Ambitious

Chapter forty-one
Gwen
"What?" He repeats and glanced at me.
I look away, smiling, "I'm not sure now. Maybe when I'm done thinking about it."
He laughs briefly as if I just joked about something funny.
" You want to start thinking of what you want to be in the future?"
I nod briefly, unsure if there's anything wrong with what I said.
Well, everyone does have ambition the moment they are in high school.
But for me, it was the opposite. The moment I entered high school, I had lost hope of becoming something good in the future.
"But I've always loved being a model or being a florist or a brand influencer. Though, I'm sure of what I love."
"You can actually try and be a brand influencer. They earn good money. You can start at the lowest and put up with a business. I will help as much as I can."
" Being a florist is also great, especially if you get recognized throughout the state. Imagine getting a nice big shop for your flowers."
I thought about it quickly, imagining myself in a big company, being a florist, and having my employee.
Wow, it's so cool. I think I will go for that option. I will be a florist. I can use Ryder as the business model. It will really aid me. Wow, why didn't I think of such a thing?
"I think I like being a florist the more. I love the view and with what you've just said, I will make it big."
" Nice one. There are still about one million dollars in my black card. You can demand more if you want."
What! I drop the card immediately.
I whip my head to look at him, "What did you just say?"
He brings out his phone and presses some buttons. He glanced up at me, " I've just sent you another one million dollars"
"OMG! What did you just do?"
He laughs, "I just gave you two million dollars to help you with your ambition."
My mouth opens in agape, I still can't believe my ears. Why will he say that? Why will he give me that amount of money? It doesn't make any sense at all.
I mean it's too much. The amount is way too much.
"That's too much Ryder."
He didn't say a word and instead pulls the car to a stop. He turns to look at me, "Gwen, do you know who I am?"
I continue to stare at him, my eyes nearly bore holes in his face.
My heart skyrocketed when his hands touch my shoulders. I thought he might kiss me. I can't forget the one we had last.
My body still shudders uncontrollably at the thoughts. Somehow, I wish to witness it again. I wish I can kiss him again.
Gosh, I don't know what's happening to me.
"I sent Mrs. Johnson's first son to Harvard. It's his second year. Do you know the amount I spent on her second son?"
" Do you know where Lizzy planned on going after leaving here? She's going to study in China. She wants to be a doctor."
" It's not pride. I'm not saying this to you to make you feel intimidated or that I'm just being proud."
" I just want to help. Whenever I see good-nurtured people, I always want to help them."
Wow! He's not almost perfect. He always look so perfect. Why is he so perfect?
His attributes seems to set my heart on fire. His words and actions are convincing my mental conclusion on who people are.
I mean he and Mrs. Johnson and Lizzy are telling me some people can be nice. I don't believe I met such a wonderful family.
I try to stop the tears threatening to break loose, "Can I hug you again?"
He smiles, "You are free to do so. You don't even need to talk to me about it."
I smile and hug him, pulling him all to myself.
Does he hug Lizzy too? Does he kiss her too? I mean he does kiss, Mimi.
Maybe that's how he does. How I wish it's not.
But that would only mean I'm selfish and I can't afford to be.
Ryder is old enough to get married. I won't stop him for having one.
I pull away slowly and chuckle in the process.
Ryder picks up the card and stretches it out to me. I smile this time as I collect it from him.
He starts the ignition and drives. We didn't talk again throughout the ride. Each deep in his or her thoughts.
I was thinking about the first time I met Ryder. The vibe his eyes has given me then, something I misinterpret and didn't know I was going to meet a wonderful person like him.
Not only that, he introduced me to someone like Mrs. Johnson and Lizzy.
I feel like the luckiest lady on earth. I'm so happy.
The car pull towards a black huge gate.
I sit up and watdrive-in drive in. My eyes went wider as I look around the spacious environment.
It looks cooler than the house before. And I wonder how the inner place would look like.
I get down and walk towards the door. I sense Ryder behind me. I didn't wait for him and walked with fast strides inside.
My breath almost left me as I stare wide-eyed at the living room. OMG! I've only seen this type of house in movies. I don't believe they exist in reality.
OMG! I take my seat and feel the chair. So soft and puffy.
Everything looks so good.
"Gwen!" Lizzy rushes out and pulls me into a hug. She pulls away after a while and pulls my cheeks slightly, "How are you doing? How is your wound? Will you like to sit?"
Mrs. Johnson laughs, "How many questions at a time?"
Upon hearing her voice, I rush to her and pull her into a tight hug. She reminds me so much of my mother.
Whenever I look at her, I'm always reminded of her. It always looks as though my dead mother came back in the form of her.
I pull back and stare at Lizzy, "I'm ok Lizzy, I'm very fine. And my injury is well attended to. Though, I'm going to the hospital tomorrow for re-dressing."
" Welcome Ryder," Lizzy says happily. I wonder if it was Ryder that told her to call him by his first name while Mrs Johnson keeps telling her to stop.
"Welcome," Mrs Johnson says and it felt like they exchange an unspoken signal between themselves.
Ryder starts up the stairs but stops suddenly, "Gwen," he calls and turns to look at me again, " You can come over after you are done with the pleasantries. Come for the things I got for you."
" Ok Ryder," I say. He smiles and finally walks inside.
Lizzy moves closer to me, " What? Why did you call him Ryder?"
I look at her confused, "You do call him Ryder too, right?"
" I know but I've been queried about it. I wonder why Ryder didn't say anything to you."
Is that really right? Did he say he didn't like it? But he specifically told me to call him by his first name. Is there something somewhere that I don't know of?
"Come here, you must be hungry. I've prepared something delicious for you, "Mrs. Johnson moves nearer and pulls me along.
Lizzy walk to us, " So, you knew Ryder is going to bring her home? But how come I was clueless?' she whines.
Seriously? Is Mrs. Johnson really aware of that? That I will be coming home with Ryder?
I don't know why anyways but something keeps telling me Mrs. Johnson told Ryder where I was. Though, I'm still unable to find out why that is.
I look up at Mrs. Johnson as we walk into the kitchen.
I ate pasta and it was very delicious. Mrs. Johnson is a great cook.
Mrs. Johnson showed me my room and it was better than the previous one. I loved it so very much.
After that, Lizzy and Mrs. Johnson decided to tarry in my room. Lizzy gist me of everything that happened between Mimi and Ryder.
Though, I don't understand a bit of it. But there's one thing I seem to get and that's the fact that these two were involved in a contractual relationship.
And Ryder didn't really love her. He was forced. Though, I'm still thinking about that.
How would a woman force a grown-up man.
"And aside from that, why can't Ryder just get married to her? He's not getting any younger," I say my thought aloud.
" How can he marry her? Mimi is the worst type of woman on this Earth."
" Can you marry someone older than you?" Mrs. Johnson asks.
Lizzy looks up at her, " What age difference?"
She thinks for a while, " Let's say thirteen or upward."
" OMG! That's so huge!" Lizzy gasps and Mrs. Johnson hits her on the head slightly. She turns to look at me, "What about you?"
I think about it for a while. Can I? Can I marry someone like Ryder? Damn! It seems like she's asking me if I can marry Ryder. He's also thirteen years older.