CHAPTER THREE

GIANNA

"Gianna, where are you?" Elder Jiang asked, nervously through the phone. I handed the cab driver his money and began hastily walking through the front doors of the coffee shop.

"I'm almost at your office," I said, disconnecting the call. I hastily walked to his office. I was getting set to come to work when he called and said I should hurry. I didn't know what the problem was but it sounded urgent.

"You came? Oh, you really don't know what's coming for you, Gianna," Janelle said, out of nowhere. I rolled my eyes and continued on my way. "Don't you want to know what I mean?"

"Not interested in meaningless gossip. It doesn't suit you too. Makes you less attractive; not that you were attractive in the first place though, don't get me wrong," I told her, grinning. Without waiting for a reply, I went on my way and reached Elder Jiang's office.

"Sir, I'm here," I greeted, pushing open the door. I raised my head to look at me and the breath was knocked out of me when I saw the three men staring right at me. One had a bodyguard behind him and he stared at me with a lazy smirk on his face. He also had a cigarette between his lips. This early morning? Youths of nowadays.

"Gianna, it's great that you've finally arrived. We've been waiting quite a while," Elder Jiang said. His son, Fred, snickered and turned away from me. Ryder still kept looking at me and I felt uncomfortable.

Unfortunately, I didn't leave my hair down today. In my haste, I'd decided to just put it in a loose bun and now, I regretted that decision. It made it hard to hide from the gaze of the man before me.

"Uhm, what's the matter, sir? Is there any issue?" I asked, gently as I shifted my line of sight from Ryder.

"Uhm, Gianna, meet Mr Ryder Black. Mr Black, meet our star but slightly clumsy waitress, Gianna Hunter," Elder Jiang introduced.

"Shit!" I cursed, unconsciously. Their eyes immediately turned on me and I let out a nervous laugh. "I felt sudden pain in my head. It happens," I lied. Elder Jiang nodded.

"Gianna Hunter? But she told me her name was Anna Hunt," Ryder said. I bit the inside of my cheek. This was the reason for my curse. Elder Jiang had blown my cover and I was afraid Ryder would remember me.

"Well, if you look at it from my eyes, it's still the same thing, yeah?" I asked, laughing. They all nodded and we went back to business.

Shooting me an apologetic look, Elder Jiang began, "Gianna, we received a complaint from Mr Black about your mistake yesterday and he's extremely displeased. He demands an apology."

"Oh!" I said. "Okay, uhm, I'm sorry," I said. That was easy.

"That's not the apology I'm looking for. Jiang Senior, please tell her about the deal," Ryder spoke.

"Mr Black wants you to work for him as an apology and also because he likes the taste of your coffee. Also, he ofeers to help expand our business of you agree," Elder Jiang said. Taste of my coffee? Fucking bullshit! He didn't even get a fucking drop out of it. Suspicious!

"And If I disagree?" I asked, daringly. Ryder took a puff of his cigarette and replied,

"Then you'll have yourself to blame for whatever happens to this place," he said. I frowned.

"Is that a threat and what exactly do you plan on doing?"

"Well, I don't usually explain myself to people but I'll do it this one time, no, it's not a threat. If you disagree, you'll lose your job and your wonderful boss here would lose his business. The ball is in your court, Miss Hunt," he said, smirking. I gulped. Something about this felt wrong. Like if I agreed I was only trapping myself.

"You don't have to do this, Gianna. If you don't want to, it's fine," Elder Jiang assured me but I could hear an undertone of fear in his voice. I looked at him in pity. I wouldn't want to be the reason the business he ahd slaved for would go down the drain. But I also didn't want to work for Ryder. I didn't want to be anywhere near him. I sighed and made the hardest decision of my life.

"I'm sorry, Elder Jiang but, I will work for him," I said, letting out a deep breath. Ryder smirked. Jiang junior grinned and Elder Jiang looked like a mixture of relieved and remorseful.

"Great. Now that that's sorted, when do we start the collaboration Ryder?" Fred asked. Ryder gave him a death glare.

"I'll be communicating with you through my new secretary, Miss Hunter. And this should be the last time you make the mistake of calling me by my first name, understood?" he asked. Fred shivered and nodded fervently.

"As for you, Miss Hunter, I'm giving you five minutes to wrap up here and meet me outside the shop. Your time starts now," Ryder said as he stood up to leave. Immediately he left, Elder Jiang asked me a question.

"Why did you agree? You didn't have to."

"Stop worrying. It's not a bad job and it's a win-win for all of us," i told him.

"She's right, father," Fred said, grinning. Elder Jiang glared at him.

"Get out, you silly rat," Elder Jiang yelled and Fred stood up immediately. I laughed. Fred left while murmuring something and I smiled. "I'm scared for you, child. I've heard things about that man. They say he does things that are wrong and the law let's him get away with it," Elder Jiang said. I smiled ruefully. The same reason why I had run away from my marriage four years ago.

"It's all rumors. He's not that bad, sir. Time is almost up. I'll come see you sometime," I told him as I hugged him. Elder Jiang wanted to protest but I left before he could.

When I went out, I saw Janelle trying to make conversation with Ryder but he was giving her a cold shoulder. That was wonderful to see. When she saw me coming, she rolled her eyes and straightened up. As we passed by each other, her shoulder bumped mine and she whispered,

"It's just a mere stroke of luck, Gianna. Don't get too in your head."

"Don't worry, Janelle. I definitely won't become you," I replied. I left her and got into the car with Ryder. In the car, there was an air of discomfort around. Maybe I was the only one feeling it though since Ryder didn't even pay me any attention.

"So," I chuckled nervously. "Do I call you boss? Sir? Mr Black? Or just Ryder?" I asked. He didn't even spare me a glance. Rude motherfucker.

After that, I decided to keep my pretty mouth shut.

°~!!~°

"Here's the contract. Read it if you want," Ryder said, throwing a stack of papers to me. I sighed.

"What's the point?" I asked. I flipped through the pages, penning down my signature without even bothering to read through it and that was one of my biggest mistakes. After I was done, I gave him the paper and I noticed the dangerous smirk on his face.

"Big mistake, Gianna," he growled out and with the look he gave me, I knew I'd fallen right into the infamous Ryder Black's trap and I had no way to get out. Fuck.