SOFT WORDS
602 Words
[CHAPTER 3]
"Clarissa."
In full diva mode, she marched in with Ivy and Amber behind her like a pair of glittery shadows.
“We need to talk,” she said, ignoring Ruby completely.
Royal stood. “Is this about the contract?”
“No,” Clarissa replied, voice sugary and fake. “It’s about the gala. And about how *certain people* are embarrassing the Kingsley name.”
Amber smirked. “Some people just aren’t high society.”
Ruby raised an eyebrow. “Would that be you or your knockoff heels, Amber?”
Amber’s face turned red.
Clarissa stepped forward. “You’d do well to remember who helped you get where you are, Ruby.”
Ruby straightened. “No, Clarissa. I got here because of my talent, not your schemes.”
Royal’s voice cut in. “Enough. This is my office, not your playground.”
Clarissa narrowed her eyes at him. “Watch yourself, Royal. You may own the company, but reputations are delicate things.”
She turned and stormed out, Ivy and Amber on her heels.
The room fell silent.
Royal looked up, and for a moment, his gaze betrayed something — admiration? Desire? Maybe both. But it vanished just as fast.
“We have a presentation at noon,” he said. “Be ready.”
“I was born ready,” Ruby replied, sliding into a seat.
Moments later, Vanessa strutted in.
Uninvited.
Wearing a dress that screamed *look at me*, she walked right up to Royal, brushing past Ruby deliberately.
“I thought we were having lunch, Royal.”
Ruby arched a brow. “Lunch with your ex in the middle of a workday? How very high school of you.”
Vanessa sneered. “This doesn’t concern you.”
“Actually, it does,” Royal cut in. “Ruby and I have a meeting together. You’ll have to reschedule.”
Vanessa’s smile faded. “With her?”
“Yes,” he said firmly.
Ruby turned to her, offering a tight smile. “Feel free to wait in the lobby, sweetheart. There's water and magazines.”
Vanessa stormed out without another word.
Mark let out a soft whistle. “Damn.”
Royal smirked. “Told you she’s trouble.”
***
After the meeting, they returned to the office. Royal moved behind his desk, removing his jacket.
Ruby sat across from him. “Why do you let her hang around?”
“She doesn’t take no for an answer.”
“Neither do I,” she said coolly. “But you seem to manage just fine.”
He looked up. “Is this jealousy?”
Ruby turned to Royal. “You’re welcome for not throwing her through the window.”
He smirked. “You’d be doing me a favor.”
They both laughed, unexpectedly, and for a moment, the tension between them cracked.
Not disappeared.
Just… cracked.
***
That night, Royal arrived home late. Ruby was curled on the couch, reviewing fabric samples for the next show.
He paused in the doorway. “Working this late?”
She didn’t look up. “Unlike you, I don’t have exes dropping by to fill my schedule.”
He chuckled and stepped closer. “You’re really not jealous?”
She finally looked up. “Not of Vanessa.”
Royal leaned on the back of the couch. “Then who?”
She stared at him, her voice low. “Of the version of you she knew. The one you were before all this... coldness.”
Royal’s face darkened slightly. “That version didn’t survive this world.”
They stared at each other for a long beat.
- Writer
