Chapter 4 What's your name

One year later

Ryan's pov.

It was evening time already. I shut down my system and saw a faint image of myself on its screen. I was looking drained. I stared at myself, wondering what could be wrong with me. I am now wealthy, my work is going well, I do not have a specific problem to deal with, yet I look like the one that has the most problems in the world.

Maybe there is a particular thing I am missing, or probably someone, because I feel like I am losing it at this point. No matter what I do, I am still not satisfied. I feel cold and lonely from within. Truth be told, I need someone, I miss someone. Could this be guilt? I questioned myself.

But I didn't kill her. I didn't just want her anymore then or was I confused? Did my actions really make her commit suicide?

"NO!" I yelled aloud. "I didn't kill her! I didn't do anything bad! I only did what I wanted to be happy! She is a dead person, we have no business together again!" I vented aggressively to no one in particular, sweat was dripping from all over me.

My body trembled as I came to realize. I was talking alone, am I running mad now?

A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts, I looked up and permitted the person to come in. It was my manager.

"Are you okay, sir?" He asked and I glared.

"What do you mean? Did I tell you anything is wrong with me?!" I yelled.

"I am sorry, sir." He said, obviously panicking.

"This was sent from MH". He said and stretched it forward.

MH is my father-in-law 's company and he didn't tell me beforehand that he will be sending any documents.

Lazily, I collected the file and dismissed the man. I opened it and read its contents. The heading of the document made me feel an adrenaline rush.

40% shares? Is my father-in-law mad or something? He is demanding 40 % of the company shares! I knew that man had a mission from the first day I set my eyes on him, I quickly picked up my phone and dailled his daughter's number.

"Cassie, is your father too old now that he doesn't know what he is doing anymore?"

"Ryan, why are you talking about my dad in that manner?!" She countered.

"I think you need to see it yourself, then." I said and dropped the call without waiting for her response. Afterwards, I took a picture of the trash her father sent to me and sent it to her.

Afterwards, I trashed it in the bin. That man must be very stupid. He has been getting on my nerves recently, and then this!

Amidst this, another knock came in. It was my manager again. He came in with a sad look on his face, making me wonder what the sad news could be again.

"What the hell is it again?" I yelled at him.

"You should see this, sir."

He said and handed a file to me. An air of dizziness fell upon me. The Russo group wants to cancel our partnership.

"What???!" I yelled.

I read the content of the file, and he didn't state that there was a particular reason for doing this. So why will he want to cancel our contract a few months to when we are about to achieve our goal?

"What a bad day!" I said and exhaled harshly.

"That is not all, sir." My manager said and looked down, avoiding my eyes.

"The Russo group is now the second biggest company in the country."

He broke the news, and I became still. It was as if the time stopped for a while.

I scoffed, not knowing what to do.

Does this mean that asshole Dante Russo dumped me after achieving his own goal?

"Well played," I clapped my hands together. I guess my day was meant to be bad.

I picked up my car key and left the company by myself. My driver offered to drive me, but I just dismissed him.

My thoughts were a jumbled mess. I just wanted to go somewhere to calm myself down. All this is too much for me to handle.

Back then, when I was like this. I often go watch ballet dancers together.... someone I do not want to remember popped up in my head, so I quickly dismissed the thought.

I drove past scarlet ballet hall, this place held a lot of sweet memories. I really wanted to go there again and before I knew it, I turned around and approached the place.

I stepped down and adjusted my tie,I looked around and realized the place had now been renovated.

Without wasting much time, I entered the place and booked a VVIP room where the ballerina would dance for only me because I just wanted to be alone. I trudged into the VIP hall, my exhaustion and frustration palpable. Just then, the light dimmed. Then the music started, its soft melody enveloped me, and I began to unwind. Just like those days.

And then, a beauty appeared, dressed in a ballet attire. Despite that a net mask was covering half of her face, her beauty was still visible and captivating.

I wowed as I watched her walk in majestically. Then she stopped and turned around, locking eyes with me. Slowly, she began to show her ballet steps, like a beautiful flower unfolding.

I relaxed and rested my back. This is it! No matter how big my problem is, ballet helped me calm down.

As she moved her body, her movements were fluid and sensual. Every step, every sway, showcased her soft body. I couldn't help but watch, mesmerized. She danced towards me, her hips swivelling, and I felt my tension dissipate.

As she drew closer, her presence filled the room. Her scent, a blend of floral and spice, felt familiar, and someone popped up in my head. Hailey! Only her smells like this.

She danced around me, and my eyes followed her. I couldn't tear my gaze away. Just when I thought I had seen it all, she came to my front and bent her face, inches from mine. Time froze!

My jaw dropped, and she is damn hot. The next moment, she sat on my lap, her weight settling onto me. My body reacted instinctively. Desire coursed through my veins, and I couldn't control myself. No woman has ever turned me on like this.

Her warmth seeped into me, she touched my arms seductively and wrapped it around her waist, pulling herself closer.

For the first time in weeks, I felt alive. My fatigue is forgotten, replaced by a hunger for this mysterious woman.

She moved her long, beautiful index finger and raised my chin, making me look into her eyes. Our faces were so close that if we were not careful, we would kiss. She heaved a breath slowly, fanning my skin. The scent of her breath, too, was just like that of someone I didn't want to remember. An unnecessary similarity.

Who is this girl? Why does she have this effect on me?

Then, the volume of music reduced, indicating that it was coming to an end.

She removed her hands from my shin and proceeded to stand up when I pulled her back by holding her waist firmly.

"You think you will do all this to me, and then I will just let you go?" I said, and she looked straight into my eyes, undeterred.

I only asked to see a ballet dance, but you showed me yourself.

"What is your name?" I asked curiously.