Chapter 278 Protect Her

Chapter 278 Protect Her
Nathan's POV

I was handling business affairs. The company had been swamped lately, so I often had to work late into the night.

Someone was knocking at the door.

"Come in."

I thought it was one of the household staff bringing tea or snacks. But when I saw who it was, I froze for a moment, then quickly stood up and walked to the door.

Ruby stood in the doorway, wearing only a white lace cami nightgown. Large expanses of smooth, luminous skin were almost blinding in the soft lamplight. The delicate fabric clung to her curves, leaving very little to the imagination, and the soft swells of her chest were unmistakably visible through the sheer material.

My eyes immediately darted away. I didn't dare let my gaze wander. I quickly shrugged off my cardigan and draped it over Ruby's shoulders, covering up all that exposed skin.

"What are you doing here?" My voice came out rougher than I intended, a bit unsteady. "And why are you dressed like that?"

Ruby pulled the cardigan tighter around herself, looking up at me with those big, innocent eyes. She lifted the delicate china plate in her hands, a bright smile spreading across her face. "I was worried you'd be hungry working so late, so I brought you some fruit. I know how you forget to eat when you're busy."

I gently guided Ruby to sit down on the leather sofa in the corner of the study.

Taking the fruit plate from her hands, I picked up the small silver fork and speared a piece of honeycrisp apple.

I smiled despite myself. "It's really sweet. Thank you for thinking of me."

Ruby's smile grew even brighter, her eyes lighting up with genuine pleasure. "I'm glad you like it."

She shifted closer on the sofa, and I caught a whiff of her jasmine perfume—light, but intoxicating.

Then she grabbed my hand, her fingers soft and warm against mine, her voice turning playful and sweet. "Nathan, could you do me a favor? Could you talk to Grandpa and ask him to give me a position at the company? I really want to work there."

My smile faded instantly. I carefully set down the fork, my jaw tightening as I tried to find the right words.

After a long moment, I looked up and met Ruby's hopeful gaze. "Ruby, can you please stop competing with Vera? You can't win against her. And honestly, you shouldn't have to. I promise you, as long as I'm alive, I'll make sure you're taken care of. You'll live comfortably and luxuriously. You don't need to fight for a position you don't even want."

"No!" Ruby's response was immediate and sharp. She stood up abruptly, my cardigan slipping slightly off one shoulder. Her face had gone cold, all that earlier warmth vanishing in an instant. "Nathan, don't you want to help me? Is that it?"

"Ruby, wait—" Seeing the anger and hurt flash across her face, I quickly stood up too, my hands reaching out instinctively. "It's not that I don't want to help you. I just don't want to see you get hurt again. You have no idea how ruthless Vera can be when she wants something."

Ruby's eyes were glistening now, filling with unshed tears. She grabbed both my hands tightly, her voice breaking. "Nathan, please, just help me, okay? I need this. I need to prove I'm worth something."

The desperation in her voice hit me hard.

I understood, maybe better than anyone, what Ruby was going through. She used to be the center of attention everywhere she went, both at home and in public. The beloved Grant family heiress, admired and envied in equal measure.

Now that she'd lost that status, that identity she'd built her whole life around, and had suffered so many public humiliations because of Vera, it was only natural she'd feel the loss acutely. The fall from grace must have been devastating.

It was understandable that she wanted to fight back, to prove herself, to reclaim some sense of worth and purpose.

Besides, if I was there to watch over her at the company, Ruby shouldn't get seriously hurt or taken advantage of, right? I could protect her, keep her safe while she found her footing.

With that rationalization firmly in place, I made up my mind.

"Alright." I squeezed her hands reassuringly. "I'll talk to Grandfather tomorrow morning and ask him to let you work as my assistant in the executive office. That way I can keep an eye on you and make sure everything goes smoothly."

Only then did Ruby's face transform, breaking into a brilliant smile. "Thank you, Nathan. Thank you so much. You're the best, you know that?"

Before I could respond, she threw her arms around me in an enthusiastic hug.

The sudden contact caught me completely off guard. I felt the soft pressure of her body against my chest, felt the warmth of her through the thin fabric of her nightgown and my dress shirt.

My whole body went rigid, every muscle locking up. My blood pressure spiked, my heart hammering against my ribs, and I could feel my ears burning red hot.

Ruby let go. She stepped back, adjusting my cardigan around her shoulders, still smiling. "I'm going back to my room now, Nathan. Don't work too hard, okay? You need to take care of yourself too."

"Yeah," I managed to get out, my voice hoarse. "Goodnight, Ruby."