Ryan's phone on his desk rang and he picked it up, taking the call.
"Speak!" He said in a calm tone but quite enough to send chills down the other person.
"Mr. Han, I sent some files to your email. Please do check them, sir" the man at the other end, his secretary said. A secretary who has never seen his boss.
"How many did you send?" Ryan asked
"About five, sir" he replied.
"Any news about my goods on sea?"
"I-it's still on its way sir"
Ryan clenched his jaws "How long would would it take?"
"I...I don't know, sir" he stuttered, feeling tensed like Ryan was in front of him.
"Get off my phone" Ryan say sternly and dropped his phone by the side, massaging his temples. He checked his email on his laptop and printed the files. He went back to his seat, reading each file carefully.
A knock came on his door, but he was too busy to reply. The second one came which he found disturbing.
"Come in" he said lazily and the door opened. Arianna walked in with his tea in hand, but his eyes never left the files. So he never knew it was her.
Arianna placed the cup on his desk "Mr. Han, your tea" she said.
"Yes, thank you" he said without looking at her. Her voice rang in his ears again and that was when it dawned on him, it wasn't Zariel.
He blinked twice, lifting his eyes to look at her, he blinked again. He turned his head to the door, then back at her.
"Was it you who walked through that door?" he pointed at it.
Arianna turned to the door, then back at him "Yes" she replied
"Why are you the one bringing my tea?" he demanded
"Ms. Jung was busy so she asked me to bring it" she replied.
Ryan looked at her for a while before facing his work. Shouldn't be say 'leave' already?
Since she wasn't hearing anything from him, she walked to a couch and sat down. Well he didn't ask her to leave, so she has to make herself comfortable. She sat there, watching him work. Only the sound of papers and pen scribbling on them was heard. Why is it so quiet? It's so boring to be in here. And the man in question wouldn't ask her to leave.
Heaving a sigh, she began "Mr. Han, I wanted to ask.... Why have you made me your mistress?"
Ryan lifted his eyes slowly and looked at her. He wasn't expecting her to ask that.
"As far as I know, I'm not pretty, I don't have money, and I'm definitely not your type. So why..."
"You're pretty" Ryan said, cutting her off, and she blinked. He found her pretty? Wow! But his next words shocked her.
"But not enough to attract me. So you're not at all beautiful" he said and continued on the files.
Arianna frowned when he said that, pouting her lips in anger. How can he raised her hopes and shatter it like that?
"Well since you're not attracted by me, can I get a boyfriend?" She blurted, blinking seriously at him.
Ryan lifted his cold deathly eyes to her and she shrank in her seat.
"Why would you want a boyfriend?" He asked sternly.
"It's... it's my right" she replied.
"As what?"
"As a grown up" she replied, not wanting to look at him.
Ryan scoffed at that. A grown up? Really? "You have no right to do that as long as you're here. And if you feel you can do whatever you like, consider yourself dead as well as him" he said menacingly. Then flashed a deadly smile.
Arianna gulped. Is he being possessive right now?
"Yes, I understand" she said.
After a while she came up with another. "Do you have any friends, Mr Han?"
"I do not a need a friend" he said.
"Why? Everyone needs a friend"
"Well I'm not everyone" he said.
"Why don't you have a friend?" She asked.
Ryan looked at her "Not everyone would accept me for who I really am."
"An angel in disguise" she exclaimed, almost in a whisper.
"I told you...I am no angel" why is she still saying that?
"Is that for real?" She placed her head on her palm "You protected me twice" she showed her both fingers.
"Everyone should have a friend. Even you should have one..."
"Aria, I'm busy" he yelled in calm tone. Hearing him say that, her heart skipped a beat. How she so long for someone to call her way. Too bad, her friends never did, thinking it would dampen her mood.
"Mr. Han, could you... please call me that way again?"
"Huh?" Ryan was at loss of words.
"Just once...say my name like you did before" she said, like a child begging to snuggle with his mother.
Ryan gazed at her, wondering.
"Please..." She said in a whisper "Just once"
"Aria..." he said after a moment of silence, scrutinizing her face. Her lashes fluttered the moment she heard her name. It sounds so nice coming from someone else as well. She cupped her cheeks, gazing at him.
"Let's be friends" she blurted with a smile. "Friends?" Ryan said with a chuckle.
"Yes" she nodded "You and I" she smiled that her eyes turnrd crescents.
Ryan stared into empty space. He was smiling but his eyes retained that look of solemnity. Then..."No" came out of his mouth, and he went back to his papers.
"No?!" She exclaimed in shock "No? Why?!" She is actually giving him an open chance of being friends. And he's rejecting it? Like seriously?!
"Have you suddenly forgotten what you are?" He asked, with eyes on the paper.
"Huh?"
He lifted his eyes to her "You're my mistress, Aria. Don't ever forget that. And you should act like one also"
Arianna turned her face to the other side, her hand covering her mouth, she blinked repeatedly. He thinks of her as his mistress? For real? Does that mean...
"Leave" she heard, putting an end to her thoughts.
"Pardon?"
"Leave I said" Ryan repeated.
"Okay" she stood up and walked out briskly.
*....*.....*.....*...*...*...*...*...*.....*
Hayden stood in front of a painting when Shin woo walked to him.
"What do you think of this painting?" He asked, noticing his presence.
"It's natural" Shin woo replied "It gives warmth and relaxation. Did you paint this?"
"I did" Hayden replied "Do you think the chairman would like it?"
"It's not about the chairman. It's about the CEO."
"I want it to be part of the next auction. If the CEO doesn't like it then..."
"Relax" he cut him off "If he doesn't, the chairman might. So be positive."
"Hey! The chairman is here" someone said to them.
"Okay. Shall we go?" Shin woo asked his friend
"Hmm" he took the painting with him and they left.
*...*....*....*....*....*
" Hello Chairman Park"
"Hello Chairman Park" everyone greeted, bowing in unison.
Leonel took his seat, crossing his legs "Director Wang" he called sternly.
"Yes, Chairman" he answered with lowered head.
"Do I need to arrive here first before you call and give report?" His voice was so cold, frightening the director. And sending shivers down the others.
"No, sir" he replied
"So why haven't I gotten any report from you?"
"Well..the thing is... We were busy arranging for the exhibition. The paintings are ready, sir" Wang Dong-sik replied, being careful with his words to not provoke him.
"Then where are they?" Leonel yelled, but still in his murderous calm tone.
"Hurry up and bring them inside" Wang Dong-sik ordered, and a few men immediately brought the paintings, hanging them on the wall.
"Chairman Park, these are painted by the top best artist of Han gallery" Wang Dong-sik said with excitement visible in his voice. "These are good enough for the auction, and the exhibition even."
Leonel eyes swept past the paintings carefully. Choosing became a difficult task as all where too good enough. Too worthy for the eye to behold . If Ryan was here, he would have taken all of them. But still, even if he takes all the whole painting to show it to him, he would definitely reject some. What a CEO. He only had to choose ten out of all as Ryan had instructed. He stood up and selected the ones which met Ryan's choice. Luckily, Hayden's was among them. He smiled in satisfaction.
"I must say, the paintings are unique." Leonel said and they smiled "I love them. I really do" he stood akimbo, looking at the rest on the wall. " This ones which I didn't pick should be the main piece for the exhibition. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir" they answered in unison.
"Wow. Good job, everyone" he praised them with thumbs up.
"Thank you, Chairman"
"Okay, I'm done here. I should get the files of this month sales at my desk by tomorrow" Leonel said as he made his way out. They gave way, making him walk through. They all did a ninety-degree bow until he was out of sight.