CHAPTER FIVE

The evening was stormy. Mr. Stevens and his grandson, Ryan, were on their way home as the rain kept pouring intensely with thunder striking eerily in the sky.

"We should've gone to your house, son," said Mr. Stevens warily, his eyes gleaming from the blue light in the sky. "This rain won't stop now; are you really able to drive this way?"

"Don't worry, I know this road better than you think," Ryan said confidently, and he meant it. His muscular arms gripped the steering tightly, tentatively avoiding all the weak spots as he kept driving the large SUV.

Ryan was an epitome of handsomeness; tall, athletic built, with amazing facial features that deserved more than one glance. He was also a matured guy, with a very stronger personality than his actual age.

"Okay, if you say so." Mr. Stevens pulled a bottle of Scotch.

"I thought the doctor forbade that," Ryan remarked, scowling, and it was always a fool's errand.

Mr. Stevens was crazy for whisky, but it wasn't enough for him to be an alcoholic, thankfully.

"Son, if I die, I'll just die," he said. "Might as well do it as a happy man instead of a sad, old bag of bones!"

"That famous speech," Ryan muttered, rolling his eyes.

Ignoring the sarcasm, Mr. Stevens added, "I'm not spending a few of my last days in the world like a warrior who's left his wife and kids at home." He cleared his throat at the burning sensation upon chugging the drink, and it was enough to make Ryan shake his head to the sides.

"I was able to convince the shareholders about the redevelopment deal," Ryan said, finding the distraction from this horrendous weather. He glanced at his grandfather as

he added, "Considering the cost and benefit analysis, it wasn't hard getting the majority on our side."

"I knew you'd do it; I had absolutely no doubt," Mr. Stevens remarked, a proud hint in his smile. "Now you can focus on getting the permit, and by luck, I know someone who can work on it as soon as possible."

Ryan nodded, marveling at his upcoming project.

Mr. Stevens was the founder of the SK group of companies. They owned plenty of buildings, apartments and shopping malls, among other things. Ryan was the CEO of SK Real Estate, one of the best in the country. He'd taken over the reign upon his grandfather's retirement.

He was the best, nevertheless, and even admired by many as the youngest entrepreneur compared to many in the real estate industry.

His eyes were careful on the road. But suddenly, out of the blue, his attention was stolen by the bemusing sight. He briskly hit the brakes, staring outside attentively via the side window.

"What is that?" he thought out loudly, squinting his eyes at the sight of a person hanging on the tree, holding it tight.

It was a woman, Ryan comprehended, and she seemed in deep trouble.

"Hold on a second, Grandfather," Ryan announced while unbuckling his seatbelt.

"What's going on? You nearly gave me a heart attack!" Stevens barked over his whisky.

"Over there," Ryan uttered pointedly, and the old man caught on immediately. "Can you see it? I think it's a person."

"Yeah, I can see. Is it a woman?" Mr. Stevens asked, squinting his eyes beneath the pair of spectacles.

"I'll go check," Ryan said, determined to unravel the mystery.

It was a scary predicament, but he was far from any fright.

"Be careful, son," Mr. Stevens said, sounding displeased with the idea somehow.

He was probably worried.

Slamming the door shut, Ryan hastened though the treacherous raindrops and peered his way towards the subject of his attention. It was indeed a woman, and he had no time to think or wonder of her deal.

"Here, hold my hand!" he urged, narrowing his eyes as the rainwater harassed his sight.

"I . . . can’t," the woman uttered faintly.

“Of course, you can. Try harder. I got you.” Ryan grabbed her hand sharply, followed by the bag hanging barely on her back. “There.” With all his strength he held the tree for support as the ground was very slippery.

Eventually he pulled her up and out of danger. He could tell she'd slipped, given the slope and the mud smeared in her clothes and sneakers. But how did she end up like this? He wondered to no avail while taking her away from the slope.

"Are you okay?" He was holding her tight, her stance unstable. However, she eyed him up, only momentarily, unable to decipher a thing.

She was in shock.

Puffing the dripping water on his face, Ryan witnessed the woman burying her face on his chest, both drenched, for the rain wasn't friendly even now.

"Hey, can you hear me?" He tried to wake her but it was useless. "Damn!" With a single grunt, he lifted the unconscious woman in his arms, carrying her bridal style, and scurried towards the car.

"Oh God! Is she okay?" Mr. Stevens opened the backdoor in a hurry.

"Not sure," Ryan replied, and smoothly placed the lady inside. He pulled the jacket on the backseat, and covered her hastily, fully aware that it wasn't helping a thing.

"What is wrong with her? What was she doing here? I don't even think she's from around here!" Mr. Stevens' gaze was profuse towards her.

"I doubt she's from here, or else she wouldn't be in this place." Ryan started the engine.

Wondering about the mysterious lady in the rain, Ryan and his grandfather arrived at their home some time later. It wasn't a nice ride, but their safety was all that mattered.

The lady was carefully placed into the bedroom, by Ryan himself, and asked the lady housekeeper to help on changing her and other details.

"Do you think she'll be fine?" Mr. Stevens asked as Ryan descended the stairs in his drenched clothes.

His dark brown hair was damp, his shirt half-buttoned, and the kind of look no woman would hesitate peeking a second glance at.

"She will be," he answered while drying his unruffled hair with a mini towel he was holding.