RUBY'S POVHe pulled the car smoothly into a driveway and turned off the ignition.I turned to look out the window, and my jaw dropped. Through the rain, I could make out a sleek, modern house with a large, sweeping lawn.“Wait. This is your 'small' house?” I asked incredulously.Dominic smirked faintly as he put the car in park. “It’s cozy.”I gawked at him, but he was already stepping out of the car, leaving me there, stunned.The rain had finally let up, but the air was still damp and heavy. I stepped out of the car, glancing around in disbelief at the sprawling house before me. It was sleek, all sharp angles and dark stone, perched like some brooding fortress on the green lawn. I had to admit—Dominic’s definition of small was grossly inaccurate. This house was as big as a high school, if not bigger.I jogged to catch up with him as he walked ahead, his long strides eating up the distance to the front door. He didn’t wait for me, simply stepped inside and left the door open for me
RUBY'S POV I sank into the bed after Dominic left, sighing as the mattress hugged me like a warm cloud. I ran my hand across the sheets—they were impossibly soft, almost as soft as the ones in my condo. For someone as cold and brooding as Dominic, he sure knew how to pick his fabrics.I stared up at the ceiling, feeling the quiet press against me. It was too much. Too still. The entire room was beautiful, yes, but there wasn’t a speck of colour anywhere. Gray, black, white—if someone ever painted Dominic’s soul, it would probably look just like this room.Three days. That’s all I had to endure here. But even so, I might actually lose my mind if I didn’t add something—anything—that made it feel a little like me.I sat up, grabbing my phone from the bedside table. It buzzed to life immediately, lighting up with notification after notification. Dozens of messages poured in from Ariana and Lilac on our group chat. I opened the chat briefly:ARIANA: Wait, wait, wait. You’re MOVING IN with
RUBY'S POVA loud knock at the door made me jump so hard I nearly fell off the bed. My heart shot into my throat as the pounding came again, more insistent this time. I froze, staring at the door like it might explode. Was that someone here to finally end me?“Calm down, Ruby,” I muttered to myself, though my voice was anything but calm.My eyes darted around the room for something, anything to defend myself with. My gaze landed on the first thing I could grab: a pillow. A soft, white, useless pillow. Fantastic.With the pillow gripped tightly in my hands, I tiptoed toward the door. The knocking hadn’t stopped. It was steady and firm, and with every knock, my heart beat faster.I swallowed hard, held my breath, and flung the door open. I raised the pillow high above my head, ready to attack whoever dared to….“Ruby?”Dominic’s deep voice interrupted the chaos in my brain. I froze mid-swing, eyes wide as I stared at him.He stood there, one brow raised, his lips twitching with amusemen
DOMINIC'S POVI woke up to darkness around me. The room was quiet except for the faint sound of Ruby’s soft breathing beside me. I turned my head to look at her, and there she was, curled up on her side, her red hair spilling over the pillow like ink. Peaceful.I didn’t know how I’d ended up here, sleeping beside her. Most of the women I’d brought into this house never got more than a few hours of my time. I always left them sprawled out on the bed. Whatever we usually did was fleeting and meaningless. But this felt different.Ruby had a way of cracking through my walls without even trying. She always made me feel like I could unburden myself. Like I didn’t have to be the ruthless Dominic Rutherford everyone expected me to be.Sighing quietly, I sat up, careful not to stir her awake. My mask had slipped while I was sleeping, so I shifted it back to my face. I stared at her for just a moment longer before I swung my legs off the bed and stood. The floor was cool under my feet as I cros
DOMINIC'S POV It felt like I'd been waiting for this moment from the day I learned about Ruby's ex husband.Gabriel's house was dead silent, except for the faint creak of his old armchair as I leaned back and tapped my fingers against the armrest. The window was open, letting the cool night air along with the soft glow of moonlight. This was unusual. I wasn’t usually the type to wait, because I preferred action. But tonight, patience was the key.The bastard deserved this. Every single bit of it.Julia’s call to Ruby had been the final straw. I couldn’t let him think he had any leverage over her. Gabriel Volkov needed to know exactly where he stood in this game, and it was miles beneath me. This was personal now.A car engine purred outside, its tires crunching against the gravel. I straightened in the chair and glanced at my wristwatch. Right on time. My source had told me Gabriel would be back from the club around now. A creature of habit, that one. Too predictable for his own good
DOMINIC'S POVI stepped into the house by nine that morning. The familiar quiet house greeted me, though I could feel someone’s presence before I even looked up. My eyes shifted to the foyer, and Ruby stood there.She stood barefoot, wearing an oversized blue button-up shirt that looked like it could swallow her whole. Her red hair was swept up into a messy bun, and for the first time since I’d met her, she looked soft. No dresses, no heels, no layers of carefully applied makeup. Just her. And damn, she looked good.The frown pulling at her lips was a clear warning. "Dominic, where have you been?"I shrugged off my coat, hanging it on the rack. "Out.""Out?" she repeated, crossing her arms. "That’s the best you’ve got? It’s nearly up to ten in the morning.""Good to know you can tell time," I said dryly, striding past her and toward the bar. I needed a drink, something to wash away the remnants of my anger of Gabriel.She followed me. "Dominic, I’m serious. Where were you?"I grabbed
RUBY'S POVI zipped up my suitcase two days later and stepped back, surveying the room one last time. It felt strange, leaving this space that had somehow become familiar in such a short amount of time.A bodyguard was already waiting at the door. Without a word, he reached for the bags.“Thank you,” I said quietly, handing them over.He gave a brief nod and turned, leading the way out. I followed, shutting the door behind me and stepping into the hallway. My steps slowed when we passed that particular door. The "Keep Out" placard was still hanging there like a challenge, daring me to ask questions I wasn’t sure I wanted answers to.Then the door opened.Dominic stepped out, closing it behind him. He wore a black shirt which was unbuttoned at the collar, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, as if he’d been working on something private.Ever since our conversation two days ago, I had been cautious around him. When he told me he’d gone to Gabriel’s house, threatened him, and nearly crossed
RUBY’S POVDominic opened the car door and stepped out first. The wind whipped his shirt against his chest as he turned and reached for my hand. I grabbed it and stepped out.I wore a short white bodycon halter-neck dress, and so the sudden cold made me shiver. But the sight before me made me freeze in place. The private jet was white with gold around its wings and nose, sleek and very massive. Its wings stretched out as if it could take over the whole sky. The initials of DR was painted along its side.“This is yours?” I asked.Dominic glanced down at me. “It’s actually the company's."I rolled my eyes. "So.... technically yours.”"If you say so." He muttered.Before I could respond, his hand moved to the small of my back. The feel of his fingers against my bare back was warm and distracting. A tingling sensation spread from where his fingers rested, and I shivered again. I tried to focus on the plane, the tarmac, anything other than the way my body seemed to react to his touch.He l
Dominic's POVI closed the door behind Ruby and walked toward my desk. The view from the glass wall stretched out before me, but I barely saw it. I merely looked at the busy streets below me but my mind was elsewhere.Ruby had disappeared.I had returned after lunch to find her desk empty, her phone and bag still sitting there. I had called her phone repeatedly and heard nothing but the voicemail. Panic had clawed at me. I’d sent my men to look for her, scouring the city.Now three hours later, she waltzed in like nothing had happened.Behind me, she cleared her throat. I didn’t turn around. “Are you going to say something, Dominic?”I folded my arms and stared out the window. “Where were you all day?"“I was out," she said softly. “I had lunch with Ariana and Lilac and we kind of got carried away talking.”I turned and faced her, raising a brow. “Carried away for three hours?”She nodded. “I get distracted easily. You know that. It’s not a big deal, right?”“Not a big deal?” I repeat
Ruby's POVI didn’t stop running until my legs ached and my lungs burned. My eyes moved around wildly, searching for Gabriel or his men. No sign of them, thank God.I stumbled onto a highway and slowed down. But I could not stop now; they could be coming after me already.Then I noticed something familiar. I recognized the stretch of road and the bend up ahead. The Rutherford office wasn’t far from here. Just at the corner, I spotted the cafe where I’d planned to have lunch before my entire day fell apart.I crossed the street quickly and entered the cafe, pushing through the glass door. Warm air greeted me along with the smell of coffee and baked goods. For a moment, it felt strange. People sat at tables chatting, sipping drinks, completely unaware of what I’d just been through.I stopped the first waitress I saw. “Excuse me, where’s the bathroom?” My hands were shaking as I touched her shoulder, and she gave me a curious look before pointing to the back.“Down the hall to the left,”
Ruby's POVGabriel grabbed another chair and sat across from me. I scoffed and tipped my head. "So, are we doing this again? You’ll ask about the key, I’ll tell you I don’t have it, and you’ll keep pretending I’m lying?"His lips curled into something resembling a smile, though it didn't have any warmth. "You’ve always been so predictable, Ruby. Always trying to push buttons that don’t exist."I glared at him. "I don't think so. I married you, didn’t I? That’s not predictable. That’s the biggest mistake I’ve ever made."His nostrils flared, but he didn’t reply immediately. Instead, he clasped his hands and stared at me, as though I were some puzzle he could solve."I don’t have your key, Gabriel," I snapped. "How many times do I have to say it before it gets through your thick skull?"His voice dropped, and his words came slowly. "You know, Ruby, you really should learn when to stop talking. It might save you from unnecessary pain."I barked out a bitter laugh. "Oh, please. You’re not
RUBY'S POVWhen my consciousness returned, I felt as weak and as useless as a sack of potatoes.My eyes fluttered open to blinding light, seeping through the bag over my eyes. Wincing against the brightness, I twisted and realized I was bound, sitting on a rigid wooden chair that dug into my back and behind. Thirst clawed at my throat, my body ached, and fear made me start to pant loudly.A very unfamiliar world greeted me through a small tear in the bag. Shadows danced in the light, and all I could see were dark corners and even darker objects. Or were they people? I had no idea. I strained to gather any clues about where I was, but the limited view didn't do much for me.The creak of a door opening to my left jolted me. Quickly, I let my head fall to my chest, pretending to still be unconscious. I couldn't let them know I was awake. I was not sure of what they might do if they realized I was aware of my surroundings.Ominous footsteps approached, echoing in the large space. I tried
Ruby's POVThere was definitely more to this Willow woman than met the eye, and I was going to find out what it was.However, I left the building, brushing aside the strange encounter with Willow. I was going to worry about that later. Right now, there were bigger problems to deal with, and I needed a clear head. The cafe where I usually had my lunch break wasn’t far, and the thought of sitting down with a coffee and something warm to eat was comforting. As I walked down the street, something felt off. I glanced behind me and saw three men in black shirts and black trousers, paired with black sunglasses. I knew who they were. Ambrose’s men. Again. Only Ambrose's men dressed like that.I knew without thinking much that this was another antic of Gabriel. What was he trying to do this time? Scare me again, or order me to give up that stupid key he was always going on about?My heart was spiralling away but I forced myself to stay calm. Maybe if I walked faster, they would lose interest
Ruby's POVA week had passed since I started working for Dominic, and already I felt like I was going crazy. Officially, I was supposed to work closely with Rosalie, learning whatever I could. Dominic had warned her not to treat me badly. That didn’t stop her from finding ways to make my life miserable.I sighed and tapped at my laptop. Rosalie had told me to arrange Dominic’s meeting schedule for the week. It was my lunch break, and I should have been enjoying it. Instead, I was stuck here, doing work that clearly wasn’t mine.Rosalie had been “nice” on the surface. She smiled when she greeted me and asked if I was handling the tasks well. But it didn’t take much to see through the act. The hostility behind her forced smiles was impossible to miss. She dumped her work on me and then walked off like it was the most natural thing in the world.I glanced through the glass doors of the office that we shared together. Rosalie was with her friends from HR, laughing and chatting over their
Ruby's POVWhen we got home, Ariel dashed straight into the kitchen. I followed her, setting the coffee and pastries on the counter. Dominic came in behind me and hung his jacket on the back of a chair.“I’m going to get some work done in my study,” he said, grabbing a water bottle from the fridge.Ariel was already stuffing her face with one of the pastries. She mumbled through a mouthful, “I want to check out that arcade we passed earlier.”I raised a brow. “Didn’t you just get home?”She shrugged and grabbed another pastry. “It looked fun. I’ll be back in an hour.”Dominic shot her a sharp look. “Absolutely not. You can’t just run off like that.”Ariel snatched her bag and darted toward the door. “Love you, Dad!”“Ariel!” he boomed out so hard that I winced, but Ariel didn't stop. She was already halfway out the door.He groaned and muttered under his breath before yelling after her again, “Stay safe! If some weird man comes near you, use the taser I got for you! Do you hear me?”T
Ruby's POVThree days had crawled by since my interview at Dominic’s company. I tried not to think about it too much, but I couldn’t help waiting for an email or a call. I kept refreshing my inbox like a lunatic, hoping for good news, even though Dominic had told me that he would personally inform me if there was any news.It was not like I got interviewed like everyone's else. Thinking about it, a smile crossed my face and I couldn't help giggling out loud.This morning, none of us had the energy to cook, so we were heading out for pastries. Dominic was in the passenger seat, and Ariel sat in the back, humming some song under her breath with her headphones around her head. I was driving one of Dominic’s cars: a beautiful blue Lamborghini that drove like a dream.The silence in the car was interrupted by Ariel’s voice.“Ruby, are you sure you’re comfortable driving this? Dad looks like he’s about to explode.”I glanced at Dominic and grinned. His jaw was tight and his arms were crosse
GABRIEL'S POVI sat in my car with a cigarette balanced between my fingers, watching the slow creep of pedestrians passing by. A block ahead was the Rutherford building; the tallest building that I could see from this point. I leaned back, blowing a stream of smoke into the air. Julia was late. She was supposed to meet me here ten minutes ago. I checked my watch again and tapped the steering wheel impatiently. I had half a mind to drive up to the building and drag her out myself. What could possibly be taking her this long? Movement caught my eye. A woman shuffled down the street, clutching a bag to her chest. Her black hair, cut jaggedly at the ears, made her look like she’d let a toddler wield the scissors. Those ridiculous round Harry Potter glasses perched on her nose only added to the mess. And her clothes were hilarious. I took a look at the mismatched patterns, baggy fabric, and shoes that belonged to someone's ninety-year-old grandmother. I let out a sharp laugh, danglin