Chapter 438 - I know you can do better

The next day Ryn woke up with the ringing from her phone. With a groan, she reached for it blindly and put it beside her ear.

"Hello."

"Hello, love. Have I interrupted your sleep?" Jeremy asked with a chuckle. He did not call her yesterday, the whole day to be precise, so as not to interrupt her during her test and the recording. He knew she passed the test with flying color and today, he planned to celebrate it with her.

"Hmm... I'm still sleepy," she mumbled her answer as she rolled back to lie comfortably on the bed with the blanket covering her body. She did not have any air-conditioner installed in this house because she knew this was a temporary house for her. For her real house, well, she still did not install anything yet there. She would see what should be done once she moved into the new house.

"Brunch with me?" he asked. He could guess she already skipped her breakfast when she sounded so sleepy like this. 

"What time is it?" she asked, still not looking at the clock. She was too sleepy to open her eyes.

"Almost 1.00 p.m., love. Time for lunch for me and brunch for you. Are you up to that?" he asked with a chuckle.

"This late? I need to get up," Ryn mumbled but it was all words. She did not move at all from her comfortable nest. In fact, she even buried herself deeper into the pillow. She could not find the energy nor the mood to move.

"Or do you want me to bring the food?" he asked. Somehow he could guess she did not move even an inch from the bed. The excitement from yesterday must be catching her more than she could even realize.

"Do you want western or usual?" he asked.

"Whatever," she murmured sleepily.

He chuckled. He whispered his goodbye and ended the call. He needed to go buy them brunch. He planned to go to his favorite restaurant to get it. 

What did she do after he disconnected the call? She went back to sleep after pushing her phone under the pillow.

He used the key he had to unlock the door. He opened it and looked around. Hmm... even after almost an hour, she still deep in her sleep.

Such a sleeping beauty.

He put the packets on the dining table before he went to lock the door. Then, he went to the kitchen to retrieve bowls and plates for their meal. It did not take much time for him to put everything in its place. He went back to the kitchen to wash his hands before he went to look for her.

As expected, he found her still sleeping peacefully on the bed. He shook his head in bemused. Without thinking, he walked silently to her bed and then, carefully getting closer to her on the bed. He leaned down to press a kiss against her head because her face was facing the pillow. Not once did she wake up. It seemed like she was truly tired to notice anything.

He lied down beside her and gazed at her head. Then, maybe because it was not enough, he carefully pulled the pillow from her grasp and turned her slowly to face him.

"I love you so much, Ryn, so very much," he whispered. 

His heart pounded hard as he leaned even closer to her lips. When they touched, he could not describe the happiness in his heart. He wished the time could stop now. He did not want this to end.

"Hmm... J?" she blinked her eyes sleepily before noticed a very familiar face so close to her. She closed back her eyes, not feeling it was unusual and weird to have him so close to her face. 

"Yes, love?" he whispered and stole another kiss when he realized she did not get angry with him being here, on the same bed.

She sighed and turned around backing him. She was too sleepy to care.

He chuckled. He canceled his plan to wake her up for the brunch and even pulled the blanket to cover her securely. Then, he left the room.

He ate his part and cleaned the dishes he used. Then, he sat on the sofa and waited for her to wake up. He did not think it would take too long for her to be lured by the smell of food. 

While waiting, he used his phone to do a little bit of work. He frowned and narrowed his eyes as he read the report sent by his assistant. Some he approved on the spot and some he wanted the managers to recheck back before send it back to him. He did not scold or yell at all, mindful; of Ryn still sleeping in her room. He did not want to disturb her from her sleep.

He did not have to wait for long. Maybe it was the food or maybe her stomach was waking her up, she appeared at the door with her hand covering her yawning mouth.

"Good afternoon," he greeted but did not stand up to approach her. He turned back his attention to his phone, continuing his work. He was doing a virtual meeting with the managers from the main company. He was supposed to go to the main company but he felt it was a waste of time traveling there for a meeting and then returned back to his company (the one he shared with Mika). After the meal, he actually planned to return to his company to have the virtual meeting and then continue with the files (it seems like they have so many ideas as the files never-ending). But, when he saw how tired Ryn, he did not have the heart to leave her alone and decided to have the meeting here.

Hence, he told Jacob to send some files that were already in softcopy while waiting for the meeting to start.

Ryn did not say anything when he did not say anything more. She looked at him and realized that he was in the middle of work... maybe a meeting? He was wearing his air-pod and giving that serious look complete with crossed arms. Yes, he's in a meeting.

She went to the dining table and noticed the food on it. She nodded her head approvingly, especially when she saw him already setting everything for her. She only needed to get something to drink from the kitchen, which she did. She only poured a glass of cold water and brought it to the dining table.

Both did not speak to each other at all. They did their own thing in the apartment. If Mika was there, she would comment that Jeremy and Ryn were acting like an old married couple. No sparks at all.

In fact, this was how Ryn and Jeremy interacted when they lived together a few years ago. They quickly returned to their busy schedule and did their own thing but during meals, they tried to eat together. Before sleep, they tried to have a chat, talking about their daily life. But toward the end of their relationship, the chatting and sharing of meals were so rare as they kept arguing.

When Ryn was done with her brunch, she saw that he hasn't finished with the meeting. And his mood. Her lips twitched but she did not say anything. She brought everything to the kitchen and washed them. And then, she poured a glass of water and brought it to the living room.

"Your throat must be hurting," she said quietly as she placed the glass on the coffee table beside the phone. He actually used a couple of her books to prop his phone.

He nodded to acknowledge her drink. He fully focussed on the meeting, especially when one manager who was doing the presentation kept stuttering. He narrowed his eyes at the phone, making the said manager more nervous and his presentation worsened. 

"Next," he said quietly.

The manager looked stricken when he heard that. He looked at his colleagues but they gave him a sympathetic look. The manager who was supposed to present next gasped loudly. He was still gathering his courage to present, especially when he heard his fellow managers kept receiving critics from the boss. Who said Jeremy was a charming and kind-hearted man? He was so cold and scary. His stare could make people freeze. Sometimes he wished that Master Long could return to the company. He preferred the old Long to this younger Long. Handsome and young did not mean anything when he kept frowning and critisizing.

"Do I have to repeat?" Jeremy c.o.c.ked an eyebrow as he asked coldly.

They all shivered when they heard how cold his voice was.

"If you're being this scary, do you think they can do their work perfectly?" Ryn could not stop reminding him to be nicer. She could guess what the others would feel receiving that cold look. Heck, even she could feel the coldness surrounding his body. 

When he heard her voice, the tense lessened. He was no longer exuded coldness and anger. He looked more... normal.

"Continue," he said and this time his voice was calm. He did not even c.o.c.k an eyebrow or give them a cold stare.

"I know you can do better," Ryn nodded approvingly. She went back into the bedroom to retrieve her mobile phone. She needed to check her schedule for the week. She did not want to miss any job.

He watched her leaving with the corner of his eyes. Even when she was no longer in the hearing territory, he did not return back to the cold Jeremy but maintained the mood she expected him to have.

The workers were crying in their hearts. Luckily their Young Madam saved them from this hell. Please, Young Madam, don't leave Young Master today or they would die a miserable death.