A Stranger’s Help

After his business meeting with Mr. Wade, Harison’s father, a young man left Mr. Wade’s study, ready to return home, but as he got out of the study, he heard shouting down stairs. He walked to the handrail and looked down at the living room. He recognized Harison, Mr. Wade’s son, and there were two ladies with him.

One was drenched and looked like a servant being scolded by her masters. He was about to leave when he heard her voice and stopped. He took a good look at her again and took out his phone. He quickly went on I*******m to confirm his suspicions.

“It really is her, Layla Reynolds,” he muttered to himself, getting more and more interested in the conversation. He stood there, watching the trio from an inconspicuous angle, like watching a live drama from the gallery.

By the time they were done, he adjusted his suit and began walking towards the stairs. He knew he would see Harison, so he was prepared to not look like he had been spying on them.

“Mr. Ryan,” Harison said with a smile as he saw him and extended his hand for a handshake. “Are you done with my father?” 

“Yes,” Ryan replied and took the handshake. “Your father is really good with beating down prices and debating value,” he said with a soft chuckle. 

“So it was a successful meeting then?”

“Yes,” Ryan nodded, “It was. However, I must get going, I have a few things to attend to before the night ends. It was nice meeting you,” he said and nodded at Harison’s companion.

“Forgive my manners,” Harison chuckled. “Evelina, meet Mr. Ryan Martinez. Mr. Ryan, Evelina, my girlfriend.”

“I heard,” Ryan said and took her handshake. “I wish you both the best, goodnight,” he said and left. 

Harison looked at Ryan till he was out the door. He then turned to Evelina, “Come on, babe, tonight is a perfect weather for some wildness. With the thunderstorm, no one will hear us,” he kissed her neck and picked her off the ground and took her to his bedroom.

Arriving at his bedroom, Harison tossed Evelina on the bed and began kissing her, breathing heavily, pulling off her gown. He was about to get down on her, but she stopped him.

“What? What’s wrong?” Harison asked with a frustrated groan. 

“I don’t know… that Ryan guy…” Evelina said, a bit lost in her thoughts. 

“What about him?” Harison groaned.

“He said he had heard when you told him about me… from who?” she asked, wondering.

“Who cares? People talk,” Harison said and began kissing her neck again, trying to get her back in the mood.

“Or maybe it was our talk that he heard?” She was still distracted.

“So what?” Harison frowned and stopped kissing her. “It doesn’t concern him.”

Evelina sighed and looked at Harison. “I don’t know, I just don’t like the thoughts I am having. What if he tries to use Layla?”

“Use her? For what?” Harison asked.

“I don’t know,” she shrugged. “He did say your dad beat down some values or something, what if he wants to use what she knows about your family to bring you guys down?”

Harison sighed and caressed her face. “Layla doesn’t know anything about us that could be damaging. Besides, I know Ryan, after his break up with Denise earlier this year, he hasn’t gotten into a relationship, and when asked about it in an interview, he said it was because he needed a respectable woman and hadn’t found one yet,” he said and walked to the window.

“Does that look respectable to you?” he said, pointing out his window at Layla walking under the rain.

Outside the house, Layla was still walking under the rain, starting to shiver from the cold, but she kept walking. She had to leave the villa’s large compound before getting a cab, she was already extremely wet, so rain didn’t bother her. The only thing that was bothering her was how to raise the money she needed for her grandfather’s health issue.

She was still under the rain when an SUV pulled up next to her and the door opened to her.

“Ms. Layla, right?” the man in the backseat inside asked and she nodded. “Hop in.”

Layla looked around; she was still in Harison’s family villa. She didn’t know who was in the car, but at this point, she wasn’t thinking straight, so she got into the car, soaked in water from head to toe.

Back in Harison’s room, Evelina was still looking at Layla when Ryan’s car pulled up. 

“Oh my God! Babe, are you seeing this?” she quickly gestured for Harison to come back to the window. “Ryan just took her in his car.”

“What?” Harison exclaimed in surprise. He watched as the car drove off, unable to believe his eyes.

“I told you he was suspicious,” Evelina said.

“W-Well… that doesn’t m-mean h-he is t-trying anything,” Harison stammered. “He might just be giving her a lift,” he said, trying to convince himself that Evelina was wrong.

~.~.~

Ryan’s car pulled up at his home out in the outskirts of the city. Ryan took Layla by the hand to his house and handed her over to his housemaid.

“Please, prepare her a hot bath, she will fall sick if she goes to bed, then make that tea you made for me when I last caught a cold,” he ordered, and Layla was led to the bathroom and submerged in hot, soothing water, with only her head above the water.

After about an hour and thirty minutes, Layla left the bathroom. The maids had set a nice night gown for her on the bed. She picked up, it was a bit loose, but they weren’t made to be tight in the first place. She put them on and joined Ryan in the living room. 

“Here, drink this,” he said and offered her a mug of hot brewed herbal tea.

“Thank you,” she received the cup and took a sip. It was bad at all.

“You really shouldn’t have done that to yourself, you could have died in that rainstorm,” Ryan said with an emotionless tone.

“I… sigh… I just had a lot on my mind and I wasn’t thinking straight,” she replied, feeling stupid.

“You dying to save your grandfather is rather foolish is it not?” Ryan finally turned to her.

“What?” Layla was shocked. “How did you know about that?” 

“I overheard your conversation at Mr. Wade’s villa,” Ryan replied.

“I’m sorry… who are you?” she asked.

“Another mistake,” Ryan stood up and walked closer to the fireplace. “Why are all women this way?” he sighed. “You entered the car of someone you didn’t know, and now you are at the edge of the city, nowhere to run, no one to help you, what if I wanted to kill you?” he said and turned around with a calm look on his face.

Layla swallowed hard and shifted in her seat uncomfortably. 

“You made two bad decisions in one night, very unbecoming of a respectable woman like yourself,” he sighed. “I am Ryan, Ryan Martinez,” he said and his phone rang, it was his grandmother. “You should rest, we will talk tomorrow,” he said as he took the call.

“Good evening, Nana,” he greeted as he took the call.

“Will you be coming home tonight?” she asked.

“No Nana, I am going to sleep at my private condo tonight,” he replied.

“Why?”

“I have a guest with me tonight, I do not want you to meet her just yet,” Ryan replied.

“What? Oh my,” his grandma was excited. “Who is she?”

“Layla is her name, Layla Reynolds.”

“What?” her mood suddenly changed. “Layla Reynolds? As in the Reynolds’s that just went bankrupt?”

“Precisely,” he replied, unperturbed.

“I do not accept this Nieto,” she complained. “I will not support it.”

“Nana, I have made up my mind. She is the one I want, and once I am done building this relationship, I will introduce her to the family,” Ryan replied. “Goodnight Nana,” he said and ended the call.