Ruby dropped her bag onto the floor and collapsed onto the couch with a tired sigh. Filming days were exhausting, and today had been especially long.
She curled into the corner of the couch, one leg tucked beneath her while the other stretched lazily across the cushions. A tub of chocolate ice cream rested in her lap as she dug her spoon into it like she had been waiting for this moment all day.
Across from her, Maya had completely taken over the other end of the couch. She lay sprawled sideways, one leg hanging off the edge while she scrolled through her phone.
Her honey-blonde hair fell neatly past her shoulders, and the small silver piercings along her ear caught the glow from the television.
The TV played quietly in the background.
"Wait," Maya suddenly said, lifting her head.
Ruby frowned and grabbed the remote.
"What is it?"
"Turn that up."
Ruby pressed the volume button.
The news anchor appeared on screen with a bright smile.
"Breaking entertainment news tonight. Producer Rowan Chase has confirmed something fans have been waiting years for."
Ruby barely paid attention, scooping another bite of ice cream.
Then the reporter said—
"Rubrian is back."
Ruby froze.
The anchor continued.
"Actors Ruby Alexandra Knox and Adrian Blake will reunite for Rowan Chase's upcoming film, bringing Hollywood's most talked-about on-screen duo back together."
The spoon slipped from Ruby's fingers and dropped back into the ice cream.
"…What?"
Maya slowly turned toward the television.
Then toward Ruby.
"Oh wow."
Ruby stood up so suddenly the ice cream nearly tipped over.
"No."
Maya blinked.
"No… what?"
Ruby pointed the remote at the television like it had personally insulted her.
"No. Absolutely not."
Maya glanced back at the screen and then at Ruby again. A slow grin spread across her face.
"Oh my God," she said. "You're acting with Adrian again."
"I am not acting with Adrian again."
"The news seems pretty confident about it."
Ruby grabbed her phone from the coffee table. The screen lit up in her hand.
Rowan Chase
Her eyes narrowed.
"Oh, he is so dead."
Maya watched her with amusement.
"You know what I've always wondered?"
Ruby glanced up.
"What?"
"Why do you hate Adrian so much anyway?"
Ruby rolled her eyes.
"Because he's arrogant, annoying, and thinks he's better than everyone."
Maya shrugged.
"That's not the worst crime."
Ruby pointed her spoon at her.
"He never stops teasing me."
"Sounds like he enjoys it."
"He absolutely does."
Ruby glanced back at the TV.
The headline still flashed across the screen.
RUBRIAN IS BACK
Her jaw tightened.
She tapped Rowan's contact.
The phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
Then Rowan answered.
"Ruby! I was wondering when—"
"ROWAN CHASE."
There was a pause.
"…Yes?"
Ruby started pacing across the living room.
"What in the world did you just announce on national television?!"
"Oh," Rowan said calmly. "You saw that already."
"I DID NOT AGREE TO THIS MOVIE!"
"You said you'd think about it."
"I SAID I'D THINK ABOUT IT," Ruby snapped, "NOT ANNOUNCE IT TO THE ENTIRE PLANET!"
Maya was trying very hard not to laugh.
Ruby continued pacing.
"You went on television and told the world Rubrian is back!"
"Well," Rowan replied casually, "it has a nice ring to it."
Ruby stopped walking.
"Rowan."
"Yes?"
"I swear if you don't fix this right now—"
"You're overreacting."
"OVERREACTING?!"
Ruby ran a hand through her hair.
"I never agreed to this!"
Rowan sighed.
"You'll survive."
Ruby opened her mouth.
"Rowan—"
Click.
Ruby froze.
Slowly she lowered the phone from her ear.
She stared at the screen.
"…He didn't."
Maya leaned forward.
"Did he just hang up on you?"
Ruby blinked.
"He hung up on me."
For a moment the room was silent.
Then Maya burst out laughing.
Ruby collapsed back onto the couch in disbelief.
"He hung up while I was talking to him."
Maya wiped tears from her eyes.
"Oh wow. That's cold."
Ruby stared at the ceiling, still holding her phone.
Then she shook her head firmly.
"No."
Maya raised an eyebrow.
"No what?"
Ruby sat up, determination flashing across her face.
"This isn't going to happen."
She pointed toward the TV.
"I am not doing this movie."
Maya leaned back comfortably.
"Sure," she said. "Let's see how that goes."
Ruby groaned and dropped back against the couch.
Because the truth was…
this entire disaster had started two days earlier.
Two Days Earlier
Ruby was answering emails from her agent when her phone rang.
She glanced at the screen and smiled.
Rowan Chase.
"Hey Rowan," she answered.
"Ruby!" Rowan's cheerful voice came through the phone. "Dinner at my place tonight?"
Ruby leaned back in her chair.
"Ah… I'd love to, but I think I have something tonight."
Rowan chuckled.
"You sure you want to miss it? My wife's making her famous creamy chicken pot pie."
Ruby's eyes lit up immediately.
"Wait," she said quickly. "What time again?"
Rowan laughed.
"Thought so. Eight thirty."
Ruby smiled.
"Alright. You just made my evening."
That evening Ruby arrived at Rowan's house.
The smell of food filled the air the moment she stepped inside.
"Ruby!" Rowan greeted warmly.
Ruby hugged him.
"I came for the food."
Rowan laughed.
"I knew it."
He gestured toward the dining room.
"Everyone's already here."
Ruby walked toward the dining room.
Then she stopped.
Adrian Blake was sitting at the table.
Leaning back in his chair like he owned the place.
Their eyes met.
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
"Well," he said lazily.
"If it isn't my favorite person."
Ruby slowly turned toward Rowan.
"You invited him?"
Rowan smiled innocently.
"What? I like having both my favorite actors in the same room."
Adrian smirked.
"Don't worry. I'm not thrilled either."
Ruby crossed her arms.
"Trust me. The feeling is mutual."
Rowan clapped his hands once.
"Alright, children. Sit down."
Ruby reluctantly took the seat across from Adrian.
And just like that—
the disaster had officially begun.
Ruby reluctantly took the seat across from Adrian.
And just like that—
the disaster had officially begun.
Dinner started normally enough. Plates were passed around the table, Rowan's wife chatted happily, and the smell of the creamy chicken pot pie filled the room.
Ruby focused very hard on her food.
Which mostly meant avoiding Adrian's face.
Unfortunately, Adrian clearly did not share that goal.
"So," he said casually, leaning back in his chair, "how's life being everyone's favorite actress?"
Ruby didn't even look up.
"Wonderful," she replied sweetly. "How's life being everyone's least favorite co-star?"
Maya would've been proud of that one.
Adrian smirked.
Rowan sighed.
"Can we survive one dinner without you two trying to destroy each other?"
Ruby and Adrian answered at the same time.
"No."
Rowan rubbed his temples.
"Fantastic."
A few minutes later, once dinner plates were cleared, Rowan stood up and walked toward the living room.
"Alright," he said, clapping his hands once. "Business time."
Ruby narrowed her eyes.
"That sentence usually means trouble."
Rowan returned holding two scripts.
He dropped one in front of Ruby.
And the other in front of Adrian.
The moment Ruby saw the cover page, she frowned.
"Rowan…"
Adrian flipped his script open lazily.
"What is this?"
"My next film," Rowan said proudly. "And I want both of you as the leads."
Ruby didn't even finish reading the title.
"No."
Adrian closed the script and pushed it away.
"Absolutely not."
Rowan blinked.
"You didn't even read it."
"We don't need to," Ruby said calmly.
Adrian nodded.
"Exactly."
Rowan leaned against the table, watching them like a man who had expected this exact reaction.
"You two are impossible."
"Correct," Ruby said.
"Very," Adrian added.
Rowan crossed his arms.
"Do you know how many directors would beg to have you two in the same film again?"
Ruby groaned.
"Please don't say the thing."
Rowan ignored her.
"You might hate each other," he said, pointing between them, "but the camera loves you together."
Adrian scoffed.
"That sounds like a personal problem."
Ruby slid the script back toward Rowan.
"I'm not doing a movie with him."
Adrian leaned back in his chair.
"And I'm definitely not doing a movie with her."
Rowan looked between them.
"You're both being dramatic."
Ruby laughed.
"Dramatic? Rowan, I'd rather film a movie with a brick wall."
Adrian smirked.
"Same. At least the wall wouldn't talk."
Ruby shot him a glare.
"Oh please. Your ego alone takes up half the room."
Rowan suddenly grabbed the scripts again and placed them back in front of them.
"Just read it."
"No," Ruby said immediately.
"Nope," Adrian agreed.
Rowan leaned closer.
"It's a huge project."
Silence.
"Big budget."
Still silence.
"International release."
Ruby tapped the script with her finger.
"…I'll think about it."
Adrian shrugged.
"Same."
Rowan slowly smiled.
Because he knew something they didn't.
They thought they had time to decide.
But Rowan Chase had already made up his mind.
And two days later—
the entire world would hear the news.
Rubrian is back.