Chapter 41 The first day
CHAPTER 41
The first day
The next morning sunlight slowly spilled through the tall windows of the Carter mansion, casting soft golden light across the quiet halls. The house staff had already begun their morning routines, but upstairs, the atmosphere felt different. There was a subtle excitement in the air. Today was Ruby’s first day at culinary school.
Leo had been awake for almost an hour already. He stood inside the garage beside his sleek black car, dressed sharply in a charcoal suit, his tie perfectly knotted and his expression calm but focused. One hand rested in his pocket while the other checked the time on his watch again.
She was taking longer than he expected.
But he knew why, she has too look good. It was her first day, after all.
Upstairs, Ruby was standing in front of her mirror, adjusting the sleeves of a simple cream blouse she had paired with dark jeans. Her long hair fell softly over her shoulders, and her cheeks carried a faint blush of nervous excitement.
On the bed beside her sat a brand-new chef’s knife set Leo had insisted she take with her.
She smiled slightly, remembering how serious he had looked while presenting it to her earlier that morning at breakfast.
“Every chef needs proper tools,” he had said.
Ruby grabbed her bag, slipped the knife kit carefully inside, and took one final look at herself in the mirror.
“You can do this,” she whispered.
Then she hurried downstairs.
Outside, Leo leaned casually against the car when he saw her walking toward the garage. For a moment he simply watched her approach. There was something about the way she carried herself this morning, excited but nervous that softened his usually composed expression.
Ruby stopped in front of him.
“Sorry I’m late,” she said with a sheepish smile.
Leo raised an eyebrow. “You’re twenty minutes late.”
Her eyes widened. “Twenty minutes?”
He paused… then the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
“I was joking.”
Ruby stared at him, then lightly hit his arm. “That’s not funny. I thought I was already ruining my first day.”
He opened the passenger door for her. “Relax. No one ruins their first day by being ten minutes slow.”
She climbed into the car, still shaking her head at him. Leo walked around to the driver’s seat and started the engine. The garage door slowly lifted, letting the morning sun pour in as the car rolled out of the mansion driveway. The ride through the city was calm.
Ruby spent most of the drive looking out the window, watching people moving through their morning routines. Cafes opening. Street vendors arranging their goods. The smell of fresh bread drifting through open bakery doors. It made her heart beat faster.
Leo noticed the way her eyes lit up at every restaurant they passed.
“You’re excited,” he said.
She turned toward him immediately. “I am.”
He glanced at her briefly before returning his focus to the road. “Good.”
After a short pause, Ruby asked, “Are you nervous?”
Leo frowned slightly. “Why would I be nervous?”
She smiled teasingly. “Because you’re dropping me off somewhere without you around to supervise.”
He gave her a sideways look.
“You think I will want to supervise you?”
“You give very detailed instructions,” she replied.
That earned a quiet chuckle from him.
Soon the car pulled up in front of the culinary institute, it was a modern building with large glass windows and a polished steel sign that read Ashwood Culinary Academy.
Ruby stared at it in awe.
“This is really happening,” she whispered.
Leo parked the car and stepped out first, walking around to open her door. When she stepped out, she looked both thrilled and slightly overwhelmed.
Students were already entering the building, many dressed in white chef coats, chatting excitedly.
Leo noticed her nervous shift beside him.
“Hey,” he said quietly.
She looked up.
“You belong here.”
That simple sentence steadied her.
They walked inside together holding hands, the scent of herbs, fresh bread, and spices filling the air. The sound of clattering utensils and distant laughter echoed from the kitchens.
At the front office, a tall man in his mid-forties approached them with a welcoming smile.
“Mr. Carter,” he greeted.
Leo nodded slightly.
“Good morning, Chef Adrian.”
Chef Adrian turned to Ruby warmly. “And you must be Ruby.”
Ruby smiled politely. “Yes, sir.”
The instructor extended his hand. “I’ll be guiding you through the beginner professional program.”
Leo shook the man’s hand firmly, his expression seriou
.
“I trust you’ll take good care of her,” Leo said
Chef Adrian chuckled lightly. “Of course. All our students receive the best training.”
Leo’s gaze sharpened slightly. “She’s not just any student.”
Ruby blinked in embarrassment.
“Leo—”
But he continued calmly. “I want her pushed to be the best. Proper techniques, discipline and no shortcuts.”
Chef Adrian nodded, amused but respectful. “That’s exactly how we train our chefs.”
Leo looked at him for another moment before giving a small approving nod.
“Good.”
Ruby leaned closer to Leo and whispered, “You’re interviewing him like he’s applying for a job.”
Leo replied quietly, “I just want to make sure they know you’re serious.”
“Well, Miss Ruby, we’ll start with kitchen safety and knife techniques today.”
Ruby’s eyes brightened immediately. “That sounds amazing.”
Leo noticed the excitement and felt that familiar warmth in his chest again.
She truly loved this.
Chef Adrian gestured toward the training kitchens.
“Your class is gathering already.”
Ruby looked between the instructor and Leo, suddenly unsure again.
Leo noticed.
He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
“You’ll do fine.”
She nodded slowly.
Before she walked away, he added one more thing.
“When your classes finish, call me.”
Ruby looked back at him.
“Immediately?”
“Yes.”
She smiled playfully. “You’re still supervising.”
“I prefer the word checking in.”
She laughed softly.
“Alright. I’ll call you.”
Chef Adrian waited patiently as Ruby gave Leo one last grateful look before following the instructor toward the training kitchens.
Leo stayed where he was for a moment, watching her disappear through the double doors.
He could already imagine her inside wide-eyed, curious, eager to learn. A small smile crossed his face before he turned and walked back outside.
His phone buzzed in his pocket as he reached the car, messages from his office reminding him of the morning meeting he needed to attend. Work was waiting.
Leo got into the driver’s seat and started the engine. As he pulled away from the academy, he glanced once at the building in the rearview mirror.
“Make the most of it,” he murmured to himself.
Then he drove toward the Carter Corporation headquarters, his mind shifting back into the sharp focus required for business.