Sinful Paths

Chapter Six

Andrew stepped into the room, his gaze immediately landing on Nancy, Caiden, Cohen, and Markus who stood beside Ian. He made his way over to Nancy, a familiar comfort in the chaos.
“Good morning, Nancy,” he greeted, a hint of warmth in his voice.
Nancy turned to face him, her smile brightening the room. “Good morning, Andrew.”
Curiosity piqued, Andrew glanced over at the group. “What’s going on over there?”
“I honestly don’t know,” Nancy replied, a slight shrug accompanying her words.
With a sigh, Andrew decided it was time to make his exit. “Well, I’m going to head out. I’ll see you later, Nancy.” He began to leave, walking past the guys, his mind already elsewhere.
“Andrew Lilac–” Ian’s voice called after him, but Andrew chose to ignore it, continuing his stride toward the door. Ian watched him go, an unreadable expression on his face.
Caiden broke the tension, his voice dripping with amusement. “Wow, looks like you’re getting the silent treatment, boss.”
Ian turned back to face the group, his expression blank. “He’s been like this since last night.”
Caiden smirked, leaning back casually. “I bet it’s killing you, isn’t it? Not getting the attention.”
Without missing a beat, Ian commanded, “Markus, follow him.”
Markus nodded and began to leave. “Yes sir, Ryder.”
As the door clicked shut behind Markus, Ian’s demeanor shifted. He turned to Caiden, his tone sharp. “And Caiden, you better watch that mouth of yours.”
Surprised, Caiden raised an eyebrow.
Ian’s eyes narrowed, his voice low and threatening. “So learn to shut up. I won’t hesitate to kill you.” The room fell silent, the tension thickening as the weight of Ian’s words hung in the air.

Ian walked into the office, flanked by Caiden and Cohen. His eyes quickly landed on a girl with beautiful long brown, wavy hair, who was struggling to hold a box.
“Kristen! Hello!” Ian called out, his voice brightening the room.
Kristen turned around, surprise flickering across her face before it melted into a smile. “Well, if it isn’t Ian Ryder.”
Ian returned her smile, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. “So you’re still working for Scarlet Fashion, huh?”
Kristen’s expression shifted, her face going blank. “This job is pretty much my life now.”
Ian glanced back at Caiden, a playful glint in his eyes. “Caiden, help Miss Rose here with this box, please.”
Caiden stepped forward, reaching for the box and gently taking it from Kristen’s hands. “Thank you..”
“Where would you like it?” Caiden asked, looking at her expectantly.
Kristen pointed toward her desk. “Just over there, right next to my desk, please.”
As Caiden made his way to place the box down, Cohen caught Kristen’s attention. “Wait a moment–Smith?!”
Cohen smiled broadly and walked up to her. “Hello, Kristen!!”
Ian, sensing the reunion was getting too lengthy, interjected. “I am so sorry to cut this reunion short, but i really need to speak to Ms. Scarlet.”
Caiden returned just in time to hear Kristen’s response. “Oh, um, yes! She’s in her office!”
Cohen and Ian began walking toward her office, and Ian turned back slightly, offering a friendly wave. “Thank you. I’ll speak to you soon, Kristen.”
With that, Caiden joined Ian and Cohen as they parted ways with Kristen, leaving her to her work and the remnants of their brief encounter.

As Ian, Cohen, and Caiden stopped into Ms. Scarlet’s office, the atmosphere buzzed with the energy of a photoshoot. A model posed gracefully in front of a camera, while a photographer snapped pictures, capturing every angle. Ms. Scarlet stood to the side, her gaze sharp as she directed the scene.
“Put some more back into it and smile more, my dear,” she called out, her voice firm yet encouraging.
“Maria,” came a soft voice from Ian, as she turned to see him and his bodyguards. A flicker of recognition crossed her face before she quickly turned back to the photographer. “Paula, Jacob. Take a break.”
The model and photographer stepped out, leaving the tension in the room palpable. Maria turned to face Ian, her expression shifting to one of seriousness. “We need to talk.”
“Yes, we do,” Ian replied, his tone steady.
He turned to his bodyguards, Caiden and Cohen. “Could you both wait outside for a moment?”
“Yes, we shall,” Cohen said, and both men exited the room, closing the door behind them.
Maria’s demeanor shifted as she faced Ian, her voice low. “You made my daughter cry, Ryder.”
Ian walked over to the large windows, gazing out at the cityscape, his back to her. “You raised a brat, Maria.”
Maria approached him, her hand pressed to her face, stress evident in her posture. “No need to remind me, I know I did.” She crossed her arms defensively. “I’m mainly concerned about our deal.”
“I will continue the funding towards your company, Maria. But I refuse to have a fake relationship with your daughter,” Ian stated, still looking out the window.
“B- but how will we promote my latest clothing?!” Maria exclaimed, following him. “You and my daughter did that together!”
Ian turned around, meeting her gaze with a hint of resolve. “I have a suggestion.”
Maria’s interest piqued, her expression shifting to intrigue. “I like where this is going.”
“I’ll model for you,” Ian declared, surprising her with the unexpected offer.
“Are you being serious, Ian?!” Maria’s eyes widened, disbelief etched across her face.
“I’m being very serious,” Ian replied, his tone unwavering.
As the weight of his words sank in, Maria’s expression shifted to one of resolve. “Can you come here for a photoshoot next weekend?”
“Yes, yes I can,” Ian answered, a hint of a smile breaking through his serious demeanor.
Maria’s face lit up with a radiant smile. “Then it looks like we have a deal.”
“I’ll see you then, Ms. Scarlet,” Ian said, beginning to make his way toward the door.
“Goodbye, Ryder,” Maria called after him, her voice softening as he left the room.