The Contracted Ever After novel Chapter 2

On the bus, Ronan's presence had turned the colleagues into silent statues, making Cordelia's phone ringtone sound like a freaking fire alarm in the quietness.

Last night, Cordelia had helped a wasted Ronan back to his room, and her phone, stashed in her pocket, must've slipped out while she was undressing. After the wild night of passion, she'd completely forgotten about the phone's existence.

The sudden ringtone scared the crap out of Cordelia, but she quickly got her shit together. It seemed that Ronan's reason for taking the bus today might have just been to wait for her, his "target." He might have known that she was the one he'd been with last night, or he might have not. But when the phone rang, and considering what Brooklyn had just said to her, she guessed that Ronan was in the know.

That thought made Cordelia feel pretty awkward.

Brooklyn looked at Cordelia with a puzzled look, then glanced at Ronan, clearly indicating, "What the hell is going on?"

"Stop calling." Cordelia held Brooklyn's hand. She couldn't handle more embarrassment. She didn't even know how to explain this mess.

"What on earth is going on? How did your phone end up in Mr. Evans' hands?" Brooklyn whispered to Cordelia, her curiosity sparked.

"I..." Just as Cordelia was drowning in embarrassment, Ronan in the front row suddenly turned around, nearly scaring the shit out of Cordelia.

"Is this your phone?" Ronan asked Brooklyn, holding up Cordelia's phone, which was displaying "Crazy B." Crazy B was the nickname Cordelia had given Brooklyn.

Brooklyn, looking like a deer caught in headlights, nodded, and said, "Yes, Mr. Evans, Cordelia couldn't find her phone, so I called it."

Brooklyn even mentioned the name "Cordelia," now there was no way for Cordelia to avoid this topic.

"Your phone? You left it in the front seat when you were carrying your suitcase." Ronan's gaze turned towards Cordelia. His eyes were indifferent but dark, familiar yet uniquely Ronan's. Cordelia was utterly lost.

"Oh, I'm such a klutz. Thank you, Mr. Evans." Despite her nervousness, Cordelia thanked Ronan, took the phone from his hand, and played along with his act.

After diffusing the awkwardness, Ronan turned back around.

Although Cordelia appeared to be looking at her phone, she wasn't really seeing anything. The way Ronan had returned her phone seemed to be a reminder that last night's event was over! Cordelia was a grown-up, she could handle this. She'd already planned to chalk up last night's event as a dream.