The CEO

XVII

Chloe

I was waiting in the mall, nervousness filling me as I realized I'll be seeing Ryan.

"Oh, look who's here."

I turned around to see a muscular guy smirking at me. Who was he?

"If you're wondering, I'm Charlie. You're Ryan's girl, aren't you?"

"Who are you?" I asked.

"I just said I'm Charlie." He smirked and stepped forward. I took a step back.

"You seem to be," he paused. "Pretty intriguing."

"Listen, I don't know you. And I have to go now." I said and turned around to walk outside. He grabbed me by my arm.

"Not this fast, babe," he said, poison laved in his tone.

"Charlie, I think you haven't lost your habit of trying to take what rightfully belongs to someone else,"

I turned around to see Ryan. I mentally sighed in relief.

"Oh, look who's here." Charlie remarked.

"Leave her out of this." Ryan said.

"What will you do about it huh?" Charlie said, tightening his grip on my arm. I groaned.

My hand was no longer being pulled.
Ryan's hands were on Charlie's collar.

"What happens in the ring stays in the ring. Alright?" Ryan whispered.

"I'm scared," Charlie remarked sarcastically.

"Listen--"

"Ryan, leave him." James intervened. "He isn't worth it."

"Yeah, listen to your friend." Charlie added.

"Shut up, Charlie. I'm just stopping him so that he doesn't kill you." James said.

"Whatever. I'll take care of him later." Charlie muttered and went out.

What just happened?

"Why were you talking to him?" Ryan asked me.

"I wasn't."

"Right. You're never wrong, are you?" He snapped.

"What is your problem?"

"Nothing."

"Ryan, I know you want to protect me--"

"Don't flatter yourself. I don't give a damn about anybody, especially not you." He said.

"Then why did you react like this?"

"Charlie and I have other issues. I'm not always thinking about you."

"Sure." I said sarcastically.

"James, can you like drop her home or something?"

"I'm not going anywhere." I said.

"You're crazy." He shakes his head.

"Why?"

"You could've been kidnapped and you're acting so calm about it." Ryan said.

"I knew you'd come." I muttered.

"I'm not always going to be there. Stop depending on me." He said.

"Why are you behaving this way? I know you're doing this to distance yourself away from me, but like, stop."

He rolled his eyes and started walking inside.

"He'llcome around, you know," James remarked.

"I hope so."