Chapter 51: Last resort was Ryle Harper
Most of the guests were there already, especially the VIPs. Who was arriving at this hour? And that too while creating all this ruckus by their arrival.
Out of curiosity, Daisy turned towards the entrance but the color faded from her face when she saw the man who entered the hall, followed by a swarm of men in black. Ryle Harper was dressed in a black tuxedo that hugged his muscular body and as he raised his hand to motion something to one of his guards, his large overcoat swept to the side slightly, revealing the pistol under his suit jacket.
Daisy stood there dumbstruck as she watched the media clicking his pictures in frenzy. He was not as much of a famous figure in Beijing as he was in the States. The Beijing was known for it’s four aristocratic families. However, that did not diminish Ryle’s enigmatic presence from capturing everyone’s attentions. In addition to that, the reporters who crowded the hall were not just members of Beijing media, there were many foreigners amongst them too. They recognized Ryle and his influence in the upper circle, hence acting as a catalyst for the enthusiasm of the whole crowd.
Ryle and the Chen Family had some brief dealings in the past when her father had hired bodyguards for her mother from his company. But Alice Chen being the kind of person that she was found faults with the people and fired them gradually. But that was it.
That’s where their dealings had ended as far as she knew. And even during all those times, Ryle had never been to Chen Mansion before. The first time she saw him was only when she applied for the job and went to Harper Societies.
Ryle strode in with purpose, seemingly unfazed by the enthusiasm of the crowd. Suddenly, their eyes met and her heart skipped a few beats.
Diana always told Daisy about how Maxim made her heart skip beats by his actions and how it was very much of a sign of love. But as Daisy’s heart thudded against her ribcage, she knew it was nowhere close to a sign of love. The skipping beats of her heart reminded her of the dread of a pig that was about to be slaughtered.
She had built lies and personas around Ryle, sometimes intentionally but more often unintentionally. Yet, at this point, her intentions did not matter because the man was like tyrannical force that was trying to invade her secrets.
Daisy did not break the eye contact with him, despite having the urge to turn around and get far away from him. Nobody put her on the edge like this man did and she hated him for it.
Ryle broke the eye contact and tilted his head to the side as he scanned the place. His gaze stopped on Helian Chen who was mingling with some of the shareholders at a distance.
Daisy’s hand reached out to her waist on instinct, sliding inside the suit jacket. A cold sensation seeped inside her palm and she tightened her grip on her gun.
There was no logical reasoning for why Ryle would be here at this time. The only possible reason she could think of was that her cover was blown.
However, Daisy’s thoughts came to a crashing halt when her father acknowledged Ryle’s presence with a brief nod. Both the men shook hands and exchanged a few pleasantries before her father picked up a glass of wine and toasted to Ryle.
Daisy stood there, observing the man’s every movements. She kept her eye on all his people who had followed him like a squad when he stepped inside but gradually dispersed into the crowd effortlessly.
But after a long time passed, nothing strange happened. Ryle finished talking to her father and went to the food corner, filling a plate of pastries as he sat in a corner and started eating like a harmless bunny. A bunch of women sashayed in his direction with eyes that were already ravaging him indecently. Sick of the familiarity of such scenes, Daisy turned her attention away from the man and approached her father.
’’What happened? Are you not feeling good?" Helian Chen looked at her, concerned when she stood beside him quietly without saying anything.
Daisy felt like a fishbone was stuck in her throat. She inhaled a deep breath and looked at the men who were initially talking to her father, ’’Excuse us for a few moments, gentlemen."
As the men nodded amiably, Daisy and Helian Chen walked towards a secluded corner.
"What happened, Daisy? If something is bothering you, you can tell me?" Helian Chen paused and contemplated over it for a moment before he continued speaking, "Is it your mother? Are you upset that she hasn’t come to talk to you?" he looked at the woman who was surrounded by socialites. She seemed happy and engrossed in whatever she was doing, never once looking around the hall or paying attention to her daughters.
’’She had seen you when you arrived and she should have been here by now. But I believe she is upset with you both...’’
’’She has no reason to be,’’ Daisy cut the man off, ’’And I couldn’t care less about her absence or presence. It does not matter to me in the slightest.’’
The man sighed helplessly, ’’Then what is it about? Why are you looking so stressed?"
"Why is Ryle Harper here?" Daisy asked without beating around the bush.
"The security arrangements for this whole event has been arranged by him. From the security to the cameras, everything. So, of course, he had to be here.’’
Daisy frowned, ’’But the arrangements for the annual party must have started a long time ago. And I... thought you don’t know him that well. We have our own security teams as well. Why would you invite him all the way from LA?"
’’Yes, our security teams had undertaken the responsibility for this event initially but a few days ago, there was some issue reported on their part. It was a last resort I opted for since I have had dealings with Harper before. He is sharp and efficient. The reason why our dealings could not go any further in the past was because your mother is picky but I admire the young man nonetheless. So, when he called me and told me that he wants to be in charge of this event, I did not turn him down.’’
Daisy’s brows tugged together and her attention captured the two significant statements of her her father.
’Last resort because of some issue in the previous team a few days ago.’
’He called me and told me he wants to be in charge of this event.’
Didn’t Ryle encounter ’Daisy’ a few days ago? Was it all simply a coincidence or was it a setup?
Helian Chen observed the expression on his daughter’s face for some time. When she remained in a daze, he spoke up, ’’I know you work for him. Is that why you are uncomfortable that your boss is here?"
When Daisy heard his words, she looked up at him, ’’Do you know the conditions under which I work for him?"
’’Conditions?" The man was stunned. He had his men keep an eye on his daughters so that he could ensure their safety. He knew a lot about their lives but not that much. He had long asked his people to keep a distance so as to not invade their privacy, knowing well enough that they would not like it if they discovered that they were being tracked, ’’You work for Ryle Harper. What conditions could possibly be there that is making you uncomfortable in his presence?"
Daisy remained quiet.
Helian Chen frowned, ’’Daisy, the reason I have never meddled in your life is because I know you don’t need anyone to protect you. You can do that yourself and you won’t let yourself be exploited in any way. But if you are in any sort of trouble that is hard for you to get through, you have to remember that your father is still alive. I, Helian Chen, am more than capable of backing my daughters up whenever they need me to,’’ there was a hint of anger laced in his tone.
Daisy looked at the man, stunned. It was probably the first time the man had spoken such words to her. He sounded indignant that she did not involve him in her troubles, almost angry and he seemed like he wanted to be there. A hint of warmth seeped inside Daisy’s heart.
’’I...’’ Daisy had just opened her mouth when she realized something.
She took a step back from him.
Helian Chen felt his heart dropping. He could see how she had dropped her walls in a split-second but in the next moment, she was guarded. As usual.
’’There have been many times when both Diana and I needed your backing. But we did not have you. Now, we don’t need you to protect us.’’
The man felt his heart aching. He lifted his hand to stroke her head but in the next second, he placed it down, ’’If you don’t want to say it, so be it. But remember this, you are Daisy Chen. You don’t need to do anyone’s bidding. This empire that our ancestors have built will always wait for it’s rightful heir to claim it.’’
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