Ryan was in the middle of inspecting the living room, testing the sofa cushions with the precision of someone performing a physics experiment, when Granny's shrill voice cut through the apartment again.
"That man you work for… who raised him, I want to know!" Granny shouted, pointing an accusatory finger toward Ryan, though it was obvious she meant the invisible man—the one who had hired Ryan to do all this meticulous checking.
Alina stifled a giggle behind her hand, but Ryan's mind went into overdrive. I can't tolerate this, Granny, for too long. How is he going to survive living here if she starts interrogating him like this? He won't last a day!
Granny stomped her foot, wagging her finger furiously. "Lazy, careless, doesn't know how to tie his own shoes! Someone has to check tiles for him, inspect sofa cushions, test the pillows… who raised him? Huh?"
Ryan felt his jaw tighten. I can't believe she's indirectly roasting him right in front of me. And the worst part? He's not even here to defend himself. He's probably sitting somewhere, completely oblivious.
Alina whispered under her breath, "You're braver than I thought, Ryan."
Ryan shot her a dry look, but internally, he was counting down the seconds until he could leave. Just survive this. Let her vent. Then I'll take a deep breath and get out of here.
Granny's voice softened slightly, almost as if she were sighing in relief. "Good… thank God that lazy fool isn't coming here himself. I would have had a heart attack! At least someone competent is doing this work. Someone who actually knows what they're doing!"
Ryan paused mid-step, taking a slow breath, feeling the tension in his shoulders ease just a fraction. Finally… some gratitude in this chaos, even if it's directed at me instead of him.
He adjusted his jacket, cleared his throat, and gave Alina a small nod. "I'll call you and inform you once everything's confirmed," he said, keeping his tone calm and composed despite the storm he'd just endured.
Alina smiled softly, understanding the unspoken relief in his eyes. "Sure"
As Granny continued muttering about incompetent young men, Ryan quietly stepped toward the door. Finally, he thought, a moment of peace. He paused just outside, letting out a long, steady breath, feeling the air fill his lungs and release the tension coiled in his chest.
Deep breath in… deep breath out…
For the first time in several minutes, he allowed himself a brief moment to smile, a small, almost imperceptible curve of his lip, relieved that this storm of Granny's sharp words was behind him, at least for now.
And with that, he stepped out of the apartment, the sounds of Granny's commentary fading behind him, leaving him with nothing but his own thoughts and a very, very long list of what not to say when Kai moves in.
Ryan had just stepped out of Alina's building when his phone rang. He was still clutching his chest like he'd just survived a battlefield, except the battlefield was a seventy-year-old granny armed with a hundred questions.
The screen flashed: Kai Arden.
Ryan exhaled sharply, swiping the call. " I'll be there in ten minutes," His cool voice said before Kai could even ask a question about where he was.
He hung up and dragged a palm down his face. First Granny, now Kai. One after the other. If life wanted me dead, it could've just sent a bus instead.
Ryan knocked softly. "Come in," Kai's voice came, crisp and commanding.
Ryan entered, shoulders squared, but there was an odd twitch at the corner of his lips, a leftover smile he couldn't quite wipe away.
Kai noticed instantly, eyes narrowing like a hawk. "Why are you smiling?"
Ryan set his tablet on the desk, pulling out the chair. "Because I finally found it. The place that matches all your… let's call them very selective requirements."
Kai leaned back in his chair, skeptical. "Selective?"
Ryan smoothed his tie, covering his slip. "Not everyone wants sunlight from a south-facing window, floorboards that don't creak, complete privacy, and zero traffic noise. But yes, I found it."
Kai's eyebrow arched. "Did you?"
Ryan swiped open his tablet and turned it toward him. The photos of the house filled the screen with bright, airy rooms, warm lighting, a cozy yet spacious living area, and a neighborhood lined with green trees.
Kai's gaze lingered. His silence stretched.
Ryan leaned forward, voice softening, persuasive. "Look at this, it's not overly perfect, it feels lived in, warm. And the best part?" He tapped the corner of the map on the tablet. "It's nearby. Ten, maybe twelve minutes max."
Kai's jaw flexed slightly, unreadable. "And you've checked everything?"
Ryan nodded firmly.. "Yes. I inspected it myself. The furniture is solid, the bed's not stiff as a rock, and the sofa's comfortable. TV works fine. The kitchen's functional. A few things are missing here and there like an AC and some other essentials but don't worry, I'll handle all of that''
Kai's eyes flicked up, sharp. "And the neighbors?"
Ryan's throat went dry for a second. If I tell him about Granny, he'll throw the tablet at me.
He cleared his throat. "Discreet. Nobody bothers anyone. Quiet and… safe." He forced a casual shrug. "Honestly, I doubt you'll even see them."
Kai leaned back, arms crossed. That usual wall of cold authority. "Ryan, you know I don't settle. If I don't like it in person, it's wasted effort."
Ryan felt a bead of sweat at his temple. Okay, damage control time.
He leaned in, hands clasped on the desk, tone firm yet calm. "Kai, trust me. I've seen you reject twenty places over the smallest details. But this one is different. It feels right. I wouldn't bring it to you otherwise."
Kai's smirk was faint but there, like he was amused at Ryan's persistence. "You sound oddly invested."
Ryan let out a light laugh, scratching the back of his neck. "Well, let's just say… finding the 'perfectly imperfect' place for you has been my personal Everest. And I finally reached the top. So yes, I'm invested."
Kai tapped his finger against the desk, a quiet rhythm of thought. His eyes dropped to the pictures once more, scanning each detail. Finally, his voice came, low and measured.
"Fine." Just one word, not more than that.
Ryan released a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. Thank God.
Kai added, "But if I don't like it when I see it."
"You will," Ryan cut in quickly, then caught himself and straightened. "I mean… I'm confident you will."
Kai studied him for a moment, as though trying to read what Ryan wasn't saying. Then he simply nodded.
Ryan stood, gathering his tablet. His thoughts swirled. Survived Granny, convinced Kai. That's two miracles in one day. But how long can I keep Granny a secret before she blows my cover?
Ryan stood just at the edge of Kai's desk, tablet in hand, confidence plastered across his face, though his heart was still racing from his earlier encounter with Granny.
"So," Ryan began, sliding the photos forward again, "I'll finalize it. I'm signing the papers tomorrow morning."
Kai's eyes lifted from the screen, narrowing slightly. "That quickly?"
Ryan nodded briskly. "Yes. It's better to lock it before anyone else shows interest. This place fits your conditions almost perfectly: privacy, no unnecessary attention, peace. If we wait, it'll slip away."
Kai leaned back, folding his arms across his chest, gaze sharp.
Ryan cleared his throat. He'd been waiting for that. Oh! I forgot to tell you there is… another tenant. A girl. You'll be her roommate."
Kai's expression didn't change much, but his stillness was heavier. "Ryan." His voice carried warning, slow and deliberate. "You're asking me to share a roof with a stranger?"
Ryan forced a light chuckle. "Not just any stranger. She's quiet, keeps to herself, and has her own life. In fact, I don't think your paths will even cross much. Your schedules are opposite."
And when he was saying that she is quiet, he remembered how yappy she is, and how much he was tired of listening to her.
Ryan leaned forward, his tone softer, persuasive. "I asked, subtly. She's not into media gossip, doesn't really care about fame. Honestly, Kai, she doesn't even look twice at that world. That's rare, considering your… profile."
Kai tilted his head, studying Ryan. "And if she does find out?"
Ryan managed a small, reassuring smile. "Then she'll still see you as her roommate. Not Kai Arden, the name that sells headlines. Just… Kai."
A silence stretched. Kai's fingers tapped against the desk, slow, calculated beats.
Ryan decided to add the final stroke. "And honestly, your identity won't even be at risk. You've built walls around yourself tighter than anyone I've met. She won't have the chance—or the interest...to dig."
Kai finally leaned back, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "You've already decided for me."
Ryan straightened, lifting his chin. "Yes. Because this works. Because you've rejected every other option. And because… It's the only place I can honestly see you living without losing your mind."
Kai studied him a moment longer, then exhaled slowly, almost like he was letting Ryan's stubbornness win—for now. "Fine. But …" his voice dropped, quiet steel, "…if she turns out to be trouble"
Ryan quickly interjected, "She won't. Trust me." Then, forcing calm into his voice, he added, "I'll handle the papers tomorrow. By the time you move in, it'll be seamless."
Kai gave a faint nod and turned his gaze back to his files, dismissing him without another word.
Ryan stepped out of the cabin, shutting the door gently behind him. Only when the click echoed did he allow his shoulders to drop. He muttered under his breath, "Signed papers tomorrow, roommate sorted, Kai convinced… and Granny almost gave me a heart attack in the process."
Shoving his hands into his pockets, Ryan walked down the hall, shaking his head with a half-smile. If Granny ever meets Kai, I'm dead. Forget PA, I'll need a new career.
The afternoon light filtered through the curtains of Alina's house, warm but muted, the kind that makes everything look a little softer. The dining table had been cleared, save for a neat stack of papers Alina had placed at the center. She slid the folder closer to Ryan, tapping the top page with her pen.
"So," she said, brows arched, "this is for your friend?"
Ryan gave a small nod, pulling the chair back and lowering himself onto it with the kind of seriousness that made it look like he was about to sign a business contract rather than a rental agreement. His fingers brushed the smooth edge of the paper before lifting the pen.
"Yes," he said, carefully, almost too carefully. "He's… not a very social person. Doesn't like attention. That's why I'm handling this for him."
Alina tilted her head, studying him. "Not social, huh? Sounds like a hermit. Should I be worried? Is he some sort of recluse who'll complain if I breathe too loudly in the living room?"
Ryan's lips tugged at a half-smile, but he didn't look up. His pen scratched against the paper as he signed his name where she pointed. "He won't be a problem. He's actually very… disciplined. Keeps to himself. Clean. Quiet."
Alina leaned on her elbow, watching him with amusement. "You talk like you're his character reference for a job interview."
Ryan glanced at her then, a flicker of guilt in his eyes before he smoothed it away. "In a way, I am. He doesn't really do these things. Paperwork, talking to people, it's not his style. I told him I'd take care of it."
She accepted the page he slid across to her, her nails tapping against the wood as she flipped to the next one. "Strange. Most people I know who want roommates are dying to meet them first. Make sure they click, you know? But you make it sound like he'll avoid me as much as possible."
Ryan cleared his throat, reaching for the next sheet. "That's not what I meant. He's… just private. You'll hardly notice he's here, I promise. And..." He hesitated, looking at her squarely for the first time. "..he's not like anyone you'd expect."
Alina blinked, caught off guard by the sudden weight in his tone. For a second, she thought about asking what that meant, but the look in his eyes warned her he wouldn't say more. So instead, she let it go, smirking.
They finished the last page in silence, the only sounds the soft scratch of pen against paper and the hum of the ceiling fan. When it was done, Alina gathered the papers neatly, stacking them into a folder.
"There," she said, sliding the file back to him. "All official. I guess I'll finally be meeting this unsociable, mysterious friend of yours soon."
Ryan stood, tucking the folder under his arm. His expression was calm, almost casual, but inside his thoughts churned. No, Alina. If I can help it, you won't meet him. At least not the way you expect.
He gave her a small nod and a polite smile. "I'll inform him that everything is settled. He'll be moving in soon."