IF RYKER HAD to pick the worst weeks of his life, the current one would at least come in the top ten. He had too many things going on in his head and none of them made him feel at ease. He had kept a promise to someone and since he arrived late and found his apartment empty, he already knew he had failed. On top of that, a meeting with one of the clients had gone terribly—almost leading them to sue the company. And if all that wasn't enough, he couldn't forget the feeling of his heart sinking when he found out that Laavanya had a boyfriend five days ago.

He had looked him up right after he left.

Cameron Marshall.

He was a data analyst at a highly prestigious company. He grew up in the city and had a close group of friends. From his socials, he has been with Laavanya for over a year. Ryker even looked through their pictures, from the beginning to the last picture he posted four weeks ago and from the looks of it, Ryker didn't have to speculate–he knew she was happy with him. Cameron, as bitter as it was to admit this, seemed perfect for her. He could be everything Ryker was not. He was too late.

So, he decided it was best for him to stay away.

He had been swarmed with work—or he tried to be. He went home late after work, came in early. He barely talked in the pitch meetings and he tried his best to look decent. But he was failing. And today was no better. He was in his kitchen preparing a healthy breakfast when his phone buzzed from the kitchen counter.

George Edison: Meeting at 4 pm with the publisher

Ryker began to scratch the top of his head in frustration. This wasn't his first meeting with the publisher, Mr. Lawson, but it was the first after the threat of being sued. He knew that it wasn't his fault but his employee did make a mistake and being the Head, it was his responsibility.

He let out a loud groan and banged his fist on the counter, only causing pain to himself. He was about to send a thumbs up to George when the doorbell rang.

He turned his stove off and hurried to the living room. On the way to the door, he picked up the t-shirt lying on his couch and slid it on his torso. As soon as he opened the door, his knees were wrapped by small arms. He looked down to find a little blonde girl smiling at him as she squished his legs together. He picked her up in his arms and kissed her cheeks.

"Rain, how are you, baby? Did you like the barbie I sent you?" He continued to kiss her cheeks and neck when she giggled a yes. Rain always smelled like strawberries. When he was a child, his mother would bake him and his cousins strawberry cheesecakes every summer. It was his comfort food. His parents had planted strawberries with him in the backyard when Ryker was a toddler and lost his first bike. So the fact that Rain smelled like the one thing that reminded of the good memories with his parents only made him smile.

"You are spoiling her, Ryke," a woman walked inside with a playful huff on her face. They exchanged a kiss on the cheek when she said, "I'm sorry for dropping by on such a short notice. I know you're busy but I had to—"

"It's alright, Paris. I would be with Rain every moment of my life if I could."

"Then you should move in with us!" Rain spread her hand out, cheering. And then wrapping it around his neck.

"Yeah, no, honey. You won't let him work and besides, where would he sleep?" Paris reasoned with a pointed look on her face.

"He can sleep in my bed or you can kick Dan out."

Ryker turned his head to Paris. His bushy eyebrow arched up in amusement when Paris pressed her lips in a thin line. "Looks like someone is not a big fan of your boyfriend."

Paris rolled her eyes. "We are not having this conversation right now. I have a meeting in an hour." She kissed her daughter's cheek and waved. "Goodbye, sweetie. I'll pick you up in the evening." She closed the door behind her and Ryker looked at the girl in his arms.

"Would you like some pancakes?"

***

Laavanya stood in the canteen of her office and waited for the barista to make her a large tea. She watched her mix milk in her cup and simultaneously work on the other orders. Mia, as her tag said, was multitasking quite easily. She must've been working here for a long time and knows most of the people from work. She was about to strike a conversation when Diana approached with her order number in her hand.

"Hey, Laavanya," Diana said with a smile. "How are you fitting in?"

"Just fine." Laavanya noticed a Chanel bag in her hand. "Went shopping?"

"Uh, no. If I could afford Chanel, I would be sitting in my penthouse sipping coffee all day with my German Shepherd. No, this is for the Marketing Head. We are friends and she asked if I could pick her outfit from dry cleaning. Uh, for that party. Are you bringing anyone?"

Mia passed them their drinks and the two of them walked towards the elevator, the conversation still continuing. "Party?" She asked as Laavanya took a sip of her sweet tea.

"Oh, right. Mr. Edison hasn't announced yet–Piper and Lawson is completing 70 years in a week. There's this big party where they are inviting our best selling authors, celebrities and other esteemed guests." Diana grinned mischievously and nudged her arm with her elbow. "Back to my question, are you bringing Mr. Morris?"

Laavanya choked. Almost.

"Ryker?" She spluttered. "No, what are you talking about!"

"I know you left together the other night. Word gets around. Are you going to the HR or–" she looked around and whispered, "is it a secret affair?"

Laavanya wanted to bolt away.

"No, we—" she took a deep breath, trying to bring her shame and anger back to normal. "We are mutual friends. It was a personal issue. And besides, I have a boyfriend."

Diana didn't seem to faze. "Oh, so it's an illicit affair kinda thing?"

"Diana," she huffed. "Stay out of this." She walked away to the other side of the elevator, not willing to be trapped in an awkward silence with anyone. She sat on one of the chairs and had her tea, her eyes catching the afternoon city through the window.

She had almost forgotten about the conversation when her phone started to buzz with a string of texts. She expected Julie's texts but was surprised to find that it was Ryker instead.

Ryker: I need a favour

Ryker: As a friend, not a boss

Ryker: Can you come to my apartment?

Ryker: 1001A, Pembrunt Penthouse, Archer Street

Ryker: It's okay if you're busy

In the next 30 minutes, Laavanya was knocking on his door. She heard some shuffling and running steps before the door opened. As soon as Ryker's eyes met hers, he let out a breath of relief. Her eyes examined him—he was wearing a loose white t-shirt and black pants. A look of exhaustion–the same that she has been seeing for the past few days was consistent. It had been so hard to not ask him if he was okay, if he was sleeping well but she knew she shouldn't. She couldn't repress the fact that even though they knew each other outside of work—they were in a different position in their firm.

"Thank you so much for coming. I—" She heard a soft sneeze from the inside. He looked over his shoulders with a worried look on his face. He gestured her inside. "My, um, friend's daughter. Ah, my goddaughter fell sick. Could you watch for some time while I get on a quick video meeting? It won't take long."

"Yeah, sure." She followed Ryker into his room. She couldn't help but look around his apartment. His apartment was huge. He had some fancy paintings hanging on the wall, some crockery in the tabletops and pictures of his goddaughter everywhere. On his bed, the little girl from the pictures was lying. She coughed and snuggled inside the covers.

"Princess," he called her out but the girl didn't peek out of her duvet. "This is Laavanya. She will look after you for a while when I finish off my work, okay?" She grumbled an incoherent reply and Ryker left the room. Laavanya turned and watched him leave. He hurriedly picked up his laptop and sat on the dinning table after buttoning a jacket over his t-shirt. Feeling embarrassed for watching him, she pried her eyes back into the room. His goddaughter stayed silently in the covers with an occasional cough reverberating in the room.

Laavanya only knew his room from the Bayfort mansion and well, it was empty–just like his cabin. His room, however, was nothing like she pictured. The walls were grey and the furniture matched and complemented each other. The only pictures in the room were of the girl and one with his parents from a strawberry farm. There were files lying on his desk with coffee or tea stains on the surface. She was tempted to find more but she didn't. She was here to help him.

She pulled the chair towards the bed and softly put her hand over the girl's duvet. "Hey, what's your name?"

"Rain," came a croaking voice from the inside.

"That's a lovely name. Can I do something for you?"

"No."

"C'mon. Let me check if you have a fever. You were sneezing, weren't you?"

"I have a bad throat, not a fever."

Laavanya's furrowed her eyebrows. "Rain..." her voice was tender but it held authority. "Are you really sick?" Rain didn't move. Then, her arms clutched the duvet from the inside and she pulled down the covers. Her eyes were a bright shade of the blue that reminded her of the beach in Bayfort. She didn't have a red nose or a feverish expression on her face and Laavanya wasn't a doctor but she figured that Rain was in no shape or form sick.

"Two minutes!" Rain scoffed and folded her chubby hands over her chest as she sat up. "I have been faking for two hours and you realised in two minutes!"

"Why are you pretending to be sick?"

"I don't wanna go to school. I want to play with him but he is always so busy."

Laavanya's eyes softened right when Ryker rushed in. "Is everything okay?" He asked. "I heard Rain."

Rain looked at Laavanya with a hopeful side eye.

"No, it's okay. She was just coughing."

Laavanya had never seen a girl smile so brightly.

***

When Ryker walked back into his room after the meeting, he found Rain and Laavanya watching something on her phone. They had airpods plugged into their ears and both of their eyes were focussed on  the screen with intensity. Ryker stayed silent and leaned against the doorframe, his one hand up. Without realising, a small smile was playing on his lips. He continued to remain quiet until both of them gasped at the scene and Rain buried herself closer to Laavanya. They shared a moment of assurance and they turned back towards the screen when Laavanya's eyes fell on Ryker. She looked at him from up and down, no word said—just an unexplainable expression.

Some kind of fire roared in her eyes.

The movie must be really good, he thought.

"What are you two watching?" Ryker asked, walking closer towards the bed. "Looks like you are feeling better, little one."

"You know what would really help though?" Laavanya arched her eyebrow at Rain. "I think you should take her out to play. She needs some fresh air."

Rain turned to her. "You should come too!"

"No...I should go back to–"

"Join us," Ryker mumbled. She locked eyes with him and something passed between the two of them that he couldn't decipher. Ryker's gaze softened. Suddenly the space between them shrunk. He wasn't her boss and she wasn't his employee. They were just something...else. "Please?"

"Well," Laavanya cracked a smile. "You're the boss."

"Yayyyyyy!" Rain cheered. "Can we go to an aquarium? I want to see a shark!"

"Sure, get dressed. I'll go text your mom." Ryker grabbed himself an outfit and went into the bathroom. He sent a quick text to Paris, letting her know their plans for the day. Paris sent a thumbs up in a matter of seconds and he went to freshen up. When he walked out, Laavanya was helping Rain put on her shoes. Once they were done, Rain held her fingers with her small hands and they walked out of the door along with Ryker tagging behind them.

"I want to sit alone in the back seat!" Rain said as soon as the car was brought to them by the valet.

Ryker nodded when the valet popped out of the car but before walking to sit into his seat, he opened the door for Rain and said, "Anything you want, Your Highness." Rain giggled and hopped inside. He opened the door for Laavanya as well but her hair covered her face as she sat inside, making it unable for him to understand if she appreciated his gesture or found it unnecessary. He ran and slid into his seat.

Rain was blabbing songs to herself as they drove off to the biggest aquarium in the city. "She is adorable, you know? I get why you have so many pictures of her everywhere. You love her." Laavanya looked at him through the mirror. Her voice was soft, almost breathy.

"Yeah, she means the world to me."

"Why the name Rain?"

"Because I love the rain!" The little girl answered. Ryker watched the ladies' laughter fill his car.

And it had been a long, long time since he felt that kind of happiness in his chest.

chapter dedication: KripaKotian for being an amazing friend! im so lucky to have you<3

so, what do you think of Rain? and Ryker's decision to stay away from Laav? Will he succeed? 😏

stay tuned:)