RC.

Ch9 ............... O

I wait, with my hands clenched on the handle of my little suitcase, for Ryan to finish on the phone.

I cast a last nostalgic look at the paradisiacal landscape that surrounds me. Good things always end too soon!

I feel bad for him... I wonder if he ever has moments where he can really relax.

It's the other side of the coin.

I think you can't be a billionaire and live normally ... It's a choice.

I try my best to contain my disappointment. I don't want to leave here. I don't want to go back to reality and all its problems ...

Between the IRS, Ryan's assault, the lies I tell  my friends and the people magazines... Might as well say I'd rather stay here on the beach watching the seagulls!

(I'll browse through the press.)

Before I manage to grab my phone, Ryan joins me. He sighs, staring into space.

R:"I'm really sorry, Tayla ... I didn't want things to turn out like this ..."

He presses his two big hands on the wooden fence and lets his eyes drift out to the waves.

(I reassure him.)

T:"There'll be other occasions... "

(I hope...)

He stares at me a little sadly as if to say that it wasn't so simple.

(I make him laugh.)

T:"We'll take a raincheck ... May I remind you that I have to take my revenge with the jet ski!"

(Yes, obviously, as everyone had suspected, Ryan beat me by far.)

His eyes are playful and tender. The kind of look that turns my heart into marshmallow all soft and docile.

R:"I had so many things to show you still! ..."

T:"Those things won't dissaper, they'll still be here in a few days, weeks, months ..."

To hear myself speak, I'm clearly projecting myself into a lasting relationship with him.

I am incapable of building anything that's not on solid ground  ... I need to project myself, even if I know it just a dream...

The kind of reaction the seems to me to be foolish. He probably can't imagine spending the rest of his life with me. He's not the kind of person to engage in a simple relationship.

I'm not stupid. With Ryan, my heart on constant roller coaster ride. And even if it's thrilling, exalting, strong ... you don't live your life with a man who tortures your heart... ...

He doesn't answer. He isn't the type to give false hopes ...

His phone vibrates and for a moment he gazes at its screen. Sometimes I wish that these damned things had never been invented!!

Especially when they steal the attention of my handsome CEO from me!

R:"It's mayhem at Carter Corp ... The IRS are digging in all our archives ..."

(We should go. But, I don't hurry him.)

It's really selfish of me but I want to have him to myself for a few more minutes.

I slide my arm around his and I look at the sea with him, sighing.

He answers by laying a delicate kiss on my shoulder.

R:"Tayla ... Before we go, I wanted to show you something ..."

T:"Oh? What is it?"

He looks at me mischievously and gives me a beutiful smile.

R:"It's rather ... personal ..."

(A red room?)

T:"Don't tell me you have a weird room, with a whole bunch of equally strange accessories for doing weird stuff...?"

I'm half joking but he bursts out laughing.

R:"No ... I've already told you, that's not my thing. But if you really wanted, I could ask my architect to build another room..."

T:"No!!"

Faced with his mocking look, I stare at him, outraged, with flushed cheeks!

R:"Come."

He holds his hand out to me. I look at my suitcase but he beckons for me to leave it behind and follow him.

We go around the villa and reach a small door, at the end of a corridor.

As he opens it and I discover the room, I'm overwhelmed with emotion ...