It was when the gift in Rukaâs hand had somehow slipped from her hand did she come back to her senses. Startled, she immediately picked it up from the floor and returned to her seat all the while in a panic.
Does that mean he saw Caspian confessing to me? Fraught with anxiety, she had the urge to run after Ren to explain the situation, but couldnât move a muscle as Victoriaâs threat came to mind. Conflicted, she was at a loss for what to do. It was then that her phone rang. She choked a little when she saw that the caller ID belonged to that man who just left. âHello,â she whispered after she accepted the call.
âCome to the third conference room,â said the man in an authoritative tone with his low and magnetic voice before he ended the call.
After the call ended, Ruka let out a sigh. He probably wants an explanation from me. Then, she stood up and was about to walk out of the room when Michelle asked, âRuka, where are you going? The restroom?â
âNo, Iâm going out to make a phone call,â Ruka replied with hints of nervousness in her tone before she left posthaste. Upon entering the conference room, she found Elijah standing there with four other bodyguards standing in line.
Elijah then gave her an implicit look that indicated her to go inside the room, to which she nodded and knocked on the third conference room door before entering the room. There, Ren was sitting with a strange expression on his face; his handsome face was slightly harder to look at than usual.
Afraid of thinking that the manâs expression was because of her, she greeted him as usual. âMr. Ren, do you need something from me?â Her eyes, however, were looking down at the ground due to her guilty conscience.
With his slender legs crossed, there was a coldness to the man, one that was rarely seen. Although there wasnât any trace of anger in Renâs expression, that indifferent demeanor of his was enough to cause others to hold their breath in front of him.
Ruka was doing so at the moment. With her eyes, as big as a puppy was when it did something wrong, tinged with panic, she held her breath as she waited for the man to speak.
âExplain to me just what happened there.â Ren raised his head and gazed deeply at Ruka. His frown indicated he was upset.
Being gazed at the man this way, Ruka couldnât help but feel aggrieved at how serious Renâs expression was in questioning her.
It's not like I've made a huge mistake. Nevertheless, she reluctantly explained, âHeâs Caspian Gibbons, a colleague of mine. He prepared a birthday gift for me, and | hugged him as thanks. That's all.â
âDid you reject him?â Ren continued his questioning.
Ruka blinked at Renâs question. Is he talking about Caspianâs confession? It was then that Victoriaâs words came back to her mind once more: âI will announce to the world about your relationship. By then, he will be subjected to the publicâs malice.â
With Victoriaâs words in mind, she pursed her lips briefly before she took a deep breath and said, âI think | like him, so Iâm considering accepting his confession.
Mr. Ren, Iâm sorry, but | canât reciprocate your feelings. Our age gap is just too big. Plus, | prefer someone around my age.â
When she finished speaking her mind, she hung her head low, as she hadnât the courage to face the man. Then, without a moment's delay, she ran out of the room.