How to Fake a Love Story

19:Of Subtle Threats

Jared had an enlightening epiphany.

Myra was right.

Karma did have funny ways of dealing with things.

His came in the form of a demon posing to be Ryan's mother whose aversion to murder, and general forms of violence that led up to, was non-existent.

Wait; his mistake.

That demon wasn't posing to be Ryan's mother—that demon was Ryan's mother.

As he pressed the icepack to his sore face a little harder, he grumbled.

The day had started out rather one-sided. It was more like he was chaperoning the two of them on a date instead of the other way around. They had all gone to the zoo, visited a theme park, attended an outdoor talent show— in which Ruby had been able to showcase her knife-throwing skills—and now they were at a shooting range.

All the while they seemed to have eyes only for each other.

Ruby showered Ryan with love and motherly affection. Ryan soaked it all up like a super-absorbent sponge. It was understandable for Jared after hearing it was the first time they saw each other, quite literally, in years.

The dinner date yesterday had gone amiably well with both sides being on their best behaviour. They acted like it was their first meeting, pushing aside the first time they actually met.

Jared was less surprised to learn that Ruby had been a circus performer who was expert in all kinds of acts that included knives and more surprised about the fact that she was also a fashion designer set in London. Not to mention the fact that even though she was using her maiden name 'Aurora', she was still happily married to her husband — and Ryan's father.

And he also wasn't surprised at her hidden hostility towards him despite her smiles. She had warned him that she was playing for keeps and there was no way she would leave Ryan with him. That was yesterday.

Currently, Ruby was teaching Ryan the proper use of a shotgun.

Leaning against the wall a good ten metres away, arms folded—he watched them. Ruby was curled around Ryan, fiddling with his grip on the gun and adjusting his arms and shoulders while he aimed. Her touches were loving and gentle and by their interactions throughout the day Jared could tell Ryan was spoiled a lot as a child.

It would explain a lot since he was the only child but it still didn't explain why was Ryan a gold digger when he clearly had a family who loved him a bit too much and would definitely give him anything he wanted.

After firing a few rounds, Ryan turned to his mother expectantly and his eyes lit up at her praise for having hit three bulls-eyes in a row.

Suddenly, her eyes flitted over and connected with his. She smiled and waved at him innocently, before something soared over towards him. He reflexively ducked and blinked in horror at the small knife sticking out of the wall behind where his head had been. Painful memories of earlier in the day flooded his mind.

First there was the Ice-Cream Incident.

While they were taking a break in the park, Ryan and Ruby left Jared alone to buy some cold confectionary desserts. Ryan had come back alone with Jared's portion and sat down next to him. And then, Ryan had gotten some of it stuck on his cheek.

Grinning, Jared had slipped an arm around Ryan's waist and leaned close. "Darling, there's something on your face, let me get that for you."

As expected Ryan squirmed, fidgeted, and—

"Ahh! Jared!"

Jared froze.

And then he found himself flat on his back, staring up at the blue, blue sky on the grass somewhere. He laid there in a daze for a moment, realising just how very blue the sky actually was today and—

Oh.

Sweet.

Heaven.

The pain.

Every pain receptor in the left side of his face seemed to have taken a miniature vacation to hell and just got back to share the details with him.

Jared was a typically proud man and tried not to cry when experiencing pain no matter how excruciating.

But some things just couldn't be helped.

"Oh, sweetie, look what you've gotten on your face. Let mother get that for you," she fawned, wiping Ryan's cheek with a handkerchief daintily. "Oh Jared, I am so sorry! My hand must have accidentally hit you." She glanced at him and smiled sweetly. Ryan shot a worried look at him but didn't speak up.

Other scenarios had happened in a similar fashion.

Ruby was determined to keep him away from Ryan.

As a result, Jared was sporting a few bruises, a harmless cut here and there. Clutching the icepack to his face a little tighter, Jared sighed. Nothing about this day had gone right for him.

Ruby Aurora was the reincarnation of the Devil.

"Jared darling."

Jared flinched, looking up to see Ruby walking towards him—a look of motherly concern stark in her brown eyes of Pure Evil.

"Yes? Is… ah… something wrong?"

Frowning, she folded her arms in front of her. "Ryan has gone to fetch more rounds. Would you like a shot?"

No, thanks. He would rather stay far, far away from any kind of projectile when in presence of the She-Devil.

"Oh, no, I'm fine. Just watching you two is enough for me. It's been a long time since you two have seen each other; I don't mind letting you have time alone without me." Jared was, afterall, a business man. Lying was second nature to him.

"Oh how considerate," she remarked sweetly, tilting her head slightly. Then she gasped, holding a gloved hand out to tug at the ice pack he was holding against his face. "My dear! Where did this bruise come from?" she asked, like a mother scolding her child. Ruby ruffled his hair affectionately. "You must learn to take better care of yourself!"

Laughing easily, Jared shrugged it off. "Your concern is appreciated, Miss Ruby, but I'm sure I'll live."

Tutting, Ruby shook her head once more. "Don't despair, Jared darling, I'll fix you up good and proper—" Oh, God no. "—once we return home. I would do anything for my darling boy's lesser half."

To be perfectly honest, Jared didn't know how to feel about that statement. And so he went with a hopefully safe approach.

"I couldn't possibly trouble you with something so trivial. I have a maid for that who would be more than happy. You're far too kind."

Ruby giggled daintily behind her hand. "Nonsense! You need a mother's touch. You're too flattering for such a degenerate. You know, when I had found out—quite by a happy accident—that my darling little boy was dating someone like you, I was overwhelmed with joy. You're such a responsible and affectionate young man, and I can see that you care for my darling little angel so much." She laughed, almost hysterically. "A mother couldn't possibly want to gouge the ey—oh, but, Jared darling, you're everything a mother dreams of for her son. I am terribly glad it's you he's taken a liking to."

Within the day Jared had spent with Ruby he had already earned himself a Ruby Aurora translator.

I had to find out my precious son was dating a no-good, scum-eating, morally-bankrupt wretch in the worst way possible, and I'm more than just pissed about it. I'm going to cut out your heart, liver, intestine, and lungs before feeding them to dogs and vultures. I will maim and disfigure you so horribly my son will never look at you ever again. I'm glad you're so very stabbable.

In the back of his mind, every once in a while, Jared wondered if his entertainment was really worth having to put up with Ryan's crazy mother. "Thank you. Your words mean a lot to me. I promise to make Ryan as happy as possible," he told Ruby with as straight a face as he could muster.

Smiling sweetly again—almost sincerely—Ruby patted his cheek and ruffled his hair affectionately. "You should hope so, Jared darling, because Ruby Aurora gives no second chances," she said slowly in the tone of voice that made babies cry—just to let it sink in. "And I am so very fond of you. It would be quite a shame if anything unfortunate were to happen so soon after meeting you."

Normally, Jared wasn't a very confrontational person and negotiated his way out of things if he could. He didn't respond to intimidation, direct threats, or general violence very well. Not only that, but he could recognise a challenge when he saw one.

So it wasn't so much that he wanted to win against Ruby to keep Ryan— though that would be a bonus— no, it was much simpler than that: Jared wanted to win because he could.

And so, when Ruby walked away from him just as Ryan returned with a new case of bullets, Jared grinned.

This means war.