RC.

Ch9 .................. R

Soon we leave the wide countryside roads to find ourselves in the main streets of the city. At this hour traffic is heavy.

Ryan manages to make his way through it easily. He drives his car with disconcerting skill.

Suddenly, his phone rings.

R:"It's Leviels, I'll take it on Bluetooth."

He press a small button and Mark's voice comes out of the speakers.

I must admit that, even if it's childish, I feel a little thrill of curiosity.

Mark:"Sir, these gentlemen are becoming insistent ... They're putting pressure on the staff to start searching our archives ..."

R:"Sanders is on it to slow them down, I'll be in the office soon, so make sure they don't touch anything."

(Sanders? ... First time to hear that name)

Surely his right-hand man.

Mark:"Very well, I ... I'll take care of it."

I feel in Mark's shaky voice that his anxiety is at its peak. I feel sorry for him. I know how attached he is to the firm.

Mark:"Mr. Stewart would like to speak to you ... shall I put you through?"

R:"I don't have the time."

Mark:"He insists on talking to you, he says it's urgent ..."

I feel Mark uneasy about having to insist to his boss.

Why does Jake have to go through Mark to talk to his boss?

For some time now, Ryan's been very busy. Getting hold of him was no doubt difficult...

Or Is Ryan avoiding his calls? If so, why...?

R:"Put him on."

Mark agrees timidly. The handset changes hands. Ryan gets the icy tone of his voice back. The kind that roots you to the spot.

I stare at him, bewildered. What's going on?

Jake:"Sir, Miss White is likely to get heavily involved if the officers see you arriving together."

Jake:"I recommend the north entrance, I've done my best to secure the passage, but I can't guarantee anything ..."

Ryan stays silent for a moment, his jaw clenched. He looks at me disapprovingly.

I shrink into my chair.

R:"Is that all ?"

Ryan has never been so cold. I really don't understand his attitude! It's not Jake's fault! Unless...

Jake:"Yes."

Ryan hangs up abruptly.

R:"What the hell?"

I can see flames dancing in his eyes ... If I could melt into the leather of the seat, I would!

R:"Did you talk to Stewart?"

T:"Yes ... I ... He was worried and ... He asked me where I was ... With everything going on at the office, he... "

R:"For Christ's sake Tayla !!"

He bangs on the steering wheel with clenched fists, which makes the car swirve slightly! People honk their horns behind us!

R:"I told you not to tell anyone!"

T:"But I ... That's silly, Jake is ..."

R:"Jake, you call him by his first name now? What is he? Your friend ?!"

T:"But stop, calm down, I don't understand what you hold against him!"

R:"Calm down ... Calm down!"

He repeats these words whilst staring at the road, an unpleasant grin on his lips.

R:"You don't think for one second that I may have my reasons for keeping him out of it?!"

T:"Eh? No ...He's your bodyguard, I thought ..."

R:"I didn't ask you to think!"

I'm furious. I'd like to slap him in the face. But let's be reasonable. At this speed, that's not really a good idea ...

T:"Why would you suddenly want to keep him out of it?!"

R:"I can't tell you more! I thought I could trust you!"

T:"What?! I can't be trusted now?! Ryan if you hide things from me, how am I supposed to know?!"

R:"I asked you not to say anything, it's quite simple !!"

T:"Yeah, always the same thing ..."

I say these words between clenched teeth, my arms folded over my chest.

R:"What, is there something I should know ...?"

This time his expression is mean. His voice is threatening.

(Oh yes! there is!)

T:"You..."

I breathe in slowly trying to regain my composure. I close my eyes for a moment.

(Cool things down ...)

T:"If you told me things instead of imposing them on me. Maybe we could both move forward."

T:"But no ... You hide the truth from me, you think I'll be satisfied with the little you give me!"

R:"And I'm obviously right to, cause you don't know how to hold your tongue!"

My heart breaks into a thousands pieces! It's as if all discussion was impossible! He's not hearing what I'm saying!

T:"Damn it, Ryan do you realise how you're talking to me ?!"

I hate it when he acts like an asshole!

T:"You really have a BIG problem!!"

T:"You don't talk to people, you give orders, this might come as shock but not everyone is at your command, Ryan !!"

He sighs.

R:"You're not going to start that again ...? I thought we'd gotten that over with, you and I .."

T:"Yeah, so did I, but I guess with us it's one step forward, then two steps back."

R:"Fucking hell."

Ryan is exasperated, I'm upset. I stare at the road, my eyes wet with tears.

We're back to square one ... After a fabulous moment where I was basking in bliss, here we go tearing each other apart again!