Chapter 19: NINETEEN | DATE

CHAPTER NINETEEN | DATE

ASPEN

A relieved sigh left my mouth when he narrated what Rachel had told him. I was so happy that she hadn't told him everything. I doubt he would have been this nice if he knew everything about me…who I really was and what my mission here was. If he knew, I'd probably be halfway on the journey back to my old pack while he counted dollars with a smile on his face.

“As someone who came from a lower-class family and fought tooth and nail to rise to the top and get to the position I am in now, I totally get your desperation, and I'm determined to take your secret to my grave.”

I smiled, feeling tears well up in my eyes. It was so strange to see this side of Ryker. He didn't look like someone who had an epitome of sympathy in his system, but I was happy he did.

“But I have a request,” I said suddenly, looking anywhere but his face. His cheeks were red, and he was fidgeting.

It was a strange sight, a funny one at that, but I wasn't complaining. “What is it?” I asked, laughing at his awkwardness.

“I don't know if you will… if you… me… I… with you… me… and you,” he stuttered, trailing off.

“What are you trying to say? I won't beat you, you know? You can say anything.”

A small part of me was milking his embarrassment, but can you really blame me? It wasn't every day one finds out that the all-high-and-mighty bad guy was actually a cute, soft guy in real life.

“Iwaswonderingifyouwouldliketogoonadatewithme,” he said under one breath.

I didn't get it, so I asked him to repeat it slowly.

“I was wondering if you would like to go on a date with me.”

I froze, staring at him with wide eyes. I wasn't shocked because he was asking me on a date, but because I guessed this was the price I had to pay for him to keep my secret.

I should have known that no one would be willing to help keep a secret like that without wanting something in return. Rage exploded in my chest as I thought about the thing he might make me do just to keep the secret.

“You must be crazy if you think I'll sleep with you to keep my secret. I'd rather die!” I hissed, angrily trying to rip the drip off me and get out.

I was so mad that the thought that I would go that length to keep a secret would even cross his mind. What the hell did he take me for? A whore? Even if I was one, I wouldn't want to whore around with someone like him.

The more I thought about it, the angrier I became. I should have known that his niceness wasn't genuine. No one became nice in a minute just because they had a sad story. He obviously had bad intentions and was trying to use me to get laid.

He'd probably rat me out once he got what he wanted.

He shook his head, his eyes widening as if I’d accused him of something he had no hand in. “I didn't mean it that way. I wasn't trying to sleep with you. The thought didn't even cross my mind. I just wanted to ask you out, and it's totally fine if you don't want to go out with me. I'll understand. I just… I could…” He trailed off, covering his face with his palm in embarrassment.

The sight was so funny that every anger in my body disappeared. I found myself laughing at him. It was obvious now that he had never been on a date. I didn't think he had seen a woman other than his niece in a very long time, too. Everything was new to him, and he wasn't even trying to hide it.

“It's fine. Have you met your mate yet?” I couldn't help but ask.

“No, not yet. I haven't left this building in the past ten years. I got here when I was fifteen and have been here since then.”

He was twenty-five. I was shocked that he wasn't much older than I am. He looked at least thirty, but that might be because he's always frowning and acting all high and mighty.

I frowned at his answer. Why would anyone want to let go of their life, especially their twenties, to be stuck in a school training people who weren't far from his age? Didn't he want to live his life and have fun?

“Why though? Don't you want to have fun? You could be doing a lot of great things with your life, one of them being searching for your mate. Why would you choose to be stuck here?”

He sighed, running his hands through his hair in obvious frustration. “It was the price I had to pay to climb up the social ladder. That's one of the rules. The principal believes I know too much and doesn't want me to leave so that his secret wouldn't be out in the open. He wanted someone who would stay here no matter what happens, someone who would live here for the rest of their lives. I was desperate, and at that time, the only thought on my mind was living and making a better life for myself. I signed the contract without hesitation, and I've been stuck here since.”

I nodded in understanding and pity. I felt bad that he had to spend the rest of his life here. He would have been better off not signing the contract and going rogue instead.

At least there would have been unlimited freedom for him, and he would have had the time and opportunity to explore. However, there was a loophole in his story. I remembered the day we were hiding in Mr. Jones’ office, Rachel called him Uncle. How could he be her uncle and still be of lower class? Why wouldn't Mr. Jones trust his own brother to keep the family business secret?

Or could it be that he was lying about something?