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 POV"Thank you."I gave the Italian man a smile over the counter, accepting the hot cup of latte. I took a sip, the frothy sweetness coating my tongue, and felt a pang of satisfaction. Nothing like a cup of coffee after a long day at the gym. My mornings were sacred—my time to unwind, to shed the facade of "Mrs. Perfect Wife," and to just exist.As I settled back into my chair, I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my contacts, and finally froze on one. My so-called absentee husband.My thumb hovered over his name for a moment too long, debating if I really wanted to ruin this blissful moment. But boredom had been gnawing at me lately.I hit call.The phone rang twice before his voice came through, clipped and impatient. "What do you want, Ruby?""Good morning to you too, darling," I chirped, keeping my voice as sweet as the latte in my hand. "I was just calling to check on you. Is that a crime now?"He sighed. "I'm busy. Can we do this later?"I leaned back in my chair,
RUBY'S POVI sat at the head of the table, facing the window, a single glass of red wine cradled between my fingers. The wait was almost over; I could barely contain my amusement. The silence was thick, broken only by the faint tick of the clock on the wall. No explanations, no theatrics—just a simple dinner.The door opened behind me, and I didn’t even bother to turn. Gabriel’s nervous shuffle was unmistakable, and the hurried clatter of heels behind him told me Julia was with him. My lips curved into a slow smile as they entered the room.They stopped at the table, neither daring to sit. Slowly, I turned.“Don’t be shy,” I cooed. “Take a seat. After all, you’re my guests tonight. You know, since we’re all... acquainted now.”Gabriel slowly took his seat, and Julia followed. “Ruby, I can explain—”“Don’t bother.” I set my glass down on the table, the soft clink silencing him. “I didn’t call you here for an explanation, Gabriel. I caught you red-handed already.”My so-called best frie
RUBY’S POV "YOU DIVORCED GABRIEL?!"Ariana’s voice tore through the pounding bass of the club, loud enough to make the heads of nearby patrons turn. Her bright blue eyes were wide with shock, her curly black hair bouncing as she leaned closer to me.“Yes, I divorced Gabriel,” I shouted back, rolling my eyes as I took a sip of my martini. “I told you this already!”“No, no, no,” Ariana insisted, waving her manicured hand. “You said you were thinking about it. You didn’t say you actually did it! When did this happen?”“Today!” I yelled, the thudding beat of the music forcing us to scream over it. “Oh, my God!” she shrieked, grabbing my arm. “Finally!”Lilac, sitting calmly across the table with her signature poised demeanor, sipped her wine and gave me a knowing smile. Her warm hazel eyes twinkled under the neon lights of the club. "About time, Ruby. I mean, the man was a walking red flag. I’m proud of you for leaving him.”“Thanks, Lilac,” I said, flashing her a grateful smile befor
RUBY'S POVIt was barely noon the next day, and Dominic Rutherford was already invading my thoughts again. I sat on the edge of my hotel bed, staring at the TV that I’d muted hours ago, fiddling with a loose thread on my robe and trying to push that accursed masked man out of my head.Why was I still thinking about him? It wasn’t like me to get caught up over a man, especially one I hadn’t even spoken to or seen exactly how he looks, except through the MASK. ESPECIALLY one who looked so dangerous. Yet his bright blue eyes, the commanding way he carried himself, and that stupid gold mask were all I could see.Before I could spiral further, my phone buzzed on the nightstand. I lunged for it, hoping for a distraction. Thank the Lord!“Ariana!” I called out, forcing a cheerful tone.“Well, well, someone’s up early after ditching us last night.” Her voice was teasing, but I could hear the curiosity behind it.“I didn’t ditch you,” I argued, leaning back against the headboard. “The club was
RUBY'S POVDominic 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 ambe
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 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
Ruby's POVHe leaned away from me, a jeering smile on his face, his lips moist with the wetness of my pussy. "Damn, Ruby." He commented. "You make the most hilarious sounds when you're about to orgasm.""You can't blame me, can you?" I grumbled. "Do you think your workers heard us?""If they did, I don't care." Dominic carefully put my leg down from his shoulder, then kissed my stomach. My fingers went to his hair as he stared up at me, his eyes tender rather than demanding. It wasn't like he hadn't given me head before, but this time was very different. It was more intimate.“Dominic, that was… I am....”"It's alright." He interrupted. "Say less."Coming to sit beside me, he planted a kiss on my lips, and then another and another. His lips began to travel downwards again, but I held him back this time."My turn now, Dominic." I whispered. "You did mine, and now I'll do yours."His eyes darkened. "Are you.... sure?""Yes." I murmured in response. Then, I remembered something. "Do you
Ruby's POVAt that moment, my mind blanked with delirium and pleasure. My nails dug into his shoulders and I slammed myself down on his dick.His hips rocked in rhythm with mine, as he grinded against my panties and the fishnet stockings. Our lips crashed against each other in a kiss that was the most violent I'd ever had. Dominic wasn't gentle this time; his fingers clawed at my skirt, as my own yanked at his shirt.Somehow, I knew that he couldn't hold it back in anymore.Finally, Dominic tore his lips away from mine. His eyes were dark and stormy, and his chest shook with each gasp of breath.Slowly, my hand snaked down his body, coming to settle on the hard bump bump of his dick. With a sharp motion, I squeezed, and Dominic flinched."You want me to fuck you like a whore, is that it?" His eyes darkened even further as they narrowed on me while I swallowed hard. I realised that while kissing, Dominic had moved me from the wall. I was now backed up against the edge of the long table
Ruby's POVAs I stepped inside, I looked around. The room was large and panelled with more brown wood, with a long table stretching across it and twelve chairs evenly spaced around it. The part of the walls that weren't covered in wood were painted gray gray, and the light from the overhead fixtures made the place feel like sone hospital theatre.Maybe It was a theatre, and I was the one being operated on.The room was empty, or at least it seemed that way at first. My eyes landed on the chair at the head of the table. It was turned away from me, its high back hiding whoever sat there.I shifted my feet in unease, then walked closer to the table. When I reached the table, I gently knocked on the polished wood, hoping to get their attention.The chair swiveled slowly, and my heart nearly jumped out of my chest. Dominic was the one sitting there.I exhaled sharply and placed a hand on my chest. “Dominic, you scared me! Why were you sitting there like some kind of movie villain?”He smil