chapter154
My heart skipped a beat when I saw his name flash on the screen. I hadn't intended to pick up, but in my flustered state, my finger slipped and hit the answer button.
“What took you so long?” his voice came through, cool and demanding.
I rolled my eyes at his tone. When I didn’t immediately respond, he pressed further. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing...” I managed.
“You don’t sound particularly happy to hear from me,” he noted.
“Should I be?” I countered, the bitterness leaking into my voice. Happy that he finally found a spare moment to think of me? Please.
He sounded dissatisfied as he continued, “I haven’t heard a word from you. Don’t tell me you didn’t even know I was back in town.”
“Hey, have you even checked your own call logs? Don’t just assume it’s my fault,” I snapped. “Besides, why should I keep calling you? People gossip about divorced women enough as it is. You should probably stay away from me anyway, shouldn’t you?”
I stopped abruptly, realizing I sounded less like a business associate and more like a jilted lover upset over a missed phone call. Just as I opened my mouth to offer a professional explanation, the line went dead.
He had hung up.
What is wrong with this man? I stared at the phone in disbelief. Why does he have to be so abrupt? I nearly hurled the device across the room. He couldn't even manage a simple goodbye.
Two days later, Ryan returned to the office, and I almost didn’t recognize him. He had grown a scruffy, unkempt beard and his skin was deeply sunburnt from his travels.
“Ryan, you look exhausted!” I said, a pang of guilt hitting me as I imagined the hardships he’d endured on the road for the company.
He froze for a second at the concern in my voice, but he quickly recovered his professional mask. He pulled a large, battered suitcase toward my desk. “Give me half an hour to freshen up. In the meantime, take a look at what I’ve brought back for you.”
He turned and left the office before I could say another word. I tried to lift the travel case, but it was leaden. When I finally pried it open, I found it packed to the brim with supplier profiles, material samples, and quality certifications.
Everything was meticulously organized. I immediately called Benjamin in to help me cross-reference the new leads with the suppliers who had already signed contracts with us.
Thirty minutes later, Ryan returned, looking significantly more refreshed. He sat down and walked me through the fine details of every supplier he had met, highlighting the potential risks and rewards of each partnership.
During a break, I secretly called my mother. While Ryan had been away, she had asked several times when I’d be inviting him over again, and I’d promised her I would make it happen.
My mom was thrilled at the news. “Bring him over tonight! And don’t forget to pick up Ava on your way.”
After the meeting wrapped up, Benjamin suggested to the group, “Why don’t we all grab a celebratory meal today? This new data is a huge milestone.”
“We definitely should, but let's do it right,” I intervened. “Benjamin, help me book a nice venue for tomorrow night. We’ll host a full team dinner to celebrate reaching this milestone. Every staff member is invited.”
The room erupted in excitement as the team filtered out. Once we were alone, I turned to Ryan.
“Would you like to have dinner at my place tonight? My parents are staying in Foswood for a bit, and they’ve been very eager to see you again.”
A genuine, wide smile broke across his face. “They’re in Foswood? That’s perfect. To be honest, I’ve really missed your mom’s cooking.”