Returning Red

#1[i]: Austin Cooper.

"It's about the Euphoria article. There are some clauses to look into before sending it to print. We're taking Sage with us." Mom completed. 

"Okay, let me know if you need me." 

Moving to the shelf I kept the black file back in the first row which had all the production documents. Then I glanced down to the third row which had red files marked with collaboration leads. I pulled out the Vogue file and got up. 

"As of now, we have fifteen million followers who are reading PINK socially, woohoo," Ryder cheered his way inside the cabin. He came near me and grabbed one of the blue retailing files and stood beside my mother.

"That's wonderful, congratulations everyone," Mum cheered too.

I shut my eyes and I groaned my frustration out loud. "Ryder Harvey, you had one job to do. Schedule our noon with Edgar West." I said through gritted teeth. I saw his face frown in confusion and when he realized what he forgot, "Now he's flying to Texas for a week. You better catch him and get us in a room before he takes off." 

"I don't understand this obsession with Edgar West, really," mom said as she sat down on the chair in front of dad. 

"Obsession? It's more like a chase." Ryder scoffed.

"And if PINK gets to be in the pages of Steinem then it should be Edgar coming behind you, not the other way around." Dad shrugged. 

"Global Publishing. End of discussion." I shut the file and let it sit on the table in front of me. 

"Okay, Ryder, over to you. I'm going to the legal right now, Lisa?" Dad sighed and got up from my chair. He walked over and patted my head. "You need a holiday, Miss Cosmo, real bad."

"Dad--"

"I don't want you going to therapy again." He shook his head and I rolled my eyes. 

"Steinem is not small," I said again. 

"Steinem is not important. You are. And you have totally lost it, up there. You need a break, honey." 

"I don't need a--" 

"Oh, hush up," mum said pushing my shoulders down. "Look at all the stress up there." I groaned but she just began humming. "Let's finish the Board Meeting and go for lunch." 

I nodded.

I watched her tag her arm inside dad's hands as they walked away from my door. I shut my eyes, all I wanted to do was make this work and it frustrated me why I had to wait two years to finally catch hold of Edgar West only to lose him again. 

I heard the magnetic door shut and instantly I felt arms hug me from behind. His face settled in the crook of my neck and he began humming a song. I tensed.

"Ryder," I warned him and he instantly withdrew.

He removed my glasses and rested them on the desk. Still humming the song as he twirled me, making me face his chest. I tried to move away but he was busy smirking. His brown eyes creased with the wide smile he had on his lips. I saw his black hair all spiked up. He walked me back and pushed me down on my chair. My hair threatened to fall out of my bun. 

"Ryder." I scowled when he turned the chair around. 

"Shut up, Bella." He ordered narrowing his eyes at me. 

He began to roll up his sleeves to his elbows and I rolled my eyes. When he loosened his tie, I nearly snapped the bridge of my nose. He tugged his leg on the chair and pulled it as he sat on my desk. 

"Hey, you're sitting on my desk." I scowled with my lips pouring OCD. 

"So? What are you going to do about it?" He smirked pulling my chair closer.