Chapter 27
ALEX
He had walked in right on time, and stood at the entrance of the store, silencing the sales assistant with his finger when he saw that she had recognized him and wanted to say something. He recognized his wife straight away, and unfortunately, he also recognized the woman standing next to her. He stood back, making sure he was completely out of view and his focus was entirely on Ruby. He listened as Melanie accused her of having a sugar daddy, as she threw Ruby’s mother’s predicament in her face. It also didn’t escape his notice that she made a point of making it clear that the bags that Robert Smith bought for her were of the same value as the hospital bills, She knew exactly how to get to Ruby.
He stayed out of the way and waited for Ruby to stand up for herself, but she didn’t. None of the confidence that she had when she resisted him was present. She was way feistier when she was reminding him that he owned her body and not her. than she was right now. And if he was being completely honest, he was a little disappointed. She started to shake, and he knew that he would have to step in somehow. He walked towards them, and Melanie’s eyes widened when she saw him, but he kept his attention on Ruby. “I’m sorry I’m late, baby,” he said, wrapping his arm around her. “I’m here now.”
my wife:
Ruby instantly relaxed and melted in his arms as she looked up at him in relief. The trust in her eyes, it did funny things in his chest. He tore his eyes away from hers and turned to face the sales assistant with raised brows. “Didn’t you She asked if you could get her an identical bag”
hear
The sales assistant’s eyes widened and she mumbled an incoherent apology before rushing off to her computer to start processing Ruby’s order. He looked at Ruby who was still looking petrified, and frowned. He was going to have to give his. wife a more indepth lecture on the treatment she should demand. She was a Blackwood for crying out loud.
He sighed and grabbed his phone. “Baby,” he told her. “You don’t ever have to talk to mere staff. Especially not in a mall we
own-
“You own the mall!!” Ruby and Melanie asked at the same time, cutting him off. He didn’t say anything, just stared blankly at Ruby until a look of realization flashed across her face. “Wait The Black mall, as in Blackwood?” she asked with wide eyes.
“Right. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, can I go back to what I was saying?” he asked.
Ruby nodded slowly, still trying to process the new information she had just acquired.
“Next time, you just just call the CEO of the brand’s company, you hear me? I’d love to see him deny any of your requests. He’ll have his stores booted from every Black mall faster than he can blink”
“This isn’t the only mall you own?” Ruby exclaimed.
He
gave her a pointed look. “Focus, Ruby
Ruby nodded, her eyes moving from his to Melanie. He could see Melanie rearranging her crop top and posing from the comer of his eye, and he was filled with disgust. She was crazy if she thought that she could ever catch his eye. He turned away from her to find Ruby fidgeting with the scarf around her neck. He frowned at it and looked at her through narrowed eyes. “Trying to hide the damage I did?” he asked. “From who?” he pulled on the scarf, unraveling it to admire his work. Ruby blushed when he pushed the scarf into his pocket.
“Alex,” she murmured, her cheeks bright red. He smiled at her, table to stop himself. He loved making her blush. She looked so sweet when she did, so disarmed and innocent. He leaned in and pressed a lingering kiss on her lips.
Melanie gasped behind them “Alex, you can’t possibly be interested in her of all people!” her eyes roamed over Ruby’s neck and lie could see annoyance and pure bitterness in her eyes. One thing she didn’t know though, was that considering the fact that she had just admitted to being the one that had sent his wife over to the gentlemen’s club, her days were numbered.
“Afid who are you?” he asked, knowing fully well who she was.
She looked at him in disbelief. “Tm Melanie Smith, Ruby’s sister
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Chapter 27
He turned to his wife with a raised brow. “You have sisters, baby? Ruby shook her head and he nodded. “I didn’t think so either,” he turned back to Melanie. “What the hell has the world come to for a mistress’s daughter to liken herself to my wife? You must have lost your damn mind.” he watched in satisfaction as she went red with
anger.
The sales assistant returned with a bill for the bag, and he shook his head. “Don’t bother looking at it baby, just put down your card. This bag clearly means something to you, so it’s worth any price. Your card doesn’t have a limit anyway and you’re a Blackwood now, prices are irrelevant.”
Melanie smiled in what he assumed was supposed to be a flirty manner. “Oh Alex, you do know that Ruby isn’t even really a Smith, right? Dad practically disowned her. She doesn’t mean anything.” Her words were meant to hurt Ruby, and he smiled to himself as his wife didn’t pay her any mind. He watched her pull out her black card from her wallet, causing Melanie to gasp in disbelief.
Ruby settled the bill and Melanie glared at her the entire time, her eyes dripping pure venom. “You’re going to regret this, Alex. She’s not better than me. She just isn’t!”
Alex had had enough of Melanie’s drama. He nodded at the security guard by the door, and he rushed up to them. “Get her out of here. I’m done entertaining her. And make sure she never steps foot in any of my malls again.” he could tell that she wanted to make a fuss, but of course she knew that she would only be embarrassing herself.
“Good riddance,” he said, sighing. “Where the hell is your security team, Ruby? Little fruit flies like her shouldn’t be able to get anywhere near you. Enough of this bullshit.”
She rose to her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around him before pressing a kiss to his cheek, startling him. “Thank you,” she whispered. “For everything. I know you only really entertained her so I could have a bit of payback. It’s petty, but I needed that. I thank you, Alexander.”
He didn’t miss the fact that she had called his full name. He buried his hand in her hair and shook his head. “Ruby, you’re my wife. Any insults thrown your way, I’ll take it personally. Besides, I don’t like it when people mess with my possessions.”
Despite his convincing words, Ruby smiled at him, as though she could see straight through him.
