Looking for where she is

Ryan stood tall in front of Sandy's cafe, which he had visited a few months ago. His arms were crossed over his chest with a sharp glint in his eye, as if he wanted to punch a hole in the place. He walked back and forth until the cafe opened. He immediately went inside without asking if the cafe was open or not.

Ryan sat on one of the chairs with his gaze directed towards a room where he was sure the owner had not arrived until now.

"Sorry, sir. Our cafe isn't fully open yet. Is there anything you'd like to order while you wait for the rest of the menu?" asked one of the employees who approached Ryan.

"I'll have a cappuccino and a waffle," Ryan said without looking at the employee.

Ten minutes into his wait, his drinks arrived. Ryan checked his watch and then asked one of the employees who was cleaning the table. "Is your boss coming today or not?"

The employee paused as he searched for the right answer.

"Usually Ms. Sandy comes before lunch," he replied. Ryan nodded in understanding.

It wasn't long before Sandy arrived in person. She walked into the cafe without knowing that Ryan was sitting at the corner table. She almost said something that exposed Lily's hiding place.

"I'll make three boxes of waffles." Sandy told one of the staff at the cashier's desk.

"For whom, ma'am?"

"For my friend Li-" Sandy's eyes widened at the sight of Ryan sitting and staring at her. His heart was racing, his sweat was dripping, and his hands were shaking slightly. It was like he saw the grim reaper in front of him.

Sandy turned around and asked his employee. "When has that man been at the cafe?" Sandy pointed at Ryan, who was still in his place.

"Since the cafe opened, He also asked Ms. Sandy when she was coming," the employee replied.

"You didn't tell me about that, did you?" Sandy whispered into the employee's ear and shook his head in reply.

Ryan finished his breakfast. He walked towards Sandy, who was leaving for her office. Ryan quietly followed him from behind and managed to get in. Sandy briefly shooed him away but finally chose to remain silent because he saw the unusual aura shown by Ryan.

"Long time, no see, Sandy. How are you?" Ryan asked as a courtesy. He sat down without being invited. Sandy, who was still standing in his place, stared with a gaze that was difficult to interpret. Ryan was truly like the grim reaper.

"What brings you to see me?" Sandy was straight to the point. He was too lazy to linger with Ryan in the same room.

"I just want to know where Lily is."

Sandy took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He laughed for a moment, but soon his face turned flat.

"What for?"

"I want to meet her. Can you?"

Sandy did not answer. He was more concerned with his work. After ten minutes of waiting, Ryan asked again. "Sandy, I need your help. I already know everything."

Sandy stopped his work. Her head snapped up to stare at Ryan, who smiled slyly. She said back to Ryan, "What do you want?"

"I want to discuss everything with a cool head. I won't interfere with his life as long as he helps me." Ryan offered something.

"Help what?"

"I need her presence at the general meeting; she represents her late father to decide the fate of the company that I am now holding." Ryan smiled mockingly at Lily's best friend.

"I don't know if I can help you or not. You look sneaky if it's about Lily. Steve and I won't let anything happen."

Sandy ignored Ryan again. She typed something on her phone. It was more like asking for Steve's help to get rid of a man he found annoying. Sandy wondered, Why would Lily want to be set up with this man?

Ryan stood up from his seat, got dressed, and prepared to leave the room. He was sure that Sandy was sending a message to Steve. The man she avoided so much because of his hatred for her.

"I'll wait for the information. I hope she takes responsibility for everything her father left behind," Ryan said before walking away. However, before his hand opened the door to the room, he looked back and said, "I won't take my two children from her. I'm self-aware."

After Ryan was completely out of the room, Sandy breathed a sigh of relief.

"What should I do?"

Meanwhile, Sarah, who had been suspicious of Ryan since yesterday, proved it this morning by following him to a café that was familiar to her. A few years ago, she had come there. Sarah rolled her eyes for a moment and suddenly remembered one figure who was often talked about in that cafe.

"Isn't that the cafe owned by Lily's best friend? What is Ryan doing in that place?" Sarah muttered.

It wasn't long before Ryan, her husband, came out of the café with hurried steps. Nayya followed behind him.

"What was he doing in there?"

***

"You have to act, Steve. What about this?" Sandy was nervously walking around the room, while Steve was calmly sitting back and enjoying his drink. Sandy turned and asked her best friend, "Come on, Steve."

"Lily has agreed to meet with Ryan," he said casually.

"What?" Sandy shouted in a high tone.

"I had a great talk with her last night, and she wants to meet with Ryan to straighten things out."

"But that's the same as giving up your life." Sandy shouted again.

"No, it's not. This time Lily will make an agreement before meeting with the Stewart family."

"When?

Steve squared his shoulders. "We'll wait for Lily when she's ready."

"How about when you're married and then think about this?"

"That's fine."