The CEO's Rose

Chapter 138: Message

Ryan’s POV

Given his grandfather’s age, even when the doctors had said that he was getting stronger day by day. Ryan had not quite been able to believe it.

He had still worried a great deal. But now as he pushed the old man’s wheelchair towards the waiting car. He finally let himself believe that his grandfather really was on the mend. Looking down and seeing the old man sitting up straight gave Ryan a sense of peace.

No words were said as they moved. The only sound was coming from Mark who was whistling a soft tune. Were it just the Terrell men, Ryan knew that the trip to his grandfather’s transport would have been a silent one. So he was thankful for his friend’s presence.

Getting to the car, Ryan opened the back door and one of the bodyguards moved forward, ready to help. But Ryan made him go back to his post with a simple wave of his hand.

Reaching down, he held out a hand and let his grandfather use him for support as the old man got to his feet.

Then he helped him get into the car, and even went as far as to fasten his seat belt for him.

"Are you certain that you will not be coming with me? It would be nice to have you close by," It was a tempting thought, but Ryan knew he could not do that, and that was not only because of the Gwendolyn situation.

"Yes, grandfather, unfortunately I still have a lot of work to do here in the city. But as soon as I am able, I will be heading out to come and see you," It felt good to know that this time he was actually being honest. His grandfather’s health scare had really helped him get his priorities straight.

"This time it had better not take you years, and me nearly dying for you to come and see me,"

Suppressing a wince, Ryan tried for a smile.

"Come on grandfather, you are as healthy as a horse, you will not be going anywhere anytime soon,"

The old man scoffed. "Ha! Be that as it may, come and visit me soon, and be sure to bring the lovely Gwendolyn with you,"

Realizing that the conversation was now on dangerous territory, Ryan looked over to Mark, who stepped in smoothly. freewebnoveℓ.com

"Do not worry sir. This time I will make sure that your grandson has no choice but to come and see you. Have a safe trip," His friend inclined his head towards Ryan and the billionaire moved quickly. Before his grandfather could say anything else he closed the door and began to wave as the car pulled out. freewebnσvel.cѳm

With a nod from him, the guards that looked after his grandfather got into their own cars, and followed after the vehicle that his grandfather was in. Turning back towards the hospital, Ryan found Mark standing by the private entrance. The other man’s hands in his pockets, as he looked at Ryan.

"Ready to go?"

Mark asked as Ryan got closer, and he offered a nod.

***

Were it up to him, Ryan would have had a quiet drive back to his penthouse.

Unfortunately though, instead of driving himself, he had hitched a ride with Mark. Now he was stuck listening to his friend without being able to get away from him. To make matters worse, Ryan agreed with everything that Mark was saying. He just could not make himself face all of the facts that his friend was leveling at him.

"At some point, Ryan Terrell, something has to give. You cannot keep up with this lie, tell your grandfather the truth," Sighing, Ryan stared out at all of the other cars moving alongside them.

"Do you seriously think I have not considered that?"

Mark puffed out a breath, his grip on the steering wheel tightening.

"I know you have considered it. My question is why have you not told him yet? He is going to find out one way or the other,"

Fiddling with his seatbelt, Ryan answered his friend.

"My grandfather is still far too frail to deal with such a shock. I cannot tell him about not wanting to marry Gwendolyn just yet,"

Mark took in a deep breath, then held it for a few seconds. When he released the air, he did so in a long controlled exhale. Clearly trying his best not to yell.

"I do not get it, Ryan. You know that somewhere out there Vivian Rose is hurting, thinking that you cheated on her. Do you not think that you owe it to her, to at least go back and see if the two of you can work it out,"

Just hearing Vivian’s name made Ryan’s heartache. For a brief second, he actually considered telling Mark to drive him to her place. But he managed to hold himself back.

"What if all this is for the best?" Having just come to a stop at a red light, Mark turned his full attention to Ryan.

"What do you mean?" Taking a moment to right his thoughts, Ryan spoke up.

"Vivian broke up with me because of something that Gwendolyn did. Thanks to that woman, she is out there fully believing that I am capable of cheating on her. It is not true, but I have to wonder if this is the best possible outcome. You and I both know that Gwendolyn did a number on me. I am damaged goods. Vivian deserves way better than what I can give her,"

He looked into Mark’s eyes and found his friend staring at him as though he wanted to undo his seatbelt, come over to the passenger side and start strangling Ryan.

But before his friend could give in to temptation and do that, the light turned green and Mark was forced to start driving again.

"Ryan Terrell, you are a real idiot," He said through gritted teeth. From the way he was gripping the wheel, Ryan was certain that the poor thing was lucky it could not feel the strength of Mark’s hold.

"Let me tell you what I think. The way I see it, you are scared. You put yourself out there for the first time in years and you got turned down. Now you do not wish to take a risk again,"

Ryan was saved from having to face the truth in Mark’s statement by his friend’s phone going off.

"Can you take that for me?" Mark asked and Ryan gladly did so. His brows disappearing into his hairline as he listened to the person on the other end.

"When the call cut off, he turned to his friend. Drop me off at my place first before you go attend to this," He told his friend, not quite able to keep himself from blushing.

"Do what?" Mark asked, and Ryan found he could not even look in his direction as he told him.

"That was the security at your bank. Apparently your dominatrix is there waiting for you.

This is a side of you I did not need to know existed Mark,"

Before his friend could say anything else, Ryan reached over and turned the volume up as high as it could go. As he did so, he pretended like it was only because he did not wish to know about Mark’s kinky sex life.

But that was a lie. He no longer wished to talk about Vivian Rose.