CHAPTER FIVE.

EPISODE FIVE.

JENNA'S POV.

I've still not gotten over the kiss when Arlene pressed her small body into me, leaving me in shock.

What the hell is happening?

I know I've always had a crazy resemblance with Lana but not like this, her own daughter mistook her for me.

"Hey, I..." The words dangle off my mouth as Ryker glared at me, telling me to play along with the plot but I'm just too bereft to do anything so I just let her stay in my arms.

"You said you're coming back to pick me, I waited for you." Arlene complained in a wavering tone and her body shook with sob.

Oh my goodness. What the hell did Lana promise her or where did she plan to take her to?

"A few things came up and I couldn't meet up, I'm sorry baby." 

Arlene only nodded and rested her body on me in a more relaxed manner.

I can't believe I signed up for this voluntarily, I mean, All I wanted is to get her out of her Dad's grasp but I'm not prepared for things like this.

Because how do I comfort a child when I've lived with criticism all my life? What do I say to her that won't get her pissed off?

Thankfully, Ryker stopped glaring at me and acted like a fucking Dad when he walked towards us and patted Arlene on her back.

"Hey baby, how about you go to your room and play some games till I'm done preparing dinner?" Ryker's eyes softened as he stared at his daughter and it makes me wonder how long he's going to keep his facade going, He might actually like Arlene as his daughter but he hated her Mom and that doesn't salvage the situation.

"Are you sure I can do that?" Arlene asked softly, she finally left my arms and engulfed herself in Ryker's.

"Sure love, don't worry, you can do that." She cast me a cursory glance with fear layered in my expressive eyes but I only smiled at her.

Is she scared of me now or waiting for my approval to go into the room?

"Don't worry darling,you can go." I burst out a reply from my lips, leaving her relaxed and she finally scuttled upstairs.

Once Arlene is out of sight, I heave a sigh of relief, not minding the fixated stare of Ryker on me.

"what the hell just happened? I mean..."

"This won't make me trust my daughter with you, Jenna." He cut off calmly, I turned to him sharply in shock.

Why's he so hellbent on cutting me off his life? Is he traumatized by the years he had to cope with Lana or what?

Never mind, I'm sure Lana was the one doing the coping, because I can't survive being in a room with this man for an hour. He's so infuriating.

"You can be sure as hell that I'm not here for that, I only want to continue this contract to make my company and my parents' thrive."

"I can't afford for my company stock to tank, Why the hell did you do that?"

I clamped my mouth shut because I knew he was talking about the kiss, Truthfully, I don't know why I did that because there's many other ways to blackmail Ryker into marrying me but I choose to kiss him.

"I thought you called me here for a solution? Or you're all just talks?" Ryker rolled his eyes in frustration and sighed.

The scandal is already out there, there's no way he's getting out of this, and his daughter just called me her mother which complicates the issue more.

"The board knows that I'm married to Lana for the sake of partnership with your company, but lately, your parents has been defrauding us and they're very livid about it, and then this happened, they have enough grounds to throw me out of the company."

Fuck my life, I can't believe Dad and Mom are still deep into fraud despite them having everything they want.

"But it's your company, they can't throw you out." I scoff.

"It won't take time for them to sell all their shares to a competitor that will overthrow mine, it's that easy, Jenna." Ryker pushes his hair back in frustration which is rare to see him like this.

But I'm sure as hell that isn't what is keeping him off from marrying him, I don't know yet but the Ryker I know is notorious for bending rules.

"Then marry me." I shrug nonchalantly but the truth is, I'm blank as fuck. I don't have any solution to keep this situation from getting more messy.

He snaps at me in disbelief.

"You can't be real right now."He shook his head.

"We both know that isn't the reason why you don't want to marry me, cut the crap Ryker, tell me why?"

"You overthink things for the smart woman you paraded yourself to be." He scoffs in an insulting tone, and my control snapped.

"Actually,Ryker. I think the reason why you don't want me to marry you is because of Arlene. You're so fixated on being the only adult in that poor girl's life because of your mommy issues. You don't want to leave her like your mother did!" 

The room fell silent after the throat-cutting words I dropped, Ryker turned to me, his face livid with anger and jaw clenched.

Fuck. I can't believe I nipped him in the bud that hurts him the most.

My throat dried up immediately and my heart reeled in fear as he walked towards me.

His steps, forceful and heavy with constraints.

"Ryker,I..."

"You know what? Let's just tie the fucking knots."

What?