Ex Clash

The driving in of another car made Ryat step aside in the park, and as the car engines went off, his fingers fell out of his hair.

A man who's just as tall as Ryat came out of the car with a mischievous smile on his face.

"You and father, I dunno who's more frustrating" Ryat said, and the guy chuckled as he walked towards him.

Landon South has been Ryat's best friend since young. A free spirited man who has lots of inheritance at his beck and call from his late father, but he hates hard work, so he works as Ryat's secretary for fun.

Also, his younger sister—Lia, is friends with Mandy—Ryat's younger sister.

"Don't you dare compare me with your control freak father, wanker. And the chic I saw running out of this park? If she's your doll for last night, then she's the prettiest of all the dolls you've been hiring, I mean it" Landon replied as he walked into the penthouse with Ryat whose right hand is in his pocket.

"I couldn't get her number, so just stop talking about her and let me relish in peace" Ryat replied.

"Is your father still hellbent on making you invest on the Chinese food brand? You even left the office in anger last night cos of it" Landon said as they rode the elevator.

"I'll do what I see fit, it's my company, not his" Ryat sternly replied, his mind swaying to Tiffany as her scent wafted into his nose again.

--

[Tiffany's House]

Coming down from the taxi in front of the apartment, Tiffany felt a different air graze her skin.

Last night, she did what she has never done before, and the fact that she's not regretting it made her feel at peace with herself.

Zach can go to hell. It's hightime she focuses better on her classes.

That might be hard to do since Zach is in that same faculty, but with Pascal and Yvonne, she'd scale it.

She brushed her hair behind her ear, the thought of the huge amount in her account making her smile as she opened the front door.

"Tiffany!!" Yvonne and Pascal stood from the center room couch with relief pasted on their faces.

"Guys" she blinked, remembering she actually left them in school last night.

They must have been so worried.

"Where did you go without your phone, we were just about to call the police!" Yvonne rushed over.

"Are you ok?" Pascal asked worriedly.

Before she could reply, Stella came inside from the backyard garden, and just like the friends, relief showed in her face.

She walked up to her and hit her hard on the arm.

"Mum!" Tiffany winced, rubbing the spot.

"Where were you all night? You left your phone with Yvonne and there was no way to contact you. Zach broke up? So what? He's not the only guy in the world you're too pretty to sink for him" Stella nagged.

"I wasn't harming myself last night, I promise. Look, I'm fine" Tiffany quickly turned around.

"And what's that redness on your neck?" Stella leaned closer.

"Is that an hickey?" Yvonne's eyes widened.

Tiffany quickly covered it with her palm, remembering Ryat had left that while pounding her last night.

The remembrance of his fierceness made her cheeks heat, and Pascal felt uneasy when he saw it.

"Ok...ok...our class starts by 10, I gotta go bath" Tiffany said, still covering her neck as she rushed inside.

Tiffany rushed after her.

"I'll make croissants and milk" Stella said, rolling her hair into a bun.

"Make for the girls, I'll go home to dress up, can't invade the girls privacy" Pascal said.

"See you around!" Stella watched him exit completely before entering the kitchen.

--

[Tiffany's Room]

The room is not as big or fancy as the rooms of girls her age, but at least... Tiffany keeps it clean and organized.

She has finished taking her bath, and right now Yvonne is inside the bathroom.

Tiffany sat in front of her vanity table, phone in hand.

She's currently on G****e, typing a name.

Ryat Briggs.

Everyone knows him, but only the fact that he's handsome, rich, and a sèx addict.

No one has ever talked about his age, which is why she took it upon herself to search, and when his age popped up on screen, she spranged up.

"28??"

The phone nearly fell from her since she's just 22.

"Oh my gawd...how come he has that well crafted attractive face? Christ" she dropped the phone and turned around, only to see Yvonne standing by the bathroom door.

She has been watching her.

"What really happened last night? Spill it, now!" She said.

"I fucked Ryat" Tiffany replied in a small voice, and Yvonne blinked.

"Ryat? Who the hell is tha—"

Yvonne's eyes suddenly popped, and she gasped.

"THE Ryat Briggs?" She said.

Tiffany nodded, and Yvonne went down straight, fainting dramatically.

"Yvonne!"

--

[Catalyst Investments]

Ryat had Landon arrived at the same time in different cars though.

Ryat dipped an hand in his pocket habitually, his face set like it does whenever he's in work mode like this.

Landon walked beside him, looking jovial as they both entered the skyscraper.

The staffs on every floor stood to their feet, greeting respectfully as they passed by.

The respect they accord for Ryat, they accord the same to Landon, and no one breaches that.

Their offices are just beside each other, and Landon works better and faster than a normal secretary does, reason why his friendship with Ryat kept deepening.

Each entered his office, and he wasn't surprised to meet the control-freak on seat, again.

Harvey Briggs, his father.

He's not alone though, he's with two representatives from the Chinese food brand.

"I take it that you were tired last night, reason why you walked out on me and left this office" Harvey said in a crooked voice.

His hair still dark—thanks to dye, and his posture is still straighter than straight despite his age.

"I wasn't tired of work, I was tired of you, and you just aren't getting it" Ryat replied, taking his seat.

"I can understand your fear, Mr. Ryat Briggs, but trust me, our brand will make you wish for more partnership if you work with us" one of the representatives spoke.

Ryat rested back on his swivel chair. "You don't get this, do you? I don't take anything imposed by my father, so there's no way I'm working with your brand no matter how genuine it looks. Try not to come through my father next time" he said, his dislike for Harvey showing in his voice.

"They're verified, Ryat. Bob invested on them last year and they're are topping the charts in the food section as we speak!" Harvey spat.

"I still don't care, father" Ryat insisted, and Harvey spranged up.

Before he could say another word, Landon entered the office.

"Time to go, sir" he said, pointing at the door.

The two representatives stood, both looking embarrassed.

Harvey looked at Landon, then at Ryat.

He left the office with fury and the representatives.

"Five stars" Ryat said.

"You can have a drink with me later to thank me" Landon winked, dropping some paperwork on his desk.

Ryat smiled as Landon exited the office too.

--

[Stanford University, Law Faculty]

"I wish the rest of this week never gets busy like this day, I'm so exhausted!" Yvonne yawned as she came out of the noon class with Tiffany and Pascal.

"I still don't understand how you're brilliant with this laziness" Pascal commented.

"Don't even start" Yvonne rolled eyes at him, and Tiffany chuckled, but the chuckle died when the bitçhes showed up in front of them.

Lia and Mandy.

"Well...guess who just became an ex too?" Mandy said tauntingly.

"Tiffany Roberts!" Lia shouted, and they both laughed with scorn.

"Welcome to the ex gang, Tiffany. He broke up with me to date you, and you were expecting a long-term commitment? You should be crowned the queen of fools cos Zach never dates for more than six months" Mandy said, her taunts continuing.

"Watch your mouth, Mandy" Pascal spoke calmly.

"Or what?" Mandy raised her shoulders.

Yvonne made to step in, but Tiffany stopped her, then she stepped in instead.

"He broke up with me, and you don't see me crying about it, so why are you the one doing the cry?" She said, adjusting her suit charismatically.

"What!" Mandy's face squeezed.

She clearly wasn't expecting that comeback.

"Stop crying around on my behalf, it's pathetic" Tiffany said smugly, and Yvonne bursted into laughter.

"You poor rat!" Mandy raised her hand on Tiffany for a slap, but someone held it back.