Chapter 39
Ishika
“Are you okay with how things ended with Bolton?” I ask, sipping on my hot chocolate.
We spent the entire morning in bed talking and fucking.
Then we took a coffee break and ate ramen naked in bed to rejuvenate.
I probed more about the upcoming show and he answered all my questions patiently.
He is going to be tied up in projects for two years, working in various kitchens and for famous chefs in the country if his career takes off.
They are going to do twenty-two pop-up restaurants in twenty-two major cities.
He already signed an NDA, but I am asking him to have it checked by a lawyer in case he needs legal advice.
He asked me about dental school. We talked about how we would work around our schedules in the coming months.
Our conversations were deep and honest until I had to shift my legs to avoid leg cramps, and he got a glimpse of my pussy, and his cock started getting hard.
He fucked me in the shower like an animal, grunting, growling, and roaring.
He pushed me into the glass frame until it shook with his thrusts, and at one point, I feared who would shatter first. Thank God, my orgasm came, or we would have ended up having to replace that glass panel.
I slept in his arms the entire afternoon. When I woke up it was already late evening. He took me out for wood-fire pizza and ice-skating lessons. I fell down numerous times and he took great pleasure in dusting off the ice from my ass.
Now we are sitting at this cozy café drinking coffee and munching on churros.
“You really want to discuss Bolton and spoil my mood?” Ryan asks.
“He didn’t get to finish his sentence. How do you feel about that? He was killed.”
Ryan sighs and drops the churro back into the dish.
Leaning back into the chair, he thinks for a minute before he speaks.
“I wanted him to have a painful life in prison. I wanted him to die in shame and in old age repenting for his sins. So when he died abruptly, I wasn’t okay.
The blanket of darkness and anger once more took over my thoughts.
The guilt for failing as a son. The self-incriminating ritual where I believed I couldn’t ever be enough for the woman I love.
I won’t lie, it was bloody hard. Then one day as I was walking through these new streets full of strangers, as usual pissed at my circumstances.
Then suddenly I found a bunch of wild purple daisies on a window of a small herb and spice shop. ”
He flashes me with the sweetest of smiles and weaves his fingers into mine.
“My purple daisies?” I smile.
“Yes, just like yours. Right before that moment, I was recollecting all the events that brought me pain and suffering in the past. I was constantly cycling the negative emotions for days before that. But when I saw those daisies, they made me miss home. They made me think of you. In my mind, I ended up once again on that cliff with you in my arms. I went to sleep that night dreaming about you and our future, making plans to fix all my mistakes, working on all the things I would say to you when I meet you again. Those purple daisies triggered something bright inside me. We all have darkness and light trapped inside of us. The one I feed is the one that intensifies and grows inside me. I decided that I won’t feed my darkness to starve my light.
I can’t expect happiness and hope if I keep harvesting my gloom and doom every day.
I can’t feed both my negative and positive emotions, I have to choose one.
I choose you, Ishika. You’re my light. I called the cooking show for a follow-up.
Two weeks later they invited me to audition for the preliminary rounds. ”
“Thank you for choosing me.” His confession hits me right in the feels.
He nods and squeezes my hand. “So to answer your question, yes, I have moved past the fact that Bolton had a relatively easy, quick death. But I hope he thought of my father during that moment. I hope his sins flashed before his eyes when he took his last breath. And even if they didn’t I won’t spare him another second of my life.
I choose to feed my light.” He smiles at me.
“And, Nigel Lance? I heard you gave the feds some evidence about him.”
“Yeah, I gave the feds all the evidence I found from the USB drive against Nigel Lance. They had frozen all his bank accounts immediately and they were able to retrieve most of the stolen money from offshore accounts. But the bastard fled the country before they could arrest him.”
“I’m so proud of you, Ryan,” I say, bringing his hand closer and pressing my cheek on the back of his hand. “How is Wendy?”
“Bolton tortured her for years, physically, emotionally, and mentally. She never said a word to anyone. She was so terrified of him. But you should have seen her in court when she gave her statement. She was incredibly brave when she faced him and his vile lawyers. She’s living with my mother these days and definitely in a better place.
But years of abuse can’t be forgotten overnight.
She’s getting help and working on her recovery. ”
“It’s sad that Wendy had to endure abuse in silence. She was wonderful to me every time I visited their home, and never did I suspect anything wrong with her marriage. Do you think she’ll be okay if I visited her sometime?”
“Bolton was good at fooling everyone. If you decide to visit Wendy, she would like that,” Ryan says, giving me an encouraging smile.
We sit in silence for a few minutes, finishing our coffees.
“Let’s get out of here. I want to cook for you tonight,” Ryan says. “This will be the first time I cook in that apartment.”
“Will George be there?”
“No, he is staying over at Kava’s. Why? Are you planning on showing me your seduction skills again?” he teases me, pulling me out of my chair.
“You bet,” I confirm, standing up and wrapping my arms around his waist. I am tucked under his arm as we walk out of the café.
“Do you wanna go dancing tomorrow? Wear a cute dress and go clubbing with me?”
I never pegged him to be a guy who likes to dance. I don’t want to waste time dancing in a club when I can have him dancing naked on top of me in his room.
“No thank you. I prefer naked breakfast and shower sex again please,” I say, wincing as my heel begins to hurt. The ice skates earlier had made my feet sore.
“Come, hop on,” Ryan urges, locking his hands together behind his back, acting as a step.
He jerks his head, gesturing me to climb his back.
Now this, riding home on Ryan’s back is definitely what interests me.
I jump on him like a spider monkey, with my arms around his neck and my front to his back.
My legs wrap around his waist and I nuzzle his neck.
He walks with ease as if I weigh nothing.
“We should do more regular things too. I don’t want you to think I’m only after your pussy,” he says.
“I would be so offended if you didn’t want my pussy. In fact, I would panic.”
“You know what I mean. Let me spoil you. Let me take you out on a proper date.”
“ISHIKA!” an angry shout erupts into the cold street.
I freeze and Ryan turns to the direction of the voice that is screaming my name. I lower myself from his back as a sudden rush of anxiety fills my body. Ryan shields me with his body but shit is about to explode.
Standing before us is my father, who definitely doesn’t like the way I am secured in Ryan’s arms.
“Dad?”
“Why are you here? Does your mother know about this? I’m guessing she doesn’t or she would have freaked out,” my father yells. “Are you lying to us now, Ishy? You’re coming with me this instant.”
“How did you find me? Have you been keeping tabs on me?” Sliding off Ryan’s back, I step in front of Ryan so I am face-to-face with my father.
Our strained relationship is still very delicate.
My father has done so much for me in the past. If only he’d give Ryan a chance and agree to see him through my eyes.
“It’s my job to keep tabs on you. You’re my daughter.
But, clearly, I’m failing as a parent. It’s beyond my disbelief that you would leave town and not even have the decency to inform your parents about your trip.
I’m in Chicago for my conference. I was having dinner with a few colleagues.
I looked out the window and I spotted you, in an unfamiliar city, with a man who is bad news.
The same man I forbid you to meet. Why are you hell bound on ruining your future? ”
“I’m an adult. I don’t need your permission to leave town,” I yell back at my dad for insulting Ryan.
“Don’t,” Ryan whispers. “Don’t fight with your father,” he says, murmuring under his breath his words only for my ears.
“We’ll talk when we get to my hotel room. You’re coming with me this minute, young lady.”
“Sir, this is my fault,” Ryan starts.
“Of course it’s your fault, Mr. Harper. My daughter decided to lie to me and travel to another city because of you.
Your influence on her is prompting her to make bad decisions.
We have had this discussion before and you promised me you would stay away from her.
I should have known your promise meant nothing,” my father says sternly.
Ryan stands taller. “I never promised to stay away, I agreed to not make any contact until she is ready to talk to me. Sir, I would like a chance to change your opinion about me. I want to prove to you that I’m the right man for your daughter.”
Ryan is so polite and such a gentleman but his effort is wasted. My father is in no mood to negotiate.
“This is between me and my daughter. You want to change my opinion, stay the hell away from my daughter,” Dad says and then he walks over and extends his hand. “Come with me, Ishy. Now.”
I swallow and shake my head. I love both these men. My dad will always remain my number one hero, but Ryan is the man I see my future with and it’s time I fought harder for what I believe in.