RUBY'S POV
Dominic Rutherford's growl shocked me just as much as it shocked Julia. I sprang back, pressing myself against the corner of the bathroom. The water from the sink still burned against my throat, and I coughed and spluttered to get it all out. Julia froze, her hands trembling as she backed away from me. Her confidence seemed to crumble under his sharp glare, and for the first time since this nightmare began, I saw fear in her eyes. Dominic Rutherford stepped further inside, his presence consuming the room. “I asked you a question, woman, and for your own good, you'd better answer me." “I—I wasn’t—” Julia stammered, but Dominic Rutherford cut her off with a single, biting word. “Enough.” He turned to me then, his eyes locking into mine just enough to make my knees wobble. Before I could speak or even breathe properly, his strong hand wrapped around my arm, pulling me up with ease. The heat of his touch startled me, but it was his scent that undid me. A heady mix of dark amber and cedarwood, spiked with a hint of something smoky and dangerous. It was intoxicating, pulling me in even though I wanted to resist. No, no, no, no! My mind screamed. Why did it have to be him? Dominic Rutherford didn’t so much as glance at me as he positioned me behind him, shielding me from Julia as though I were some damsel in distress, which I wasn't. Why was this hulk of a man treating me like some baby? The thought grated on my nerves, but I couldn’t deny the slight comfort his towering frame brought. He fixed his gaze on Julia. His face was passive, but there was something burning in his eyes, and it scared even me. “Why were you demanding a key from her?” Julia opened her mouth, but no words came out. “I’m waiting,” he grunted. Julia swallowed hard. “It’s... n...none of your business!” “Wrong answer.” Dominic Rutherford took a step closer to her, his movements slow and deliberate, like a predator cornering its prey. “I’ll ask again: why were you trying to drown her? What’s so important about this key?” Julia stuttered. "Like I said, It Is none of your business." "I will make it my business if I want to." “It—it’s personal—" “Personal?” Dominic Rutherford echoed, his lips curling into a dangerous smirk. “You mean personal enough to commit attempted murder in a public place?” “I wasn’t trying to kill her!” Julia protested, her voice rising in desperation. Dominic Rutherford cocked an eyebrow. “Oh, so holding someone’s head under water is your idea of a joke? Forgive me if I don’t find it amusing.” Julia took a step back, her heel hitting the tiled floor with a faint squeak. He tilted his head, studying her with a cold intensity that made my skin prickle. “You do realize I know how to find you, don’t you? If you lie to me again, I will make sure you, and everybody related to you, regrets it.” Julia’s face went pale. “I—I didn’t mean to hurt her!” Dominic Rutherford’s laugh was humorless. “Funny. You looked pretty determined when I walked in.” I stood frozen behind him, watching the exchange like it was some twisted play. My throat still burned from the water I’d swallowed, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Dominic Rutherford. He was commanding, ruthless, and utterly terrifying—but he was also strangely captivating. Julia’s gaze darted to the door, and I saw the exact moment she decided to run. “Don’t you dare—” Dominic Rutherford started, but it was too late. Julia bolted toward the exit, shoving past him with surprising force. Dominic Rutherford moved fast, his reflexes sharper than I would’ve imagined for a man his size. He grabbed her arm, spinning her around with enough force to make her stumble. “Let me go!” she shrieked, clawing at his grip. Their struggle was chaotic, bodies twisting and colliding in the small space. Then, in the chaos, Julia’s hand shot up and caught the edge of his mask. The thick golden material tore away, clattering to the ground like a fallen leaf. And for the first time, I saw the man beneath the mask. The entire room seemed to go still. The music from the ballroom outside was muffled now, distant and irrelevant compared to what I was seeing. Dominic Rutherford froze and straightened, his hand still gripping Julia’s arm. His face was as striking as I’d imagined—but it was the left side that stole my breath. And there it was—a long line of serrated, jagged flesh, running down the left side of his face. Julia seized that opportunity to turn and dash out of the bathroom, but I didn't care anymore. My eyes were fixed on the man before me. Dominic Rutherford bent down swiftly, snatching the mask off the floor and placing it back over his face. His movements were sharp, deliberate, as though hiding his scar could erase the moment it was revealed. But I was already very curious. “What happened to your face?” I asked, taking a cautious step forward. His head whipped around, blue eyes blazing. “It’s none of your concern.” His tone was a warning, but I wasn’t one to back down easily. “I’m just asking a question. You don’t need to bite my head off,” I replied, folding my arms. "You can tell me." A muscle twitched in his jaw. “Stay out of things you don’t understand!” he snapped. That should have been the end of it. I should’ve shut up, turned around, and walked out of that bathroom. But the stubborn woman in me refused to let him have the last word. “Wow,” I said, with a bitter laugh. “You save someone’s life, bark orders at them, and then act like you’re God’s gift to the world? Hate to break it to you, but you’re not as intimidating as you think.” His eyes darkened instantly to an almost black colour. He took one step closer, and I stumbled backwards in surprise. “You don’t know when to stop, do you?” he growled, giving me a lazy once-over with his eyes. "You're a feisty woman." “Maybe if you weren’t such a control freak, people wouldn’t feel the need to push back,” I shot back at his face. That was it. The thread holding him together snapped. In a flash, he was in front of me, his movements a blur of speed. And before I knew what was happening, his hand was gripping my neck and pressing me against the wall.RUBY'S POV "You are such a stubborn woman!" He growled, his breath heating my face. "I like my women subservient—" "Then maybe you should leave me alone!" I spat. "—but there is something about you," he continued, as if he didn't hear me. His lips moved, trailing a heated line from my ear, down my neck and back. His hand was still around my neck, holding me in place. Excited goosebumps were spiralling down my body at this point. "You need to be punished." He said suddenly, letting go of my neck. The force of his words left me speechless for a second. "Punished?" I whispered. "Yes." He replied. "For being so feisty." And with one sweep of his arm, he lifted me in the air and placed me to sit on the sink. Kiss me! I screamed in my head with a strange, unfamiliar need, completely captivated by him. I was staring openly at Dominic Rutherford's Cupid's bow mouth now, utterly mesmerized, and he was looking down at me, his gaze hooded, his eyes darkening. I knew I shouldn't be doin
RUBY'S POVTaste. Those lips. That tongue. I didn’t need any more encouragement. My hands began to travel, over my neck, back over my breasts, pressing them together, my nipples peeking through my fingers. Dominic Rutherford leaned forward and ran his tongue over them, one peak and then the next. Lick, swirl, lick.My hands went to his hair. His name whispered from my lips.More licking, a delicate scrape of teeth, and then he leaned back. “Show me more. Where do you need me?"Oh, I needed him all right. The fingers of one hand slid seductively down my stomach, through my underwear and the triangle of curls above my clit. I touched myself, stroked my clit, slid my fingers into the wet heat dripping from my core. "Here," I said. “I need you here.”He pressed my legs wider and pushed my panties until they slid down my legs. Then his strong fingers brushed up and down my thighs, slow and seductive. His lashes lowered, head tilted as he watched me caress my sensitive flesh, until he cov
RUBY'S POV What the hell did I just do?I leaned against the cold sink in the bathroom, my hands trembling as I tried to steady myself. My reflection in the mirror looked just as lost as I felt. My red lipstick was smeared, my hair was a mess, and my dress clung to me in all the wrong ways. How had I let myself get carried away like that?Dominic Rutherford. His name echoed in my head like a curse. A stranger. A man I had barely known for all of five minutes, and yet I’d let him pull me into something reckless and stupid.Unprotected sex!This wasn’t me. I wasn’t the type to lose control, to throw caution to the wind. I was sharp, calculated, and independent. But somehow, around him, I became a version of myself I didn’t recognize—soft, pliant, and completely at his mercy. What had he done to me?I quickly adjusted my dress and reached for my mask, pulling it over my face. The voices outside the bathroom grew louder, and panic bubbled in my chest. I had to get out of here. I had to p
RUBY'S POV "Ugh! You stink like you drank the entire bar!"I jolted awake with a gasp. The first thing I felt was an intense pain in my temple. My head pounded as if someone were using my skull as a drum. I squinted against the sunlight pouring in through the curtains and groaned, pressing a hand to my temples. My mouth tasted like I’d chewed on a sock soaked in cheap whiskey.Turning my head slightly, I realized I wasn’t on the couch where I’d passed out last night. No, this was a bed—a soft, inviting bed that smelled faintly of lavender. Ariana’s bed.“How…?” I croaked.“You were a mess last night,” Ariana’s voice came from across the room. She was perched on a stool before her vanity, her face smeared with some white, creamy substance that made her look like a ghost. “Drinking yourself stupid at the bar. Your driver had to half-carry you here. Do you remember?”Ah, yes. I remembered that much now. Vaguely. The bar, the drink I demanded, the suffocating noise… and then nothing.I s
DOMINIC'S POV "We're here, boss." I didn’t bother answering my driver. Instead, I motioned for him to leave. “Get out and take a smoke. I need a moment.” “Yes, sir.” He nodded, turned off the ignition, and stepped out into the drizzle. I watched him walk a few feet away, his silhouette barely visible through the rain-splattered windshield as he moved under a shade and lit a cigarette. Once I was sure he was out of earshot, I pulled my phone from the pocket of my jacket. My thumb hovered over a secure app before I tapped it, initiating the call. The line clicked after two rings. “Don Dominic,” came the familiar rasp of Rocco’s voice. Always too casual, too comfortable. “What’s taking so long?” I snapped. "Tuesday was what you promised. Today Is Friday." “Ah, buona sera, boss,” Rocco replied smoothly, as though we were old friends chatting over wine. “I see you’re in one of your moods again.” “This isn’t about moods,” I said sharply. “Five years, Rocco. Five years I’ve ke
DOMINIC'S POVThe rain hadn’t let up. It kept hammering against the roof of the car like an impatient messenger. I stared at the image of Ruby on my laptop screen, trying to arrange my tangled, messy thoughts.I should tell Damien.The logical part of me knew that keeping this information from him would be a betrayal. We’d been friends for well over a decade, and finding Ruby had been Damien’s obsession for years. He deserved to know that his sister was alive, safe, and living her life in plain sight.But then there was the other side of me—the selfish side. The side that wanted Ruby close, where I could see her, where I could have her. And that thought made my stomach churn, because I wasn’t sure I could control myself around her.My phone buzzed on the seat beside me, jolting me from my thoughts. I glanced at the screen.Damien.“Of course,” I muttered under my breath. As if the universe had decided to test me at the worst possible moment.I stared at the screen, debating. Answering
RUBY'S POVI woke up feeling strangely energized, though my body ached in a way that only reminded me of the tiring night of the masquerade ball.Stretching lazily, I glanced around Ariana's bedroom. It was a little chaotic, clothes spilling out of her closet and shoes scattered on the floor, but it was so her. Ariana was just that: familiar, warm and safe. I got up and rifled through her closet until I found an oversized sweatshirt. I pulled it on, comforted by its soft fabric and the faint scent of Ariana’s floral perfume.Padding downstairs, I caught the sound of voices coming from the kitchen. I didn’t even need to hear the words to know who it was—Ariana and Lilac. My two best friends. They were probably dissecting some random gossip or laughing about their latest antics.As I reached the doorway, I paused, leaning against the frame.“Oh, come on, Lilac! You should’ve seen her talk about it,” Ariana’s voice rang out, excited and slightly dramatic, as usual. “Ruby and Dominic Ruth
RUBY'S POVI walked back into the kitchen, trying to mask my irritation. Ariana and Lilac were still leaning against the counter, but their laughter faded as they noticed me walking in.“What’s wrong?” Ariana asked immediately. "Who was on the call?"I leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. “I need to head home and get ready to see Ambrose tomorrow. He wants to ‘talk.’” I curved my fingers into air quotes at the last word.Lilac raised an eyebrow. “What’s this about?”I groaned, running a hand through my hair. “He called to check on me, said he’d been trying to reach me since he heard about the divorce. Then, instead of supporting me, he started listing reasons why I shouldn’t have left Gabriel.”“What?” Ariana’s voice rose an octave, her eyes wide. “Are you kidding me? After everything Gabriel did?”“That was my reaction too,” I chuckled dryly. “Apparently, because Ambrose introduced us, he feels the need to play marriage counselor.”Lilac tilted her head. “What exactly did he say
Ruby’s POVTwo hours later, Ariana was snoring softly beside me with her arm thrown across my stomach like a deadweight. I shifted slightly, careful not to wake her, when my phone buzzed on the nightstand.I grabbed it, turned it on and blinked against the brightness. It was a voice note from Dominic.I hovered my fingers over the screen. I could ignore it, pretend I never saw it. But curiosity got the best of me. I tapped play."Ruby… I’m sorry." His voice was familiar but more quiet than I remembered, rough like he hadn’t slept. "I know I messed up, but can we talk? Please."I exhaled through my nose. Just hearing his voice was already loosening all the knots of resolve in my head.Then, in the background, Ariel’s voice chimed in, "Ruby, you should come back. Daddy’s been a grumpy old man since you left. I miss you too."A chuckle slipped out before I could stop it. I typed out a reply. Sure. I’d love to meet. I’ll come by the house tomorrow.Almost immediately, Dominic responded wi
Ruby’s POVA day after Dominic came to see me, Ariana, Lilac, and I sat crisscross applesauce on the floor with a giant bowl of popcorn between us. The TV was on, throwing a soft glow around the living room as we watched Pride and Prejudice.Lilac tossed a kernel of popcorn into her mouth and chewed loudly. "So, Ruby, are you ever going back to your condo?"I exhaled and leaned back on my palms. "Eventually," I said. "But right now? No. That house is too big and too quiet. And Dominic could find me there."Ariana patted my thigh. "You can stay here as long as you want."I gave her a small smile. "Thanks."Lilac crunched on another handful of popcorn. "Okay, serious question. Do you really believe Dominic slept with Rosalie?"I gasped and my hand flew to my chest in exaggerated horror. "How dare you!"Lilac snorted. "I mean, think about it. If Dominic didn’t care about proving his innocence, why would he come all the way here to find you?"I scoffed, shaking my head as memories of that
Dominic’s POVThe past week had been hell for me.I barely left my study, barely ate meals, barely spoke to anyone. My days blurred together. I'd stopped going to the office and moved my work to the house. It was endless hours of staring at my laptop, pretending to work when all I could think about was Ruby. The house was too quiet without her. Too empty.I didn’t even know where Ariel was half the time. Not that she’d come looking for me, after our last conversation.Tonight was no different. I sat at my desk, peering at the screen, but the words meant nothing. My coffee had gone cold beside me. My body ached from sitting too long, but I didn’t move.The door creaked open."I said I don’t want to be disturbed!" I snapped. "I told the house manager that I don't want to be disturbed!""Nice to see you too, Dad."I exhaled slowly and brushed a tired hand against my face. "Ariel, I'm sorry. I thought you were someone else."She stepped inside, balancing a tray in her hands. "I brought yo
Ruby's POVI had one peaceful sleep after some days, and I could say that I slept like a baby, or maybe, like a log of wood. Who knows?It did not matter how I slept, as long as I was able to forget everything that had happened these past few days.Now I was awake, but I felt too lazy to get out of bed. I just wished it was not morning already. I closed my eyes again hoping I could fall asleep again but then came some noise outside my room.Sliding into my slippers, I walked towards the door and pinned my ear against it."Do you think she's okay?" Someone asked. I immediately recognized the voice as Lilac's.A heavy sigh, then Ariana replied. "I don't know, Lilac. She appeared at my front steps yesterday, looking like a bat out of hell. She's sleeping in there right now.""This is why I don't like powerful men like Dominic." Lilac grumbled. "They think they can do anything they like to anyone."I shook my head slowly as I listened to my friends. I knew they were only looking out for m
Ruby's POVThe darkness seemed like it would swallow me whole, as I could not see anything in front of me or behind me. I was terrified, perhaps because I had not stepped out of my cage for a while.I sighed and glanced around; the road was dark. Mid drive to my condo, I'd told the Uber driver to stop. I wasn't sure I could afford to stay in that silent house, all by myself. I just might run mad. I'd paid the Uber driver and now I stood by the roadside, with four bags and no car in sight.I needed my friends tonight.I'd tried to call Lilac and Ariana, but neither of them were picking up. I couldn't blame them; it was eleven at night. Lilac was an early sleeper, and Ariana would most likely be binge watching New Housewives of New York or some such show on Netflix.The wind blew West, sweeping my hair off my back. I felt like someone would come out of nowhere, and pull me by the hair, so I threw the cap of my hoodie over my head and wrapped my arms around myself.Dominic would surely
Dominic’s POVThe drive home that evening felt longer than usual. Streetlights flashed past in a blur, but my mind was stuck in one place.I kept thinking about Rosalie. In my mind, I saw her smirk and heard her threats. The way she had moved close to me, whispering filth in my ear like she actually thought I wanted it. The way she had suggested sex to me.I had agreed. I had said yes to her, because I wanted to protect Ruby from the truth. But the moment we stepped into that hotel room, I knew I couldn't do it. Not with her or with anyone else. Not when Ruby existed and she was a part of my life now. I had never been attracted to any woman since Ruby came into my life.Rosalie had been livid, as I'd expected. She spat out her threats, said she’d tell Ruby the truth, that I had been lying to her from the start. But I didn’t care. Let her tell Ruby. Let the whole damn world know.Because nothing, no secret or lie, was worse than betraying Ruby like that.I gripped the steering wheel ti
Ruby’s POVThe office felt off that day. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but something wasn’t right.It started when Dominic walked out of his office and called for Rosalie.I barely looked up from my computer when he did it at first, but then Rosalie’s response made my head snap up."Coming, Dominic!" She purred.Dominic?!I turned to him, expecting him to correct her, to tell her to keep it professional. But he didn’t. He didn’t even look at me. He just stood there, staring straight ahead, then turned and walked back into his office. The door closed behind him.I turned to her in surprise. Rosalie smirked, flipping her hair over one shoulder. She stood from her desk, adjusting her blouse like she wanted to make sure she looked perfect before going in.My stomach twisted."What the hell is going on?" I demanded, marching over to her side of the office.Rosalie just chuckled. "Things are changing in this office, Ruby," she said sweetly, grabbing a folder from her desk. "You migh
Dominic’s POVI turned off the ignition and glanced at Ruby. She hadn’t moved or even spoken a word to me. She just sat there, staring out the window like she wasn’t really seeing anything."Talk to me, Ruby."She said nothing."You can’t keep this bottled up," I tried again. "I know you’re hurting."She scoffed, but it was barely audible. I could tell she was hurting. She had been hurting for three days since Julia died. I didn't understand why she still felt so much emotion for a person who ha stabbed her in the back, but I tried to reason with her anyway."I see it," I continued. "You pretend when you’re around others, but I know you. You’re not okay."She shifted slightly but still didn’t meet my eyes."You’ve barely slept," I said. "You don’t eat properly. You look like a ghost of yourself."Her fingers dug into her lap. "Drop it, Dominic.""I’m not dropping it.""Well, I’m not talking."I exhaled sharply. "Julia’s death...."Her head snapped toward me. "Don’t.""You need to let
Ruby’s POVThe smell of coffee pulled me from sleep. I blinked against the morning light and turned to the side to see Dominic sitting beside me. He was eating breakfast in bed. He lifted a forkful of scrambled eggs and grinned."I figured the smell would wake you up," he said. "Thought it’d be a nice way to start your day."I groaned and smacked his arm. "You are a villain in my life!"He chuckled and waved another fork heaped with some bacon close to my mouth. "You want some?"I rolled my eyes and sat up. "I don't like you, Mr Rutherford."Dominic smirked and bit off the bacon. "Are you coming to work today? You know I’d understand if you needed some time off, after everything that happened last night."I didn’t even need to think about it. "No. I'm not staying away from work."He raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure about that, Ruby?""Staying away will give nasty people like Rosalie the chance to talk all kinds of trash about me," I muttered. "And I can't have that."Dominic sighed an