Chapter 22: 21

Sanae stretched her arms above her head as she leaned against the passenger window of Ruby’s car, watching the city lights blur into streaks of gold and white. The stress of work still clung to her like the remnants of a heavy downpour, but there was something about the open road, the hum of Ruby’s music playlist playing softly, and the cool night air that made everything feel a little lighter.

“We should do this more often,” Ruby said, her hands steady on the wheel, eyes focused on the road ahead. “Just drive. No destination, no plans. Just us.”

Sanae glanced at her, a small smile tugging at her lips. “You say that like you don’t plan everything down to the minute.”

Ruby chuckled. “Fair point. But I mean it this time. I just want a night where we don’t have to think about anything.”

Sanae hummed in agreement, letting the comfortable silence settle between them as the cityscape faded behind them. The neon lights, the honking cars, the constant rush, it all melted away, replaced by open roads and scattered establishments, bathed in the soft glow of street lamps. After a while, a glowing sign caught Sanae’s eye.

“Bowling and Bar?” she read out loud, sitting up. “That’s random.”

Ruby raised an eyebrow. “You wanna go?”

“Why not? Haven’t played in years.”

Ruby signaled and turned into the parking lot, both of them stepping out into the slightly chilly night air. The place wasn’t too crowded, but it had enough people to make the atmosphere lively. The sound of pins crashing, laughter, and clinking glasses filled the space as they walked in.

Sanae rolled her shoulders, smirking. “Prepare to lose, Ruby.”

Ruby scoffed, grabbing their bowling shoes. “We’ll see about that.”

The first few rounds were filled with friendly banter, playful shoves, and exaggerated cheers. Ruby was surprisingly good, but Sanae held her own, determined not to let her have an easy victory. They took turns bowling, sipping on their drinks in between, and somewhere along the way, Sanae started to feel that warm buzz of contentment.

Then, it happened.

A guy from the next lane, tall with an easy grin, sauntered over just as Ruby returned from her turn, the ball rolling neatly into a strike. He clapped his hands together, clearly impressed.

“Nice shot,” he said, flashing her a charming smile. “Didn’t know I’d be playing next to a pro.”

Ruby chuckled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I just got lucky.”

“You got skill,” the guy insisted. “Maybe you can give me a few pointers?”

Sanae narrowed her eyes, setting her drink down a little too forcefully. She had dealt with enough guys like him before, smooth talkers who thought they could slide into any conversation, flashing smiles and expecting numbers in return. And the way he was looking at Ruby? Sanae didn’t like it. Not one bit.

Then, recognition flickered in the guy’s eyes. “Wait a minute,” he said, snapping his fingers. “You’re Ruby Espinosa, CEO and founder of Sedes Quantum Empire.”

Ruby’s expression didn’t shift. If anything, her already cool demeanor turned downright icy. “And?” she asked, crossing her arms.

The guy grinned. “Marco Vasquez. Maybe you’ve heard of me? I’m in the film industry—lead roles, box office hits, the usual.”

Ruby’s expression remained impassive. “I don’t keep up with Hollywood.”

Marco chuckled, undeterred. “Well, maybe we should fix that. A woman like you, brilliant and beautiful, should be seen at the right events. You ever consider expanding your influence beyond tech?”

“I have no interest in you or your industry,” Ruby stated coldly, her voice flat.

Marco blinked but recovered quickly, flashing another confident smile. “Come on, don’t be so harsh. A little conversation won’t hurt. Maybe dinner sometime?”

Ruby exhaled, clearly about to shut him down again, but before she could, Sanae suddenly stepped back, something unreadable flickering in her eyes.

She didn’t like people trying to get their hands on what was hers.

Marco was still talking, oblivious to the storm that was brewing inside Sanae.

Without another word, Sanae reached for Ruby’s waist and pulled her in. Ruby barely had time to react before Sanae tilted her chin up, locking eyes with her for a brief second, a silent message passing between them. And then, she kissed her.

The kiss was sudden, warm, and full of silent declarations. Ruby melted into it almost instantly, her arms wrapping around Sanae’s shoulders. The world around them blurred, but they barely noticed how the people nearby began to cheer, whistles filling the air as the scene unfolded.

Marco took a step back, blinking in surprise, before letting out a low chuckle. “Well, damn.”

Someone from across the room shouted, “Get a room, you two!” which only made the crowd laugh harder.

Sanae finally pulled back, her heart hammering in her chest, her fingers still curled around Ruby’s waist. Ruby’s face was flushed, but she was smiling, bright, beautiful, and entirely hers.

Marco raised his hands in surrender. “Message received, loud and clear.” He gave Ruby a good-natured nod before retreating back to his lane.

As the crowd’s excitement died down, Ruby let out a breathless laugh, leaning her forehead against Sanae’s. “Jealous much?”

Sanae scoffed, but the corner of her lips betrayed her. “You were taking too long to shut him down.”

Ruby grinned, poking her cheek. “So you kissed me in front of everyone?”

Sanae shrugged. “Seemed like the best way to get the point across.”

Ruby hummed in amusement, threading her fingers through Sanae’s. “Well, it worked.”

Sanae squeezed her hand. “Good.”

They spent the rest of the evening playing more rounds, teasing and laughing between turns. The energy of the night carried them through conversations about everything and nothing, an unspoken understanding settling between them. By the time they stepped out of the bar, the crisp air against their flushed skin, Sanae knew something had shifted. And this time, she wasn’t going to let it slip away.

________________________

I fell into my own trap. Ruby is making me fall. I’m falling, deeper and deeper, and I don’t know if I can still carry out my plan to bring her down. I don’t even know if I want to anymore.

There is only one thing I know for certain, I want to protect her. I want to be with her.

No matter what I discover about what really happened to my brother, Akio, I have to be prepared. I have to steel myself for the truth, no matter how cruel it may be. But deep down, I already know, it’s not Ruby. She isn’t the monster I once believed her to be. Maybe I was just blinded by rage, consumed by grief, drowning in the bottomless pit of loss and anger. I needed someone to blame, someone to hold responsible for my brother’s death. And for the longest time, I convinced myself that it was her. That she was the enemy. That she was the reason my world had shattered.

But now… now I’m starting to doubt everything I thought I knew.

I turned my head, my eyes falling on Ruby as she slept soundly beside me. Her face was relaxed, her breathing steady, her long lashes resting gently against her cheeks. She must have been exhausted from all the bowling, from the excitement of the night. Even in her sleep, she was captivating. There was something about her, something more than just beauty, something that could lure in even the most guarded soul and unravel them piece by piece.

Ruby Espinosa was not just a CEO. She was not just the woman who built an empire with her own two hands. She was something more,something impossible to ignore.

She was an attraction. A force of nature. A living contradiction of heaven and hell.

She was the kind of woman you couldn’t help but notice, even if you didn’t want to. The kind of woman who could walk into a room without saying a word and still have every pair of eyes turning in her direction. There was an effortless pull to her, something raw and untamed, something that demanded attention without ever needing to ask for it.

Her beauty was undeniable, almost unreal, like she had been crafted by the hands of gods who couldn’t decide whether they wanted to create an angel or a demon, so they made both.

But it wasn’t just her face, her body, or the way she moved that made her dangerous.

It was her mind.

Ruby’s intelligence was a weapon sharper than any blade, deadlier than any bullet. She could outthink, outmaneuver, and outplay anyone who tried to stand in her way. She had the kind of brilliance that could build empires and crush kingdoms. She was ruthless when she needed to be, unstoppable when she set her sights on something. And yet, she was also gentle, kind in ways that people often overlooked. A woman of contradictions. A walking paradox.

Heaven and hell in one body.

And I, like a fool, had fallen right into her gravity.

But I wasn’t just drawn to her. I was consumed.

I knew that being involved with Ruby Espinosa meant being in constant danger. She was a walking target, whether she realized it or not. A woman like her would always have enemies , people who wanted to use her, control her, break her, see her down crawling  and be defeated. Anyone close to her was at risk, an easy mark for those who wanted to see her fall.

But I didn’t care.

Let them come. Let them try.

I would exchange blood and bullets for her. I would fight, kill, and burn the world down if it meant keeping her safe. Because no matter how much danger surrounded her, no matter how many enemies lurked in the shadows waiting for the perfect moment to strike—she is mine.

And I would protect her. Always.