You’ve never wanted to punch somebody in the face so bad until you met Ransom Drysdale. The smug, arrogant, jerk-face had been a thorn in your side since grade school. You both grew up in the Boston area, your parents sending you to the same private schools all the way through high school. You had run in similar crowds but no matter how much your mutual friends tried to get the two of you to get along you never could. For good reason though.
Your family owned and operated Cloak and Dagger Publishing, the direct rival of Ransom’s family’s publishing house, Blood Like Wine. Unlike you and Ransom, your families liked to keep the rivalry in business and not in life. Your father, Jackson Y/L/N and Harlan Thrombey were actually great friends who just liked to rib each other when it came to business, but were proud of the other’s success regardless.
But for some reason you and Ransom could never get to that level of friendship. And you weren’t in any rush to fix that.
Especially when he was pulling shit like this.
You groaned as you opened the door to your office only to see the smirking son of a bitch sitting in your chair, feet propped up on the desk and your favorite fountain pen twirling between his fingers.
“Maria, you’re fired.” You joked to your assistant who nervously looked at you from her desk right outside your door.
“I’m so sorry, Y/N! He just-”
“It’s fine. I know.” You sighed before walking fully into your office, letting the door close behind you.
“Good morning, honey.” Ransom’s voice was sickly sweet.
“Is it?” You snapped. You walked around your desk and pushed his feet off. “Get up.”
“You’re not being very kind to your guest, Y/N. What would dear daddy say about your terrible manners?” Ransom teased but stood up nonetheless. You glared up at him as he stood to his full height.
“Guests are usually wanted and invited, Ransom. Neither of which you are.”
“Honey, you hurt me.” Ransom feigned pain as he gripped his chest. You wanted to stomp your expensive Manolo Blahniks on his toes every time he called you that. It started your junior year of high school and maybe if it was anyone else you would have thought it was a term of endearment but he said it in such a condescending tone you knew it was anything but.
“What do you want, Drysdale?” You let out an exasperated breath.
“Is it so hard to believe that I just wanted to visit an old friend?”
“Ransom, please. Unlike some people I actually have work to do.” You moved around him and sat down, pulling out your laptop. You looked up at him as he watched you with intense blue eyes that made your stomach flutter, annoyingly so.
“I’m actually here for business and not pleasure, honey.” He smirked as he sat down at the chair across from you. “I’m here to formally and personally invite you to Bleeding Hearts.”
You resisted the urge to roll your eyes. Bleeding Hearts was the Thrombey annual charity gala that they hosted at Harlan’s expansive, hidden mansion. Your parents had been going every year since Harlan first hosted it and you had started going about five years ago. You would never tell Ransom, but you loved Bleeding Hearts. It gave you an excuse to wear a beautiful ball gown-albeit rented-and to feel like a beautiful princess like the ones you had read about growing up. Harlan always hired a full orchestra to play the most beautiful classical pieces throughout the night and it was like stepping into a time machine. You didn’t understand why Ransom had to come all the way down to your office just to invite you to something that you were already going to.
“I’ve already had Maria send in my RSVP and donation, Ransom. So thank you for the courtesy, but it really wasn’t needed.” You rubbed at your temples, a tension headache now forming from all this ‘excitement’ so early in the morning. And before you’ve even had a sip of your coffee.
“I know. And you gave a nice amount this year. Did daddy finally up your monthly allowance?” He smirked.
Just one punch. Just one and then I’ll be satisfied. Technically he’s trespassing, it could be called self defense.
“Goodbye, Ransom.” You blocked him out as you opened your email and began typing away. You got about two sentences out before you felt your laptop being shut against your hands.
“I wasn’t done.” Ransom whispered, you didn’t realize how close he was until you looked up. He was now leaning over your desk, one hand on your laptop and one hand on the edge of the desk closest to you.
“Shame.”
“I’m here to ask if you wanted to come...as my date.” You snorted out a laugh and laughed even harder as a look of annoyance crossed over his face. He stood up and straightened out his shirt almost nervously.
“God, you’re funny. Now please leave. You’ve already wasted so much of my time with this little joke.” You rolled your eyes as you opened your laptop again.
“I wasn’t kidding, Y/N.” His words were sharp and his eyes blazing.
“Neither was I. Get out of my office, Ransom. Or I will call security.” You glared right back at him.
Ransom looked like he was about to say something but decided against it. He tapped his fingers against your desk and gave you a mock salute.
“See ya around, honey.”
“Close the door on your way out.” You muttered.
You clenched your fists as he left your office, leaving your door wide open. You could hear him laughing his ass all the way down the hall.
Damn you, Ransom Drysdale.
“Y/N, I am so sorry. He just kind of walked in.” Maria rushed into your office, almost tripping over her far too high heels.
“Ria, it’s fine. I know how he is.” You waved her off, giving her a sympathetic smile. “Please, don’t worry about it.”
“Okay…” she said nervously. When you gave her another reassuring smile she relaxed her shoulders. “I have to say though, he is really sexy.”
“Maria.” You sighed. “Get out.”
“Sorry.” She squeaked before exiting your office, closing the door fully.
You leaned back in your chair and let out a long breath. How had today already been the longest day and it wasn’t even nine?
“Good afternoon, sweetheart.”
“Good afternoon, dad.” You smiled as your father snuck his way into your office.
You and your dad had always been close. When you were younger he called you his “little shadow” because you loved to follow him around throughout his day. You would sit in on meetings and you loved when he would let you pretend to lead the team briefings in the morning. It was only natural that you would follow in his footsteps and work for Cloak and Dagger.
Your father always pushed you to be your best. He didn’t let you take shortcuts to get where you were today in the company. You worked your way up and proved your worth and made your father proud.
“What’s this I hear of Ransom Drysdale stopping in this morning?” He sat down across from you.
You rolled your eyes. “Because he doesn’t have anything better to do than irritate me.”
Your father laughed as he slid in his glasses up to the top of his head and then pinched the bridge of his nose. “You two have been fighting like cats and dogs since you were kids. Will this feud between the two of you ever end? And can it be soon? I made a bet with Harlan that you two would finally stop by the time you were twenty-five.”
“Glad to see that my torture has been amusement for you and your little buddy.”
“Just teasing, sugar plum.”
“Please, let’s talk about anything else besides Ransom Drysdale. I’m begging you.” You gave him a warning look over the top of your computer.
“Fine by me.” He clapped his hands together and leaned forward. “How’s it going with Brooke Archer? Has she committed to C&D yet?”
Brooke Archer was an upcoming mystery novelist. Critics called her “the Agatha Cristie of our time” and rightfully so. You had read her first two novels and finished them within a day, completely entranced by her style of writing that had you guessing till the end. She was notoriously self-publishing but now that her books were blowing up she had finally made the decision to sign with a major publishing house. And your father had tasked you with landing her.
“I have a lunch meeting with her tomorrow. I think this could be the closing meeting.” You said confidently.
“Good. I’m proud of you, sugar plum.” He tapped his fingers on your desk. “And please text your mother back. She’s freaking out over what to make for dinner tonight.”
Confused, you pulled your phone out of your bag. You sighed when you saw that you had thirteen missed texts from your lovable but definitely eccentric mother.
“You’d think she’d know what I like by now.” You joked.
“What can I say, she’s a perfectionist.” You dad laughed before saying goodbye and exiting your office.
As you were typing out a response your phone dinged with a new message.
I hope you’re thinking about my proposal from earlier. Wasn’t kidding around this time honey.
Your thumbs hovered over the screen. How the hell had Ransom even gotten your number?
And like I said earlier, neither was I. The answer is no.
He responded only seconds later:
No ugly colors, don’t want to clash with my suit.
You had to give it to him, the man had tenacity.
You’re annoying.
Ransom only responded with a winky face. You shook your head as you exited his chat and went back to responding to your mother, barely noticing the smile that was covering your face thinking of that annoyingly handsome pain in your ass.
sounds like an eventful day, that's so sweet you're sending your family gifts. I'm sorry the post office people were mean to you, they're lucky I wasn't there cause you know I'd have given them a piece of my mind... I didn't do much today, a bit of work and lots of lounging around. mostly when you're gone I just lay around and groan cause I miss you, to be honest. and watch TV but that part's less romantic. -ran
hehehheeh sorry I couldn't hang out with you today daddy💖 but bunny's here now☺*kiss daddy's cheek and snuggling closer to you* mmmmm daddy's sweater is so soft😍 can I do anything to make it up to you?
As much as I like you on your knees, I'll give you the chance to have your way on my lap. Holding you down by your hips as I tell you to ride me. -Ransom
That is awful kind and generous of you Sir. Nothing I enjoy more then riding a Mean Daddy.
