Chapter 247: Almost a museum
While Caleb led the way and Ivy followed right after him with Angel in her arms, Ryle and Daisy lagged a few steps behind.
When Ryle walked a little faster, Daisy matched his pace, despite having the small legs that she had. At least, when compared to his legs.
When he walked slowly, her footsteps slowed down as well.
Ryle was somehow amused, and inwardly speechless at her antics but he did not let it show on his face.
He did not want to let it show. His expressions remained frigid all the while even though he observed all her actions.
He did not want to give in to her this time even as his heart itched to pull her into his arms. He knew that if he gave in just like that, they would fall into that cycle again.
She would have the audacity to say things like they were casual and she would mean it as she said so. But he did not want a worry-free, smooth sailing deal with her. He was not into that equation where they had intense fuck fests and passionate lovemaking but once the passion faded, they were hesitant and conscious around each other.
He did not want all ’perfection’ from her while she hid the ’flaws’ away.
He did not want it to be non-problematic between them nor did he want her to feel like she was troubling him or burdening him.
He needed her to understand and accept that he wanted her. All of her. Problems and solutions, good and bad, anything she could offer him.
His thoughts trailed off when he felt a warmth on his fingers.
His hand stiffened as Daisy slid her fingers between his, holding his hand as she intertwined their fingers.
Daisy did not say much but her thumb stroked his hand gently.
Ryle’s body almost trembled at the soft sensation.
Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!
He could give in, right? She had already come so far to coax him. He did not need to ignore her at this point. Perhaps, he could broach this topic later on. Right now, he should let his hands talk instead.
Maybe push her into one of the peeking hallways, take her to a corner, pin her to the wall—
"Oh my god!" Ivy’s gasp broke Ryle’s thought.
And somehow his intrusive thoughts recoiled, his determination swinging back again.
Daisy’s lips twitched. She looked like she was already considering her next plan to coax him.
’’This... Did you just call this a room? That’s blasphemy!" Ivy said in disbelief.
Caleb chuckled, ’’It just contains some good stuff. Not as interesting.’’
’’Damn.. This..." Ivy inhaled a deep breath.
As Ryle followed her gaze and took a step forward in the direction of the room, his brow raised subtly.
The place that Caleb randomly referred to as room looked no less than a museum with all sorts of, what looked like, antiques, stacked at every step.
Caleb managed to lead them to the first row of antics as he provided some brief description to it.
But it took him a moment to remember that the dinner he had invited them over for was still sitting and boiling on fire and that sent the man nuts, his composure flushing down the drain.
’’Damn...’’ Caleb uttered some inaudible profanities under his breath and ran away.
Daisy looked at his retreating back quietly as if she was seeing the COO of Chen Corporations for the first time.
’’Eh... He is a little too obsessed with his cooking,’’ Ivy remarked.
And for what happened in rarity, Ryle agreed with her. The man had been singing praises of his cooking since he extended a dinner invitation and that seemed to a certain extent... rather obsessive.
But he was not going to be a prick and judge other people’s obsessions.
Not when he came to stand beside him again and intertwined her fingers in his, almost leaning half her body on his arm.
Ryle closed his eyes, inhaling her scent as it wafted over to his nose. But this time, he did not move away from her. He did not talk to her as well. However, he let her hold him as she wanted.
After they had crossed several antiques, some ancient vase shit, or artifacts as the prudes will call it, sculptures etc, they finally stopped in front of a small box positioned in the corner of the long room.
The small glass box was carefully placed atop a huge wooden desk as if it was being protected from the owner. Inside the glass lay small and intricately carved hairpins, the tip of it resembling a magnolia.
’’Hmm? Why does it have no labels?" Ivy questioned.
The rest of the antiques had labels on it that provided some basic information about them like what they were or the time period they belonged to but this one had no such thing.
"This is rough around the edges when you look close. And the materials used in carving it are not as old.’’
"Are you saying that it is not antique but a handcrafted hairpin? Oh my god! Do you think Caleb made it for his lover?" Ivy’s eyes went round with excitement.
To which, Daisy shrugged a shoulder, ’’Maybe.’’
Ryle had no comments to make on that. He felt like it was highly unlikely that a man like Caleb would be that gone in love but then he would not have pegged himself as one either.
Daisy held Ryle’s hand tightly as she leaned forward to examine the hairpin closely.
Ryle was amused how she did not let his hand go as if she was worried he would run away. Just for the sake of it, probably to tease her or test her reaction, he moved his hand by an inch and she immediately stood up straight, stepping closer to him as if she did not want to leave any distance between them.
However, in her abrupt movement, she missed a step. She stabilized her footing in the exact moment as Ryle tightened his grip on her hand and pulled her towards, his other hand reaching out to wrap around her waist.
But as he did so, his palm brushed against the small glass box that contained the hairpin in a harsh yank.
Just as the glass box budged from its position, Ivy balanced it with one hand, ’’That was one lucky catch,’’ she murmured under her breath, wiping a few beads of sweat that coated her forehead.
’Creak’
Before anyone could respond to Ivy’s words, the floor parted in front of their eyes.
