Chapter 44 Who's he
CHAPTER 44
Who's he.
“Ruby!”
Ruby turned and smiled as Jane hurried toward her, her ponytail bouncing behind her.
“Hey,” Ruby said, adjusting the strap of her bag.
Jane leaned against the table with an exaggerated sigh. “Finally, class is over. If I had to listen to Chef Martin talk about sauce balance for another ten minutes, I might have fainted.”
Ruby laughed softly. “You say that every time.”
“And every time I mean it.”
They walked out of the classroom together, joining the stream of students heading toward the courtyard.
Jane nudged Ruby playfully. “So… Do you have plans, or are you free to hang out for a bit?”
Ruby hesitated for a moment. She usually went straight home after class, especially because Leo preferred it that way. But the afternoon was still young, and honestly, she had enjoyed spending time with Jane lately.
“I can stay for a little while,” Ruby said.
Jane’s face lit up immediately. “Perfect! I want you to meet someone.”
“Someone?”
“My friend Victor. He studies hospitality management in the next building. We usually grab something at the cafe after classes.”
Ruby nodded slowly. “Okay.”
They walked across campus toward the small cafe located near the student gardens. The place was lively, filled with students chatting, sipping coffee, and laughing.
The smell of baked bread and roasted coffee beans filled the air.
Jane spotted someone sitting at a corner table and waved enthusiastically, with a smile written all over her face.
“Victor!”
A tall young man looked up from his phone. He had dark hair, sharp features, and a relaxed confidence about him. When he saw Jane approaching, he stood up.
“Finally,” he said. “I thought you ditched me.”
Jane rolled her eyes. “Please. I brought someone.”
She turned to Ruby.
“Victor, this is Ruby. My new friend from culinary class.”
Victor’s eyes shifted to Ruby, and for a brief second, he seemed genuinely surprised.
“Well,” he said with a slow smile, “Jane never mentioned she was bringing someone this beautiful.”
Ruby blinked, slightly caught off guard.
Jane groaned dramatically. “Victor, behave.”
But Victor extended his hand toward Ruby.
“Nice to meet you, Ruby.”
Ruby shook his hand politely. “Nice to meet you too.”
They sat down together, and Jane immediately started talking about class.
“You should have seen Ruby today,” Jane said. “Her pasta dish was perfect. Even Chef Martin and Adrian complimented her.”
Victor raised an eyebrow. “Impressive.”
Ruby shook her head shyly. “It wasn’t perfect.”
“Jane doesn’t exaggerate,” Victor said, studying her curiously. “So you’re the talented one she keeps mentioning.”
Ruby smiled faintly but looked down at the menu. A waiter came to take their orders, and they decided on sandwiches, fries, and drinks.
While they waited, Jane told stories about embarrassing kitchen moments, making both Ruby and Victor laugh. Ruby felt comfortable.
It was nice, sitting there like a normal student, talking and laughing without any pressure.
She pulled out her phone and typed a quick message.
Classes are over. I’m at the campus cafe with Jane. Can you come pick me up later? She sent it to Leo.
Victor noticed her texting and smirked. “Boyfriend?”
Ruby hesitated. “Something like that,” she said carefully.
Victor leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. “Lucky guy.”
Jane kicked him lightly under the table. “Victor!”
“What?” he said innocently. “I’m just stating facts.”
Ruby chuckled softly, shaking her head.
Their food arrived shortly after, and they began eating while continuing their conversation.
Victor turned facing Ruby. “So what made you choose culinary school?” he asked.
Ruby thought about it for a moment. “I like cooking,” she said simply. “It makes people happy.”
Victor nodded slowly. “That’s a good reason.” He took a sip of his drink before adding casually, “You don’t look like someone who spends all day in a kitchen though.”
Jane frowned. “What does that mean?”
Victor shrugged. “She looks more like… I don’t know… someone from a rich family.”
Ruby laughed lightly. “You’re wrong.”
“Am I?”
He leaned slightly closer.
“So what do you do outside of class?”
Ruby hesitated again, unsure how to answer without revealing too much about her complicated life with Leo.
“I just… go home,” she said.
Victor smiled teasingly. “That sounds boring.”
Jane laughed. She’s not boring, she’s just mysterious.”
Victor pointed at Ruby dramatically. “You're mysterious”.
Ruby rolled her eyes playfully.
“You two are exaggerating.”
Victor leaned forward again, resting his elbows on the table. “Well,” he said, his voice lowering slightly, “mysterious girls are the most interesting.”
Ruby raised an eyebrow. “Are you always this dramatic?”
Jane burst into laughter. “Yes,” she said immediately.
Victor placed a hand over his chest in mock offense. “I prefer the word charming.”
Ruby smiled despite herself.
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Outside the cafe, a sleek black car had just pulled into the parking lot. Inside the car, Leo sat silently behind the wheel. His sharp eyes scanned the cafe windows. He had arrived earlier than expected. And then he saw her.
She was sitting at a table with Jane… and another man.
Leo’s jaw tightened.
From where he sat, he could clearly see Victor leaning toward Ruby, talking and smiling. Ruby laughed at something he said. Leo’s fingers tightened slightly around his phone. He didn’t like it.
, he watched again and victor was still talking.
“You know,” he said casually, “we should hang out again sometime. Maybe just the two of us.”
Jane groaned immediately. “Victor!”
“What?” he said with a grin. “I’m just suggesting.”
Ruby opened her mouth to respond—
But her phone buzzed, she looked down immediately……I’m outside, This was the message from Leo.
Ruby immediately stood up. “Oh—I have to go.”
Jane blinked. “Already?”
“My ride is here.” Ruby said.
Victor tilted his head slightly. “Ride?”
Ruby grabbed her bag quickly. “Yeah.”
Jane smiled. “Okay, text me when you get home.”
“I will.”
Victor stood as well. “It was nice meeting you, Ruby.”
“You too,” she said politely.
She hurried toward the cafe entrance.
Victor watched her leave with a thoughtful expression.
Outside, Ruby spotted Leo’s car immediately. She walked over and opened the passenger door. The moment she sat down, Leo glanced at her.
“Done already?” Ruby nodded, fastening her seatbelt.
“Yes.” Leo started the engine.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then Leo said casually, “So…”
Ruby looked at him. “So what?”
Leo smirked slightly. “Who was he?”
Ruby blinked. “Who?”