Mission Love - Chasing Mr. Right ✓

Twenty- Four

Recap: Ryan punched Naveen?

"Stay away from her." Ryan growled, sending a chill down my spine.
Naveen groaned out loud, before straightening up slowly, clutching his face where a vivid red mark was already forming.

"Feeling heroic now, boss man?" Naveen spat, each word drooping with venom.
"I dare you go ahead—tell her what you did!"

Ryan tilted his head, a wry smile tugging at his lips. He flexed his fingers again, shaking out the remnants of the punch as if warming up for another.

"Me? Sure. I'll spill," He said, stepping closer to Naveen until there was barely an inch between them.
"How about you go first, Naveen? I’d love to hear your creative take on things."

Naveen let out a hollow, bitter and almost mocking laughter.
"You ruined my life! You're the reason I lost my job, my reputation, everything! Don't you deny your influence like a coward—"

"Yeah, yeah," Ryan cut him off, waving a dismissive hand. "You keep saying that, but all I'm hearing is the world's saddest pity party. If you've got proof, by all means, lay it on the table. Or are you just winging it like always?"

The tension snapped. Naveen's fist shot forward without warning, a blur of rage and frustration. Ryan sidestepped, his reflexes quick, but the second punch grazed his jaw, snapping his head to the side.

My breath caught in my throat as the punch connected—barely, but still it'd hurt. Ryan threw his head back, whipping back his hair and hissed out loud. I flinched instinctively wanting to step in, but my feet refused to move.

Ryan rolled his jaw, his face darkening.
"That's all you've got?" he grumbled, a low chuckle slipping out like a warning wrapped in amusement.

Oh shit! This was not going to end well.

"Guys, come on, let’s calm down. Let's settle it in a gentleman's way?" I tried to intervene, but my words fell on deaf ears. Naveen cracked his knuckles, fists clenched, while Ryan took a calculated step to the side, preparing himself.

Ugh, I can't deal with both of them trying to flaunt their inner 'alpha' like that.

"Fight me, you f*cker!" Naveen lunged again, but Ryan easily caught Naveen's arm, twisting it behind his back with a practiced grip.
Naveen grunted, struggling against the hold, his breaths coming out in ragged bursts.

"This isn’t some bar, Naveen," Ryan growled out, "You’re embarrassing yourself."

"Stop it! Both of you shut it down!" I demanded, my voice cutting through their grunts of struggles.

Ryan hesitated for a second when his eyes met mine, before shoving Naveen away, sending him stumbling forward.

"Fine," Ryan said flatly, straightening his blazer like he hadn't just manhandled someone.
"You want the truth right Naveen? Okay then, I'll be honest. I'll come clean. But first, you dust off your secrets from that little pocket. Tell her why you're tailing after her."

"I'm protecting her, you smug son of a-"

"Protecting her?" Ryan's laugh was sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade. "From what, exactly? Your own mess?"

"Ryan, stop it!" I stepped between them, my pulse pounding in my ears. "What the hell is going on?"

Naveen's chest heaved, his wild eyes darting between Ryan and me.
"He's playing you, Aisha. He's been pulling strings behind the scenes, setting me up—setting you up."