Chapter five
I never knew I had gotten too attached to Nick. I felt worried and scared as the seconds ticked, I prayed silently for his recovery. I blamed myself for what happened to him. I cried silently.
"Ruby what happened?I came as soon as I got your call.Why are you crying?.
With tears flowing freely from my eyes like a running water "Nick is in there he's not moving he's unconscious and it's my fault".
"It's not your fault, since he's already at the hospital,he's going to be fine and stop crying".
"Bella, what if he doesn't wake up? We were supposed to go see his sister tomorrow,I'm scared," I said while subbing like a child that was taken away from his mother.
"Ruby It's going to be alright, put yourself together alright".
"Doctor Nelson, how's Nick doing?Is he awake?Can I see him now?".
"Miss, slow down,how are you related to him?".
"Umm..I'm..I'm his...
"She's his wife".
"Oh that new, anyways he's fine and awake now,you can go and see but one by one okay".
"Alright doctor".
I was scared to go see Nick because I was sure he didn't want to see me because he might be thinking I actually wanted to poison him.
"Bella you go first:.
"Excuse you".
"Yeah because he might not want to see me right at this moment,my face might be the last thing he wants to see now".
"And how would you tell"
"Just go".
"Fine".
"Mr.Nick, how are you doing?".
"Do I know you?"
"I'm not sure about that,I'm Ruby's best friend and colleague I came….."
"Where's Ruby?"
"She's outside,she fears you might not want to see her now"
"Go call her"
""Aright sir".
"Ruby,he needs you".
"I'm scared"
"Nothing is going to happen"
*****
Hospital Room – He's awake, hooked to the monitors.
"Nick"i called faintly
"Why are you scared when it's clearly not your fault or something, like you said if you wanted me gone I wouldn't know
"I'm so, so sorry. I didn't know there was milk in the sauce... I should've checked."
"You didn't know. It's okay." with a low voice,still weak.
"So you're not going to kill me when you recover?".with a faint smile but her eyes still filled with tears.
"Are you tired of living? Guess you really don't want me gone, huh?"
Ruby Lets out a shaky laugh
"Shut up. I don't even know why I cried so much. We're just... I mean... this is supposed to be practical, right? An arrangement."
"Maybe"
Sniffles, wipes eyes
"Enough of the talking,you need to relax and rest,we still have to go see your sister tomorrow or do you wanna cancel it?".
"Do you really want to follow me and go meet my sister?.You know it's a contract marriage so if you really don't want to….."
"I get it and yes I want to meet your sister,I feel she has a lot of things to tell me about you".
"Like what".
"Not your business,who knows you might not be as bad as I thought".
He chuckled softly,voice raspy huh amused
"I know at first I thought this was a way of getting my attention"
She rolled her eyes,but there was no heat in them, just a simple tugging at the corner of her lips- one she didn't try to hide.
Both of them could feel the spark glowing between them in the ward.
*********
A few hours later, the doctor gave the all-clear for Nick to go home. Ruby waited in the room while he changed back into his clothes, and he looked more like himself—though still tired around the edges—when he emerged from the bathroom.
"Richmond wanted to come," Nick said as they headed toward the elevator. "But I told him not to worry. Didn't want to make a big deal of it."
"Does he know about it? us?.
"He knows it's complicated," Nick said diplomatically. "He's my closest friend. I couldn't lie to him completely."
They reached his car—rather, one of his cars, a sleek black Mercedes that the hospital had arranged to have brought around. Nick's driver stood ready, but Nick waved him off.
"I'll drive," Nick said.
"Are you sure you should be driving?" Ruby asked, concern filling her voice. "You just got out of the hospital."
"I'm fine. Besides." He looked at her, his expression unreadable, "we're going to my sister's place. I want to drive."
Ruby settled into the passenger seat, the leather cool against her skin. As Nick pulled out of the parking lot, she found herself stealing glances at him, making sure he really was okay.
"Stop looking at me like that," Nick said, but there was no anger in his voice, almost amusement.
"Like what?"
"Like you're waiting for me to collapse."
"Can you blame me? You were just hospitalized."
"I'm tougher than I look," Nick said, and there was definitely a hint of a smile this time.
Ruby felt something flutter in her chest and quickly looked out the window. This was dangerous territory. She just couldn't afford to actually care about him. This was business. A means to an end for both of them.
But as the lights of the city blurred past and Nick drove with confident ease, she couldn't quite convince herself of that anymore.
******
The sun had started to set by the time they pulled up to Annabel's house-a beautiful, colonial-style home in one of the city's most upscale neighborhoods. Ruby had only briefly met Nick's sister at the wedding, a rushed affair that had been more about legalities than celebration.
"She's going to be so happy to see you," Nick said, switching off the engine.
"Why?" Ruby asked, confused. "She barely knows me."
Nick hesitated, and Ruby had the feeling he was picking his words with care. "Annabel's been worried about me for a long time. She'll be happy to see I'm. settling down."
Settling down, how peculiar that sounded to describe a contract marriage.
Before Ruby could respond, the front door burst open and Annabel came out, her face filled with a mix of relief and concern.
"Nick! I heard what happened! Why didn't you call me immediately?" She hustled toward them and then seemed to remember Ruby's presence and softened. "Ruby, it is so good to see you again."
Annabel pulled Nick into a tight hug, then surprised Ruby by doing the same to her. Ruby stood stiffly for a moment before awkwardly patting Annabel's back.
"I'm fine, Annie," Nick said, using what was clearly a childhood nickname. "Stop fussing."
"You were in the hospital! I'm allowed to fuss!" Annabel turned to Ruby. "Was he difficult? He's always terrible when he's sick or injured. Stubborn as hell."
Ruby couldn't help but smile despite her nerves.
"He was. manageable."
"High praise from my wife," Nick said dryly, but there was warmth in his eyes.
Annabel ushered them inside, keeping up a steady stream of chatter about how worried she'd been, how Nick needed to be more careful, how she'd already prepared dinner just in case they came by. The house was warm and inviting, filled with family photos and comfortable furniture that actually looked lived-in, unlike the showroom perfection of Nick's—their—mansion.
"I'm so glad you both came," Annabel said, ushering them to a cozy living room. "Sit, sit! Ruby, would you like some tea? Coffee? Wine?
"Tea would be lovely, thank you," Ruby said as she settled onto a plush sofa.
Nick sat beside her-not touching, but closer than strictly necessary. Ruby was hyperaware of his presence, the warmth of him next to her.
Annabel disappeared into the kitchen, and Nick leaned his head back against the sofa, closing his eyes briefly.
"Tired?" Ruby asked softly.
"A little," he confessed. "Don't tell Annabel. She'll make me lie down and refuse to let me out for a week."
Ruby bit back a smile. "Your secret's safe with me."
When Annabel returned with a tea tray, she settled into the armchair across from them, her eyes bright with joy barely contained. Ruby suddenly understood why--to see them sitting together like this, like a real couple, probably meant more than either Nick or Ruby realized.
"So," Annabel said, pouring tea into delicate china cups, "tell me how married life is treating you both. I barely got to talk to you at the wedding, Ruby. Everything was so rushed."
Ruby looked at Nick, unsure of which direction to take this conversation. What were they supposed to say? That they lived in the same house but barely spoke? That their marriage was a business transaction? That they had literally agreed never to fall in love?
Nick seemed to sense her discomfort.
"We're adjusting," he said diplomatically. "It's been. different."
"Different good or different bad?" Annabel pressed, a mischievous sparkle dancing in her eyes.
"Just different," Nick replied firmly, but his sister was undeterred.
"Ruby, what do you think? Is my brother treating you well? Because if he's not, you just let me know and I'll set him straight."
Ruby found herself taking a liking to Annabel's directness.
"He's been. fair."
"Fair?" Annabel laughed. "That's quite possibly the most lukewarm compliment I've ever heard. Nick, you need to do better than 'fair'."
A slight flush crept up Nick's neck. "I'm doing my best."
"Are you though?" Annabel challenged, but her voice was light with affection. She turned to Ruby.
"He can be difficult, I know. Cold, distant, married to his work. But he has a good heart, even if he works very hard to hide it."
Ruby, despite herself, found she was curious.
"What was he like growing up?"
Annabel's face lit up. "Oh, where do I even start? He was actually quite sweet as a child, believe it or not. Always protecting me from bullies at school, making sure I was included in games with his friends."
"Annabel," Nick warned, but his sister did not listen.
"And he was so serious, even as a kid. Dad used to joke that Nick was born wearing a tiny business suit." Annabel laughed at the memory, her eyes glistening slightly. "After Dad got sick, Nick just. grew up even faster. Took on so much responsibility. Sometimes I worry he forgot how to just be happy."
The room was quiet, heavy with unspoken grief. Ruby watched Nick's profile, the tautness around his eyes, the set of his jaw. She was suddenly struck by how much she didn't know about him, about his life, about what shaped him into the guarded man sitting next to her.
"Anyway," Annabel said, the cheer in her voice returning, "I'm just so happy he has you now, Ruby. He needs someone who won't let him hide behind those walls he's built."
Ruby shifted uncomfortably. If only Annabel knew the truth about their arrangement. But something in the genuine happiness on the other woman's face made Ruby not want to take that illusion away from her.
They had finished the tea and talked for some chit chat while afterward. Nick's phone suddenly rang. He looked on the screen and frowned.
"I need to take this. Work issue," he said apologetically, rising. "Annabel, can I use your office?
"Of course, you know where it is."
When Nick exited the room, Annabel immediately turned to Ruby with barely contained excitement, scooting to the edge of her chair.
"Okay, he's gone. Now we can really talk!"
Ruby laughed nervously. "What do you mean?"
"Girl talk! I have been dying to get you alone since the wedding, and I want to know everything about you!" Annabel was infectious with her enthusiasm, and Ruby found herself relaxing despite the wariness at the beginning.
"There's not much to tell," Ruby began, but Annabel waved her hand in dismissal.
"Nonsense. First, I want to know how you really feel about my brother. And don't give me that 'he's fair' nonsense. I saw the way you were looking at him in the hospital-oh yes, I called while you were there and the nurse gave me all the details."
Ruby felt the heat rise to her cheeks. "I wasn't looking at him any particular way."
"You were looking at him like you were worried. Like you cared." Annabel leaned forward, softening her expression. "It's okay, you know. To care about him."
"Complicated," Ruby said carefully, echoing Nick's words from earlier.
"Honey, all the best relationships are complicated." Annabel settled back in her chair, tucking her legs underneath her. "Look, I don't know all the details of how you two got together, and honestly, I don't need to. What I do know is that you're the first woman Nick has shown any interest since a very long time".
Annabel couldn't tell Ruby she was the one that set the contract marriage and also about Lexie_Nick's ex-wife.
"Annabel," Ruby said carefully, "I think you might be expecting more from this marriage than—
"Than what? Than realistic?" Annabel smiled knowingly. "Maybe. But I've always been an optimist. And I have a good feeling about you two."
Before Ruby could protest further, Annabel changed the topic. "So tell me about your family. Do you have siblings?
Ruby's chest tightened. "I have a younger sister. Mia."
"How nice! Does she happen to be in town? I'd love to meet her."
"She's. she's sick right now. In treatment." Ruby's voice caught slightly, and Annabel's face immediately filled with concern.
"Oh, Ruby, I'm so sorry. Is it serious?"
"Very. She has a rare disease. The treatment is expensive and intense, but she's fighting." Ruby blinked back the tears that suddenly threatened. She never cried about Mia in front of people. She had to be strong.
But Annabel reached over and squeezed her hand, her grip warm and comforting. "She's lucky to have you. I can tell you're the kind of sister who would do anything for her family."
"I would," Ruby whispered, and in that moment, she knew just how much she'd sacrificed for Mia. Her pride, her independence, her dreams of finding real love someday. All of it seemed like a small price to pay for her sister's life.
"Does Nick know about your sister's condition?" Annabel inquired sofly.
"I'm going to let him know soon".
Ruby had no idea if Nick cared one way or the other, but she said nothing. Instead, she felt herself beginning to open up to Annabel in ways she hadn't with anyone other than Bella in a very long time. They talked about Mia's treatments, about Ruby's fears and hopes, about the weight of responsibility Ruby carried.
Then Annabel changed the subject. "So, you and Nick have talked about the future at all? Kids, maybe?
Ruby almost choked on her tea. "Kids? We've barely been married a month!"
"I know, I know, I'm getting ahead of myself. It's just. Nick would be an amazing father, you know. He practically raised me after Mom died and Dad got sick. He was only sixteen, but he stepped up. Made sure I did my homework, came to all my school events, taught me how to drive." Annabel's voice grew thick with emotion. "He sacrificed so much of his youth to take care of me and the family business. I just want him to have a chance to build his own family, to be happy."
Ruby's heart ached at the picture Annabel was painting. A teenage Nick, taking on adult responsibilities, putting everyone else's needs before his own. No wonder he'd grown into such a controlled, guarded man. He'd had to be.