Chapter3
1070 Words
The very first thing Ruby Monroe understood about Kevin Laurent's penthouse, was that it was not a home.
It was a fortress.
Towering glass walls showed the skyline of Manhattan as it glimmered like a bed of diamonds. The furniture was sleek, expensive, and futuristic. It also felt like it hadn't been touched for years; every item was positioned with a ruthless precision that stripped the apartment of any life or comfort.
No photographs.
No clutter.
Nothing warm.
Setting her suitcase on the floor by the marble island in the kitchen, Ruby turned slowly around the apartment.
"You live like an exhibition," she observed.
Across the room, Kevin Laurent was loosening the cuff of his crisp black shirt.
"It is efficient."
"It is lonely."
He remained silent, unmoving.
Sighing softly, Ruby walked towards the floor-to-ceiling window. Below, the city was alive with a symphony of yellow taxis honking through the streets, lights flashing in every skyscraper, and the distant glow of Times Square.
New York.
Her new start.
Or perhaps, the biggest mistake of her life.
Kevin's voice broke the stillness of the apartment.
"The press will be here in thirty minutes."
Ruby spun around.
"Thirty minutes?"
"I did tell you that you'd have ample time to prepare."
"That's not ample time; that's a countdown!"
Kevin, now with a glass of water in hand, simply shrugged.
"You'll get used to it."
Ruby looked at him sharply.
"How can you be so calm?"
Kevin raised the glass to his lips.
"I have had years to prepare."
Ruby wasn't sure what he meant by that.
Before she could ask, the elevator chimed, signaling its arrival.
Kevin glanced at his watch.
"Right on time."
The doors opened, and a small army of stylists flooded the penthouse apartment, hair stylists, makeup artists, and wardrobe assistants who were carrying racks of designer dresses.
Ruby blinked in confusion.
"What is all of this?"
Kevin simply walked past her, a knowing expression on his face.
"Public relations."
A woman with impossibly sculpted hair approached Ruby with purpose.
"Miss Monroe, we only have twenty minutes!"
Ruby turned her eyes to Kevin.
"Did you plan all this?"
He offered a slight shrug.
"You are going to be my fiancée."
Ruby muttered under her breath, "I should have asked for twenty million."
Twenty minutes later, Ruby barely recognized herself. She was wearing a fitted emerald green dress that hugged her curves perfectly. Her hair cascaded around her shoulders in soft waves, and her makeup was subtle but flawless. She looked like she belonged in the world of Kevin Laurent, and the thought made her skin crawl.
Kevin emerged from his bedroom just as Ruby walked into the living room. He paused, and Ruby's eyes met his.
"What?"
Kevin looked at her for longer than usual before saying, "Nothing."
Ruby narrowed her eyes.
"You paused."
"I was thinking."
"About?"
Kevin straightened his suit jacket.
"You clean up very well."
Ruby rolled her eyes, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
"That's the nicest insult I've ever received."
Kevin's phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out.
"They're here."
Ruby's stomach churned. The flashes of light were already exploding beyond the apartment windows-paparazzi, reporters, and cameras. It finally hit her what she had signed up for. Kevin walked towards her, extending his hand. Ruby stared at it.
"What?"
"For the cameras."
She hesitated, then placed her hand in his. An unexpected jolt of energy shot through her chest at his touch. Kevin felt the slight tension in her fingers and spoke in a low voice, his words barely audible.
"Relax."
Ruby took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart.
"I am relaxed."
Kevin leaned a little closer.
"If you look terrified, they will smell blood."
Ruby's chin lifted instantly.
"I am not terrified."
"Good."
The elevator chimed again, this time carrying the press coordinator.
"They're ready, Mr. Laurent."
Kevin nodded, then turned his attention back to Ruby.
"Smile."
The balcony doors slid open, and the roar of reporters and camera clicks immediately filled the air. Kevin stepped out, pulling Ruby along with him.
"Mr. Laurent!"
"Is it true you're engaged?"
"Who is the woman?"
"Is this tied to the CEO transition?"
Kevin raised a hand, and the noise subsided slightly.
"Yes," he announced simply, and the cameras erupted once more.
He looked at Ruby, then gently pulled her closer.
"My fiancée," he continued, his voice projecting clearly, "Ruby Monroe."
Ruby forced a graceful smile to her face, her pulse hammering in her chest.
"How long have you been together?"
"Where did you meet?"
"When is the wedding?"
"We met a year ago," Kevin replied immediately, his grip on Ruby's hand tightening slightly. Ruby's eyes widened-a year?
"We've been keeping our relationship private," he explained smoothly. "But now that we're engaged, we're happy to share the news."
More flashes, more questions. Ruby felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. This was insane. Then, Kevin leaned closer and whispered in her ear, "Remember the contract."
Ruby nodded faintly. The reporters continued their barrage of questions. Then, one voice, cutting through the cacophony, shouted, "Mr. Laurent!"
Kevin looked up.
"Will your father approve of this marriage?"
A hush fell over the crowd. Kevin's expression remained impassive, but something cold flickered in his eyes.
"My father," he stated calmly, "will be meeting Ruby tonight."
Ruby's stomach dropped to her feet. Tonight? Kevin turned to her, a picture-perfect smile plastered on his face for the cameras.
"Won't he, darling?"
Ruby realized that every camera in the city was now focused on her. She forced a confident smile to her face.
"I'm looking forward to it."
Panic bloomed within her. Meeting the most powerful man in Kevin's life on the first day of their fake engagement? Perfect. Absolutely perfect.
But as the reporters started shouting questions again, Ruby noticed something unusual. Across the street, parked in the shadows, was a black car. And in it, a person, watching her. Not filming, not taking photos, just... Watching. Ruby shivered. When she blinked, the car was gone.
"You handled that well." Kevin leaned closer, his voice soft.
Ruby barely heard him. Her gaze remained fixed on the empty street.
"Kevin..."
"Yes?"
"I think I was being watched."
Kevin's expression didn't change, but something cold flashed in his eyes.
"You'll get used to it," he said quietly. "In my world, someone always is."
- Writer
