I raised a brow at him.

"Come, I'll take you to my place." He said. "I've been coming and going in this city for a year now and that house never had a visitor."

"Seriously? Never?"

He shook his head.

He parked in front of that huge house a couple of blocks away from where I live.

I stared at the gate for a while and then I laughed. "It is your house."

"What?"

"Remember that day at the wedding... We agreed to tell people that you lived in this house and I was afraid that one of the guests would actually be the owner of the house and we would be caught. You... must have been laughing at me a lot that night."

He smiled. "I admit that part amused me. But I was not laughing at you. For all it's worth, I was... happy that night. For a change, someone likes me even though I was just a poor bartender."

I blushed and looked away from him. I didn't say anything.

Ryder whispered, "Funny how all that changed the minute she realized who I really am."

I stared up at him, thinking that he was teasing me, but the look on his face was sober. He was serious. Somehow, something in his eyes told me that he was hurt or insulted or somehow annoyed that I liked him better when I thought he was poor, and I liked him less now.

I smiled at him. "At least we both know we could never be... more than friends. You can't marry beneath your rank in the society, Ryder. You've gotten too cynical for that. You need to find an heiress. Then you'll know she wants you for you. Not for your financial status."

He narrowed his eyes at me, as if he wanted to say something but chose not to. Instead, he turned to open the front door.

When I stepped into his house, I felt a sense of coziness. His living room is huge. He's got a massive set of couches. There's a fireplace and a huge serenity fountain. His LCD is at least sixty inches, and beside it is a wall of DVD and Blu-ray collection. The whole living room has hues of beige, brown, yellow and green. It opens into a huge deck facing the ocean. He's got a bar in his deck with a separate fridge for liquors and drinks. His house spelled luxury and comfort at the same time. And I thought Adam's house was already too luxurious!

"What do you think?" He asked.

"Wow!" I said. "And you almost don't live here?"

He shrugged. Then he led me to the deck. We sat on the chairs and he handed me a beer from the fridge.

"It's just a shame that I don't get to visit and check up on this house at least once a week. Just to make sure that the maid has done her job. Restocking the fridge with food is a problem too."

"Why?"

He shrugged. "Because my schedule has been erratic, I can't stock up much on milk, veggies or fruits. They'll just go bad and it's not nice if they spoil in the fridge."

"Can't your maids throw out spoiled foods?"

He shook his head. "They can't always judge which ones need to go."

"Well then just stock up on liquids and go for long-life milks." I suggested.

He nodded. "Believe me, I'm trying."

We stayed there on his deck, chatting. He took out a blanket that I can wrap around me to keep me warm. We were laughing and talking about almost anything under the sun.

When I glanced at my watch, it was already four in the morning.

"Oh my God!" I breathed. "It's already four!"

Ryder smiled. "Time flies."

I stood up from my seat. "Well, I have to go."

"I'll take you home."

"No worries. It's only a few houses away, Ryder. No point taking your car out from the parking lot."

"I'll be damned if I let you go home alone, love." He said, and somehow, I know that I will not be able to change his mind no matter how much I argue with him.

"It's just a short walk, Ryder." I tried one last time.

"Then I'll walk you." He said.

I admitted defeat. We took our coats and then we went out of his house.

"When are you going back to New York?" I asked him.

"At nine in the morning."

"That soon? How long have you been here?"

"One day."

"Wow!" I breathed. "Your life must be quite toxic."

He shook his head. "Not really. I've just started Rig Style Malibu. I check on it once in a while. Once it's established, I can conduct my business over the phone. On the other hand, my family is opening a new restaurant in Manhattan. That's my project too. It's like taking care of two babies in two different cities, but once they can stand on their own, I'll have air to breathe. A lot of it."

We reached my house. I took out my keys and then I looked up at him. He smiled slowly.

"Thank you for your company." He said. "It's been a pleasure."

I smiled back at him. "Likewise."

"Well, I'll be off now." He said. "I'll see you when I get back."

"See you when I see you."

He smiled again and then he took a step back.

"You know my number." He said. "Call me... when you need me. Any more events in your life that I can be of service with... or if you just feel like a chat. It would really be nice to have you calling me for a change." He said with a chuckle.

I giggled. "Okay. I'll remember that."

He nodded. "Good night, Astrid. Sweet dreams."

Then it was over. I felt a sense of loneliness as soon as he was gone. Like I've been so used to the cold, then he came and I felt warm and I was hoping it will not end but it was over too soon.

I still thought about Ryder when I went to bed. His smile. His handsome face. When we're together it is hard to believe that he was the Ryder Van Woodsen... rising tycoon... heir of the rich Van Woodsen clan.

C hapter Fifteen

HEIRLOOM:.

Something of special value handed on from one generation to another.

The next Friday, I had a surprise visit from my mother. She was with Uncle Reynolds and his wife.

"We won't be long. We just want you and Adam to come with us to Manhattan." My mother said.

"What? Why didn't you tell me immediately?" I protested.

"It was a spur of the moment thing for us. Your Uncle has a meeting in Manhattan. We decided to come with him." Aunt Betty said. But there's a look on her face that I cannot decipher.

"Where's Dad?"

There was silence. Then Uncle Reynolds said, "He's busy. He's meeting up with some of his associates for the weekend."

I was not convinced by my uncle's reply. I immediately felt that something was up. The look on Aunt Betty's face is far too intriguing. I didn't ask, though... not yet.

"Alright. I'll pack a few clothes." I said.

Adam won't be able to make it. He has a court hearing in the afternoon. He promised to follow if he could but I seriously doubt that.

At the airport, I was watching Aunt Betty carefully. I think she was whispering too many things to my mother that they both did not want me to hear.

"Which hotel are we going to stay in?" I turned to Uncle Reynolds.

"Where does Ryder live? We figured we'll stay at a hotel close to his apartment. You might want to stay with him while we're there."

Shit! Ryder! I didn't see this one coming!

"Oh, I'm not really sure if he's available on such a short notice. He's busy putting up another branch of his family's... restaurant."

"What? He's too busy to see you? Is that what you mean?" My mother asked. And somehow, I know that question is loaded.

I shook my head. "No, no. He was just here last week. One day. You know... because he... misses me."

"If you ever marry a man, Astrid, just make sure he'll always have time for you... and that you know where he is all the time." My mother said. She sounded like she was talking to a five year old child. Her eyes drifted off to my finger. "Geena was telling us that you got engaged. When were you planning to tell us? And where's the ring?"

Shit! Shit! Shit!

I took a deep breath. "Mom, relax. Ryder and I are not really planning to get married too soon! He... did ask me to marry him. I did... say yes, but with conditions. You know... it's more like a promise to marry each other... if the right time comes. Which is not today!"

"What are you waiting for?" Aunt Betty asked.

I shrugged. "Well... if the time is right, we'll both know it."

"I think he's a good man. He can provide you with the best things in life." Uncle Reynolds said. "And he looks genuinely in love with you."

I laughed nervously. "Well, I am... genuinely in love with him too."

"So?" My mother asked me.