3. Be Professional.
Lily's Pov.
I look up at him and I can feel my cheeks on fire just like my hairs. He looks at me with a smirk. I feel like I was trying to steal something and got caught for my stupid mistake of making too much noise.
But it is not crime to know about someone, is it? No. I was just doing some research professionally. I didn't searched for him. I just wanted to know his name that is it. If only I have asked Richard instead.
"Thanks for letting me know." I say with straight face and get back to my work.
"You know you could have just asked me." Ryan says tilting his neck a little.
"Well you were not here, Sir. So I thought to do some research on my own only." I say as I type in some words from my notes.
"Good thought. By the way, are you Lucas's sister?" He asks and I look up at him.
"Yes." I say as I look at his smiling face in confusion.
"Great. By the way shift tomorrow's afternoon meeting and write down baby shopping." He says.
"Baby shopping. You are buying babies too." I say as I scrunch my face but actually I am teasing him.
"No. I do not sell or buy babies. My friend is pregnant. So I want to buy some things for him. Write baby related shopping." Ryan says as he sighs.
"Fine. Would you mind if I join you?" I ask as I want to buy some things too.
"No I won't. But why would you join me?" He asks casually.
"Oh, I have to buy some baby related stuffs too." I say as I look down at computer to write what he told me to do.
"Don't tell me you are pregnant too?" Ryan asks and when I look up I see strange look on his face.
"No. I don't even have boyfriend how come I would be pregnant. It is my sister in law. I am arranging her baby shower and has to buy some last minute gifts." I speak fastly so he would not misunderstand me. I see relief on his face.
"Okay. But you know that you actually don't need a boyfriend to have baby." He says and I look at him in shock and when I see mirth in his eyes, I come to know that he is teasing me.
"Well I know that. But unlike others I don't sleep around that much." I say to cover up and look in the computer.
"Good to know about your sexual life." He says and I try to control my outburst.
"Sir, this is a office and we should be professional towards each other. I don't like discussing my personal information with a total stranger. I have already put the notes and next meeting's file in your cabin. Please do let me know if you need any changes." I say looking right into his eyes even though I just want to melt down looking at them.
Suddenly the look on his face changes and he stands up straight then says, "You are right. We have to be professional here. But I could rectify the boyfriend situation after a month if you want."
I look at him in shock as he enters his cabin without looking behind. What did he mean by that? Surely not what I am thinking. No. No. No. Get back to work Lily.
The rest of the afternoon goes without hitch. Ryan is in the cabin and my brother calls me. He tells me that he will drop me and even though I deny him so many times, Lucas keeps insisting. I knock at Ryan's door and when he permits, I go inside.
"Do you need anything else, Sir? If not then I would be leaving." I say as I put file on his desk.
"No. You can go now." He says as he doesn't looks up from his laptop.
"Okay, Sir. Good Night." I say as I smile and start to go out when he calls me.
"Lily, good job by the way. Good Night." He says and I leave with a smile on my face.
I arrange everything at my desk and take my purse to leave. I meet Lucas in the parking lot. Unlike me he has Dad's brown hairs but we share same color eyes with little difference in shade. His are more darker just like Mom's were.
He takes a different route and stops in front of a family restaurant. I ask him about it but he just smiles. When we go inside the host show us to a private booth and when I enter it I see my two precious people in the world.
"Emma! Ethan!" I say and kiss Emma's cheeks and hug her.
As I bent to kiss her belly, I see my intelligent nephew. It is his last month in preschool then he will go to kindergarten. He looks at me with his chubby cheeks totally red in anger. Well Scott's get angry very soon but they could also get calmed soon too.
"What happened to my favourite boy in the world?" I ask Ethan as I sit beside him and opposite of Lucas and Emma.
"Just angry that you don't visit that much." Emma says when Ethan doesn't says anything.
"Is that so? Then let me hold my ears and say sorry. And also make small promise to spend this weekend with you. Will that give me my forgiveness from you?" I ask as I look at her with pout.
He looks at me for a second then grabs my hand to take it away from ears and puts my arms around him. He hugs me tightly then says cutely, "I missed you."
"Aww! I missed you too my baby bear." I say as I kiss his cheeks.
"No Lily. Don't kiss. It's yuck." He says as he rubs it away.
"It's yuck. Then I have to do more." I say and kiss him and tickle him.
He fights my hand but then gives in and giggles. We place our orders and I tell them about my day. It was quite good if I forget about this afternoon's conversation with my boss.
Ethan and I have pizza with extra cheeze. We also have ice cream as Emma insists on having one then Ethan started then at last I joined in too. We had fun. Then after dropping me they left waving at me.
I enter my apartment and check some mails that came on my name. One is from agency about today's changes, one is a postcard from Richard. He has gone to travel with his wife. Great. The third in the one that gives me a shock.
A month ago, I participated in small event in locality and won a lucky draw. There were many prizes and I did only because my colleagues encouraged me to do it. This mail says that I won free spa day coupons.
Well something came out of this all. I call the number on mail and fix an appointment on Monday for Emma and her Mom. I can look after Ethan for one more day. His preschool is not far from my job and he is very disciplined child in front of strangers. I will ask Ryan about it tomorrow.
"Lucas where is Emma?" I ask as I call her to inform her about her appointment.
"Oh she is taking a long relaxing bath. Let me give her the phone-" Lucas says but I interrupt him as I change my mind.
"No I want to talk to you only. Is Emma doing anything on Monday?" I ask him.
"No. She was just thinking about spending some time with her mother as she is going to stay with us for two days." He says.
"Great. Then on Saturday you both go out and have fun. On Sunday late afternoon we will have baby shower surprise. Then on Monday she and her mother could go to spa. Make sure she doesn't comes up with any plans on Monday. And don't worry about Ethan we will look after him. Okay?" I say.
"Okay, Mam." He says and after some talk we hang up.
After showering, I change into white camisole and short for sleeping. I look into tomorrow's schedule and think about cancelling going with him. It would be awkward to go with my boss.
I grab my laptop and search about him. I have to know about him a bit. I rarely asked Richard about his sons. We normally meet only once or twice in a month after graduating high school. He would talk about his wife a lot and I like hearing it too.
Ryan Anderson. He is 26 years old and had became CEO at young age 24. But he joined the company at very young age on small post. For past two years his company has reached new heights. They do various businesses like automobile, gems and jewellery, shipping, construction and many other things.
His father, Richard Anderson founded the company and first was dealing in diamonds only. He opened various shops for jewellery. Then after marrying he named the jewellery business line, Heather's after his wife.
Heather Anderson, is actually from a rich family of hoteliers. She is the only daughter of her father and used to manage it till her second son took over last year. Valentines have chains of famous hotels, restaurant and resort under them. It is said that Heather's mom is royal and so her second son Theo is often addressed as Prince.
There are various scandals on this Prince's name. He travels a lot too. But still his business is booming every month after he joined specially with the ladies. I smile as I read that, such a playboy.
Noah Anderson, Richard and Heather's third son. This man has been away from media and is working on his paternal grandfather's farm. He wants to stay far away from city life and stays in Connecticut. There is no further information about him at all.
I lastly search Ryan's name and see that he has many affairs too but only ever had one girlfriend according to sources. It is also mentioned here that he dumped the famous heiress out of nowhere. For years after that he has been seen with many women but never dated.
Not until Jess his college friend. His relationship with her is still going hot. They have been together for more than six months. It means he is still with her and still told me all that weird things.
I close my laptop in anger and frown. I should have known that man like him would never want a serious relationship but just a fling. I got many invitation like this from my previous bosses but I showed them my stoic professional face to let them know they are not getting anything from me other than work being completed or report against them.
Well I have to do the same with Ryan too. He will not get anything from me. I would maintain my distance and after this month is over, I will leave for my month long vacation with my family and myself.
I think that go for sleep. But he still haunts my dream with his words and I barely get any sleep that night. I wake up way before I need to, so I decide to just get ready and treat myself with good breakfast.
I take shower and get ready in blue pantsuit then leave my apartment at 8. As tonight I am going to eat at home, I have to buy some groceries. I will make something nice maybe. But I would really like to bake some cookies as I have to take them to our house for Ethan.
I have to take permission for letting Ethan stay with me for almost two hours as Lucas texted me that he would take Ethan back home after their spa session is over. I also have to lie to Ryan that I won't be joining him for shopping.
That would be a tough one. I take metro and enter a cafe nearby the company. I order cheese sandwich, tacos with veggies and a chocolatey doughnut. I enjoy my meal alone as look around me and my eyes stops at a couple who enters the cafe.
They look about my age and the boy is teasing the girl then kisses her. It is things like this that makes me feel lonely. I also want a boyfriend who would hold my hand, have meals with me and we will go for date or movies. He will hold my hand or maybe kiss me.
I want to be kissed too. I want my first kiss to be with a person who really like me and I like him too. But every man I have met so far is either sleazy or too much arrogant. Only thinking about themselves but not what I need or want.
I finish my breakfast and ask for a take away of three donuts as I really liked them alot. I greet the main guard of the company as I enter then wave at Maggie our receptionist. I go to my brother's cabin first and give him one donut then go to my floor. I put them both in fridge along with my lunch which I also took from that cafe.
I will heat it up later to eat at lunch. I make his coffee as it already 9. I get the call from Maggie as I am taking coffee to his cabin. I put it on his desk along with the files he told me about and also today's schedule.
"Good Morning, Lily." Ryan says as soon as he enters the cabin.
"Good Morning, Sir." I say.
We discuss some projects for sometime then he asks, "Anything else?"
"Yes as you know my sister in law, Emma is pregnant. She would be busy on Monday. So I would have to bring my nephew, Ethan here for two hours." I say.
"Sure. You can also send him to child care floor in our company." He says as he looks at the file for next meeting.
"I also was wanting to say that I won't be coming for shopping today." I say and he looks up at me in confusion.
"Why?" He asks as he sits up and puts his chin on his fisted hands.
"I promised one of my friend to join her as she has some shopping left to do." I lie as I look straight in his eyes otherwise I know he won't believe it.
"Okay. You can go now." He says calmly but I can see he saw through my lie somehow because of his clenched hands and ticking in his jaw.
"Okay." I say and leave the cabin.
I sigh in relief and get back to work. I may feel strong attraction towards him but I know it is just that. He is already in a relationship and I don't want a man like him even if professionally he is good.
Just for a month, I have to bear it then I will be free of this and maybe even forget about it too.