Chapter 29 CANDLELIGHT

Chapter 29 CANDLELIGHT
The door creaked open, spilling warm lights into the dim hallway. Ruby’s steps faltered the moment she crossed into the living room.

Her breath hitched, chest tightening as she froze mid-step, her wide eyes darting to the elegantly set dining table ahead. Candlelight flickered with soft lights and dancing shadows across the room. Her pulse quickened, and she turned back to the man lingering in the doorway behind her.

Leslie stood there with his hands buried deep in his coat pockets. His face was closed off and almost blank, save for the faintest flicker of something she couldn’t quite place.

"Have dinner with me," he said, his tone clipped, almost mechanical.

Ruby blinked, her mind racing as her heart thundered in her chest. She swallowed hard, her thoughts tangling in knots. He knows. He must know about Anna and her mother.

Even the thought sent ice trickling through her veins. But then, as she met his gaze, something else crept in like satisfaction. His expression didn’t betray anything. Not yet. If he knew, he’d have said something, wouldn’t he?

"Is this for me?" she asked.

Her gaze shifted to the table, where the carefully arranged plates, glimmering silverware, and the faint aroma of her favourite dish wafted through the air.

"You prepared this… for me?"

Leslie moved then. His dark eyes caught hers for a moment, searching, before he breezed past her without a word. He stopped near the table with his hands now resting loosely at his sides.

"Loy prepared this," he said finally, the words rolling off his tongue with a certain indifference. "I paid. The idea was mine." He glanced back at her, one brow arched slightly. "Won't you come in? I had the best chef prepare your favourite dish. Eat, and I’ll drop you home once you’re done."

The room fell silent stretching hard between them. Ruby’s breath hitched again, coming out faster now, no matter how hard she tried to steady herself. Her chest rose and fell visibly, betraying the calm facade she was desperately trying to cling to.

Leslie’s voice broke the silence, softer this time.
"Is work that stressful?" he asked, his head tilting just slightly as he studied her. "I hate to see you look so tired." His voice cracked, just enough to sound raw. "Why don’t you take the trip as a vacation?"

Ruby stared at him, her lips parting slightly, but no words came. She could only watch him, noticing how his shoulders sagged ever so slightly, and how his dark lashes framed eyes that seemed to soften as they held hers.

There was something guttural in his voice and ragged that tugged at her. Her heart stumbled over itself.

Does he mean it? she wondered. Does he care? Or am I just reading too much into this?

It wasn’t supposed to feel like this. It was supposed to be transactional. That’s all.

"Thank you," she murmured, her voice trembling. "But… are you even allowed to do this?"

Leslie let out a short and hollow laugh. "It’s just dinner, Ruby. Sit." He gestured to the table, his expression went cold again, though something flickered in his eyes, but gone before she could grasp it.

Ruby took a hesitant step forward, then another. Her gaze flickered to the table again, to the perfect candles, the white napkins folded just so.

Leslie moved behind her, pulling out a chair. She hesitated before finally lowering herself into the seat.

He stood over her for a moment longer, his brows raised slightly, though she wasn’t sure what. When he turned away, she exhaled shakily, realising only then how tightly she’d been holding her breath.

Dinner. Car ride. Leslie.

Everything about tonight felt unreal. Yet, she needed it after a horrible day.

The car pulled up in front of her small yard. Ruby sat stiffly in the passenger seat, her hands gripping her purse in her lap.

She hadn’t spoken a word the entire drive, too busy stealing glances at Leslie. He kept his eyes on the road and his grip on the steering wheel firm.

When the car stopped, Ruby turned to him, her voice hesitant. "Do you… Want to come inside?"

Leslie scoffed softly, his lips curling into a faint smirk. "Are you willing to let everyone know about us?"

The words struck her like a slap and her gaze dropped to her lap. "What? Oh…" she stammered, swallowing hard. She could feel the heat rising to her cheeks. "I didn’t mean—"

"I guess not," Leslie interrupted.

"No, that’s not it," Ruby said quickly, her voice faltering. "I mean… our relationship is... There’s no need for that."

Leslie’s expression remained impassive, but his eyes darkened. "No need for what, darling?" he asked, his voice almost mocking.

Ruby hesitated, her lips curving into a faint, fleeting smile before she looked away. "I don’t know… letting everyone know? I think it’s unnecessary," she said quietly. "Since what we have is transactional."

Her voice cracked on the last word, and she bit her lip, willing herself to stay composed. She waited, her heart hammering in her chest. Waited for him to say something, to deny it, to tell her it wasn’t transactional. That it was more.

But the silence stretched on, heavy and suffocating. All he gave her was a dry, humourless smile as he turned his gaze away.

Ruby reached for the door handle, but before she could open it, his hand shot out, gripping hers firmly. The touch jolted her, sending a shiver down her spine.

"Fly with me tomorrow," he said, steady.

Her heart skipped, then raced, as if trying to break free of her chest.

"What?" she whispered.

"I know you think it’s silly," Leslie began, his tone softening, almost pleading. "But—"

"Because it is," Ruby cut him off, shaking her head. "Leslie, I can’t just fly off with you. I’m the head coordinator. What are people going to say?"

He sighed, his shoulders slumping. "You can make an excuse," he said quietly. "Tell the school—"

"No," Ruby snapped, her voice rising. "Leslie, this is insane. I—no. It’s not happening, okay? Just because we’re… seeing each other doesn’t mean you can have me at every given time."

His hand fell away from hers, the absence of his touch leaving her cold. "Fine," he said, his tone laced with disappointment. "Goodnight.