Chapter 27: Chapter 27

KAEL

I looked at him in a way that he would realize I didn't appreciate the fact that he hadn't followed my instructions to the letter, but he didn't seem affected by it at all.

"Aren't you going to greet Sarah?" Ryan had the audacity to call my attention to my lack of courtesy.

I left my spot near the window and walked over to where they were, stopping in front of the girl with scared eyes, who pretended to have a determination that was far from real, after all, she was there for me, once again.

"I don't need you to call my attention to good manners, Ryan," I said, even though my words were directed at my assistant, my eyes remained fixed on Sarah's expression, and at the same time, I felt a little disappointed to see her once again giving in to others' expectations.

"Well, it seems like you do," he retorted. "Sit down, Sarah. Make yourself comfortable, because if it were up to your host, you'd be stuck in that same spot for quite a while."

Ryan headed to the massive bar, filled with a variety of drinks, placed in one corner of the room, and poured himself a double shot of whiskey, taking the first sip with visible pleasure. Sarah seemed uncertain about what to do, but eventually followed Ryan's advice and walked to one of the comfortable armchairs, sitting with her legs together, looking like a student in the principal's office about to be reprimanded for something wrong, completely different from her self-confident and secure sister.

I averted my eyes from Sarah, as seeing her so nervous and apprehensive was unpleasant and made me feel uncomfortable. I focused my attention on Ryan, considering him truly courageous. If there was one thing I admired about him, it was his courage to confront me on equal terms, always speaking his mind without caring that I could fire him at any moment.

Even though, at that moment, watching him pour himself another glass of my favorite whiskey, I felt the urge to kick him out of the room, the feeling of admiration was still present.

"I'll take your suitcase to the room where you'll be staying, Sarah," Ryan informed my guest.

I belatedly noticed the small suitcase right at the entrance of the apartment and scolded myself for not paying attention to something so obvious.

After Ryan finished his drink and took the suitcase to the room designated for Sarah, we fell into complete silence.

"As I mentioned when we arrived, you'll be staying here at Kael's apartment for a few days, but you should feel at home, and anything you need, you can contact me, and I'll arrange it for you. We'll be in touch," he said to Sarah.

— Anything else, Ryan? — I questioned with irony, as he was the employee in that room.

— Do you need anything else, Kael? — He asked decently.

— No. — I declined. — You're dismissed for today.

— I'll sleep at the mansion, as you requested.

After saying that, something I didn't like at all for him to mention in front of Sarah, Ryan left the apartment, finally leaving us alone.

Sarah

The presence of Kael Graham has always filled me with disdain, and seeing him in action again, now with someone else involved, was a painful reminder. After Ryan left, I felt even tenser in the armchair where I was seated, full of doubts and uncertainties.

Despite everything that was happening and despite Ryan being Kael's personal assistant, I didn't see him as an enemy, unlike Kael himself, for whom I would have to be at his service for the next few months. It was inexplicable, but Ryan's presence calmed me and gave me hope amidst the whole situation.

When the driver took me to a luxurious building, my worry increased, but upon seeing that Ryan was waiting for me, a long sigh of relief escaped my lips. It was as if he were a great and cherished friend, and even though we were on opposite sides of the situation, that feeling of complicity continued to grow between us.

"You didn't think I'd leave you to enter the wolf's den alone, did you?" he joked, pulling me into a hug.

I readily accepted that comfort and felt embraced by his reception, something I was certain Kael wouldn't do for me when we faced each other.

"Thank you for coming to meet me," I thanked him when we separated. "I'm very nervous. All of this feels so surreal!"

The situation was so unusual that I couldn't think rationally about it and question the way this agreement was made.

"I've been in this business long enough to assure you that crazy deals like these happen more often than you think, Sarah," Ryan disclosed while holding my hand.

Even with this gesture that could be considered intimate, I didn't believe that Ryan had any kind of romantic or sexual interest in me. I couldn't explain why I thought that way, but that feeling was present.

— But I didn't make any agreement, Ryan! — I protested with indignation.

— But you agreed to pay the price for your frivolous and selfish sister's actions — he reminded me.

Although he made it clear that I had a choice and could have chosen to ignore the situation Rachel got herself into, Ryan didn't seem to judge me or condemn my actions, and that made me feel better for having someone who supported me at that moment, something that didn't happen with my sister.

"Kael is waiting for you, and we better hurry," he warned, looking at me attentively.

"I'll stay here with him, in an apartment?" I asked curiously.

"Yes," he confirmed.

"I thought I would stay on the yacht, or... I don't know!"

The truth was that I had no idea what to expect; everything was so strange and confusing. Would we be living together in the same apartment, or would he just set me up there and visit me whenever he wanted? Were there no clear rules? Would everything be as he pleased, without limits? Would I feel completely at the mercy of that unscrupulous man?

"You can retire to your room," Kael said a few minutes after his assistant left.

That statement surprised and unsettled me even more. I didn't know what to do now because when Ryan mentioned leaving my suitcase in my room, I assumed it would be the room I would be sharing with Kael. However, the way Kael said it gave me the impression that I would have a room all to myself, which truly astonished and shocked me.

"Um... I... I mean, you..." I stammered.

The difficulty in formulating the sentence I wanted frustrated me and made me angry with myself. Besides being in that place against my will, I still had to embarrass myself in front of that heartless man, which was terrible.

"Is there a problem?" he asked.

My cheeks turned warm, and I concluded it would be best not to question further. I silently thanked myself that I wouldn't have to spend more time with that fickle man, at least not that night.

"Good night," I said simply.