Ivyanna's pov
Things were hectic with my dance school and online studies i barely had time for myself.We had just finished a particularly difficult routine and all I wanted to do was to go home and get some sleep when Casey found me. I felt like crying at that point because I knew that she wasn't going to be leaving anytime soon.
"Hi ivy"she said rather enthusiastically.
"Casey hey how are you doing?"I asked trying to copy her enthusiasm but failing miserably.If she noticed my mood it certainly didn't curb her happiness. I mean why would it, deep down although she could cover it under the guise of friendship we both knew that we were anything but friends.To her I was just a walking and talking money bag.
"I was thinking about hanging out later today"she stated.
And by that my dear friends she means shopping and spending money on irrelevant things all paid for by yours truly of course, note the sarcasm.
"Oh Casey I'd love to but the last class has me drained."I told her
"Okay some other time then?"she asks.
"Yeah sure"I said already walking away.wow I got lucky.
I ordered pizza on my way home so me and the delivery guy got there at the same time.Nothing beats pepperoni pizza and ice cream after a stressful day.
I finished my nightly routine and just before I fell into a deep dreamless sleep,my thoughts drifted to the beautiful man who i had met twice.And in a split second i wondered why he was the first thing I thought of waking up and the last thing on my mind before I went to sleep.
*~~*~* *~*~~*
Ryker's pov
It's been a few weeks since I last saw my beloved. I have being occupied with everything going on.Starting with the conspiracy theory in the kingdom, to the sabotage attempts.It had grown from being on my clubs and now it was on all my known businesses.
Although things were starting to calm down,i did not have any intention of bringing my beloved into a situation that could potentially harm her. The fact that there was an attempt on her life wasn't helping me out.
I had to decide which scenario was safer for her to be in.
With me, my enemy might find out about her,capture her and use her as leverage against me.While on her own,the chances of the person after her attacking her so soon after the first attempt was slim. I increased her guards making sure that she was well protected .
Some of the guards posed as tenants in her apartment,some posed as students in her school,some were even in the apartment building next to her. I made sure that she was totally surrounded by people i trusted
Which is why I decided to wait for two weeks after we were finished with everything before I could approach her.It was not easy,sometimes Tristin and Triton had to talk me out of seeing her. Also knowing that I had trustworthy people guarding her helped.They gave me daily updates on her well-being.
'Ivyanna my Ivyanna' I was tempted to go through the information that Theodoric provided but later decided against it.
I wanted her to be the one to tell me everything.
I drove to the dance academy she had gone to the first time I saw her and waited for the close of the day. I had a feeling that I would likely find her here.
My expectations came sooner than I thought. I watched her stroll out of the building with two other girls.
Unable to stand still any longer I walked over to where she was standing.
"Hello there"I said drawing the attention of her friends.There was no way she hadn't sensed me.
"Hi"the three of them said
"Can we talk?"I asked her
"Sure thing"she said shrugging her shoulders.
We walked a few feet away from where her friends were standing.
"Are you stalking me?"she asked.To say that I was shocked was an understatement
"And if I am?"I questioned smirking
"Then I'd have to get a restraining order"she replied indifferently. I certainly didn't see that coming
"Well in that case I am not stalking you"I said"I came here to finish the conversation we had in the elevator the other day.
"Oh...ummm..... sure?"she said. Although she put up a confident facade I could tell that I affected her as much as she affected me.
We conversed for a while before I asked her out.If any of my friends could see me now I knew I would never live it down. Nervousness leaked from my pores and my hands were slightly sweaty not that a human would notice but still this was not like me in any way
"Great,so when are you free?" I asked.
"She could be free right now romeo"replies one of her friends.
"Riley!!"she exclaimed "what he's hot"her friend says.
We had been so engrossed in each other that we did not notice when her friends shifted closer to us.
"Sorry this is Riley, ignore whatever she says.she has a broken filter"my beloved says 'more like none at all' her other friend whisper under her breath."oh and this is Celeste"she finishes.
"A pleasure to meet you both I'm Ryker River"I said flashing them a smile.
"Awe a gentleman"
Riley says as she pretends to swoon while Celeste catches her.
"So this friday?"I asked.
"Sure"she said shaking her head at her friend's antics
"I'll pick you up by four"I said smiling.We exchange numbers before I leave.While on my way to my car I over hear her quiet friend speak
"The next time you decide to swoon on me you'll find your ass on the floor"she said.
"You couldn't even if you wanted too you love me too much to let me fall"Riley says
"Oh yeah try me"
They continue with their banter as I drove away.
Things were starting to flow in the right direction.