Chapter 5
288 Vouchers
Ryan had no problem being the one to make the first move.
So for the next few days, we had dinner together almost every night.
Sometimes, if he had time after the meal, he’d even go shopping with me. With him by my side, I got way more looks than usual.
Afterward, he’d drive me home–and somehow, like magic, he always had a gift waiting in the car.
Sometimes it was a limited–edition designer bag, sometimes a high–end piece of jewelry straight from an auction.
At first, I didn’t dare accept any of it. But he looked unusually serious.
“Ms. Sanchez, if we’re in the getting–to–know–each–other phase, then that means I’m pursuing you.
“Gifts and everything else that’s part of what I should be doing.
“And it’s all well within what I can afford.
“If you don’t accept it, I’ll take it as you rejecting me.” Then he lowered his gaze. “Unless… is that what you really mean?”
The look of disappointment on his face left me speechless.
So I ended up carrying bag after bag home, living every day like I was getting knocked out by money.
Still, it didn’t sit right with me–just taking all his gifts.
So today, before our dinner, I headed to a department store early to give him something in return.
But after wandering around forever, I couldn’t find a single thing Ryan might actually need.
In the end, I went with a tie from one of the brands he wore often- simple, versatile, something I figured would suit him.
Right as I was paying and getting it wrapped, a cold chuckle came from behind me.
“Odette, done with the drama yet?”
My body tensed the second I heard that voice. I knew it all too well.
It was Timothy.
I turned and saw him standing at the entrance with a few of his guys, casually tilting his chin at me like he had all the time in the world.
I didn’t bother giving him a second glance. I just turned back and waited for the clerk to finish wrapping the gift.
But they didn’t let it go.
“Hey, assistant! Buying something? Isn’t that a man’s tie? Picking something out for Tim?”
“That color totally matches Tim’s suit today. You really put thought into it!”
“But after the way you threw a fit, a tie might not be enough to fix things…”
All their teasing chatter faded as Timothy let out a cold snort.
“Who needs a tie…
“But if you apologize properly, I’ll let you off the hook.”
His voice made my skin crawl. I didn’t even look at him.
“I already quit. I’m Odette now, not his assistant anymore.
“And this isn’t for Timothy. So, how about you don’t insert yourselves?”
That wiped the grins off their faces fast. Even Timothy’s expression darkened.
He stared at me for a long moment. “Are you done playing around yet?
“Come on, Odette. I’m running out of patience.” Then he sneered at the tie that the clerk had just finished wrapping. “A man’s tie. Who else would you give that to?”
I paid, took the box, and said calmly, “My blind date. Is that okay with you?”
His eyes narrowed. “Didn’t you say you weren’t going on that date?”
I picked up the gift and turned to leave. “I changed my mind.”
Timothy’s voice dropped, icy and condescending. “Who?”
I paused at the store exit, then looked over my shoulder and said, clear as day, “Ryan Harland.”
The silence was instant. His little entourage stopped smirking. One of them even choked on his gum.
And then came the laughter–low, disbelieving, ugly.
“Ryan Harland?” one of them scoffed. “The Ryan Harland? CEO of Harland Group? The ruthless billionaire bachelor of the year?”
“Odette.” Timothy’s tone turned venomous. “Using another man to piss me off is just–pathetic.
“And if you’re gonna lie, at least make it believable.”
