Chapter 96 Preparation
ANNA'S POV
My lips were still tingling even days after kissing Ryan. It was like it was happening all over again, just at the memory of it.
I could barely stop thinking about him. Every single person at the house noticed how much I smiled whenever his name came up. Daniel was having more than enough fun talking about him, and what he saw.
Thankfully, I had a whole lot of work to do at the office after the launching of Celibrex. Different companies were already reaching out both to invest and to be invested in. It was a huge milestone according to my father.
It didn't matter if I was making hundreds of sales per day. My company was still a start-up company to me. It was too early to have investors deciding what to do.
As I headed downstairs, I tried to glance past the decorators who were out in the yard. Isabel wanted to host a little party at the house. I wasn't all that in support of it. But then, I didn't really have a choice. My parents loved it, and Isabel had been the one doing the anniversary arrangement for the past few years. I wasn't ready to take that from her.
I watched her as she directed people on where to drop stuff, and I couldn't help but smile. She would have really made a good CEO for the company.
“Hey Anna,” she said, turning back immediately.
“Is everything going well?” I asked, and she nodded.
“They weren't working properly. I had to supervise.”
I looked around one more time. She knew what she was doing. “Well, you're doing a great job.”
I was about to head back into the house when she called out to me. “Did Daniel tell you anything?” She asked, making me frown.
“Anything like what?”
“Uhm… that I'd be bringing my boyfriend by tomorrow.”
My eyes widened slightly. I managed to maintain my poise, before shaking my head. “No, he didn't. Is your boyfriend someone we know?”
Her lips turned up in a small smile. “Why don't we keep it as a surprise?” She asked. With that, she turned away, barking orders.
A shiver ran through my spine immediately. There was something wrong about the way she said it, but I shrugged either way as I headed upstairs. I grabbed my phone immediately, calling the one person that I knew I wanted to hear from that moment.
He answered in the first ring.
“Anna?” He asked, like he was even shocked that I was calling him. “I've been trying to reach you for the past few days. You have no idea how worried I've been.”
I bit my lower lip. I wasn't about to tell him how that kiss felt. How nervous I felt to even face him again. But there was no avoiding it.
“I was just busy,” I muttered, more than thankful that I was able to even push the words out of my throat.
“Are you okay?” He asked, like he was trying not to laugh. “Daniel told me you've been smiling to yourself after the kiss though.”
I felt a blush creep up to my cheeks. “That's not true. Daniel lies all the time. I'm not crazy. So why will I smile unnecessarily?”
“You're over-explaining now,” he teased. “You're guilty.”
“Are you busy tonight?” I asked, holding my breath as I waited for his answer.
“Well, no. You want to take me out for dinner?”
“Can you stop teasing me already?” I asked, gritting my teeth.
“Alright,” he finally answered in a light tone.
“I wanted to get some things for my parents for their anniversary. Do you think you can help? I do know my mom loves China.”
“Of course, I can help. What time do you want me to be there?”
“6 pm should be fine,” I whispered into the phone.
“I'll be there,” he whispered back, before hanging up.
I allowed myself a small smile, constantly looking at the clock as I tried to get some work done. I was practically wringing my fingers together as I watched the time. As soon as it was 5 pm, I went to have a quick shower, before slipping on a simple outfit of a cropped top and jeans.
I heard the front door open, and I hurried downstairs. But as soon as I got downstairs, the sight in front of me made me stop in my tracks.
Isabel was talking to Ryan, in hushed tones. I noticed the way she tipped her chin, paying excessive attention to him, just as she did back then when she was obsessed with him. He maintained his usual bored poise, barely glancing at her.
He looked right behind her, smiling as soon as he saw me.
“Finally,” he muttered, walking past Isabel as he wrapped me around his arms, placing a kiss on my lips. It was hungry.
I was breathless by the time I pulled away. “You don't know how long I've been wanting to do that,” I whispered, and he smirked.
“You know a simple peck would have been okay right?” Isabel asked, sneering. “The whole world doesn't have to notice that you were giving him a full-blown kiss.”
“Do you suddenly have a problem with that?” I asked, feigning innocence. There was definitely something behind the calm exterior that she was trying to put on.
“The both of you aren't official yet, are you?” She asked, and I narrowed my eyes at her.
“Why are you asking?”
It was almost like the little settlement that the both of us were trying to bring up was fake. I could almost taste the falseness on my tongue.
“Because mom and dad have standards. They definitely would not appreciate the both of you kissing all over their house.”
I cocked an eyebrow, but Ryan already beat me to saying anything. “I've known your parents even longer than you've known them, Isabel. And if they have any problem with anything going on, I'm sure they would have told us already.”
She tipped her chin like she was about to say something else, but she didn't. Instead, she tipped her chin, heading out of the house.
“What was that?” Ryan asked, and I shrugged, trying to act carefree. Even if that was the last emotion I would feel when it had anything to do with Isabel.
“She's probably just stressed.”
He nodded. “Is Daniel home?” He asked. I quickly shook my head.
“He said he had a little warm-up session with his coach. He'll be home early for the party.” I quickly looked up at him. “You're going to come, right?”
He nodded. “I wouldn't miss it for the world. There's no way I'm fumbling chances to see you.”
I quickly pursed my lips to keep myself from smiling. Even as he led me to the car, and the both of us browsed through amazing china pots and plates, it didn't change the fact that I was bothered.
And maybe the worst was yet to happen.