"Ethan, I need to know this for Shinu's sake, who is he?" I pleaded.
"He is the future CEO of Young's co.," Ethan answered.
Ry! My Ry, no it's not possible, my Ry is an ordinary person like me. Ethan must have misunderstood my Ry with someone else.
"Ethan, I am talking about my Ry, you must be mistaken," I said unable to believe him, "He was wearing a shiny black suit and an expensive white watch. He had his black hair styled back, and..."
"Milo, there is no other Ryan Young, he is the next CEO of Young Co.," he said confidently.
"But maybe their name is same but my Ry is," I stopped talking. Ry never talked about his family when we were together. He hated talking about his parents. I don't know anything about him. What if Ethan is right? What if?
"Ethan, is he really my Ry?" I asked.
"I will show you the photo of CEO Ryan Young, look for yourself," Ethan said passing me his phone.
And I prayed fervently that this was a different person from him but the phone slipped away from my hand when the face from my nightmares looked back at me.
He looked the same as the Ry I saw today, not the one I remembered from my dreams or the one who once looked like I was the best thing that happened to him.
"Milo, considering your past I think it will be best if you stay away from him as much as possible," Jace said worriedly.
"But Jace, we misunderstood each other and we were very young and naive but I think we can work it out now," I said hopefully.
"Misunderstood! You are downplaying what he did to you. Do you really want to forgive him when he haven't done anything to deserve your forgiveness? It has been only one year that you stopped having nightmares," Jace said angrily.
"But," I said hopefully trying to make them understand, "but don't you think both of us deserve a second chance? He was very kind to me and he was there for me before everything went wrong."
"Do you think he is the same person as you remember before he left you?" Ethan asked.
He wasn't. He changed but then so did I. I still have the hope that we will be able to resolve all that went wrong with us. I don't even know what went wrong, he left so abruptly before. But as much as I hated to face everything alone a part of me always loved him and always wanted him back.
"Your feelings for him is making you weak and this weakness will affect Shinu too. You should think carefully before you decide anything because you are holding more than one life in your hand," Ethan said calmly.
"What should I do?," I asked feeling defeated.
I don't know what is right for me and Shinu.
"You will resign from your job," Jace said his jaw tightened with anger, "I make enough to support us all. And we will go somewhere he won't be able to find us."
Jace had done so much for us but now I want to take care of my family. I can't keep letting others save me every time, I need to be the responsible adult for Shinu and for myself too.
"I don't want to resign from the job, Jace, please listen to me," I said pleading to Jace when he tried to oppose me, "I want to be a normal parent. I want to earn my money for my son and I want to fulfill his wishes. I will forever be grateful to you, Jace, but I don't want to feel like a burden to you."
"You are not a burden to me," Jace said disbelievingly, "How can you think that!"
"I know I am not, Jace, but I can't stop myself from feeling this way. And having a job, standing on my feet makes me feel a little more worthy," I said. I always struggled with my self-image and Jace knew it.
He hugged me and told me he will always be with me and support me no matter what and it relived me. He had tears in his eyes when he said I can continue to work but only if I promise to always stay away from Ryan and call him instantly if anything happened.
With millions of other promises, we went to bed unsure of what was to come.
.........................................
I spent my Sunday lying in the bed with Shinu, letting him sleep to his heart content and then spending the rest of the day in the park. Jace didn't accompany us, he was silent than usual. I know he is not happy with my decision but he respected my choices. I think all of us need some time to ourselves.
On Monday morning, I got ready and woke up Shinu too who was still grumbling of having to wake up so early.
Jace was preparing breakfast like always but he was still silent. I don't know what to say and break this awkward silence between us.
"My banana milk, Uncle J," Shinu entered the kitchen screaming.
"Here is your milk," Jace said softly while Shinu looked surprised at his behaviour.
"Uncle J, I want ice cream too," Shinu said trying his luck with docile Jace.
"Of course, eat ice cream in the morning and I will ask your doctor to take all your teeth out," Jace said sassily making Shinu whine and complain and making me smile.
Everything will be okay.
Ethan was in the board meeting while I was still at my desk. I used to accompany him in every meeting but he asked me to stay on this floor and not to wander off since Ryan was in the same building. I quietly complied to his request.
"Is your name Milo?" I looked up to see a beautiful girl looking at me impatiently.
"Yes," I answered, "Can I help you with something?"
"You are being called to the top office, follow me," She said and walked away before I could reply her. I scrambled up from the desk and followed her hurriedly.
I was already in the elevator and I wanted to ask her where we were going. But her glare shut me up and I kept walking behind her quietly. She directed me to the office and left me alone in the corridor.
I knocked on the door and made my way inside. There was no one in the office but it seemed someone was in the washroom.
"Sir, you called for me, how may I help you?" I called out.
"Take a seat," I heard a muffled voice.
I sat down in one of the chairs and looked at the table trying to find out whose office I was in. There was a picture frame facing opposite me and I couldn't get a good look at it. I turned my chair a little to get a glimpse of the photo when a hand came out and put the frame down.
I looked up and saw Ry looking at me with a raised brow. He was the one who called me. Dammit, I promised Jace I will stay away from him yet here I was. I should have checked before coming here.
"Hello, apples," He said with the nickname that I hate and love at the same time.
"Sir," I greeted him plainly.
"I was studying all the people employed directly to the higher officials," he said picking up a file from the desk, "Now, here I see you as a secretary to the Vice President even though you do not have any qualification to be employed at this position."
He looked at me with his cold and hard eyes. It was true I didn't have any qualifications, I never went to college. Ethan offered me a job because of Jace. Was I going to be fired? I started sweating nervously even though the room was cold.
"Now, will you be resigning or should I fire you?" He asked shocking me.
No, I can't leave this job. I won't get any job good as this on my high school education and I want to support Shinu and save up for his college.
I heard him chuckling while my head was exploding.
"So, what do you choose?" He said with a smirk that I was starting to hate.
I was not going to give up so easily, I had a lot to lose.
"I might not be having the qualifications but I am good at my work and if you look at my performance, I have made so much progress," I said confidently, enjoying the surprise on his face. I wasn't shy and timid person he knew, I changed and I changed for the better.
"Is that so?" He said pretending to contemplate my answer.
"In that case, I will need to see for myself if you are really good as you claim to be." He said with a glint in his eyes, "Starting today you will work as my secretary."
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