“Back already?”
Inside the Martin family’s vi, Tina was flipping through a booklet, reviewing the early drafts of her exhibition n.
“Yeah,” Ruby said as she stepped inside, head down, kicking off her heels and slipping into her house
shoes.
“Did you see Theo?”
“I did, but we didn’t really get a chance to talk,” Ruby replied, heading straight for the living room to pour herself a ss of water, not even ncing Tina’s way.
Tina knew Ruby was always thinking ahead. She didn’t push. Over the past few years, Ruby’s ambition had be more and more obvious. If she wanted something–or someone–she’d find a way to get it, especially if that person was Theo.
Her pride wouldn’t let her back down. If she couldn’t win Theo over, she’d never be able to hold her head high in Riverdale.
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“How’s your proposaling along? Do you feel good about it?”
“It’s still in progress. I’m taking the first draft over tomorrow.”
“Keep at it. Take care of your work first. With Theo back, he’ll need someone capable by his side. If you just act like a pretty face, he’ll never take you seriously. I’ve heard he’s done really well for himself in the overseas market these past few years.”
“I know<i>.</i><i>“</i><i>. </i>
Ruby took the tablet from Tina, her lowered gaze hiding a calm confidence. She looked like someone who already knew exactly what she was doing.
The next morning at nine.
Ruby had a meeting set up to show her proposal to a client.
She’d assumed anyone wanting such a trendy, fashion–focused n would be young and energetic.
But it turned out her client was a well–dressed man pushing fifty, sitting across from her and discussing details with surprising sharpness.
After a long discussion, he finally said, “Mrs. Martin, our boss’s wife isn’t happy with this proposal. She hopes you can refine it further.”
Boss’s wife? So this guy wasn’t the decision–maker?
“In what way?”
“There are too many shy elements,” he said, pointing out sections on her tablet, sounding every bit as professional as she was.
<b>11:19 </b>
“I understand. We’ll make some changes and set up another meeting.”
“Alright.”
After leaving the café, Ruby hurried back to the office and called an emergency meeting <i>to </i>revise the proposal.
They rescheduled to present again on Wednesday.
But when Wednesday came, it was the same man, and he still wasn’t satisfied.
This happened seven, eight times–every single draft got rejected.
For half a month, Ruby was swamped with this project, no time left to even think about <i>Theo</i><i>. </i><fn4fff> This content belongs to fι?dnοvel</fn4fff>
She’d originally nned to finish up and then figure out how to get Theo’s attention, but this proposal just wouldn’t let her go.
“Are they just messing with us at this point?” someone on her team muttered, sounding defeated.
Ruby’s eyes darkened.
Victor, sitting nearby, shot theiner a look, warning them to keep it down.
Ruby thought for a second. “It’s possible.”
“We’ve all been working so hard–let’s take a break. No need to run ourselves ragged<i>,” </i>she said.
The team lit up at her words, practically ready to hug her in relief.
After work, Ruby found a nearby spa, hoping to clear her head.
But just her luck–she ran into a group at the mall who were out celebrating Theo’s return.
They spotted Ruby and immediately pulled her into their private room.
The second she stepped inside, she saw Theo sitting at the head of the table.
“Theo, you really hit the jackpot, haven’t you? The three big wins for a guy–promotion, money, and a dead wife. You’ve got them all!”
“Dead wife? What are you talking about?” someone asked, confused.
“Patricia, obviously! Seriously, where have you been?” another person scoffed.
“If Patricia’s dead, then the woman I saw in Toronto must’ve been a ghost,<i>” </i>someone else chimed in.
Ruby had been about to sit, but froze mid–move. Her heart skipped a beat. “Did you just say Patricia’s in Toronto?”