Chapter 24 Dance with me
CHAPTER 24
Dance with me
People noticed the handholding, the shift in Leo’s expression sharper now, protective, dangerous.
People noticed Ruby’s pale cheeks, her shaken breath.
Whispers sparked like wildfire.
“Is she crying?”
“What happened?”
“He looks furious.”
“Did someone upset her?”
A few bold onlookers tried to approach, but Leo’s glare sent them stepping back quickly.
He brought Ruby to a quiet section near the corner, away from the crowd but still within sight of the main area. A waiter passed with a tray. Leo took a glass of water and handed it to Ruby.
“Drink...Slowly.”
She obeyed with trembling hands.
“You’re safe,” Leo murmured again, watching her closely. “I’m not letting him near you.”
Ruby blinked rapidly, fighting the urge to cry all over again. Her voice was a whisper. “I didn’t want to cause trouble…”
“You didn’t,” Leo said sharply. “He did.”
Ruby looked down, gripping the glass. “He said things… I didn’t like it.”
Leo’s jaw tightened. “Tell me.”
“He… he asked what I was to you,” she whispered. “He said you had weaknesses. That I looked like one of them.”
Anger flickered across Leo’s face — quick, raw, barely restrained.
“He cornered you,” Leo said, rage low beneath his breath. “He tried to intimidate you.”
Ruby nodded shakily.
Leo exhaled through his nose, fighting for control. “I swear to you — he will never have that chance again.”
Before Ruby could respond, a familiar voice called across the room —
“Leo! Ruby!”
It was Leo’s father.
Ruby stiffened instinctively, but Leo squeezed her hand, silently reassuring her. They walked together toward the older man.
Mr. Carter saw Ruby’s shaken expression immediately.
“What happened?” he asked gently.
Ruby opened her mouth, but Leo stepped forward.
“Trent.”
That one word made the father’s expression harden instantly.
“Where?” Mr. Carter asked.
“The east hallway,” Leo replied.
Mr. Carter swore under his breath, eyes darkening. “Of course he would ruin a night he wasn’t even invited to.”
Ruby blinked. “He wasn’t… invited?”
Leo shook his head. “He wasn’t supposed to be here. He forced his way in.”
A wave of nausea rolled through Ruby. So Trent had come for one reason to find Leo, or to hurt Leo through her.
Mr. Carter softened when he saw her tightening her fingers around Leo’s hand.
“My dear, I’m so sorry you had to encounter him,” he said quietly. “Trent is… complicated, dangerous in the wrong moments.”
“She’s fine now,” Leo cut in, pulling Ruby closer.
Mr. Carter nodded. “I trust you’ll keep her safe, son.”
Leo’s grip around Ruby’s waist tightened. “Always.”
The older man gave Ruby one last gentle smile. “If you need anything, you come to me. Even if it’s the middle of the party.”
Ruby nodded, touched by the warmth in his voice.
After they left, Leo guided Ruby to a private table near the corner where the lights were softer.
“You want to leave?” he asked quietly.
Ruby shook her head, looking down. “It’s your stepmother’s birthday. I don’t want to ruin it.”
His brows furrowed. “Ruby. You’re not ruining anything. If you want to go, we go.”
Her heart squeezed painfully at how serious and genuine he sounded.
“No,” she whispered. “I’m okay. I’ll stay… with you.”
Leo’s eyes softened — barely, but enough for Ruby to feel it.
“Then I’m not letting you out of my sight again,” he said firmly.
He kept his promise.
Throughout the next hour, Ruby barely took a step without Leo guiding her with a hand on her back or fingers laced with hers. Every CEO who came to greet them received the same icy warning in Leo’s eyes — don’t touch her, don’t overwhelm her, don’t stare too long.
Whenever a stranger approached too quickly, Leo shifted his body in front of Ruby, shielding her from view without even thinking.
Whenever someone asked too personal a question, Leo’s hand tightened around hers and the conversation ended.
Even the guests began to notice.
“He’s protective,” someone whispered.
“He’s never been like this before.”
“He won’t even look away from her.”
“Whoever she is—she’s important.”
Ruby felt overwhelmed, but this time… overwhelmed in a different way.
Leo leaned down occasionally to check on her quietly.
“Do you need water?”
“Are your shoes okay?”
“Too loud?”
“Do you want to sit?”
It was strange how someone so intimidating could be so gentle with her alone.
At some point the lights dimmed and soft music filled the ballroom for slow dancing. Couples drifted onto the dance floor.
Ruby’s heart hammered.
Leo looked at her.
“Do you want to dance?” he asked quietly.
Ruby’s breath caught. “I… I’ve never…”
Leo stepped closer, voice a whisper. “I’ll guide you.”
She swallowed and softly placed her hand in his.
He led her to the center of the dance floor, wrapped one hand around her waist, and held her other hand gently in his. Ruby felt warmth flood through her entire body. She rested her other hand lightly on his chest — feeling his heartbeat under her palm.
He moved slowly, carefully, leading her with a steadiness she didn’t know she could rely on so completely.
Her eyes lifted to his.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“For what?” he murmured.
“For… finding me earlier. For not letting him…” Her voice broke.
Leo’s jaw tightened. “Ruby, listen to me.” He paused mid step. “As long as you’re with me, no one touches you, no one scares you. Not even my damn brother.”
Ruby blinked tears away. “Why do you care so much?”
Leo held her closer. “Because you’re mine to protect tonight.”
Something warm exploded inside her chest.
The world blurred as whispers faded and the lights dimmed until there was only him.
But the moment of peace ended when Leo caught sight of someone over her shoulder — his stepmother entering the ballroom with her sharp eyes and sharper smile.
Leo’s hand around Ruby’s waist tightened again.
“Stay close,” he murmured.
Ruby knew…
The night was far from over.