Chapter 75 Falling For Ryan?
“Yes, is that a problem? You don’t want to?” Ryan’s tone dipped slightly, carrying a hint of disappointment.
“No, no, I absolutely want to!” I quickly reassured him. “I’m just shocked that I’m lucky enough to be mentored by someone like you-
Sylvia’s earlier words echoed in my mind. She’d predicted Ryan would personally mentor me, but I hadn’t believed it. I mean, I was just a rookie–how could I possibly qualify to be Ryan’s associate?
“You’ve got potential, Gabrielle. With proper training, you’ll achieve great things,” Ryan’s warm voice came through the phone. “Personally mentoring you–I know it’s the right choice.”
“I’ll work really hard!” I promised eagerly. “When do I start?”
“Check the date in your acceptance letter,” he replied smoothly.
“Okay, I’ll definitely report on time.” A thought struck me, and I hesitated before cautiously asking, “Ryan, I have a question. Are you sure my acceptance wasn’t because you pulled some strings?”
“What do you think?” he countered, his tone teasing.
I didn’t know what to say.
“Gabrielle, believe in yourself more. Don’t undervalue yourself or doubt your abilities. You earned your spot at Oracle Attorneys. I only gave you an interview opportunity–it was your performance that got you hired. You did great.”
His words filled me with an unexpected sense of confidence and strength.
“Then why are you willing to mentor me personally? I mean, I’ve been out of work for six years, and you’re the owner of the firm. You don’t need to bother training like me,” I asked after a long pause.
“I admire you and see incredible potential in your future. Isn’t that enough?” Ryan chuckled softly.
Those simple words stirred something in me.
He’d said before that he admired me. But hearing it again made it sink in.
Someone Vincent had dismissed as worthless was now admired by someone as accomplished as Ryan.
“I won’t disappoint you,” I said, my smile spreading.
For the first time in a long while, I felt like a traveler lost in darkness, finally catching sight of a guiding light. Ryan was that light, showing me a way forward.
And when you’ve spent so long in the dark, you can’t help but want to cling to the light once you find it.
After we hung up, I texted Sylvia:
[Syl, you were right–he’s mentoring me personally.]
Sylvia:
[I told you so! He treats you differently! You let Vincent crush your self–esteem, but Ryan sees your
@ 10:31
45.73%
< Chapter 75 Falling For Ryan?
worth. You’re amazing–why wouldn’t he like you?)
I put down my phone, my cheeks warming as Sylvia’s words replayed in my mind.
‘Really? Was it really like she said?‘
Before I knew it, I was scrolling through my chat history with Ryan over and over, trong to find some hidden meaning in his messages.
Eventually, I gave up and crawled into bed, pulling the covers over my head.
Ryan, please stop being so nice to me. I’m really afraid–I’ll fall for you.
I knew clearly that I couldn’t afford to fall for him.
*****
My official start date was Monday after next, which gave me plenty of time to prepare. It was perfect- just enough breathing room to finalize my divorce from Vincent.
If I could find Toby before starting work, it would be even better. Then I could fully focus on my new job without distractions.
The following evening, I headed to the Italian restaurant Ryan had picked for our meeting
The place lived up to its reputation as a couples‘ spot–the decor was deeply romantic, with couples chatting, taking pictures, and even sneaking in kisses.
Ryan choosing this place–was definitely an interesting choice.
I cleared my throat, scanning the room for the private dining area Ryan had reserved. That’s when I saw them–Vincent and Claire, tucked into a corner, clearly on a date.
My heart sank like a stone. What are the odds of running into them here of all places?
45.73%
