Operation Taming Ryan ( FIRST PHASE)

VIOLET

I hated three things: One, being the center of attention. The way eyes glued to me, picking apart every flaw, every imperfection—it made my skin crawl.
Two, people who think they know what’s best for me. Like they could somehow understand everything I’ve been through, as if my past is just another story they could rewrite.
And three—how easily I could be persuaded.

Especially by Ashley. She had this uncanny ability to talk me into things that, deep down, I knew I shouldn’t be doing. And somehow, despite my better judgment, I always caved.


Like the time she convinced me to sneak into the boys' locker room to prove some point about how daring I could be. Or the time she convinced me to confront Luke after he ignored my texts for three days, only for him to look at me like I was the crazy one. I’d sworn off her plans after that, but here I was again—Operation Taming Ryan.

It was supposed to be fun, Ashley said. Just a harmless way to see how Ryan reacts to me in a seductive dress. A “confidence boost,” as she put it. But everything about it made me anxious. The idea of stepping out of my comfort zone, wearing something that would cling to my body like a second skin—it felt like crawling into a trap. Ever since that incident, the one where I nearly got raped, I’d avoided clothes that made me feel vulnerable, exposed.

But Ashley? She thought this was some kind of step toward healing. Like wearing something revealing would suddenly make me feel strong again. And, once again, she persuaded me.

“You look so hot!” Ashley squealed over the phone, her excitement palpable even through the screen. I could practically see her jumping up and down.

I rolled my eyes, glancing at myself in the mirror. “Don’t exaggerate,” I muttered, pulling at the hem of the dress for the tenth time.

“No, seriously, Vi! You look amazing. Ryan’s going to lose his mind when he sees you in that. Trust me.”

I sighed. The dress was… fine, I supposed. It was tight in all the right places, hugging my curves in a way that felt foreign to me. The deep red fabric contrasted sharply with my pale skin, and the neckline dipped lower than anything I’d worn in years. It wasn’t me. Not really.

“Honestly, Ash, I’m not sure about this,” I said, biting my lip. “Maybe I should change—”

“Absolutely not,” she cut me off with a scowl. “You’re not backing out now. Besides, your mom already planned this whole lunch thing, and it’s the perfect opportunity. We’re celebrating your return right?”

I groaned internally. My mom had been adamant about throwing this little lunch. To her, it was all part of my “healing process.” And Ashley, of course, saw it as the perfect moment to carry out her plan.

I adjusted the dress again, feeling the fabric stretch over my hips. “I don’t know if I’m ready for this,” I whispered, more to myself than to Ashley.

“You’ve got this,” she insisted. “Just trust me, okay? You’re going to feel incredible once you see how Ryan reacts.”

That’s what I was afraid of.

“Talk to you later, love you byeee” she blew a kiss as she dropped the call.

I drew in a long breath, trying to calm my pounding heart. The anticipation twisted in my stomach in dread. Gathering my courage, I left my room

The first thing that greeted me when I got down was mom's budged eyes

“Whoa, you look breathtaking!” she exclaimed, her voice tinged with awe. “This is exactly how I want you to look all the time.”

Right, she’d be glad. After all, she had always wanted me to be this version of a girl—put-together, stylish, and confident. .

I flickered my gaze to where Ryan was standing, leaning against the wall, his arms crossed casually. Our eyes met for a brief moment, and I felt a rush of warmth spread through me, only to be replaced by a cold wave of uncertainty as he ran his eyes over me before quickly returning his gaze elsewhere, showing no sign of indifference.

Yeah, so much for enticing him.

My heart sank a little, but I quickly forced a smile onto my face, trying to brush off the disappointment.

Ashley sure is dead.

******
We arrived ten minutes late for lunch. It could be blamed entirely on my mum because she ended up changing her dress thrice before concluding she was dressed.

“Here you are Mr..” The waitress said in her rich accent as she led us to the table.

Max thanked the waiter as we all settled down at the table. Mom and Max sat across from me, sharing those sweet little glances couples give each other. Meanwhile, Ryan sat beside me, completely engrossed in his phone.

“This is nice, having us all together,” Mom remarked, her smile warm as she looked between us. “We should do this every Sunday.”

Max nodded in agreement, shooting her an affectionate glance. “Absolutely.”

I shifted in my seat, tugging at the hem of my dress that seemed determined to ride up no matter how hard I pulled. The atmosphere felt stifling, and I was painfully aware of how uncomfortable I was in this outfit. My attempt to blend into the "family" scene felt like a failed experiment.

While Mom and Max exchanged loving banter, Ryan stayed glued to his phone. I, feeling out of place, pulled out my own and texted Ashley.

Me: “So much for your operation. Congrats—he didn’t even notice me.”

Her response was almost instant.

Ashley: “Oh no, that’s the sweet part. He’s just trying not to make it obvious .”

I rolled my eyes at my screen. Trust Ashley to think that being ignored is part of some romantic game. I gave up on tugging my dress down and slouched slightly in my chair, feeling more and more like I needed to escape.

“I’m going to get some air,” Ryan suddenly announced, his voice breaking through the chatter as he pushed his chair back and got up. He didn’t look at any of us, just grabbed his jacket and headed toward the door.

Max’s jaw tightened as if he wanted to say something, but Mom placed a calming hand on his arm. “Just let him be,” she said, sighing softly.

As soon as Ryan left, Mom turned her attention to me. “So, I heard you’re working with Ryan on a project. How’s it going?”

I hadn’t expected the sudden shift to me, and for a second, I was caught off guard. The truth was, we’d barely worked on the project together. I’d finished most of it, and he still hadn’t followed through on his part—the drawing. But that wasn’t something I wanted to get into right now.

“Uh, yeah, it’s going fine,” I mustered a reply and luckily,she didn't press further or rather was interrupted by the arrival of our meal

Just as I picked up my fork, Max leaned over and said, “Violet, can you go get Ryan? The meal’s here.”

I nodded, grateful for the excuse to leave the table. I needed the fresh air too.

Outside, the sun was harsh and bright, making me squint as I scanned the parking lot. Ryan’s car—a sleek black Range Rover—was parked a few feet away.
My heart thumped in my chest, and without a planned word in mind, I found myself walking toward him.

As I approached, I tugged down the hem of my dress, which had annoyingly ridden up with every step. I reached his car and tapped gently on the tinted window. A long moment passed before the window rolled down, revealing Ryan's piercing eyes locking onto mine.

“Are you coming in?” I asked, my voice smaller than I intended. His gaze was intense, like he was seeing through me, and for a moment, I felt a flutter of nervous excitement. He was noticing me—finally. But then, his expression shifted, and whatever hope I had vanished in an instant.

“Stop trying so hard,” he said,his voice cutting harshly. “Your usual style suits you better. And for the record, you’re not my type.”

I blinked, caught completely off guard. The sting of his words hit harder than I’d expected.

Operation Taming Ryan: Phase One—Total Failure.

I bit my lip, embarrassment flooding my cheeks. I was annoyed—at Ashley for even putting this idea in my head, at myself for caring, and at Ryan for being, well, Ryan. But I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of seeing me flustered.

“You really must think highly of yourself if you believe I dressed up for you,” I shot back, my voice collected despite the burn in my chest. “And you must be paying a lot more attention to me than I thought to even notice my usual style.”

His eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn’t reply right away. Instead, he just stared at me, his jaw clenched, but before I could decipher it, he looked away, rolling the window up without another word.

Angered,I knocked the window again and he rolled it down immediately.

“What?” He cocked his brow.

“There you go again!” I snapped, rolling my eyes in frustration. "Shutting me out. I’m trying to understand what’s going on with you, but every time I try to talk, you treat me like crap. So forget it! I’m going back inside because I’m not some self-centered jerk who shuts down every time someone tries to have a conversation.”

I turned on my heel, heading back across the lot

“Violet wait” Ryan called out. I glanced over my shoulder, and for some unknown reasons,he looked more relaxed.

“Come here,” he ordered, but I didn't flinch. There’s no reason I should listen to him.

“Come inside," he continued, "and I promise I'll tell you the truth—about why I act like this. Then we’ll go in together.”

Ryan offering to tell me the truth is too good to miss. And if it helps to get him back inside, then I ought to listen. I heave a sigh and turn around, marching back over to the Range Rover and pulling myself up into the passenger seat .

“Okay, what?”

IFor a moment, he just looked at me, and then, his lips curled into that infuriating smirk.

“Alright, you want the truth? Fine.” He paused, his eyes glinting with something unreadable. “Here it is: We’re getting the hell out of here.”

Before I could even process his words, his foot slammed on the gas, and the car screeched violently as it spun out of the parking lot, tires burning against the asphalt.

WHAT?!!!