Chapter 22: Visit to a love hotel

The relentless thudding of metal against metal filled the air as the cars and bikes continuously rammed into Ryo's car, shaking both him and Emi inside. Emi's heart pounded as she clutched her phone, her fingers trembling with the urge to call the police.

"I'll call the police!" Emi exclaimed, her voice filled with panic as she started to dial.

"No!" Ryo barked, his voice sharp and commanding. "Don't call the police. Call our private bodyguard squad instead. They'll know how to handle this."

Emi nodded, swallowing her fear as she quickly found the number and dialed it, her voice shaky as she relayed their location and situation. Meanwhile, Ryo's knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel, swerving and accelerating in a desperate attempt to outmaneuver their relentless pursuers.

Who the hell are these people? Ryo thought, his mind racing as he tried to piece together the motive behind the attack. They didn't seem to want to harm them, at least not directly. But why else would they be targeting him and Emi with such aggression?

After what felt like an eternity of dodging and weaving through the narrow streets, the attacks suddenly stopped. The cars and bikes that had been hounding them so fiercely vanished as if they had never been there at all. The sudden silence was eerie, unsettling even, as if they had been nothing more than ghosts haunting the darkened streets.

Ryo's suspicion deepened as he scanned the mirrors, expecting another ambush. But nothing came—only the quiet hum of the car engine and the distant echoes of the city.

Just as Ryo began to relax, a loud bang echoed through the night, and the car lurched to the side. Ryo cursed under his breath, gripping the wheel tighter as he fought to keep the car steady.

"The tire!" Emi gasped, her eyes wide with fear.

Ryo's jaw tightened as he realized they were out of options. With a blown tire, there was no way they could continue driving safely. "We can't stay out here," Ryo muttered, glancing around the empty streets. "It's too dangerous."

Emi nodded, her heart still racing from the chase. "What do we do?"

Ryo didn't hesitate. "We find a hotel. Somewhere we can lay low until morning."

They left the car behind, quickly making their way down the street. Every shadow seemed to hold a threat, and Ryo's instincts were on high alert as he scanned their surroundings. Finally, they stumbled upon a hotel, its neon sign flickering in the darkness. But as they got closer, Emi's eyes widened in disbelief.

"A love hotel?" Emi whispered, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

Ryo, too, was surprised by the nature of the place, but the situation left them with little choice. "It's the only place nearby," he said, his voice steady but tinged with urgency. "We'll just stay here for the night. It's safer than being out on the streets."

Emi hesitated but eventually nodded, too tired and shaken to argue. As they entered the room, Emi's heart pounded even harder. The walls were adorned with pink and red hues, the bed was adorned with heart-shaped pillows, and the sight of various "toys" neatly arranged on a shelf made her blush even deeper.

"I'll take a quick shower," Ryo said, his voice casual as he walked toward the bathroom. "Make yourself comfortable."

Emi barely had time to respond before the bathroom door clicked shut, leaving her alone in the room. She sat on the edge of the bed, her mind racing as she tried to calm herself. This was just a coincidence, she told herself. There's nothing to worry about.

But her resolve wavered when Ryo emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later, a towel wrapped around his waist, droplets of water glistening on his well-defined chest. Emi's heart skipped a beat as she quickly averted her gaze, her face burning with embarrassment.

Ryo chuckled, noticing her reaction. "You're surprisingly innocent for someone so strict at work."

"What do you mean by that?" Emi snapped, trying to hide her embarrassment with a stern tone.

Ryo simply smiled, ignoring her question as he walked over to the mini bar. He grabbed a beer, popped it open, and took a long sip, seemingly unfazed by the situation.

Emi's eyes followed him, her mind whirling with conflicting emotions. Despite the awkwardness of the situation, she couldn't help but admire how effortlessly handsome Ryo looked, even in a place like this. But the thought also made her wonder—did he not feel anything? Did this situation not affect him at all?

"Ryo...I mean president," Emi began hesitantly, her voice soft as she looked up at him. "Do you... feel anything right now? About being here with me?"

Ryo paused, the beer bottle still in his hand as he turned to look at her. For a moment, there was a flicker of something in his eyes, something that made Emi's heart race even faster. He walked over to her, closing the distance between them until he was standing just inches away.

Emi's breath caught in her throat as she felt the heat radiating from his body, the scent of his aftershave and the faint smell of alcohol intoxicating her senses. Ryo leaned in closer, his lips just a breath away from hers, his voice low and husky as he whispered, "I do feel something Emi."

Emi's heart pounded in her chest, her mind screaming at her to pull away or maybe just get closer, but her body was frozen, unable to move as Ryo's words washed over her.

"But," Ryo continued, his voice softening as he pulled back slightly, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her shiver. "I want our feelings to be special. Not something that happens in a place like this."

Emi's breath hitched as she processed his words, her heart fluttering with a mixture of relief and something else—something deeper, more like a tingle in her body or maybe her crotch. Ryo smiled gently at her, his hand reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I'll only lay hands on you when we're in a relationship," Ryo said softly. "When it means something. Not because of a cheap hotel room."

Emi felt her cheeks heat up, her emotions swirling as she tried to make sense of everything. Before she could respond, Ryo walked back to the mini bar and grabbed another beer. He handed it to her, and without thinking, she took it and gulped it down, the alcohol burning her throat but also calming her nerves.

"Also call me Ryo when we are outside. I like to hear my name with your voice. It make me feel special," Ryo said, while sitting on the bed without even bothering to wear his clothes.

They spent the rest of the night talking and laughing, the tension between them easing as they enjoyed each other's company. Despite the strange circumstances, Emi felt a warmth in her chest, a feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time.

The next morning, Emi awoke to the soft light of dawn filtering through the curtains. She stretched, her body feeling heavy with sleep, but as she opened her eyes, she suddenly shot up straight in bed.

Half-naked Ryo was lying beside her, his chest rising and falling with steady breaths. Emi's eyes widened in shock as she looked down at herself, realizing she was only wearing her underwear.

Oh my god, did something happen? Emi thought, her face flushing with panic. But before she could dwell on the thought, her eyes drifted lower, and she blushed even deeper as she noticed Ryo's morning wood pressing against the fabric of his towel.

Feeling attracted, her hand almost reached dangerously close to grab it, but she was brought back to her sense by a male voice next to her ear.

Before she could react, Ryo's eyes fluttered open, and he looked at her with a sleepy smile. "Good morning."

Emi froze, her mind racing as she tried to process the situation. "M-Morning..." she stammered, her heart pounding in her chest.

Ryo stretched, his muscles rippling under his skin as he sat up. "You're looking pretty flushed. Everything okay?"

Emi quickly averted her eyes, her mind still reeling from the sight in front of her. "Y-Yeah, I'm fine. Just... a little surprised."

Ryo chuckled, reaching out to gently pat her head. "Relax. Nothing happened last night. We just fell asleep after talking."

Emi felt a wave of relief wash over her, but the embarrassment still lingered as she realized how close they had been all night. "R-Right. Of course."

But at the same time, deep inside her, she started to feel disappointed that nothing happened.

Ryo smiled, standing up and heading to the bathroom. "I'll get dressed. We should probably head out soon."

As he disappeared into the bathroom, Emi let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. She looked around the room, the memories of the previous night flooding back. It had been a strange, unexpected night, but somehow, it felt like it had brought them closer.

But as she sat there, her heart still racing, she couldn't help but wonder what the future held for them. Would this night be a turning point, or just another complication in their already complicated lives? Only time would tell.