Mission Love - Chasing Mr. Right ✓

Twenty- Six

'Recap: I agreed to move in with Ryan, reluctantly.'

Sometimes, I wonder what the point of living really was, I mean, what’s the point of being the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Rajput if I can’t even live as... well, myself?

To say I was disappointed would be an understatement; I was hurt—like something had been ripped out of me.

My father's unexpected betrayal stung—it pierced right through me.
Of all the people, he betrayed my independence. Seriously, a traitor.

I stormed into my apartment meanwhile Ryan trailed behind me like some lost... dinosaur? Calling him a puppy would be an insult, really.

I spun around abruptly, causing him to stop dead in his tracks.
His raised eyebrows and faux-innocence did nothing to cool my temper—it only poured fuel on it.

"Alright."I planted my hands on my hips, snapping. "If this is happening, I've some conditions— a set of rules you must follow."

"Go on," he said, strolling past me to sit on the couch. It seemed to shrink under him as he sprawled out, completely at ease.

God! Why are you testing me like this?

I glared at him, though he didn't even pay a heed to my constant death glares.

"First rule," I began, my voice rising with each word, " You'll not tell a single soul about our living arrangements. Not your friends, not our colleagues."

He gave a small shrug. "Fair enough."

His easy agreement caught me off guard. "Wait... really?"

"Why not?" he said, leaning back and resting his head, comfortably.
"I don't enjoy being the subject of office gossip either. What's next?"

I took a steadying breath, before clutching the back of a chair. Hard.
"Second rule: we don't leave the house together. Ever. No grocery shopping, no morning commutes, Nothing."

"Works for me"

"Third," I continued, after a quick cautious pause, "at work, you're my boss. Period. No inside jokes, no weird glances, and definitely no-no casual touching or... whatever." My words stumbled over themselves, and I felt a hot flush creeping up my neck.

Ryan tilted his head, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Agreed."

My nails dug further into the wood. Just for science, if I hurled this chair at his head, would that break the tension—or his smugness?

"Fourth-" I gritted out,
"You respect my privacy. No snooping, no interrogations, no nosy questions about my personal life, or why I keep a pack of gummy bears in the fridge. Whatever I do is none of your business."

That grin of his stretched out wide until it reached his ears.
"You like gummy bears?"

"Not the point," I snapped, my face heating up for no good reason. Or a pretty good reason—him!

"Got it," he said smoothly. "Your room will be off-limits. Anything else?"

I opened my mouth, then shut it again, thrown off by how easily he was agreeing.

How did Ryan— the no-nonsense, arrogant, annoying boss become so cooperative?

I narrowed my eyes at him, suspiciously before continuing.
"Fifth—and this is the most important—you don't make this harder than it already is. That means no antics, no snide comments, and definitely no... no... whatever it is you're doing right now."