our company's security is his hand too whose tasks he takes up seriously.

Kathy walks in the restaurant like she owns it and sits opposite of me. She is only a year younger than us but she really is very bossy. She sits down opposite me and orders grilled pasta with a fruit cake. Well I have to be on alert as she ordered a cake.

"You are late." I say.

"I am a lady. Deal with it." She says as she drinks some lime water while we wait for our order.

"Then why did you call me so soon when you have not even arrived?" I ask as I drink some water.

"I knew you would be late so I texted you to come soon." She says as she toys with the straw in her glass.

"What is it?" I ask.

"What?" She asks as she looks up at me.

"You want to tell me something. Just blurt it out. I think today is the day to tell your secret to Ryan day." I say as I give her my full attention.

"Give me a minute please." She says and goes to restroom when a waiter passes our table with a plate of chicken.

"Okay." I say but she already gone. 

I shake my head at her and look down, then up, then again down when I catch a glimpse of red hair. It is her. It is Lily. And she is here with a man. Wait a minute isn't he the guy who got promoted last month as a team leader.

I thought he was married and had a boy and with another child on the way. What was his name? I can't remember at this moment. I look at Lily as she laughs with him and when he holds her hand I feel a burning sensation in my heart.

How dare he touch her? But what is she to me? No one. Then why am I getting possessive over a mere girl who I met just today and don't know anything about her other than her name. 

I look up at Kathy when she sits down at the chair with a sigh. When the order comes she dives right into it like she is hungry for ages. I have my own pasta as she ordered for me. Told you bossy.

"So will you please tell me what is going on? And why did you called me here?" I ask her when she is finished with her pasta and enjoying her cake.

"Fine." She say as she puts down her spoon, "I am pregnant."

"Oh My God! Why do woman tell me about their pregnancy than the father of the baby. What am I? A counselor for new shocked mothers." I say and tears come to Kathy's eyes.

"Why are you behaving like this? You should be happy that you are going to be godfather of my baby and that you are the first one to know about my pregnancy." Kathy says and I give her tissue as I sit beside her.

"I am happy about this new more than anything in the world. And I feel honoured to be baby's godfather. Thanks for letting me know about it first. So how are you going to tell Vance about it?" I ask as I rub her shoulders.

"I am happy too. We decided not to have baby for two to three years. But this is so sudden. I am worried a bit but I have no doubt that Vance would be happy. I think I will him surprise." She says.

"Or more like a heart attack like last time." I say as I chuckle.

"Hey!" Kathy says as she punches me lightly on shoulder.

"But you have to admit the bachelor party was a blast." I say with grin.

I remember Kathy crashing our classy bachelor party where we were only playing cards and pool and having drinks. She was dressed to kill that day and her pray was obviously Vance. He was shocked as hell and picked her up to go to private room.

"It was so much fun." She said as she blushed.

"Please stop blushing. You don't look yourself when you do that." I tease her.

"Ryan!" She says.

"What is going on here?" We hear Vance's ruff voice from behind us.

"Nothing. I am just cheating on you." Kathy says.

"Ya! It can only happen in your dreams babe or by sleeping with me only. Ryan go to your seat." He says and I go to stand but she holds me down.

"You sit opposite of me. He is best friend so he will sit with me. And I was cheating on you with my favourite cake." She says.

"Well you both can argue I have to leave as I have an important meeting." I say as I look at my clock, "Bye babe. All the best" I whisper in her ears and smiles and kiss at my cheeks.

"Thanks." She say as I leave while Vance looks at us puzzled.

I get to my floor and was just going to my office when I see Lily surfing our family at phone and I see she trying to find my name. I smirk as I look over her shoulder and the name of that man hits me.

Lucas Scott, the new team leader and very good at his job. Scott. Does that mean they are siblings? One way to find out but first I can't loose this chance to tease her.

"Ryan Adam Anderson." I say and she looks at me like she saw a ghost.