Chapter 25: Chapter 24

LILLIAN

Noah had cautioned her about his striking resemblance to his father, but seeing it firsthand was a different ball game. It was like getting a glimpse into Noah’s future, and she had to admit, it wasn’t a bad sight. Then a memory resurfaced.

When that woman had shown up at his office ages ago, she had been accused of flirting with his father. It wasn’t so much an accusation as it was a statement—a warning not to underestimate him.

Meeting Tyler Ryder, Noah’s father, made her understand why the woman might have done it, though she doubted it was solely because of his charm. Beyond their uncanny resemblance, Tyler was a handsome man, and she was certain he had no shortage of admirers.

If she were the type to speak her mind without a filter, she would have asked him why he chose to stay single after his wife’s death.

“My son tells me you were employed at our Europe branch,” Tyler said after welcoming her into his home and guiding her to an incredibly plush couch. She wasn’t one to envy the wealthy, but the small luxuries they could afford—like comfortable furniture—were certainly appealing.

She kept her thoughts to herself and focused on his question.

“Yes, I started working there a year before Noah left,” she replied.

“And why did you leave?” he asked.

“I wanted to explore other opportunities.” She shrugged, careful not to badmouth Tamara. Tamara was a snake, but Lillian wouldn’t stoop to her level. Besides, she wasn’t lying. The job had worn her out. She needed a break and time to figure things out.

“Do you have any plans for what’s next?” Tyler asked.

“Dad,” Noah interjected. “We just got here. It’s too early for the third degree.”

“It’s okay, Noah,” she reassured him with a smile. “It was just a question.”

“Interrogation, more like,” Noah muttered.

“I wasn’t interrogating you,” Tyler told his son pointedly. “I know better than to expect a straight answer from you.”

“We can talk about this later, Dad,” Noah said.

“I can answer the question now,” Lillian interjected. “I don’t have any plans yet, other than to enjoy my time here. When I get back home, I’ll start job hunting and see where that takes me.”

Tyler nodded. “That, my dear, is a plan. A wise one at that. I’ll have Sandra show you to your room. Noah knows his way around.”

“Thank you,” she said, moving to pick up her suitcase.

“No, my dear.” Tyler stopped her. “We have staff for that.”

“I hope you pay them well to lug this up the stairs,” she joked.

“I do, but we prefer to use the elevator.”

“You didn’t mention that,” she said, shooting Noah a sideways glance as they moved away.

“I forgot. My father only offers the service to his guests. His sons don’t get the privilege,” he replied, loud enough for his father to hear.

***

When she entered her bedroom, she was surprised to find her suitcase already there. She was relieved that the maid hadn’t taken the liberty to unpack her clothes. The room was stunning.

If all the guest rooms were this beautiful, she couldn’t even begin to imagine what the master suite looked like. The room was tastefully decorated in soft pastels, making it seem larger. A vase of fresh flowers sat on the nightstand.

“It’s like a hotel,” she murmured.

The room was bright and had an attached bathroom, which was a plus. She wasn’t keen on wandering the halls in a bathrobe or towel. The best part was that it was on the opposite side of the house from Noah’s room. If he was smart, the distance would deter any ideas he might have—not that she thought he would be disrespectful in his father’s house.

She stepped out onto the balcony.

The view was lovely, overlooking a beautiful garden, even in winter. She rubbed her arms and went back inside. She should have put on a sweater before venturing outside, but she was too eager to explore. The bathroom would be next, but that would have to wait.

A knock echoed through her bedroom, and she moved to answer it, certain it was the man who had been occupying her thoughts just moments ago. Her intuition proved correct.

“I wanted to see what room he gave you,” he said, craning his neck to get a glimpse inside.

“One you’ll only see from where you’re standing right now,” she replied, her tone flat.

“Are you sure? I could sneak in without being noticed.”

“You’ll find the door locked.”

“I could get a master key.”

“And I could toss you out the window. You wouldn’t die, unfortunately, but you might break an arm or a leg.”

He laughed at her threat.

“My father said once you’re ready, you can join us downstairs. He wants to get to know you better, apparently.”

“I doubt he’d want to know me better if he saw how I go about my work every day.”

“You could put that to the test,” he suggested, a smirk playing on his lips.

“You can’t be serious,” she retorted.

“Why not?”

“Noah, have you lost your mind?”

“No, but I’m feeling a bit mischievous,” he said, winking at her.

“You’re unbearable when you’re like this,” she scolded. She moved to close the door in his face.

He blocked the door with his foot, and she shot him a glare.

“You’re not coming in.”

“I don’t want to come in, but I won’t let you slam the door like that.”

“And I won’t play your little game. Got it?”

“Don’t be mad at me, Lillian. We haven’t even been here twenty-four hours yet.”

“And you’ve managed to become an asshole in such a short time. I preferred the asshole you were when I worked for you, not this juvenile version. Now go and let me get dressed.”

***

The bathroom was well stocked with everything she could possibly need. It wasn’t overly spacious, but it was large enough to accommodate a bathtub. She decided she would indulge in a bath later, but for now, she couldn’t keep her host waiting. She had no idea what these people considered late.

After a quick shower, she slipped into another pair of jeans and a thin sweater. She wasn’t sure if her outfit was appropriate, but it wasn’t like she had anything better. She preferred comfort over style, and Noah wasn’t the type to not warn her about something like that.

So, her clothes weren’t the issue. The real problem was that no one had bothered to give her a tour of the mansion, leaving her clueless about where to go. She found herself standing at the bottom of the grand staircase, trying to guess where the sitting room might be. Noah hadn’t mentioned it, but it was too early for dinner. She decided wandering aimlessly around the house would look ridiculous. So, she did the only sensible thing and flagged down one of the maids.

“Could you tell me where Noah and Mr. Ryder are?” she asked politely. “I’m a bit lost.”

“It’s a big house, miss,” the woman replied, smiling sympathetically.

“Yeah, it is. I don’t know how you all manage to find your way around.”

“We all got lost more than once when we first started working here. But you get used to it.”

“I hope I can get used to it in the week I’ll be here,” she said. “Noah told me they’re waiting for me, but he didn’t say where.”

“They’re in the small living room,” the woman informed her. “I can show you the way if you’d like.”

“Thank you! Who knows where I’d end up if I tried to find it myself?”

They both laughed, but the maid was the first to regain her composure as they began walking toward the sitting room.

Lillian suspected the maid wasn’t supposed to be overly friendly with guests, so she quickly switched to a more professional demeanor.

“I’ve made strong tea for the masters. Would you like a cup?”

Lillian made a face. “No, not tea. I’d prefer hot cocoa, if it’s not too much trouble.”

“No trouble at all. There are freshly baked cookies as well. The masters didn’t want any, but I can bring you some. They go nicely with hot cocoa.”

“That sounds lovely,” she replied, smiling.

“Here we are. I’ll be back in a minute with your cocoa and cookies.”

“Thank you,” Lillian said, her gratitude genuine, as she stepped into the room.

The guys were already cozied up around a roaring fire.

Out of the blue, she found herself wondering how Asher Ryder was going to pull off a barbecue party in this chilly weather. She made a mental note to ask Noah about it.

Her gaze then wandered around the room. It was by no means small, easily twice the size of her own living room, but it seemed the wealthy had a different scale for things.

“Here, Miss Astaire.” Tyler Ryder rose from his seat, pulling out a chair for her. “Join us.”

“Thank you.”

“Would you like some tea?”

“No, thank you. I asked one of your maids to bring me some cocoa. Is that okay?”

“Absolutely. Not everyone is a tea person. My late wife was one of them. She preferred hot cocoa in the winter and lemonade in the summer.”

“Noah is more of a coffee drinker.” His face scrunched slightly as he sipped his tea.

“That’s true,” she agreed. “But I’m taking a break from it for a few days. With this cold, hot cocoa is just perfect.”

“Indeed.” The older man nodded, savoring his drink with evident satisfaction, unlike his son, who seemed a bit disgruntled.

“Is something wrong?”

“I should’ve asked for cocoa too. This tea is too strong for me.”

She couldn’t help but chuckle, shaking her head.

“Where are you from, Miss Astaire?” Mr. Ryder inquired.

“I’m from a small coastal town in the middle of nowhere.”

“Often, these small towns are hidden treasures.”

“Mine isn’t,” she laughed. “It’s not terrible, though. It has its charms, a library, and decent folks…”

“But you wanted more.”

“I did. I still do.”

“Why did you leave our company then?” the man asked, curiosity piqued. “Not to boast, but we’re one of the best in our field.”

“The job was good, the pay even better, but I felt stuck.”

“Stuck,” the man echoed thoughtfully. “I see. For some, being a CEO’s assistant is the pinnacle of their career; for others, it’s just the start.”

“I’m in the latter group. I have a degree in management and accounting. I’d like to do more with it than juggle a CEO’s schedule.”

“No one could fault you for that. But didn’t we have an opening for an accounting position in our Europe branch about six months ago? Weren’t you considered?”

“I did apply internally for the position, but they couldn’t spare me.” She chuckled, a hint of bitterness in her voice.

“You never mentioned that,” Noah said.

“I forgot.” She shrugged. “It was before we met last summer.”

“Still…”

“I told you, it completely slipped my mind. Mostly because I didn’t think I had a shot.”

“Did you talk to Asher about it?”

“There was no point in bothering him. I did when I had issues with my summer leave, but this conversation is moot. I’m not with the company anymore.”

“You’re right,” Tyler Ryder said with a smile. “You have your whole life ahead of you. What would you like to do while you’re here with us?”

“I’d love a tour of this mansion. I think it’s risky for me to wander around alone.”

Both men laughed.

“You’re absolutely right,” Noah’s father agreed. “This house has been in the family for generations, and while I’m used to its size, you must feel overwhelmed as a newcomer.”

“Completely.”

“We can arrange a tour right away. Besides that, what else would you like to do?”

“I’m not sure.” She shrugged. “What do you suggest?”