"That hurt my pride. I was only trying to assist you." Ryan said softly.

     "I-I didn't mean to make you feel that way." Mia said quietly. "I'm sorry." She apologized with her heart. 

    Ryan smiled... "I can't stay mad at you." Ryan took her hair away from her face, taking them to her back. "You look beautiful universe."

   Mia blushed. "Thanks."

   Ryan gently pulled her closer, and leaned forward. He inched closer to her lips.

    Mia's heart was about to explode as Ryan inched forward. He was gonna kiss her.. Again? Why did he make her feel so gullible?

   He pressed his lips against hers, slipping his hand into her hair. "Kiss me. Kiss me baby." He whispered against her lips.

   His voice was very demanding and sultry to her ears that Mia felt like drowning. At this time she closed her eyes, yielding to temptation as she placed her hand on his chest. She opened her mouth and let his tongue in. Ryan pulled her closer, kissing her deeply and intensely. Their mouth danced together in a rhythm, they were both lost in their own world.
   Her stomach was feeling weird, her whole body felt electrified, as if she couldn't stop. It felt so right and familiar, like her body had missed him. Her body would have pulled back but her mind and heart kept controlling.
    
    Ryan didn't plan on letting her go. He felt what he hadn't felt in years... Peace... Instant bliss. He didn't want to stop, he wanted her body and soul.

    They broke apart leaning against their foreheads, panting for air.

    When their rugged breathing had lessened, Ryan spoke quietly. "I love you universe, you don't know how much."

   Mia smiled... "I love you too." She kissed him back again...

     His hand reached for her back, unzipping her gown............

    He felt a sharp pain on his arm and that's when he opened his eyes. He'd just realized that he had been dreaming all along...

    Mia glanced at him after she had elbowed him in his arm. "I'm sorry I had to do that but you were gibbering nonsense in your sleep." Mia said to him.

    Ryan frowned... Why did she have to wake him up when his dream was getting better?!

    Mia pointed to his pants... "Look, seems like you peed on yourself." Mia said to him.

    Ryan looked down at his pants and saw the wet stain around his groin... "What the..." Ryan's hands flew to cover it. He was completely embarrassed. 

     Mia looked away, suppressing her laughter. "Looks like your dream was kind of kinky." She said to herself but loud enough for Ryan to hear her. 

   Ryan cussed, taking out his phone. "Head home." He spoke, with his phone over his head.

    Mia turned to him, arching her brows. "Head home? What home?"

   Ryan placed his phone into his pocket. "Change of plans universe. We're going home. As in my house." 

    "For what?" Mia frowned at him.

   "Something came up." Ryan had no other excuse. He needed to change his pants.

    "What?" Mia asked.

   "Don't ask." Ryan hadn't looked at her.

   "What do you mean don't ask?" Mia raised her voice a bit. "Where are you taking me? How am I sure you're not kidnapping me so that you could kill me?!" She gasped. "Ryan!"

    "Hey hey hey, lower your voice okay?" Ryan looked at her. "What's with you? Why want to kill you when I know that if I touch you, you're gonna break my arm or fingers. Stop being delusional." Ryan was clearly not in the mood for her nagging and bickering.

    "Don't give me that look." She folded her arms over her chest. "I don't trust you at all. For all I know, you might want to take me away."

    Ryan gave her a deadly look. "You don't trust me? After everything? I thought we were past that."

   Mia noticed the angry rise in his tone... Was he getting upset?   "Why are you talking to me like that? I didn't say anything wrong." Mia glared at him.

    Ryan closed his eyes. Why was it only in dreams that he connected with Mia? She was always ruining the mood. "Do you want to come with me or not?" Ryan said, opening his eyes.

   "What?" Mia blinked.

    "Do you want to come with me or would you like for me to drop you at the next bus stop?" Ryan asked her. He didn't want it to seem like he was pushing for her to join him.

    Mia narrowed her eyes at him..."Is that your way of saying I should leave you the fuck alone? If you don't want me here there's no use pretending to want me. Drop me at the next bus stop."

   Ryan groaned... "Why do you always misinterpret everything I tell you? You're so complicated and judgmental! I want you here, beside me. But you, you don't tell me what you want. You just try to manipulate me and make me feel guilty. I don't know if you want to leave or stay, if you're upset or just pretending to be. Mia I'm trying to get you! I'm trying my best to understand you, can you at least give me a little hope?" Ryan had to say his mind. Of course he hadn't expected her to change suddenly but he assumed now that she knew about his feelings for her, she would change her mind about him. Even a little bit. 

   Mia stared at him. She was dumbfounded and no words could form on her lips.

   "You're quiet now. What does that mean?" Ryan asked her.

   Mia lowered her gaze. "I don't know what to say to you." She said quietly. "You want to know me?" She looked up and held his gaze.

    "I do. I want to understand you." Ryan nodded.

    "Okay." She shrugged, leaning against the seat. "If you want to understand you have to watch me. You don't expect me to tell you everything about me, do you? You have to observe." Mia had a small smile on her face while she looked at Ryan who wasn't expecting her to say what she said.

     "You want me to observe you?" He asked for confirmation.

    "If I tell you about me, I will definitely lie to you. Maybe if you see me for my true self then you'll know more about me Mr Webster. It's not easy to unlock my heart but you can try." Mia nodded. Ryan was definitely gonna give up because all men eventually do, she just wears them out and they leave on their own.

   Although, it made her wonder why David was still unto her when he had lots and lots of unfinished business with ladies.

    Ryan admired her because she wasn't like any other he's met. Normally, he didn't move a muscle to get any girl he wanted. They all flocked around him. She wanted him to know her by watching her so that when he got tired he'd quit.

    "Okay then." Ryan nodded and smiled at her. "Then come with me, we'll go to my house together. We won't stay long because I know you might get a nervous breakdown."

    Mia chuckled quietly... "Fine. I'll come with you. But I have questions? Do you live alone?" She was gonna have to ask in case he wanted to trap her.

    "I have my cousins over. They are only teenagers, girls." Ryan answered.

    "Does your girlfriend live with you?" Mia asked him.

    "She does. But she's out of the country, for now." Ryan told her. "I have other staffs so we're not gonna be alone if that's what you're worried about." Of course, it was easy to read her mind when it came to perverted things. He knew Mia was concerned about both of them being alone in the house.

    "Great." She nodded. She was satisfied with his answers. "Just making sure."
✴✴✴✴

   They barely said anything until they got to the gates of Ryan's 50 million dollar mansion.

   Mia watched as the massive gates in color silver and gold opened, the sight that welcomed her was more than an eye-catching. The dark shaded side windows were lowered enabling Mia get a better and clearer view of the surroundings... She had never seen anything like it before!

    Looking outside the window, she admired the large beautiful landscape of property. There were big trees, skillfully trimmed bushes, ponds. There was a very huge fountain placed, indicating a roundabout. There were some remarkable sculptures, definitely crafted by talented hands.

    Mia's had her jaw down throughout. The car approached the three storey building, painted in all white.

     "Universe?" Ryan called her attention.

   It took a while before Mia turned to him. "What is it?" She asked him.

    "Let's go?" He arched his brow, gesturing her to leave.

  Mia looked around and finally noticed the car had stopped moving and had parked at the entrance of the house. She was caught up staring at the wonderful sight that she didn't notice they had stopped.

    "Oh." Mia nodded, getting off.

    Ryan reached out for her hand to help and she gladly placed her hand in his. "Careful. Watch your step." He assisted her. 

    "Thank you." Mia thanked him as she straightened her gown. Her eyes gazed at the house, scrutinizing every inch of the front.

   "Do you wanna sight-see?" Ryan asked watching her curious eyes.

    Mia turned to him. "It is a beautiful house."

   "That isn't the answer to my question." Ryan scoffed at her.

    "We'll sight-see next time. I want to get to the Foundation before it's late." Mia told him.

     "Is that a yes if I invited you over?" Ryan anticipated her reply. His eyes were brighter than usual and Mia was quick to notice.

    "Why would you want to invite me over? Are you having a celebration? Party?" Mia asked him.

    "Can't I invite you over without having a party?" Ryan frowned.

    "Why?" Mia folded her arms over her chest. "Do you always ask people working for you to come over to your house for none business related meetings?"

   "Why do you always ask WHY? Can't you just say YES, SURE, GLADLY, ABSOLUTELY, I WOULD LOVE TO." Ryan said to her.

   "I'm always curious. But don't worry, I'll think about your offer because..." Mia looked at the tall and huge mahogany door. "I'm in love with the house already." She said in a hushed voice.

    Ryan finally smiled. "Why don't we go in first." He said to her.

    They both walked towards the door. Ryan placed his hand a handprint scanner and the door clicked open.

   "Cool." Mia said staring at handprint scanner.

   Things got even better when she entered! The entrance hall was bigger than anything she'd seen except in hotels and resorts, there was a big wide sculptural staircase. In the entry, sculptural Murano chandelier hung like an ornament is reflected in a mid-century Jansen mirror. The whole wall is painted in a shade of platinum. Paintings with gold frames aligned as the stairs ascended.

    The pure white marble flooring looked impeccable as they shimmered, reflecting the crystal chandelier and fancy lights above the high rising ceiling. 

    "Welcome home sir." Tara, the caretaker had arrived as soon she heard the beeping.

    Anytime someone entered the house, there's an ephemeral beeping that echoes in the house to enable people in the house to know that someone had just entered.

     "Tara." Ryan nodded courteously.

   Tara glanced at Mia who was busy scanning the hall with great astonishment. She wondered who it could be as her boss never brought female companions into the mainhouse– not even business partners except Olivia.

   Ryan had seen Tara looking at Mia with a confused face. "Tara." He called her attention.

    "Sir?" The middle aged woman looked at him.

     "Please show Mia to the living room." Ryan gave her an order.

   Mia heard her name and her neck snapped forward. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't see you walk in." Mia apologized quickly. "Good afternoon madam." She greeted politely.

    "Call me Tara." Tara smiled at her.

   "Go with her, whatever you need just ask her. I won't be gone long, hmm?" Ryan said, looking at her.

     "Okay." Mia nodded. "Don't take too long." She felt goosebumps rise on her skin as she was getting colder. The whole place was fully air-conditioned and cold.

   "I just said I won't." Ryan sighed. He glanced at Tara. "Give her access to everything, If she wants to." He noticed the faint glint of surprise on Tara's face but it faded as quickly as it came. "It's okay." He gave Tara an assuring look.

     He then turned back to Mia, leaning close to her ear. "Don't break anything sweetheart." Ryan whispered against her ear.

    Mia elbowed him in the rib. "I won't touch your stuff." She said huffily.

    Ryan leaned away. "Can't you do without hitting me? I'm too delicate." He gave her a weird look.

     Mia smirked and then teased him... "Delicate? Where?" Mia glanced down at his groin area.

    "What do you mean— Mia? Are you crazy?! How can you say that in front of..." He looked at Tara who faced away immediately.

     "It's your fault. You're turning me into you." Mia pouted like a baby.

    "Please take her away." He said to Tara. His cheeks heated, turning him pink. 

     "You're blushing. Awwwn, you look cute." Mia grinned, pulling on his cheeks playfully.

    "Stop." Ryan took away her hands. Dammit!! Mia was making him look like an idiot in front of Tara!! This never happened before.

    "In order to save you from more humiliation, I think I'll just go with Tara." She said, standing on her toes to whisper into his ear. "Hurry up! We don't have all day." Mia said to him while joining Tara.

      "This way please." Tara led her away. Mia smiled to herself.

     Ryan watched Mia leave with Tara, he just couldn't get over the fact that Mia could actually tease and make it seem hilarious. He couldn't even be mad at her for disregarding that someone was with them. Mia was changing him faster than he could believe.
✴✴✴✴✴

   Mia was led into the big living room. The whole place looked like she had just walked into a living room in Buckingham Palace, as everything was styled in a Victorian decor. Anything she laid her eyes on screamed expensive!

    "Do you need anything Miss Mia?" Tara gave a friendly smile.

   "Mia. Mia would be fine. There's no need for any formality." Mia smiled back. "And no, I don't need anything thank you." Mia shook her head.

    "Okay. In case you need something, I'll be right down the hallway. Excuse me." Tara said before disappearing from Mia's sight.

    Mia sat down on the Burgundy colored couch, scanning the whole place. Her house in Italy wasn't nearly big as Ryan's, there were also different paintings and pictures hung around every wall.

   He must have a great flair for paintings and drawings. She thought. But then again, the whole house was dangerously quiet that if a pin dropped she would hear it, it made Mia wonder why it was as silent as a graveyard.
✴✴✴✴
   
      Ryan paced around his room with an unclear mind. He hadn't changed his outfit yet, he was just only thinking about what Mia could be up to.

    He sighted a picture frame of Layla on the vanity table and his eyes saddened. Slowly, he picked it up. It was a smiling Layla looking as gorgeous as ever in a ruffle orange off-the-shoulder dress.

    Layla was a part of his life, his present life. She gave him comfort and what they shared was more like a mutual understanding. Ryan wondered how she managed to cope with him for the two years they've been together, she was always so obedient, she never questioned him about any decision he took, she never meddled with his business, she was supportive and ever ready to listen. Layla was a good girl, beautiful inside and out, Ryan was glad he met her. She even loved his cousins.

     She was gonna make a fine wife material for someone someday, he just wasn't that someone. Ryan made sure to tell her that he didn't want a serious relationship from the onset, and she agreed to keep it as 'no strings attached'. Now that he had met someone else who had him captivated without even blinking, he couldn't hurt Layla. It would kill him if he did. Layla was also important to him as he had connected with her in the past two years, he had a penchant for her.

     He wasn't gonna lie to himself, he was in love with someone who happens to have the face of his first love. She might sound crazy at times, she might be judgmental, she might be an angry bird? She could even kill a person– literally, but she was a pure, rare soul, she was warming, she made him smile and do things he never thought he could do, she pushes him off his limits!!

     It was only Mia. Mia was the one turning his life upsidedown... He wasn't backing out, he wanted to explore because he was in love with her. Just her.