Married To a Stranger

Chapter 31

Ruby went up to the top floor and slipped into Owen's office. He was dressed in a crisp white shirt and a black suit, looking sharp and sophisticated.

He didn't look at her. Instead, he gestured toward the dining table. Go ahead and eat. Ruby hesitated, then did as she was told.

As she helped herself to the delicacies, she heard the click of a phone camera. She looked up to see Owen.

Taking a picture. He sent it immediately to Matilda, and then walked over. Ruby didn't need to ask who it was for. She glanced at the spread instead.

Forcing herself to sound casual, fancy lunch, Mr Knight.

Owen replied as he took off his jacket.

After all, you seem to have quite the expectations, he added sarcastically, clearly referring to Ruby's earlier remark to Carter.

Ruby's cheeks flushed. Her eyes darted briefly to the strong line of his forearm before she caught herself. Clearing her throat, she began packing some of the food into a container.

I just remembered I haven't fed Kitty yet, so I should probably get going.

She picked up the container. Thanks for lunch.

Owen's expression froze for a split second. Ruby turned away before he could respond.

A tiny spark of victory flickering in her chest as she slipped out of the office.

Julian stabbed at his takeout with little enthusiasm.

The food tasted like cardboard, but he barely noticed. His thoughts kept circling back to the library. He'd initially written the new girl off as another unqualified hire.

Someone parachuted in through connections. But the way she'd handled Carter, the way she'd moved through the research material, it didn't add up.

Julian stood abruptly and walked over to Chris.

Find something for the new girl to do. Give her guidance.

Chris blinked.

Okay.

Just so she doesn't run all over the place and cause trouble for us, Julian added awkwardly.

Chris stared, then nodded.

Later that afternoon, when Ruby was about to head back to the library, Chris stopped her.

Before you go, you've been assigned some work. We can hit the library after you've finished for the day.

He handed her a stack of files.

It was basic data organization work the team had already completed once, tedious and fragmented.

Sorting scattered data sets without a framework was a classic initiation task. Chris estimated it would take her at least a month.

Ruby was back in 30 minutes.

Done.

She said, is there anything else? If not, I'm heading to the library.

Chris froze. He still had a pile of his own work he was struggling with.

Gritting his teeth, he handed her the task. He was currently stuck on a difficult module he'd been wrestling with for over a week.

Surely this would slow her down.

An hour later, Ruby was back again.

Finished.

Chris asked.

Chris was floored. He pulled up the file on his computer. The technical point that had been driving him crazy for days.

She'd resolved it like it was simple arithmetic.

Chris went straight to Julian.

You probably overthought it, Julian said.

She got lucky and stumbled onto a workaround. Give her something harder.

Chris hesitated.

Any harder, and we're getting into the main technical problem for the whole project, the one you've been stuck on for a month.

Julian waved him off.

Give it to her. The point is to keep her busy.

Chris passed the core technical problem, the one that had Team One completely stumped, straight to Ruby.

Ruby wrestled with it for a solid 2 hours.

But she finally cracked it.

She sent the solution to Chris and went to find him, only to see that he was already packing up.

Time to go home, Chris said cheerfully.

It was Friday, after all, the official start of the weekend.

Spotting Ruby, he grinned.

So, how's that project coming along?

I was just

Ruby began.

Hey, no rush.

Chris cut her off, fully in weekend mode.

Just go enjoy yourself. Whatever it is, it can wait till Monday.

Ruby bit her tongue. Even with her limited work experience, she knew better than to bring up a solved core issue at the end of a Friday.

Chris slung his backpack over one shoulder.

As he headed out, he paused beside her.

Hey, don't worry about it. You're actually really good at this.

Ruby blinked, a little confused.

She'd done it to pay Julian back for stepping in earlier. She'd expected at least a little acknowledgement, but either way, it was done now.

With that settled, she picked up Kitty and left.

Meanwhile, Owen wrapped up his work for the day and checked the time.

It was time to head home.

Boss, where are you off to?

Leo asked.

Owen paused. He realized he didn't even know where his grandmother was staying.

He pulled out his phone and called her.

I'm at the hospital, Matilda said cheerfully.

Owen frowned.

Didn't the doctor say you were clear to go home?

I had chest pains again, she replied lightly. I'll stay a few more days. Are you coming to keep me company tonight?

Owen hesitated.

Oh, never mind. She huffed dramatically. My son doesn't care. My grandson doesn't love me. Just leave me to rot in this hospital alone and miserable.

When I wake up in the middle of the night dying for a glass of water, there won't be a soul around.

Oh, the loneliness.

She rambled.

Owen sighed.

I'll be right there.

That's more like it, Matilda said, pleased.

Oh, and by the way, I already informed Ruby. She's coming to keep me company too. Pick her up on your way here.

Owen hung up and rubbed his temples.

He knew exactly what his grandmother was doing.