Ruby slept like a baby and woke up before dawn. Today, she was joining the Byron Corporation. She got ready carefully, choosing a white suit paired with a fitted dress beneath it. The look was clean, powerful, and elegant. Her Chanel bag rested on her arm, heels clicking softly against the floor as she took one last look in the mirror.
She looked… strong. Just as she reached for the door, it opened from the other side.
Max stood there.
"You're up early," he said, his expression cool and composed, nothing like the charged moment they'd almost shared the night before. And Ruby appreciated that. The distance made things clearer.
"Yes. I'm ready," she replied, then hesitated. "Am I overdressed for an assistant? I mean… everything in that closet is…well, you know."
Max's gaze swept over her slowly. "Who said you're going to be an assistant?"
Ruby blinked. "You look perfect as the CEO of Byron Corporation." Her breath caught. "CEO? What… No, no, no, no, I can't," she protested, doubt rushing in. "I've never worked before. How could I run a company this big?"
"You can," Max said calmly. "You're smart. You're educated. And you won't be alone, you'll have Samuel guiding you." He paused, then added casually, "For now, I won't be with you at the office. Samuel will handle things."
Ruby nodded slowly. "And," Max finished, meeting her eyes, "you'll be Seron's boss." Ruby's lips parted.
That… that was something she could not turn down. For the first time in a long while, a spark ignited in her chest. Maybe this wasn't just survival anymore. Maybe this was her rise.
"You have a board meeting at nine," Max said, handing her a file. "Go through these documents. If there's anything you don't understand, ask Samuel or me. So, are you ready?"
His lips curved into a soft, controlled smile. "Yes, I'm ready," Ruby replied, taking the file from him. She opened it immediately, already reading as they descended the stairs. Max stayed close at her side, his presence steady, as if instinctively making sure she didn't miss a step.
"The last couple of months' revenue has been really bad," Ruby said, her eyes still scanning the figures.
Max glanced at her, impressed. "You have sharp eyes." He had no doubt now, she could lead the company.
"Breakfast is ready, Mr. Byron, Mrs. Byron," Jo, the housekeeper, announced politely. Ruby barely looked up, completely absorbed in the report. "Jo, please pack her breakfast," Max said calmly. "Samuel is already here; they'll be leaving now. Thank you."
"Yes, sir." Ruby finally lifted her head. "Hello… I'm Ruby. I'm sorry." Jo smiled warmly. "Good morning, ma'am. I'll get your breakfast ready."
As Jo walked away, Ruby noticed the others, four maids, two upstairs and two below, pretending to work while clearly whispering about the new woman in the house.
The new Mrs. Byron. Jo returned with a small lunchbox. "Thank you," Ruby said softly. Max escorted her outside, where Samuel was already waiting by the car.
Max turned to him, his tone firm. "Take care of her. Don't let her out of your sight. Call me immediately if anything happens." "Yes, Max," Samuel replied. "She's in good hands." Though even Samuel couldn't quite tell what Max was truly planning.
Max opened the car door for Ruby, his hand instinctively placed above her head. She stepped in, settling into the seat.
As the car pulled away, Max stood there watching, his expression unreadable, his thoughts anything but calm. Something had already begun.
—--
Seron walked straight into Byron Corporation like he owned the place, which, in his mind, he did. "Hire Acacia as the new PR for the company," he ordered the HR manager without slowing his steps.
"Alright, boss," the woman replied quickly before hurrying off. As Seron passed through the office floor, murmurs followed him. Employees whispered openly about some admiring Acacia, others gossiping. A few pitied Ruby, while others quietly blamed her.
She was just a housewife, some said. Acacia fits Seron perfectly, others agreed. Seron ignored the chatter until he reached the executive floor.
"What's going on here?" he demanded. People were rushing around, straightening files, adjusting laptops, and clearing desks. It looked like chaos, but controlled chaos.
"I didn't call for any meeting."
"There's a board meeting in one hour, sir," one of the executives explained nervously. "The chairman called. He said a new CEO is joining the company today."
Seron frowned. "A new CEO? And no one thought to inform me?"
"We sent a memo, sir," the woman said carefully. "We assumed you were aware… since your father is the chairman."
Seron's jaw tightened. "Get out," he snapped. The executive hurried away as Seron stormed into his office, slamming the door behind him. Acacia followed closely, heels clicking against the floor.
"What the hell is that old man trying to do?" Seron yelled, pacing the room. "Bringing in someone else without telling me?" Acacia walked up to him and placed a calming hand on his arm.
"Baby, relax," she said softly. "Just call him. Tell him you're the best person to run the company. There's no need to bring anyone else in." She smiled confidently. "He loves you. He'll listen to you."
Seron stopped pacing, but the anger in his eyes didn't fade. Something told him this meeting wasn't going to go the way he expected. "You're right," Seron muttered.
He grabbed his phone and dialed, once, twice, three times. Every call went straight to voicemail. He tried again, this time calling Samuel. No answer. Seron's frustration snapped.
"Damn it!" he shouted, sweeping the files off his desk. A glass paperweight shattered against the wall, and Acacia flinched.
"Seron, calm down," she said quickly, moving closer. "You're overthinking this."
He ignored her and opened his laptop, fingers shaking as he logged into his email. That was when he saw it, the memo he'd dismissed earlier.
His chest tightened as he read it aloud.
Seron, my son,
I have been in a terrible accident that has aggravated my old injuries. I'm unable to return to the company for now. Because of this, I have appointed a CEO to take my place. Take care.
"A CEO?" Seron laughed harshly. "What about me?" He stood and stared out the window, his thoughts spiraling. Did he find out? No. That's impossible. He had been careful. The people he hired couldn't be traced back to him. I made sure of that.