Ruby glanced at the heap of paperwork scattered across her desk and sighed, wondering how she would get through it all. It had been an eventful morning—one that left her both mentally and emotionally drained. She opened the first file and skimmed through the details, her mind racing through each document: a monopoly request for apple deliveries from a nearby farm, staff leave applications, tax paperwork requiring her signature, and other contracts stacked in neat, ominous piles. Just the sight made her eyes blur.
A soft knock sounded at the door before Kiko, her ever-enthusiastic assistant, popped his head in, beaming with excitement. Clutching a file to his chest, he almost bounced into the room.
"What is it now?" Ruby asked, already sensing that his energy level was far too high for her morning.
Kiko could barely contain himself. "Commencement plans for the Christmas Ball!" he announced with an infectious grin.
She arched an eyebrow, glancing back at the mess of papers. "It's only October, Kiko! Halloween and Thanksgiving haven't even crossed my mind yet," she replied, exasperated.
Kiko shrugged, holding his ground. "I know, but our Christmas Ball is practically legendary. It's why we attract so many guests during the holiday season. Starting early can't hurt, right?"
Ruby sighed, eventually softening. "Fine. Leave it over there; I'll look at it when I'm done with all these files." She gestured toward a growing stack on a side table.
Kiko nodded and carefully placed the file down. "Trust me, Ruby. You won't regret it. The team and I have brainstormed everything already—you'll love it!" He flashed her a thumbs-up and turned to leave.
Before he could exit, another knock came at the door, more deliberate and firm this time. Ruby raised a hand. "Kiko, let whoever it is know I'm busy," she called, not looking up.
"Ma'am, I think you'll want to—" Kiko stammered, trying to find the right words.
"What now?" Ruby muttered, feeling her patience stretch thin.
When she finally lifted her eyes, her breath caught. Standing in the doorway was Arnold Aagaard, tall, impeccably dressed, and exuding a presence that immediately filled the room. The faint scent of his cologne wafted toward her, rich and intoxicating. She felt her cheeks flush and quickly gathered herself.
"You seem to have put a lot of effort into your look today," she blurted out before she could stop herself.
Arnold's lips curled into a small smile. "I'm glad you noticed," he replied, his voice smooth and confident.
Even his laugh had a deep, resonant quality that made Ruby's stomach flip. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, feeling suddenly self-conscious.
"May I sit?" Arnold asked, his gaze steady on her.
"Yes, of course," Ruby stammered, motioning toward the chair opposite her desk.
Arnold took his seat gracefully, never breaking eye contact. "I wanted to come by and explain about this morning," he began.
"You don't have to explain anything," Ruby interrupted, attempting to brush it off. "It's not really my place to—"
Arnold held up a hand, his expression serious. "No, it *is* your place. In fact," he leaned forward, his eyes earnest, "I want it to be your place."
Ruby felt her pulse quicken, her gaze momentarily dropping to her desk before returning to his face. She struggled to keep her composure under his intense gaze.
"I know what you're thinking," he continued. "Our marriage—it's only on paper, right? But I don't want it to stay that way." He paused, his expression softening. "I want to build something real, Ruby. Not just for Ariel's sake, but for us."
His words hung in the air, and Ruby struggled to process them. She had spent so much time convincing herself to maintain boundaries, to treat this as nothing more than a marriage of convenience. Yet here was Arnold, hinting at something deeper, something real.
She took a steadying breath. "What's the guarantee that I won't regret it?" she asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.
Arnold paused, his gaze never wavering. "If I ever break your heart, you can take half of my assets," he replied, his tone unwavering. "Including this hotel."
Ruby's eyes widened at the audacity. She searched his face, looking for any sign of insincerity, but all she saw was a man who meant every word.
She tried to laugh it off. "You'd really risk half your fortune?"
"For you? Yes." His words were so simple, so matter-of-fact, as if this decision wasn't something he'd deliberated on, but one he'd known all along.
Ruby bit her lip, the weight of his words settling over her. Part of her wanted to run, to escape before she risked her heart again. But another part, the part that ached from years of feeling discarded and unworthy, wanted nothing more than to believe him.
"So," Arnold said softly, breaking the silence, "what do you say?"
"I—" Ruby faltered, her voice catching. She wanted to be cautious, to protect herself. But she found herself nodding almost unconsciously. "Maybe… we could try."
Arnold's face lit up, a genuine smile breaking through his usually composed demeanor. "Then let's start with something simple."
Ruby raised an eyebrow. "Like?"
"Dinner," he said, leaning back with a casual smile. "Tonight. Nothing fancy—just us."
She felt her cheeks flush again, though this time, she didn't try to hide it. "Fine," she replied, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "But don't think I'm going easy on you."
Arnold laughed, a warm, rich sound that made her heart skip. "Wouldn't dream of it."
Their eyes met, and for a moment.Ruby's mind whirled with what-ifs, but for the first time in a long time, she felt a flicker of hope.
Kiko suddenly popped back in, oblivious to the moment he'd interrupted. "Oh, sorry! Just wanted to remind you about the meeting with the board—"
Ruby shot him a look, and he backed out with a hasty "Never mind, carry on!" leaving them in silence again.
Arnold stood, straightening his jacket. "I'll pick you up at seven."
Ruby nodded, struggling to keep her face composed, even as her heart raced. "Seven it is."
Ruby sank back in her chair, the edges of her mouth curling into a smile she couldn't suppress.
She glanced down at the stack of paperwork that only hours ago had seemed overwhelming. Now, she couldn't wait to get through it, knowing what the evening held.
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[A/N]
Omg. I'm so intrigued by your swarm of support.
If you have read till here... comment Ruby.
And please I need your power stones to recommend the book to others.