006-BIG ANNOUNCEMENT?

RYAN'S POV

The black sheep of the family?? The words replay in my head. I need to stay calm and avoid confrontations. But I ignored my health and flew over to help his bankrupt firm, and he calls me the black sheep? To hell with the doctor's prescription.

I shove Corey hard in the chest, pushing him back onto the couch. I press myself over him, hovering as I sneer. "You really should thank me, you know that right? Worship me. If I hadn't taken my inheritance all those years ago like the prodigal son, if I hadn't multiplied the wealth, who would you have called now to bail your sorry ass out after squandering everything?" I push him roughly again, then step back and straighten, leaving him mumbling a thankyou. I start toward the door but stopped. "I may have done a lot of awful things, but for every bad thing I've done, you've done ten times worse. We both know who the real black sheep of this family is."

Corey looks at me for a moment, thinking. "You said you stole a lot of girlfriends when you were younger, what do you steal now...wives?"

I chuckle, and he joins in, but then, I stop laughing and stare at him with stone cold eyes. "You really don't want to find out."

****

"So, Desmond didn't show for the meeting?" I tap my fingers against the edge of the desk.

My assistant frowns, scrolling through a stack of reports on Desmond that shows through the projector. "That's how he acts like he's above everyone. He's been pretending to be the CEO as if he's not a mere manager."

"It's like he's tired of the job." I mutter.

As I walked into the office earlier, I was desperate to feel something other than the chaos brewing inside me, something I could control. The company, my empire, was something I could command, manipulate. But even here, in the supposed safety of my corporate world, I couldn’t maintained the cold and intriguing personality I had practiced my whole life. And now Desmond was testing that. I was done playing games.

The door to my office flies open without a knock, and my secretary runs in. "I'm so sorry to intrude but Desmond's here. He and his girlfriend are harassing a lady downstairs."

She doesn't wait for me to respond, already heading out, leading the way. I discreetly take out my phone and send a text to the director.

The elevator ride seem to last forever, by the time I reach the scene, I notice a woman in cheap red dress, struggling on an uncomfortable-looking pair of heels. She's standing beside a man in navy blue suit—Desmond. Alongside them is a petite woman with chestnut-colored hair, wearing a white dress—Rose? Why is she here?

Desmond’s hand is raised, ready to strike her. Without thinking, I push past my assistant and secretary, sprinting toward them. I reach Desmond just in time to grab his wrist, my grip firm and commanding. "Don’t even think about it," I warn, my voice cold. "If you do, you will regret it." I try to steady my breathing, fighting the urge to bend over and gasps for air. Just running that little distance is torture but to think I still punish myself every day with a morning run.

I let go of his wrist, then quickly move to Rose, laying a hand on her waist and back, ensuring she's okay. She tenses but doesn't pull away.

Turning back to Desmond, I glare at him. "Ignoring board meetings, disrespecting employees, misappropriating company's fund and impersonating the CEO? You're fired." The confused look on his face shows that he doesn't even recognize me. I raise my hands to my chin. "I've had it up here. You're done."

Nothing had prepared me for Desmond's confrontation. “Where were you?” His voice drips with bitterness. “You can't just come in and take back everything. That's not how it works.”

"Who are you to fire the CEO?" The girl in the cheap clothes steps in front of me.

"Only someone with more power than the CEO can fire him." I respond coldly. "I own the company, you're done."

Rose' wide eyes stares at me in disbelief, as she whispers something to the friendly woman standing beside her.

Desmond looks around warily before regaining his composure. "You're an old fool." He snarles, turning to the security. "Get this lunatic out of here." The security runs towards me to lead me out, but before they can act, the director walks in.

A crowd begins to form, with employees standing around and whispering.

Desmond’s face crooks in confusion as the director arrives, barely looking at me before addressing the security guard. “What is happening?” He turns back to Desmond. “You don’t recognize him?” The silence presses on before the director’s voice cut through. “This is Ryan Hilton. The CEO of Evergreen Enterprises.”

The room falls silent, and I can practically hear the collective gasp from everyone around me.

Desmond looks around, silently seeking answers. "What? What does that mean?" He stammers. He looks back and forth between me and the woman by his side, then quickly drops to his knees, grabbing my trousers, his crocodile tears flowing freely.

I push him off with a swift kick. "You're fired!" I repeat, incase he didn't understand the first time I said it.

The woman with him hurries to his side, shooting daggers in Rose direction. "So, Rose, you managed to lock a wealthy, hot daddy, huh?" She glowers. "Enjoy it while it last because, it won't be long before he gets tired of you, the same way Desmond was." She rubs Desmond's head and assists him to his feet.

"Desmond, make sure to return all company property; car, apartment, the suit on your back. An audit account be set up. Now leave." I signal for the guards to send him out, then turn to leave as well.

I hadn't intended for Rose to witness the confrontation, but she did. And now, walking away feels wrong. I stretch out my hands. She takes it after a moments hesitation, offering her friend a quick goodbye. "You'll be alright," I will make sure of it. I rest my hands on her lower waist, leading her away from the scene.

She stiffens slightly under my touch but doesn't pull away. Rose stares around in confusion, wondering what just happened. "What was that?"

“Let’s leave here, okay?” I whisper, trying to sound comforting.

"What? What just happened?" Rose persist, her pace quickening to keep up with me.

I squeeze her hands tenderly. "I'm Ryan Hilton. I own seventy-five percent of Evergreen Enterprises and most of the major business across the states." I lead her toward the parking lot where a silk limousine is waiting, a bodyguard in dark suit and glasses standing nearby. "What were you doing here?"

"My best friend works her, and that...jerk, my ex owns the company." She forces out the word. "Or we thought he owned it." She corrects, her hands brushing against my thighs.

Her hands on my thighs... It takes everything in me, not to grab her hips, pin her against my limo, yank her dress up and claim her. Publicly.

Why does she have to be Corey's daughter? I've never been one to care about morals, but somehow I think Rose cares about morals.

Also, the doctor's prescription on HCM read no sex...or no rough sex. I should reduce or completely rid my risky lifestyle—alcohol, sexual triggers, exercise, stress—those are my last names. Fuck him! He also insist I can't undergo a heart transplant. Although money's not my problem, but they say it's not bad enough yet. So I sit and wait... until it is.

"Where are you taking me to?" She asks, her voice seems to resist but her body follows willingly.

"Dinner." I say. The bodyguard opens the door for us.

"I never agreed to go out to dinner with you."

"And that's because I never asked."

"Ouch!" She gasps, grasping her chest as if she's been stabbed.

The car door shuts nosily, and I look briefly at Rose, who's still flushed from everything that just happened. “The reason we're going to dinner." I say, my voice softer now. "Is not because I'm trying to get something from you, Rose. It's family a dinner. And the truth is, family...we stick together, despite the difficulties."

I still can't believe Desmnd impersonated me all these years. Even worse, I can't believe he dare raised his hands to hit what's mine. I massage my neck, frustrated by the thought. "We need to hurry. Your mom's expecting us for dinner, and she's been dying to announce something big tonight."

"What announcement?"

I shake my head, unsure myself. "I don't know. She didn't say, okay? She just made it sound... urgent."

Her gaze sharpens. "Urgent? Why would she pass the message through you?"

I glance at her, shaking my head in confusion. "I really don't know, but we will both find out soon."