Becoming strangers again (Lily and Ryan)

RYAN I was in my home office, handling some of the works at the office that my secretary sent to me via mail when the door to my office opened and Angelo walked in. he plopped down on the sofa and sighed tiredly. “Didn't you hear me ring the doorbell?" Without bothering to move my attention from the laptop. I gave him a fitting response. “I gave you the passcode for a reason. You don't expect me to leave my work just to answer the door." "Then let at least one domestic staff live with you." He suggested. Finally succeeding to drag my attention away from my laptop, I blinked slowly and deliberately at him. "What are you doing here?" He scoffed, a sound heavy with a mix of annoyance and resignation. "Where else should be if not here?" he questioned. "I don't have any friends around, and staying in the cramped quarters is incredibly tedious" Exhaling deeply, I tore my gaze away from the laptop screen once more. "If you find yourself with idle time, then assist me in sorting through the files I've sent to your email, "I didn't bring my laptop, but I have some intriguing information about Jake's purported female companion residing in Paris," he interjected. Once again, he succeeded in capturing my undivided attention. Pushing my chair back slightly, I leaned back and regarded him with a quizzical expression. "What about her?" "For starters, her name isn't Yara," he revealed, prompting a scoff to escape my lips. I couldn't help but wonder why lies seemed to accompany every utterance from his lips. "And she doesn't actually reside in Paris" The magnitude of deception this man has woven around Lily is staggering While Tacknowledge my own shoncomings in our relationship, his deceitful nature surpasses mine by far. "Where does she reside?" I asked. "Here in Canada," he replied, his lips moistened by a nervous flick of his tongue. Leaning forward eagerly, be rubbed his hands together, clearly eager to share the newly acquired information. "She's actually a car dealer here in Canada. Whether she and Jake are truly friends remains uncertain, but one thing is certain-she's not in Paris, nor is she here for any family-related business.""" I would rather see Angelo falsely accused of a crime than witness Lily enter into a marriage built on a foundation of deceit. "What's the name of her car dealership!" I inquired. Angelo arched an eyebrow, a hint of amusement flickering across his features. "Why? Are you considering paying her a visit?" "Shouldn't ["I snapped at him as though he is the reason for my problem. "That hastard is up to something and if paying that woman a visit is going to tell me what the f@ck is going on, then I am going to do just that" Angelo shook his head in protest. "I don't think that is a very good idea." He argued, "if you do that, she might go back and alert Jake that you are asking questions about him, and the last thing we want right now is him being extra cautious "You are not going to change my mind." I stressed adamantly. "Forward her address to me." As the realization settled in that his attempts to sway my decision had fallen on deaf ears, Angelo let out a resigned sigh, the weight of defeat evident in the slump of his shoulders. Retrieving his smartphone from his pocket, he tapped away at the screen with a sense of resignation. Moments later, my own device chimed with an incoming message, signaling his compliance with my request. "Continue your investigation into Jake while I look deeper into his connection with this woman," I instructed. Nodding in agreement, Angelo rose from his seat, a sense of purpose guiding his movements as he made his way towards the door. However, his departure was interrupted by a sudden pause, as if a fleeting thought had momentarily diverted his attention. "Have you had dinner yet? he inquired, a nose of concern lacing his words. Drawing my chair closer to the desk, I refocused my attention on the glowing screen of my laptop. "Not yet, I admitted, a tinge of weariness coloring my response. A scoff escaped Angelo's lips, accompanied by a subtle shake of his head. "Allow me to rectify that," he declared with gentle insistence. I'll arrange for a meal to be delivered to you promptly. It's important that you take care of yourself" He opened the door and walked out while I stared at the closed door, wondering why he just he just behaved as though he is my wife. Chapter 02 The following day, following a Zoom call that seemed to stretch on endlessly. I resolved to take matters visit to the woman in question into my own hands and pay a 1 arrived at the address provided by Angelo, and upon arrival, I couldn't help but be impressed by the expansive size of the establishment. Stepping inside, I was greeted by one of the sales representatives, Casting a brief glance over her petite frame, my attention swiftly returned to the array of cars on display. "Where is your boss?" I inquired, my tone direct. She responded with a diplomatic smile. Tim afraid she's unavailable at the moment, but I assure you, I can assist you in selecting the perfect car." Retrieving my business card from my pocket, I handed it to her. "Inform your boss that Mr. Ryan Williams won't be making a decision until she's present." Her eyes widened in response as she swiftly inspected the card. "I apologize, sir. She'll be with you shortly," she assured me before hurrying off to relay the message. Watching her depart, I settled in to await the woman of interest, A few minutes later, the woman from two days ago entered the room accompanied by another young lady, and her steps faltered as she caught sight of me. Engaging in a hushed conversation, she whispered something to her companion, who appeared slightly bewildered but nodded nonetheless. Approaching me with a polite smile, the woman

greeted. "Mr. Williams, what a coincidence to encounter ter you here" I do not like this woman. "Yara, isn't it I queried, to which she affirmed with a nod. "Aren't you supposed to be back in Paris?" She maintained her pleasant demeanor. "My client has requested my assistance in selecting a car, and I'll be leaving tomorrow," she explained. "So you're leaving tomorrow?" I pressed further, to which she confirmed: With a steely gaze. I reached into my pocket and confronted her directly. "Tm aware that you don't reside in Paris, and I know you're the owner of this establishment Gesturing towards the other woman. I added, 1 specifically instructed her to contact you." Yara. if that's even her real name, nervously licked her lips as she pondered my question. "What do you want?" she finally inquired, her voice betraying a hint of anxiety. 'T'd prefer to discuss matters in your office," I replied, offering a sly smile. She hesitated for a moment before turning and leading the way to her office, with me following closely behind. Entering her office, I settled comfortably onto the brown sofa as Yara busied herself with retrieving a bottle of whiskey and two tumblers. As she joined me on the sofa, I wasted no time getting to the heart of the matter. "What is your association with Jake?" I inquired bluntly, Yara paused, a flicker of defiance crossing her features. "What makes you think I'm going to give out that information?" she countered. Tiking my head slightly. I regarded her with a smug expression. Do you realize the lucrative business opportunity that awaits you?" I teased. She blinked in response, clearly taken aback. Imagine the sales potential your company could achieve in a single year, simply by having me mention your company's name during one of our events." Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Are you suggesting a shoutout in exchange for information?" she questioned, her tone guarded. I maintained my composure, meeting her gaze evenly. "What is your connection to Jake Willows?" I pressed. Taking a sip of her drink, she swirled the contents of her glass, avoiding direct eye contact. Tm not sure if what I have with that man could be classified as a business relationship, but he acquired a Lamborghini from us without making payment," she confessed. My eyebrows furrowed in disbelief. "So you simply hand out cars to individuals who promise to pay later?" I queried incredulously, struggling to comprehend her cavalier approach to business. How could an establishment operate under such loose terms and still remain in business? "Not just anyone," she clarified. "He arrived with someone known and reputable in the business world, who offered to cover the payment if Jake failed to meet his obligations on time. It appeared to be a reasonable arrangement, especially considering our recent lack of sales "And who might this reputable individual be?" I asked curiously. Her expression hardened, and she maintained a stony silence for a moment before responding. Whether or not there's a shoutout involved, I cannot reveal that information," she stated firmly. "Why not?" I pressed, seeking to understand her reluctance. [