Chapter 93 I'd rather be here
CHAPTER 93
I'd rather be here.
The soft click of the door closing behind him marked the first real moment of quiet Leo had experienced since arriving at the conference.
His room was dimly lit, the city lights stretching beyond the glass walls, casting faint reflections across the polished floor. It was luxurious, calm, yet it didn’t feel like home.
Leo loosened his cuffs as he walked deeper into the room, his phone still propped up in his hand, the screen lit with Ruby’s face. She was lying on her side, relaxed, her hair falling softly around her shoulders as she looked at him.
“Are you finally free?” she asked, her voice gentle.
“For now,” Leo replied, exhaling slightly as he pulled off his jacket and tossed it onto the chair nearby.
Ruby smiled faintly. “You look exhausted.”
“I am,” he admitted, running a hand through his hair before walking toward the wardrobe. “Today was… too much.”
Ruby adjusted slightly on her end. “Then you should rest.”
Leo glanced at her through the screen, a faint softness touching his expression. “I am resting,” he said.
Ruby raised an eyebrow. “You call that resting?”
“I’m talking to you,” he replied simply. “That counts.”
Ruby let out a soft laugh. “You’re unbelievable.”
Leo smirked slightly, turning as he began unbuttoning his shirt, his attention shifting between what he was doing and her face on the screen.
For a moment everything felt calm again.
The door opened, without warning. Leo turned instantly, his expression hardening in a split second.
Kat stepped in quickly, tablet in hand, clearly mid-thought until she noticed he was on a call.
“Oh! Sorry sir” she bowed immediately.
Leo’s eyes darkened.
“Give me a second,” he said to Ruby, his tone controlled but firm.
Ruby nodded. “Okay.”
Leo lowered the phone slightly but didn’t hang up, his attention now fully on Kat.
“What is it?” he asked, his voice colder now.
Kat straightened slightly. “Sorry to interrupt,” she said quickly. “But there’s something important.”
Leo crossed his arms slightly, impatience evident. “It better be.”
Kat took a small breath. “The conference is hosting a night party for the shareholders,” she explained. “You’re expected to attend.”
Leo didn’t even think about it. “No.” The answer came instantly.
Kat blinked slightly. “Sir—”
“I said no,” Leo repeated.
“I’m tired,” he continued. “I need rest.”
Kat hesitated, clearly caught between professionalism and urgency.
“I understand,” she said carefully. “But this isn’t just any gathering. It’s important for networking, relationships and future deals.”
“I’ve done enough for today,” Leo cut in.
Kat pressed her lips together slightly, then tried again.
“We don’t have to stay long,” she said. “Just an appearance. Ten, fifteen minutes at most.”
Leo didn’t respond immediately.
He turned slightly away, his jaw tightening as he considered it, not because he wanted to go, but because he understood what it meant.
Still his answer didn’t change. “I’ll think about it,” he said.
It wasn't an agreement and it wasn’t a full refusal either. Kat caught that and she knew better than to push further.
“Alright,” she said. “I’ll make the arrangements just in case.”
Leo gave a faint nod. “Close the door when you leave.”
Kat didn’t say anything else. She turned and walked out quietly, the door clicking shut behind her.
The room fell silent again. Leo stood still for a moment, exhaling slowly as the tension from the interruption lingered briefly.
Then he picked up his phone again, Ruby was still there.
“Sorry,” he said.
Ruby smiled softly. “It’s okay.”
Leo walked toward the bed, sitting down as he leaned back slightly.
“Work?” she asked.
“Something like that,” he replied.
Ruby studied his face for a moment. “What did she say?”
Leo hesitated briefly before answering. “There’s a party tonight,” he said. “For the shareholders.”
Ruby’s expression shifted slightly. “And?”
“I told her no.”
Ruby blinked. “Why?”
Leo looked at her like the answer was obvious.
“Because I don’t feel like going.”
Ruby smiled faintly. “That’s not a good enough reason.”
“It is for me.”
She laughed softly. “Leo…”
He watched her quietly.
“You should go,” she said.
His expression changed instantly. “No.”
Ruby sighed lightly.
“It’s important, right?”
“I don’t care.”
She tilted her head slightly. “You should.”
“I’d rather stay here,” he said. “Talking to you.”
Ruby’s heart softened slightly at that but she shook her head. “You can do both,” she said. “Go for a little while… then come back.”
Leo didn’t look convinced.
“I’m serious,” she added. “You shouldn’t skip something important because of me.”
“I’m not skipping it because of you,” he replied. “I just don’t want to go.”
Ruby raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
Leo paused then….. “…Okay, maybe a little because of you.”
Ruby smiled. “I knew it.”
Leo leaned back further, his gaze still fixed on her. “I’d rather be here,” he repeated quietly.
Ruby’s expression softened again. “I know,” she said. “But you can’t always choose what you’d rather do.”
Leo let out a quiet breath. “Seems like everyone’s telling me that today.”
Ruby chuckled lightly. “Maybe they have a point.”
Leo didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he shifted the conversation. “Where are you?” he asked.
Ruby adjusted the camera slightly. “I’m at Jane’s place.”
Leo’s brows lifted slightly. “Jane?”
“Yeah,” she said. “We’re just hanging out.”
Leo nodded slowly. “That’s good.”
Ruby smiled. “And guess what?”
“What?”
“Our graduation is next tomorrow.”
Leo blinked. “next tomorrow?”
Ruby nodded, excitement flickering in her eyes. “Yes.”
Leo watched her carefully and for a moment he didn’t say anything but inside something clicked. He has to be at home before the graduation comes up. He said inwardly
He leaned slightly forward. “That’s a big day,” he said.
“It is,” Ruby replied.
“Are you excited?”
“A little,” she admitted. “Nervous too.”
Leo smiled faintly..“You’ll be fine.”
Ruby nodded. “I hope so.”
Leo paused for a moment, moving his eyes round the room with a thought going through his mind.
“Leo?” Her voice pulled him back.
“Yeah?”
“You’re quiet.”
He smirked slightly. “Just thinking.”
“About?”
“You.”
Ruby rolled her eyes playfully. “You’re lying.”
“Maybe.”
She laughed softly and just like that the distance between them didn’t feel so far anymore. They kept talking longer than they should have.
Longer than Leo had planned and as he lay back against the bed, still watching her through the screen, a faint smile resting on his lips.
Leo knew one thing for certain. No matter how powerful the world expected him to be there was only one place he truly wanted to be and it wasn’t here.