CHAPTER 2

Chapter 2

“Excuse me, ladies, I’ll be back,” Zak said, excusing himself from where he watched Ryan speaking to the unknown lady. He silently slides beside his buddy to feed his curiosity

“Bro!, Bro, what happened huh? Who's the ice queen”

“I dunno man, I am…I am as shocked as you are” Ryan replied,feeling angry and intimidated at once

“But yes, she's just some total girl I bumped into” Ryan hesitated again

“Oh really, look at you man, you sure you just bumped into her, huh” Zak giggled

Ryan shrugged, trying to play it off. In his mind, he wanted to know more about this “ice queen”

“She’s feisty…. I love feisty” Ryan murmured again, a sly smile curling up the end of his lips

“What’s the story man?” Zak probed further, scanning the face of his friend for any sign of what he believes is “love at first sight”.

“Dude, she just…, she just got under my skin, and I don't know but it's the first time woman wasn't attracted to me, Damn my ego is bruised” He snorted

“Ha, that’s indeed a first because normally, as the certified playboy and flirt that you are, I’m shocked you don’t have her number already” Zak teased his friend

The two guys laughed it off and had a refill of their already-finished whiskeys

Ryan Alvarez Ross just turned 30 and wanted his birthday to be different this year, he thought of honoring the anonymous invitation he got to attend the leavers’ party happening at his family’s club, The Alvarez family is one influential and rich family in California.They owned Alvarez Global Enterprise and he was only the acting CEO

He was almost 6’7, with very dark hair, a pair of piercing blue eyes and chiseled features due to his routine workouts in the built-in gym he had back home His charming smile was enough to make any woman get in bed with him,but he couldn’t shake the feeling off that once again,his charm didn’t have any effect on a woman like that.On any other normal day,he wouldn’t have cared in the world but it was his birthday.

“Damn bro” he let out again dusting his black leather jacket with his right hand,his mind now back to business.

Zak was his right hand man and best friend,even tho Ryan had a very commanding aura when it comes to work,there’s always an exception for Zak when its time to party

“Oh we’ve gotta go,Stacia called earlier”Zak snorted and stood up

“What did she want?”

“You,what else…you have to do something about her. I suggest you end things with her so that she doesn’t get any silly ideas of you proposing to her,or I mean,except you’re planning to”

“What?!no way,besides I’m not ready for anything concerning marriage so it’s definitely out of the topic.but what did she say exactly when you spoke to her”

“She was blabbing about how it was your birthday and she wants to pull up at your place..”Zak shook his head in refusal and added “ She’s just your lover right,I mean one of them,she’s getting ideas that she’s your girlfriend”

“I know man…but she ain’t my girlfriend, and of course, she wants to fuck” Ryan spat out, rolling his eyes

“Let's go. I'm getting bored here already”

“It seems “ice queen” has found a way to get into my head” Ryan joked, shaking his head while taking the last sip of his whiskey

“Sure, head towards the car I’ll meet you there”Zak responded getting up from his stool

•••

“Waiter…yes another glass”Ruby said clearly having the best time of her life

“Trust me Em, I knew this party was going to be lit more than I thought!! I'm soo tired!”she said again cheerfully

“And obviously drunk too, I think I should drive…yes, I'm driving us back home”Emily said looking at her best friend waste herself as she stood to dance again

As the music kept playing, time was going and Emily felt tired. Now at that moment she knew she only wanted to go home and have some rest

As they stomped out of the party, exhaustion etched on their faces, the cool night air offered little relief. Ruby, a bit tipsy, leaned on Emily’s shoulder, giggling softly. They had been looking forward to leaving, The idea of driving now appeared challenging to her

'Finally, let's get out of here,”Ruby said, stifling a yawn.

But as they approached their car, their hearts sank. Someone had parked their vehicle inches from theirs, blocking them in.

'What the...? Who does that?' Emily slurred,

Ruby stumbled slightly, her eyes fixed on the offending car. her words laced with a hint of annoyance and alcohol.

"Seriously, who parks like that?" Emily asked, her voice laced with annoyance

Ruby shook her head and said, "I don't know, but they're definitely winning a prize for worst parking ever.

"Ugh, this is just great. I'm so done with tonight," Emily let out, leaning against the car.

"Come on, let's just figure out how to get out of here”Ruby said,trying to sound optimistic

“No…whose car is this?”

"It looks fancy…I’m sure he’s rich or whatever” Ruby responded her eyes half-closed.

"No, we can't just stand here. We need to get home," Emily said firmly.

And just as Emily said this,they saw a guy walking towards the car,his attention focused on his phone

His black leather jacket perfectly suited to his muscular body, the night breeze hitting him,making his perfectly combed hair fall back to the other side of his face

Emily looked in frustration, her mind on their situation but her eyes on the tall figure approaching them

Ryan got near them and soon Emily recognized him and yelled out,rather quietly,” Oh..so he is the jerk that parked his car here”

“Right,uhh hello…excuse me”Emily said as she tried to get his attention off his phone to her

Suddenly,Ryan smirked and realizes it was her,the ice queen from the bar,

“We meet again…interesting”he said letting out a chuckle

“Could you move…um your car, its in the way…gosh”Emily scoffed and continued

“Who even parks like this…were you in your senses”?she snapped

Ryan was taken aback by her tone

“Hold it…first of all, I choose to park however I want to, and you don't gotta be so rude, for the second time in one night” he seized her up and down, secretly checking her out, he kept staring at her eyes, there was something about them he just couldn't place his finger on

Ruby just stood there, a little tipsy, she watched the scene unravel before her

“I own this place”, the last words echoed in her mind as she drifted off into a sudden slumber.