"Alright," I mumbled, heading over to the dining table.
After a moment of hesitation, I decided to sit next to Ryan.
It wasn't for any other reason, just guilt and the worry that he might suspect something between Scarlett and me.
Plus, both of us came from messed-up families, and our personalities had gone to two extremes.
I didn't believe in any unbreakable love, just like the examples around me. All these women with families and kids still ended up sleeping with me, which just showed the irony of love.
Ryan, on the other hand, believed in love, but was sensitive in relationships and tended to be suspicious.
If Scarlett did something even slightly off, he'd start wondering if she still loved him or if she was cheating.
Scarlett had once told him in bed that she wanted to cheat on him. Maybe Ryan had taken it to heart and was secretly watching us.
So, I decided to sit next to Ryan to keep some distance from Scarlett. It wouldn't hurt to get close to Scarlett when he wasn't around.
Sitting at the dining table, I noticed he hadn't touched his dinner at all.
"Ryan, what's up? You feeling okay?" I asked.
Ryan gave a bitter smile and said, "I didn't get promoted to general manager, wasting the help you gave me."
"It's nothing. But what exactly happened? Why didn't you get promoted?" I asked, feeling puzzled.
Weren't there many ways to get promoted to general manager before?
Did Ryan fail to get the position because the company either hired someone new or there was an internal voting competition?
If it was the former, then I had nothing to say, but if it was the latter, then it was Sophia's problem.
I had promised to sleep with her, and then she would help Ryan by talking to her husband.
Ryan explained sadly, "The company initially held a voting competition, and before the vote, our president praised me for a long time. But I tied with another person in the vote, and the company didn't want to do another round of voting, so they directly hired someone with impressive qualifications and experience to be the general manager."
Well, then it wasn't Sophia's fault.
Who knew the company would go off-script, not using a simpler and quicker voting method in a tie situation, but instead choosing to hire someone externally?
"Alright, then you just have to keep working hard to find the next opportunity for promotion." I sighed.
But this simple sentence seemed to hit a nerve with Ryan.
"Work hard? Am I not working hard enough? I became the vice president at twenty-eight, the youngest and most educated VP in the company. I didn't get cocky because of my education. Instead, I quietly studied and worked hard. How many times did I bring work home after everyone else had left for the day?"
Ryan's tone got more agitated, and as he spoke, he started tapping on the table, making a loud noise.
In the process, Scarlett's utensils were jolted off the plate and onto the table, making a crisp clinking sound.
"Don't take your anger out on the table! Do you think these things are free?" Scarlett glared at Ryan with anger in her eyes.
I was stunned.
I just knew Scarlett also had a fiery temper!
But when she got mad, she was actually pretty cute. Her big, beautiful eyes widened, staring straight at Ryan.
To Ryan, those eyes with a hint of anger must've been pretty intimidating.
But to me, Scarlett looked like a little girl pretending to be angry, like a cute and pretty doll.
"Vice president? Have you forgotten how you got the position? Back then, the company's vice president messed up big time and got fired. They needed someone to fill in urgently. They saw you had a good education and wouldn't screw up, so they made you the acting VP in a pinch."
She sneered and continued, "Of course, you couldn't afford to be arrogant! You were under high pressure every day. One little mistake, and you'd be out like the last VP!"
So, that was how Ryan got his VP gig.
It was pretty impressive that Ryan was temporarily appointed and managed to avoid any mistakes for so long.
But even with his achievements, he still seemed to fall short compared to Sophia, Mia, and Grace's husbands or boyfriends in the company.
Their partners were either the company's president or powerful investors, while Ryan was still just a small VP.
"Yeah! I'm useless! I've said it before! You don't have to keep reminding me! If you really can't accept me like this, go find another man to be your husband! Just say the word, and I'll let you go!"
With that, Ryan suddenly stood up and stormed upstairs.
The chair scraped loudly against the floor, followed by the slam of the study door, making a huge noise.
Even the windows in the villa shook a bit.
Now Scarlett's temper flared up. She slammed her hand on the table, put one hand on her hip, and pointed towards the study upstairs.
"You've got some nerve! How dare you say that to me! Fine! If you're so brave, don't eat my food for the rest of your life! Don't wear the clothes I washed! Don't sleep in my bed either!"
I noticed Scarlett was trembling with anger.
I quickly went to her side, gently patting her back to help her calm down, "Don't be mad, Scarlett. It's not worth getting upset over these little things."
"How can I not be mad? How many gifts did we buy for the department employees to help him get promoted? How many meals did we treat the company leaders to? Even after all that, he doesn't appreciate it, and he vents his anger at home. If he's so brave, he should go to the office and argue with his colleagues and superiors!"
Scarlett ranted on, and I wasn't sure what to do.
I'd never comforted a woman before, nor had I dealt with an angry one.
Just as I was about to calm her down with a kiss, the doorbell rang.
Scarlett glanced at me, nudged me with her shoulder, and said, "Go answer the door."
"Okay." I walked to the door and opened it.
It was Sophia.
"Is Scarlett home?" Sophia asked, throwing a flirtatious look at me.
"She's here." I stepped aside to let her in.
She didn't hesitate to walk in, but as she passed by, she pinched my crotch.