Chapter 70 - Seventy
Ryan retreated to his study, the clamor of the ballroom a distant echo. The dance with Suzy had left him unsettled, a strange pull towards her that he couldn’t explain. He needed solitude, time to process the whirlwind of emotions that had consumed him.
As he sat down on his chair, he rubbed his temple. His head throbbed with a mixture of exhaustion and a strange sense of unease. He needed a moment of peace, a chance to collect his thoughts.
As he tried to collect his thoughts, the door creaked open, revealing an unexpected visitor. A woman stood in the doorway, her presence as imposing as the storm clouds gathering on the horizon. She was tall and slender, with long, straight black hair that cascaded down her back. Her red dress was a bold contrast to the subdued tones of the room, and her eyes held a predatory glint.
"Duchess," he began, his voice laced with surprise, but the words died on his lips as he took in her appearance.
"Eleanor," Ryan greeted her, his voice flat.
The woman, Eleanor, stepped into the room, her movements fluid and confident. She closed the door behind her and sauntered towards Ryan, a predatory smile playing on her lips. "Long time no see. How are you my love," she purred, her voice laced with a seductive undertone.
Ryan’s face hardened. "Eleanor," he repeated, his voice colder this time. His eyes, filled with a mixture of disgust and contempt, held her captive.
Unfazed by his icy demeanor, Eleanor continued her advance, her steps slow and deliberate. She reached the table near the window and sat down, her long legs crossed at the ankle. Her eyes, filled with a possessive glint, never left Ryan’s face.
Ryan watched her with a mixture of anger and resignation. He knew the game she was playing, the seductive dance she was so adept at. But he refused to be drawn in. He had seen through her facade long ago, and his heart was elsewhere.
"I didn’t expect you to greet me with open arms," she began, her voice laced with a bitter sweetness, "or be happy to see me after all this time. But a simple ’hello’ or ’how are you’ wouldn’t have killed you, my love."
Ryan’s face hardened. His disdain for her was palpable. "Your greetings are as unwelcome as your presence," he replied coldly. "And I am doing perfectly well, thank you."