Passionately Ryan - Book I of the Engaging CEO Series

Five weeks earlier

Flora had been hammering herself all week until she made her final decision. The store she had created with her husband was a success, and she supported him in everything. To help him in a new phase, she saw that the best option at the moment was to send her son to her parents' home for a short period of time.

She had never been a bad mother. Always attending the needs of her son and her husband, caring with love and affection, and giving all the necessary support to both men, but on the other hand, she knew that she would not be able to help more, taking care of a child, and with pain in her chest and a difficult decision, the only option found was to send the son of both to her parents' house two kilometers from her home, for a short period of time.

- Hello? Mom? - she asked on the line, frantically tapping her fingers on the table.

- Flora, my child, are you all right? Calling me at this time of night? It was not like her to call so late at night.

- Mom, I'm calling because I need help," she says, feeling anxious and with a pain in her chest.

- Oh, I think I understand. You want me to take care of him until you finish things with Adam? Is that it?

- Yes, Mom, but if it's not too much trouble, of course.

- You know it's not and it will be a pleasure to have him in my home.

- Thanks a lot, Mom. I don't know what I'd be without you.

- You are everything to me, Flora, my daughter. I'll do what I can to help you.

- Then tomorrow I'll drive there.

- Have a good night, Flora.

- You too, Mama.

The other end of the line went silent, Flora unlocked her cell phone and stared at the picture on her wallpaper - a family photo taken last winter. Everything in her life was happening fast. A chance for her to show the world her talent was given and she saw an opportunity to get back into the business of her life, but on the other hand, her husband was pushing her further and further away. Putting aside her cell phone, she walked carefully to her son's room and watched him sleeping peacefully.

- A weak and vulnerable being," she thought, "Mom will do everything for you and our family, my son.

Flora walked to her son's closet and began to sort through the clothes, enough for at least a three-month stay at her grandparents' house, even if she intended to pick her son up first. A tear streamed from her eye revealing her sadness. When she had decided to drop everything to take care of her family, she knew it wouldn't be easy, it had been one of the hardest decisions she had ever made, but with her head held high, she had made it, and it wouldn't be now that she couldn't. She had in mind that her son would be at home with his grandparents for at least three months. She had in mind that her son would be in good hands, and she knew this perfectly well, because as a child she had lived with all the love of her parents, and her grandson would be no different.

Finishing her son's suitcase, Flora separated in an envelope a small amount of money, consequences of her savings, and put it in the boy's backpack, along with some basic documents. Daniel was already four years old, attended a school near his home and studied in the morning, which gave his mother time to take care of things at home and plan the rest of the week ahead.

After putting everything in the living room, Flora lay down beside her son, where, in tears because of the difficult decision she had made, she fell asleep.

-----*------

The sun invaded the windows of Daniel's room, and with a yawn he woke his mother from her dream, where she was extremely happy in her job and with her family. When he saw his mother beside him, his first reaction was to smile and smooth her face, which made her smile.

- Good morning son, how did you sleep? - she asked the youngest, slowly opening her eyes.

- Better with you by my side mom, I feel safe and happy," Daniel said, hugging his mother and receiving a kiss.

- I say the same to you. You have brightened up my life and given me a meaning to live again.

- Mom, how was I born? - she asked, leaving her distressed.

- From the love between Mom and Dad. But son, you know that I love you more than anything in the world, don't you?

- Yes, Mom.

- You will spend some time at your grandparents' house, okay? - She asks the child with trepidation and a big smile on her face.

- Mom, I'm going to spend my vacation there? - she asks with all her intelligence. As much as Flora was afraid, she knew that one of her son's greatest desires was to spend some time with his grandparents at the lake house.

- Exactly! Since you are on vacation from school, I think it's only fair that you travel a bit. Mom has even prepared your suitcase - She points to the corner of the room - Now let's get ready? - She asks, receiving a nod of the head.

Taking her son to the toilet, where she undressed and bathed her son, Flora returned the boy to his room, preparing him properly for the reunion with his grandparents. Realizing that her husband had not slept at home for another night in a row, her eyes filled with tears, for she knew where the man really was, but in her mind, he would go back to being who he was.

Leaving the pain of abandonment aside, Flora swallowed her tears and opened her best smile for her son who was already ready in front of her.

- You are the most beautiful thing in the world, son.

- I pulled you, didn't I, Mom? - he asked the older girl, making her sad.

- In a way you did, son. Shall we have breakfast?

Following his mother into the kitchen, she served him a natural orange juice, rolls, eggs and bacon, making breakfast fun for her and her son as he decided whether to go back on his mother's request or not.

The trip to her parents' house took about two hours the way there, as expected, Flora and Daniel were well received at their hosts' house, who, to enjoy the company, stayed until the evening, where they enjoyed and killed their accumulated homesickness. Flora didn't want to leave, her maternal instinct had been awakened just by looking at the boy.

- Who will protect him from all evil?

she thought to herself, but she already had the answer. And after a motherly look recognized by the girl, Flora relaxed. There was no other person in the whole universe better suited to look after her son than her parents.

- I'll be back for you soon, son," she said.

- Don't worry about me, Mom, I'll enjoy my vacation," reassured his mother. As a young boy, Daniel already understood some of the things around him, making him more than special to his mother, because he was the one who made her happy in her sad days.

- Take good care, take a bath on time, and respect your grandparents," said the girl to her son, her voice hoarse from holding back her desire to cry.

- Don't worry about him, dear," said Ally, his mother, "we'll take good care of this big boy, now go! - she asked.

Saying goodbye with a hug and a kiss to her parents, Flora left, returning to her house, while crying at the wheel.

Current Days

Her whole life around her was crazy, since the decision she had made about her son, her life with her husband was only getting worse and he didn't make a point of hiding everything he did. On her way to the supermarket, she wondered if this was really the life she had chosen and wanted for herself. Daniel was missing his mother, and always reminded her every morning when he called her.

A month and a week had passed since Daniel was taken to his grandparents' house, and in Flora's life, those were the worst days. Returning home after finally doing her shopping for the month at the supermarket, the call she had been waiting for most every day was finally made, and on the third ring, the voice that had soothed her answered.

- I've been waiting for you all day, Mom," says Daniel on the other end of the line in an annoyed tone.

- A thousand pardons my son, I was busy all day, and I also planned your birthday party," she announced, leaving the boy ecstatic.

- So does that mean you're close to picking me up? - he asked his mother, who smiled.

- Closer than ever.

- And what will be at the party?

- Anything you want, son.

- Even a castle for me to jump off of? - he asked, making her smile again.

- Even a castle. The biggest castle of all. Can you hand the phone to your grandmother?

- Grandma, Grandma, it's mommy! - shouted Daniel and Flora could imagine and mentally visualize her jumping up and down in happiness.

- Good afternoon, daughter. - wished the eldest.

- Will you give me a few more days before I come to pick him up, please? - asked Flora, sighing deeply.

- As long as you need," said the woman.

Still on the line, Flora parked her car in the backyard of her house and while her mother commented on Daniel's antics, the girl removed the plastic bags from inside the trunk.

- Are you too busy, daughter? - her mother asked, so Flora used her shoulder and ear to hold the cell phone while she opened the door.

- No, mom, you can talk," she finally said, opening the door, when she saw her husband's shoes.

At first a pinch of happiness arose inside her, until she saw the red heels that came with them, it was then that she realized they weren't hers.

- Flora? - asked her mother on the other end of the line.

Her heart pounded, as if it would jump out of her chest at any moment, she left the groceries on the floor, and walked to the noise that she knew well - noise that was only heard when a couple practiced. Reaching the living room, Flora saw what she had never wished to see before. Her husband, the man she loved so much and would do anything for, kissing another woman.

- Oh my God! - she said, dropping her cell phone and beginning to cry frantically, as if everything she had built up had ended the moment she saw the scene, and indeed it had.

Adam showed no guilt or remorse, and it had been even worse when Flora recognized her husband's mistress. Walking back and forth showing her weakness and sadness, the lover couple just watched her.

- Stop showing off Flora, deep down you knew that, you just didn't want to believe it because you're an idiot," Adam said with contempt.

- Why are you doing all this, Adam? - She asked through tears.

- You haven't realized yet, have you? - He walked towards her and pushed her onto the sofa.

- What you offered wasn't enough to make him love you, you're not a third of what I am.

- You bitch! - Flora shouted, going towards her rival, ready to attack her, but Adam was quicker, brutally throwing his wife back on the sofa.

- Respect my wife, before I lose my temper here, Flora. - He threatened, who laughed ironically.

- Your wife? Your wife, Adam? - Where was your wife when I took over your son? Where was your wife when I took care of you every night while you were ill? Where was your "wife" - She emphasized, feeling pain in her chest at such humiliation from her husband - Was she when my parents and I helped you start our company? Exactly Adam! Fucking someone else while I gave you all the support! - She remembered everything that had happened to both of them in their five years of marriage. - I put you over the top Adam, and that bitch has done nothing for you! - she shouted.

- You respect me, you unloving bitch! - Rosalyn came with all her anger toward Flora, who defended herself by slapping her across the face.

- Adam, look what she did to me! - He played the victim, and seeing his lover, the woman he said he loved, injured, Adam went after Flora in an attempt to make her pay, but without success. Flora was quicker and hit him between his legs.

As Adam groaned in pain on the floor and Rosalyn openly cursed her. Her hands were shaking and her vision blurred, Flora sat down on the sofa and burst into tears even more.

- Always weak and independent, you're not a third of what Rosalyn is," she said, still on the floor.

- Shut up, Adam," she sobbed.

- Even the child you swore to love for the rest of your life you abandoned, not even to be a mother to my son. Lamentable Flora.

- You're right, Adam. Your son, whom you didn't even help to care for. I loved that child from the day I saw him for the first time, even though he was the fruit of your betrayal. If I did everything I did, it was to help you and you know it, Adam.

- Don't be sorry, Flora. The divorce papers arrived a week ago, I waited for the perfect opportunity for you to sign them.

- While he was having sex with me, he was telling me how useless you are, how sad for a woman Flora. You're not even good enough to please him. - Rosalyn shakes her head in denial.

- You will leave this house as soon as possible, you have no right to anything here. It's all mine and the love of my life now. - said Adam gloating.

- You must be out of your mind! - Laughed Flora - May I remind you that the jewelry store is also mine? Remember that my family helped you get to where you are three years ago? I will keep 70% of the shares of the jewelry company. If you refuse, I will contact my lawyer and file a lawsuit against you for treason and abandonment, and on top of that, I will say that the community of goods will only be for you since you made a point of threatening me.

- She must be crazy! Do something Adam! - Rosalyn asked, but Adam remained static and pale.

- What do you say, Adam? - she asked.

- I accept," he said defeated, signing the papers as Flora asked him to do the same.

Flora took her share and ran to the couple's room, where, in tears, she packed all her bags and swore to herself that Adam would be sorry for everything he was doing to her, and for her, that was a promise.

Flora walked down the main staircase with tears in her eyes, her ex-husband showed no regrets whatsoever for what he had done to his wife, Rosalyn by his side was smiling openly, as if she had finally gotten what she had always wanted - Flora's life.

The woman just ignored them, gathered all her dignity and went outside the house, where she watched her for one last time and moved on, as part of the divorce, the car in which Flora had been a few minutes before, belonged completely to her ex-husband.

Without direction, without a cell phone and eventually without anyone, Flora made her way to the central park where she used to go with her family - feeling that she was being followed, but it could all be a figment of her imagination, as well as everything she was going through at the moment, a nightmare she should wake up soon.

Sitting down on the nearest bench, Flora left her suitcase beside her and stared up at the sky, thinking that it was all just a sick joke, she closed her eyes and blinked heavily, but when she opened them - she felt the shock of reality and realized that everything that had happened minutes before was true.

A flashback went through her mind of everything she had lived through with her husband, all the promises and words of love he had said, all the plans and goals to be fulfilled, in the end it had never been real - in the end she had fallen in love all by herself, it had all been nothing but plans she had made for them.

With not a penny in her pocket and nowhere to go, Flora quickly remembered Cibelle Warren, her best friend and private attorney. Both had met approximately nine years ago, while still in college, and even though they were not in the same area, this didn't stop their friendship. Her friend's mansion was thirty minutes away from the central park, the cloudy skies announced a rain soon, her feet already ached from the walk, she was still in disbelief at the direction her life and marriage had taken - but she had always been a strong woman and would turn things around, starting with her ex-spouse's company.

Looking at the happy families gathered in the park, she wished for her own to get everything back to normal. She got up and walked to the exit, where she decided she would do her best, as she had always done.

The sky had already lost its color, it had been about fifteen minutes since Flora had been walking towards Cibelle's house, the cold was present, making her hold her arm with one hand, as the other hand was pulling her bag. At every moment, Flora looked back with the intention of recognizing someone and asking for help to get to her friend's house, but without success, even though she felt watched at all times, she didn't let this haunt her.

She was already thinking of borrowing a cell phone to make a call, since she had left hers at home, and possibly, at this point of the championship, it would be broken. To protect herself from the rain that dared to fall, the option the girl had found to get to the mansion faster was to cut her way, feeling the cold of the street, she missed her warm and comfortable mansion, which she had helped her husband work hard to conquer, but his efforts were in vain, in the end of everything, he had never deserved her.

Entering a dark alley, Flora felt afraid and soon regretted that she had taken the shortest route, it turned out, the place she was following was known for gangsters and thieves. Flora held on tightly to her purse and as she passed by the place, she observed it all the time, arriving at the end of it, she felt a great relief, until she noticed a man, apparently drunk, coming towards her.

The man looked about 5'8", if she had judged correctly, the man was about her size. With a pudgy body, she thought she would have no chance against the man, even though she had fought when younger. Trying to avoid eye contact as much as possible, Flora continued on her way, until she felt arms around his waist.

- Where do you think you're going, hottie? - asked the drunken man sniffing her neck, making her want to vomit immediately.

- Let go of me you filth!

Gathering all her strength and courage, Flora used the martial art techniques she learned around the age of fifteen from her high school boyfriend who trained her when he could and used them on the man, who took her blow and could do nothing against the girl.

Without looking back, Flora grabbed her purse and started running as far away as she could, both to get there soon and to get rid of the rain and future threats from the man and whoever else saw her alone in the middle of the street, but the thing is, since she left her house, she was no longer alone.

Ryan approached her and observed the state of the man lying on the ground and gave a mischievous laugh, at no time did he approach the girl, he kept his distance protecting her as best he could, but he saw that she never needed to be saved, she was always strong and independent to act alone in difficulty, and that was a quality in which he admired in her, even after everything that happened between the two of them.

- What did you think you would do with that girl, hm? - he inquired to the man who was still down, only this time with his eyes wide open.

- I'm sorry sir! - he stammered, recognizing Ryan.

- You already know what to do with him. - he said to his subordinates, heading towards his car to continue what he had been doing since very early in the morning, but before he could get in, a shiny jewel caught his attention, revealing emerald earrings of exceptional design. - Be quick, and don't be seen. - he ordered.

- Yes, sir! - said the men in unison.