Ryan had asked for his spare clothes to be sent over to Mia's room so that he too could freshen up.

      "So you don't remember a thing from last night too?" Mia asked him. She sat on her bed dressed in a little black dress while Ryan sat, facing her. They were both eating fries from the same plate on the bed.

      "Not everything." He thew a piece into his mouth.

     "Don't you have something else to do? Like work?"

     "I do."

     "Then why are you here?"

    "To spend more time with you. I told you I have a gift for you, but you snubbed me." Ryan said to her.

     "Don't see it that way. I just needed to clear my head from a lot of stuff." Mia told him.

   "What," he carried the plate, settling it down on a table. "Kind of stuff?" Ryan asked, going into the bathroom to wash off his hands. 

     "Plenty kinds of stuff." Mia stood up to join him.

      "Come on Universe, tell me." He said to her.

      They both went back to the bed, sitting, facing each other.

       "Okay. You know how I feel about two of us right? The thing is I wanted to forget about you and move on. So I... Kinda started seeing someone." Mia bit her lip.

      "What do you mean by seeing someone? " Ryan frowned.

    "No. Not seeing seeing. It's not like he and I are dating or something, I did it to keep my mind off you. Do you understand?"

     "Who is he?" Ryan didn't look happy at all.

     "It's David. But I—" she is cut off. 

     "David?!" Ryan's nostrils flared up.

    "Hey hey," Mia moved closer, kneeling in front of him. "It's not what you think. He's just a friend and I've made it clear to him." She placed her hands on his shoulders.

     "Did he touch you?"

    "No I —"

        "Did he kiss you?"

    "Kiss?! No, What are you talking about?" Mia frowned.

     "Good." In a swift moment, he had his hands on her waist and flipped her over. Mia laid on the bed, while he hovered over her.

     "What is it?" Mia asked him.

   "Please don't go out with David. I don't want you to do that." Ryan pleaded to her. He was dangerously close to her face, with his legs trapping Mia between his thighs.

    Mia caressed his face. "Then how do I forget you?" She whispered, locking her eyes with his.

     "Don't." He leaned in, kissing her in a slow pace.

     Mia wrapped a hand behind his hair, gripping it and pulling him. His weight pressed on her, he propped up his hands on the bed so that he wouldn't suffocate or crush her. Ryan pulled her up to lean on the headboard to give her a more comfortable position, gathering three pillows and placing them behind her. After that, he gently pushed her down back and now she was elevated. 

     He didn't break their intense making out as he did all that. He began trailing wet kisses from her mouth down her neck, leaving her breathless. He finally got to her sensitive skin just before her collarbone.

     "Are you okay?" He asked quietly when he heard her whimper.

  "Y-yes." Mia managed to speak.

    He grabs her legs, and wrapped them around his hips. He kissed her shoulder while she closed her eyes because every touch and kiss was driving her crazy. She couldn't think clearly, she was on cloud nine.

      "R-Ryan?" She whispered panting softly.

      "What is it sweetheart?" He murmured against her skin.

      She shuddered when he kissed her sensitive skin. "Arewegonnahavesexrightnow?" She said so quickly that her voice almost failed her.

     Ryan pulled away to look at her. As soon as he did that, she groaned because she didn't like that he stopped.

     He wanted to ignore what she said, but then every word she said finally arranged in his head. "Am I moving too fast? Did I scare you? I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to—" He panicked, but when he tried to move, Mia stopped him. She wrapped her arms around his neck.

    "No no, it's not that." She pulled him closer, giving him a gentle peck on the lips. "I don't want it here, right now. Not in this cheap hotel." Mia chuckled and Ryan smiled. "The real reason is I'm not ready. It's not you, God knows I want you but I have this phobia." Mia sighed... "I know, I know, it's a very lame excuse but that's how I feel."

         Ryan smiled... "I respect whatever you say and I will never do anything you don't consent to."

     Mia smiled, kissing him while he kissed back. Their making out session heated as he began to sensually rub up and down her smooth delicate thighs.

      "I told you I won't do anything without your consent." Ryan said while showering her with his kisses. "I wanna try something," he inched away as his hand slipped further into her dress. "Do you trust me?" His eyes darkened with lust.

     Mia bit her lip and slowly nodding while looking at him.

     "No baby," he gave her a quick kiss on the lips and inched away, looking deep into her eyes. "I want you to say it." Ryan said to her.

     Mia's breathing picked up as she felt his fingers between her legs, touching, caressing, fondling her. "Ye-yes."

   She wrapped her hand tighter around his neck when she felt a pool of wetness spread around her panties as Ryan touched her.

      "I would never hurt you, because I love you." Ryan crashed his lips on her again.

      She gasped and then moaned softly as her body reacted to what Ryan started doing.
......................................................
     "Mia?" Julia touched Mia who was busy daydreaming. They were both seated on the plane back to New York. 

     "Huh?" Mia turned to her.

    "I called your name like four times, you didn't answer. You just keep looking at the window and blushing. What's up with you?" Julia gave her a questioning look.

    "Nothing. I'm just happy that we're going home." Mia gave her a smile.

     "Is that it?" Julia asked.

    "Of course that's it." Mia rolled her eyes.

     "Okay. You know, I was thinking. You should tell Mrs Van that you really loved my help and—"

  Mia chuckled... "You did most of the work Julia. I'm not planning on taking any credit so don't worry, I'm gonna tell Mrs V that everything was all your idea." She nodded. Mia knew that most times, the seniors always took credit for what the juniors do. 

      "Thank you so much!" Julia was so happy.

       "Then again, please don't tell Mrs V I stayed drunk throughout the event, worse, I didn't show up." Mia told her.

     "Don't you worry. I won't." Julia told her, grinning.

      Mia turned back to the window. She couldn't stop thinking about the things she did with Ryan, she could still feel the impact of what happened.

     No doubt she loved it!

    She wanted more and more!

   She wanted him. She really did.

   Since it was the first time in years she'd felt what she was feeling, she wanted it to last. She really liked Ryan a lot but where was their relationship leading to? Mia didn't know. But she wanted it to last. At least he made her feel happy and wanting, unlike what Ares made her feel.
✴✴✴✴✴

     Hours later, Mia got to her apartment. She was tired and exhausted. Mia noticed some of Andrew's works in the living room which meant Andrew was around somewhere, she decided to check him in his room and just when she did that, she walked in on Andrew and some other guy. They were having sex.

   "Jesus Andrew! Lock the damn door will you?!" Mia groaned, slamming the door shut.

     "What happened to knocking?!"

     She heard Andrew yell from his room.

      "Stupid idiot." Mia rolled her eyes and walked straight to her room. Taking her time to undress, her phone rang. It was Ryan calling. Mia bit her lip to prevent her smile from widening.

     "Universe. How are you? Are you home already?" His smooth sexy voice could even turn her on.

     "I just got home. You?" Mia asked.

     "Not yet. I still have meetings to attend."

     "Don't stress yourself okay? Don't over do it. If you need a break, take one." She couldn't help but say.

    "Is this you being worried for me?" Ryan said in his cocky voice.

   Nobody needed to tell her, she knew he was smirking right then. "Of course, I care about you."

     "Do you now?"

    "I do." Mia giggled.

  "I miss you already, do you know that? I miss you so much."

        "I miss you too." God, she was becoming a softie! But who cares!!!  "Maybe, if you're less busy, we could go out sometime."

     "Like a date?"

    "Not a date." She shrugged. "A friendly outing."

   "Okay, I'm game." Mia could hear some muffling sounds in the background. "Universe, let's talk later. I have a meeting now."

     "Okay." Mia nodded with a smile.

    "Bye."

       "Bye." She said and he hung up. Mia pressed her lips together, as happiness filled her whole body.

     After a while, Andrew entered her room while she's on the bed, working on her laptop.

   "So you're back." Andrew smiled, walking towards a seat.

    "So you're sexing men again, great." Mia said sarcastically, giving him a dry laugh.

    "You make me sound like a whore." Andrew scoffed, taking a seat.

     "My goodness Andrew," Mia looked at Andrew. "Can you at least be locking the door? It's not healthy walking in on you while you're at it. Please?"

     "Fine fine. Anyway so tell me, how was your trip to Seattle?" Andrew asked her.

    "It was just like any other event." Her hand rubbed the back of her neck. "No drama. Just normal. Except I met some of the DeLucas."

  Andrew raised a brow... "Am I supposed to know who those are?"

    "Doesn't the name ring any bell?" Mia asked him.

      "No." He shook his head. "None at all."

    "I met Ares, Ares DeLuca."

   Andrew's eyes widened... "No kidding."

      She nodded... "Mmhmm."
 
    "No shit! What did he say? Did you guys talk?" Andrew was curious to know.

     "He wish. He's still an asshole. Still thinking he's the greatest thing that has happened since Lee min-ho. Such a jerk! As much as I hate to admit it, he still bothers me." Mia frowned, looking worried.

    "Why is that?"

       Mia bit her lip as she was nervous. "Because he knows. Ares knows that..."
.....................................................

    Mia sat behind her desk scrolling through her laptop. "What do you think about this design? Is it classic enough?" Mia asked Julia was was standing beside her.

    "Don't you think we should go for monochrome? I'm just saying." Julia suggested.

    "Yeah, I think you're right. Monochrome is better." Mia agreed to her idea.

   Leah, the new front desk lady appeared in front of Mia. "This came in for you Mia."

    Mia looked up at her, glancing at the big white envelope in Leah's hand. "Me? O-okay." She collected the envelope. "Thanks." Mia smiled at Leah. "Julia, why don't you check out designs that could match this monochrome theme." Mia said to her.

    "Sure." Julia picked up Mia's laptop from the desk, going straight to her own desk.

     Mia opened the envelope. looking in, she found some documents inside. "What's this?" She slowly pulled out a paper to read the content. That's when her heart dropped. "Certificate of ma—SHIT!" She shouted in disbelief.

     Everyone looked at her because of her sudden outburst.

    "Is... Everything okay?" Julia asked.

      Mia ignored her, frantically pulling out other papers. "No no no no no. This can't be, this can't be." She went through all the papers that said Mia Simpsons Webster. She was married to Ryan Webster?!

    "Is something wrong?" Julia asked.

    Mia stood up quickly, placing the papers into the envelope. "You tell Mrs V that there was an emergency, and I had to leave." She grabbed her bag and headed for the door.

   Mia rushed out of the office, heading out.

     "Where are you going? And what's the rush?" Danny asked Mia.

     "Can't talk right now!" Mia ran on heels, racing out of the building. "Taxi! Taxi!" She flagged down the first empty cab she saw and immediately got into the backseat of the cab. She placed her phone over her ear... Trying to call Ryan. She was in a whole lot of panic and was gonna go crazy if no one explained what was happening.

    Ryan wasn't picking his calls. They hadn't really seen each other but chatted. It's just been two days after the meeting at Seattle, and now something more crazy pops up?!

      "Dammit!" Mia groaned as she tried calling him almost eight times. Then she decided to call Olivia. Good thing Olivia picked up immediately.

    "Hello Olivia!"

      "Oh Mia. Haven't heard from you in a while. What's up?"

     "Great great! Is Ryan with you? I can't seem to get hold of him." Mia said to Olivia.

     "Is that so? My boss isn't in the office right now, he's at home. Do you need something because you sound a bit different."

    "It's nothing. Thanks anyway." Mia hung up. "I'm totally screwed." She pulled on her hair.

   The taxi had finally arrived at a private residence.

      "This is my final stop. I don't think I can go further." The driver told her.

     "It's fine." She brought out a few cash from her purse and handed it over to the man.

    "Ma'am, this is too much." He said to her.

    "Isn't this your lucky day." She opened the door. "Keep the change!" Mia got out of the car, running towards the huge gold and silver door.

   "Who are you? State your purpose?" The huge mean looking besuited man said to her in a frightening tone.

     "I'm looking—"

   "This is private property. You should leave." The other security guard who was not any friendlier spoke. There were four of them at the gate.

     "Okay, I am just—"

   "What business do you have here? Do you have your silver card with you?" Another intimidating security guard said.

     "I'm Mia Simpsons and—"

   "She's wasting our time. Leave before we drag you out."

     "Arrgh!!!" Mia groaned out loud. "At least let me finish!" She yelled at them with all frustration.

    "Speak." The first man said to her.

    "Okay. Thank you. You see, it's urgent I speak with your boss, Ryan, Ryan Webster. Is there anyway I could get past to talk to him, or if you want, you can call him and tell him Mia Simpsons is here to see him?" Mia's eyes begged.

     "That's not how we work Miss. We need to be told before hand that our boss is expecting a guest. Sorry, we can't call him. I don't think he can spare time for someone like you." The mean man said.

    "Hold on, what do you mean someone like me? Is that supposed to be an insult?" Mia glared at him.

     "Insult or no insult, I think you need to leave." He told her.

    "What is wrong with you people?!" Mia threw her hands up. Taking out her phone, she decided to call Ryan again, but he still didn't pick. "Ryan please don't do this to me." She said trying to call the number.

    "You should leave." One of the men stepped in front of her.

    "Whatever! I'm leaving." Mia turned to leave just when a car was about drive in. Then it stopped, lowering the front seat window.

    "Miss Mia?" She frowned at Mia. It was Tara, the caretaker.

    Mia looked at Tara and blinked... She didn't think the lady would recognize her after weeks. But, thank God.

     "Hey!" Mia totally didn't remember Tara's name. "Boy am I glad to see you!" Mia went up to meet her.

    "What are you doing here?" Tara asked.

    "I need to see Ryan and those security guards won't let me. Please, it's urgent. I really need to speak with Ryan, he's home right?"

   Tara smiled... "Hop on in."

   "Really?! Oh thank you thank you!!" Mia's face lit up ad she leaned over, giving Tara a quick peck on the cheek.

    Tara blushed hard.

    Mia ran over to the passenger seat still thanking Tara. "Thank you so much. You're an angel! The security guards would not let me through," she slammed the door shut after taking her seat beside Tara. "Thank you for not forgetting my name or face, I don't know what I would have done and Ryan wasn't picking his phone." Mia looked at Tara as she drove inside, past the gate. "I'm really sorry, I can't remember your name." Mia couldn't stop rambling on and on.

     Tara chuckled... "It's Tara."

    "I know I'm talking too much, but thank you so much Tara. I owe you two." Mia said to her with heart felt gratitude.

    "It must be really urgent, what you want to see my boss for?" She glanced at Mia.

    "It is." Mia nodded, clutching the envelope on her chest.