Word count: 1862
Beast's POV
A short chappie 🙊
*
Today, we would be flying back to New York.
Me, Riley, Dennis and Leonardo would be going in my private plane.
I hated the fact that Leo would be following us but he wouldn't agree to come on his own even though I vouched to get him his ticket and cover all other expenses.
I got into the car with Riley and ordered the driver to start the car before Leo could get closer to us, hearing him shout profanities as we drove off.
He would have to follow Dennis since there was no need to bring his own car along to the airport.
Riley scooted farther from me so that there was enough space for one more person to sit between us then she plugged in her earpiece and totally ignored me.
What was up with her?
After the party three nights ago, I noticed she'd suddenly become quiet.
And even Ingrid told me she hard no idea what was wrong with her. She suggested that maybe Riley was missing her friends, the niubbos. Most of them had been assigned ti their carious positions and only about two would be joining the men at New York. Maybe she was sad that she would miss them.
When we got to the airport, our details had already been prepared we'd been checked in, so we just went straight to my plane and climbed in.
Riley took the seat behind me, her earpiece still plugged in her ears as she listened to a song so loudly that I could also hear the female singer screaming about something.
Leo took the seat at the other side, then he dropped his bag and came to sit beside me.
My glare made him pull back a little but he chuckled and nudged his head sideways.
He wiggled his brows but I couldn't understand what he was trying to do.
"What?" I asked him, not willing to talk to anyone at this time.
"Riley. What's wrong with her?" He asked.
For the first time ever, I felt like I should tell him what I knew because this was the first time Riley was like this, acting so withdrawn around me and I had no idea how to deal with that.
She didn't even say her usual 'hi' or smile at me. It was confusing.
"I don't know what's wrong with her. She has been like this since the party." I told him solemnly.
"Really? That's unlike her. Did you try to talk to her?"
"She acted as if I didn't even exist."
He frowned and drummed his fingers on his lips, his expression concentrated on whatever was going on in his mind.
"Did you do anything to her?"
"When?"
"I mean, did you scold her or shout at her?"
I shook my head. "No? I've never even shouted at her before."
"After the party, was there any interaction between you two?"
"No. Not even once."
"Wow. This is serious. That means you did something to her. She acted cold towards me this morning and the Riley I know could be wary of someone but she would never intentionally act cold to someone that didn't offend her. From what I know, women behave this way either when they're having a severe mood swing or when their boyfriend upsets them. They take it out on everyone."
"I am not her boyfriend." I snapped, reducing my voice so she wouldn't hear me even if her music was loud.
I hated this feeling so much. Restraining my feelings was harder than I thought.
Riley's thoughts about me mattered to me and I didn't know exactly how to feel about that right now. I didn't like the fact that she was upset because now I was also beginning to get upset.
"Woah, Woah chill. Calm down my friend, I'm only trying to help you."
The pilot announced that we were about to take off, telling us to fasten our seatbelts on and also mentioning the rest of the procedures.
The air hostess walked past us, checking to make sure we'd done as instructed and she told Riley to do the same, making her take off her earplugs and fasten her seatbelt.
Immediately, she plugged the earpiece back into her ears.
Leo was watching me while I sat still, listening to everything going on behind me.
The plane took off and Leo continued speaking. "I'm thinking you probably did something at the party that annoyed her."
I shook my head. "No I didn't. We were together when I wasn't with April."
The air hostess asked us if we would like to have anything and Leo said he would like a bottle of grape wine. She asked Riley behind us but Riley told her she was okay so she went to bring the wine.
"Oh, that reminds me. April. I noticed Riley giving her a strange look all through that night. Do you think Riley sees April as a threat?"
"Why would she see April as a threat?"
He shrugged. "I don't know, you tell me Luciano. You and April were together all along and then she tried to cut in when you were dancing with Riley and Riley probably felt threatened so because of that, she hugged you tightly. Don't you remember?"
"You're right. She reacted that way but she was quiet later that night so I didn't think much about it."
The hostess came back with a tray and handed it over to Leo, serving him the glass of wine and then leaving. He took sip and shook his head.
"Do you think she was jealous at that time?"
"Jealous?" I didn't know how I should feel about that.
If she was jealous, then it would mean this Riley cared about me. Though, she seemed to be enjoying herself with Noah. He even hugged her when they were dancing.
This whole scenario was a little confusing to me, and I didn't know what to think about me and Riley any more. Does she like me or does she like Noah?
She sure spends a lot of time on phone talking to him and rarely does that with me.
"Look how we're conversing like old grandmas discussing their grand children's love lives. Only what love can do." Leo suddenly jested and that made me sit straight and clamp my mouth shut, since he wanted to make fun of me.
But then he quickly corrected himself.
"Okay, I shouldn't have said that. I just felt that we never talk more than a few sentences and now we're doing that because this conversation is about Riley and-"
"If you can't help me provide a solution, then get lost." I scowled at him and he shook his head, looking determined.
"Of course I want to help you. Now, how was your relationship with her before the party?"
I thought back to how harmonious things were between me and Riley. "Harmonious. We spoke a lot. I even confessed to her that she farted in her sleep and had weird sleeping postures."
Leo, who had tilted the glass cup to his lips choked and quickly dropped it on the tray, coughing.
He stared at me, wide eyed.
"You told her what?!" He whisper yelled.
"You heard me."
He called for the hostess and then passed her the tray. "You will be the death of me, Luciano. Should I get you a book on how to woo women? You don't tell a lady anything that's that embarrassing."
A frown pulled up to my face. "But it's the truth."
"Ugh. No wonder you shot your ex in the skull years ago. Look, ladies are fragile but at the same time they have formidable strength. You don't tell a lady she farts in her sleep or that she has morning breath or that she's weak or that she's short. Yes they're those things but you need to sugar coat the words and not state them directly."
"I don't lie." I told him clearly.
He rolled his eyes. "You don't have to lie. Telling the truth would make Riley pull away from you slowly till she ends up in another man's arms. All you have to do is sugar coat the words, or better still, don't say them at all."
I didn't understand the logic behind his words. Why would someone prefer to be lied to than to be told the truth?
"Explain." I told him.
"It's like this. When you see Riley in the morning, regardless of if her hair is tangled on her head in a mess or if she has morning boogers, you'll say, 'Riley, you're beautiful.' That's an example."
"She's usually beautiful at all times." I noted and he nodded vigorously.
"Yes. Exactly. So when you see her, compliment her. Tell her she's wearing a nice dress. If she does something you don't like, don't tell her 'no' or just shut her up. Ask her, 'what do you think about doing it this way?' It would make her more willing to do whatever you want and you'll find her wanting to be around you more."
"Really?" I asked, surprised at the logic.
He nodded. "Hmm. Also, if you want her to be excused from your presence, you should never say 'get lost.' You could say, 'I need to be alone at this moment' or 'excuse me for a bit'. That would make her care about you, knowing you're not just shutting her out of your life. I noticed you're fond of saying 'get lost' and if you speak to her that way, she won't understand that you're basically used to ordering people around that way."
"Don't tell me what to do." I frowned.
He sighed. "Here we go again. I can tell you what to do right now Luciano, not because I want to boss you, the great Capo di tutti capi around but because I want to make your relationship with Riley better. Do you understand?"
I nodded. "That's allowed."
He scoffed. "Thank you, your Royal highness. Now please don't forget all I've told you. I'll get you a book on how to woo girls."
"I don't need a book on how to woo girls Leo, I can handle it myself."
He mumbled under his breath. "I know, Luci. The book is just a guide, and it's only meant for bosses like yourself. The title of the book is 'how to woo your woman. In a lay man's understanding'. You'll enjoy it when you read it and it'll break things down properly." He explained so I nodded.
I silently agreed that I would probably need the book, and then maybe things would get better between I and Riley.
He went back to his seat and I was left to my thoughts for a while.
Then I turned around and saw Riley's head bobbing as she dozed off in her seat.
I gently adjusted her head and came to sit beside her so when her head fell, it fell on my arm.
Maybe I should let her sleep like this for a bit while. She looks so peaceful in her sleep.