Ep2

After a moment of silence, Bella spoke up again. “May I ask, what brings you to the library today?”

Ryan leaned against one of the bookshelves, feeling a little embarrassed that he had no real reason to be in the library besides checking out a book. “To be honest, I just needed a break from work. My office feels claustrophobic sometimes, and I find that being around books helps me clear my head.”

As Ryan spoke, his phone suddenly started to ring in his pocket. He pulled it out and checked the screen, seeing an incoming call from his assistant.

“Excuse me for a moment,” he said, stepping away from Bella to answer the call.

Ryan walked a few steps away from Bella, answering the call and listening to his assistant's update on some important business matters. As he spoke, he couldn't help but steal glances at Bella, his mind conflicted between his desire to continue their conversation and the responsibilities waiting for him outside the library.

Despite his best efforts to focus on the call, Ryan found his attention drifting back to Bella. There was something about her demeanor, her eyes, that just drew him in. As he finished the call, he put his phone away and turned back to face her.

Ryan approached Bella again, feeling a mixture of curiosity and confusion stirring within him. He was a man who prided himself on his coldness, on his ability to control his emotions and remain detached from others. But there was something about Bella that made him want to lower his defenses, to let his guard down for just a moment. He couldn't understand why he was feeling this way, but he couldn't ignore it either.

As Ryan stared at her, trying to make sense of his own feelings, he realized that his usual cold demeanor was slipping. There was a hint of softening in his gaze, a warmth that belied his normal aloofness. It was a strange feeling for him, to be affected so strongly by someone he had just met. He cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure.

"I didn't realize how distracting you can be," Ryan said, his tone a bit softer than usual. He took a step closer to her, his gaze lingering on her face, taking in her features.

Bella was caught off guard by his uncharacteristic softness. Her heart fluttered a little as she met his gaze, her own eyes widening slightly in surprise.

Ryan noticed her reaction, the way her eyes widened and her lips parted slightly. He found himself wanting to see more of that surprise, to see more of her. He took another step towards her, closing the distance between them.

Ryan's phone rang again, its insistent tone interrupting their moment. He grimaced at the interruption, cursing under his breath as he pulled his phone out to answer it. As he spoke to his assistant, he motioned for Bella to follow him outside the library.

Bella followed Ryan out of the library, her heart still beating a bit faster than usual. She wasn't sure what to make of his contradictory behavior, his cold aloofness one moment and his unexpected softness the next.

Ryan finished the call and pocketed his phone, his expression once again hardening into a familiar mask of cold detachment. He looked at Bella, his gaze impenetrable once more. "I'm sorry, but I have to go. Business calls."

Ryan turned to face Bella, his expression serious. "I need to ask you something. How much do you make working here in the library?"

_____continue______

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