Chapter 5

RYAN.

I tipped the glass to my lips, swallowing the last drop of vodka, the liquid burning down my throat.

I hated this—this feeling of owing anyone anything, not even favors. Kingsley, my uncle, had me in a bind, and I loathed every second of it. But it was something I couldn't run away from.

Fuck.

"You have to take it easy, man," Leo, my friend, said.

I slammed the glass on the table, "Easy? What the fuck do you expect me to do? Huh?" I hissed, leaning forward, "You expect me to walk into that office every damn day, look her in the eye, and pretend I'm not filled with rage? That I don't want to tear her apart for what she did?"

I was beyond pissed, and the beats coming from the loud music downstairs only added to my anger.

"I guess you don't have much of a choice. Kingsley made sure of that." He replied, leaning back in his seat.

I clenched my jaw, the muscles ticking as my grip tightened on the glass, "I almost lost my daughter. She just stood there, watching a little child slowly die such a horrible death. And you expect me to overlook it?" The glass in my hand creaked under the pressure of my grip, and I forced myself to set it down before it shattered.

"Maybe I have an idea... You could make it all work in your favor. How about making her working conditions a little too stringent and uncomfortable? Set the bar so high that she can't reach it. Let her fail on her own. Then you can get rid of her without breaking any promises to Kingsley," Leo said with a shrug.

The thought sparked something dark in me. Even though I don't think I can stand her presence around me, making her suffer might be the only way to not only get rid of her but it would also be a way to channel the fury that has been eating me alive.

I nodded slightly, the idea taking root.

"Exactly," Leo said, picking up on my silence. "Make her regret stepping foot in your company."

A flash of movement caught his attention, and his expression shifted, a smirk curling his lips. "Fuck... Look at that ass..."

I followed his gaze, uninterested, as a young woman strutted past, dressed in barely-there fabric that left little to the imagination. Leo, as usual, was in his element.

I scoffed and turned my attention back to the drink in my hand.

"You haven't looked at any woman for the past four years, Ryan. Don't you think it's time to move on?" Leo asked, "I mean, there are a lot of beautiful women out there. Hell, there's a whole club downstairs—take your pick... Just to relieve some stress. Come on," He added, and I gave him a glare.

"Stop it, Leo," I said coldly.

This was a sensitive topic, and he knew it.

"But, seriously," He adjusted in his seat, the dim light from the VIP boot where we sat illuminated his serious features, "Aria needs someone... A mother figure. You can't be there for her all the time. It's been four years now, and even she would want you to move on already."

He kept making valid points I didn't want to hear. "No one can ever replace her. Going into a relationship with another woman would only be to that woman's detriment. I do not want to love another. The day Bianca left, my heart left along with her. I tend to look for Bianca in every woman I have ever met after her. None of them ever come close."

There was silence before he spoke up again, "How about the lady I tried to hook you up with? Just give her a try... You might be surprised. She is humble, hardworking, beautiful, everything a man needs in a woman."

"Leo..." I called, running desperate fingers through my short, dark hair.

"Please, Ryan. For my sake. Just one date. And if you don't like her, I won't push it. Please, my friend," Leo insisted.

We've been friends since childhood, and we bear each other's pains and burdens all the time. I understood his worry. He just wanted me to be fine, and I can't be too angry about that.

"Okay. I'll check my schedule, and I'll contact her." I said in resignation, massaging my temple to ease up the slight ache I felt in my head.

"Don't get yourself worked up. You have to stay focused for the AquaVista Project, you know?" He said and sincerely, the thought of my upcoming project always made me ease up.

The AquaVista Project is the next big thing in the city's real estate market, and my company has invested substantial resources into making it a flagship property.

It would be a huge gain for LuxeLiving Holdings.

AquaVista is a high-end waterfront development—a mix of luxury apartments, boutique retail, and exclusive amenities designed to appeal to wealthy investors and homebuyers.

"Yeah. You are right. I need my head in the game," I said, taking a few calming breaths.

"When is it officially starting off?" Leo asked.

"The moment Vincenzo Giovanni signs the documents, then we are good to go. I expect the good news of his investment in two days," I explained.

Vincenzo Giovanni, an Italian Big Shot in the real estate world, had agreed to invest in the project, making him the biggest shareholder with 27 percent shares in the project.

It took me a lot to get him to invest in this project, and it meant a lot to me. I wouldn't lie… I've been nervous since my attorney sent him the consent documents. And I nervously awaited the final procedure two days from now.

"Congratulations in advance, man. We'll celebrate to that," Leo said, and we both laughed.

The vibration of my phone interrupted our chit-chats, and I realized it was really late. It could be Aria's Nanny, Mrs. Abby, calling. It was past her closing time.

Shit.

I pulled out my phone, but to my surprise, it was Carl, my manager. I narrowed my brows.

Why was he calling by this time?

"Carl?" I said into the phone.

"We have a problem, sir." He said, and I held the phone tightly to my ears, my guts telling me I wouldn't like what he was about to say.

"Tell me," I said, steeling myself for the worse.

"Vincenzo Giovanni..." He paused, and so did my heartbeat. "He pulled out of the deal."

I felt my world screech to a stop, my body trembling violently as I listened to him, but before he could finish his report, I slammed my fist on the table, causing the bottles and glasses to clatter, some falling on the floor, breaking to pieces.

"Fuck!" I yelled, shooting up to my feet in one swift motion as I paced around, furious.

"What is going on, Ryan!" Leo hurried to stand before me.

The only response I could utter was in one word.

"Logan."