CHAPTER 390: CHAPTER 390 SPOILT GHOST

The assistant blinked, then gave a soft nod. "He’s in the waiting room. This way, Miss Ruby."

Ruby followed her through the long hallway until they stopped at a door. The assistant pushed it open with a soft creak.

And there, in the middle of the fancy waiting room with its soft chairs and warm lighting—sat Karl, completely at ease, like he had made himself right at home.

His legs were stretched out across two chairs, a soft blanket draped over his shoulders like he was in a hospital ward, not a production studio. He was sipping chocolate coffee like it was vintage wine, holding it with both hands. A magazine was on his lap—opened upside down—and on the floor beside him were not one, not two, but four empty chocolate cups stacked like trophies.

"Ahhh~ I feel alive again," he sighed, completely unaware of Ruby standing at the door.

The assistant cleared her throat.

Karl looked up.

And the moment he saw Ruby, his eyes sparkled like he’d just seen a shooting star. "WIFE!" he chirped and tried to leap to his feet—only for his foot to hit the empty coffee cups, sending them skittering across the floor.

Ruby blinked. "Are you... living here now?"

Karl stood up proudly, straightened the blanket over his shoulders like a cape, and grinned. "They served me like royalty! I think I should take this witch as my assistant."

The assistant visibly flinched.

Ruby raised an eyebrow. "You drank four cups of that?"

"Five," he corrected, patting his stomach. "The third one was the best. Rich, velvety, a hint of mystery."

Ruby pinched the bridge of her nose.

"And also," Karl continued, puffing his chest, "they gave me a cookie shaped like a face. I named him Greg. Greg is gone now. He was delicious."

Ruby turned to the assistant. "Thank you. I’ll take him from here before he starts asking for a pillow and bedtime story."

"Oh, I already did," Karl added cheerfully. "But they said no."

Ruby just stared.

He tilted his head. "Wife? Why are you looking at me like that? Did I get the role already?"

Ruby sighed, walking over and flicking his forehead gently. "Let’s go, superstar. Before you turn this studio into your personal coffee shop."

Karl clutched his forehead and pouted. "Ow! Wife, I’m delicate!"

To be continued... 🪄

"Clearly," Ruby muttered, dragging him by the sleeve out the door.

The assistant just stood there, frozen, wondering what kind of circus she’d just witnessed.

****

"Goddamn it, Karl," Ruby muttered under her breath, watching him from the corner of her eye. He was now lounging in the car seat like it was a royal throne, arms folded behind his head, legs stretched out. "It’s your future workspace, not a picnic spot. Can you try to act normal?"

Karl leaned over, resting his chin dramatically on her shoulder. "What’s normal, wife? Sitting stiff like a statue and sweating nervously?" he said in a fake serious voice.

Ruby rolled her eyes. "Where is that nervous Karl who nearly chewed off his nails this morning, huh? That one actually looked cute."

"I was nervous because I was unfamiliar, okay?" Karl said smugly, flipping an invisible strand of hair. "Once I’m familiar, I don’t care." He gave her the most cocky little grin, and Ruby swore, if it was legal to punch husbands for being full of themselves, she’d have done it by now.

But instead, she just sighed and kept driving.

After a few quiet minutes, her eyes caught a cute bakery shop at the corner of the gravel road. She smoothly pulled over and parked.

"Go buy something for everyone. And don’t spend all my money," she said casually.

Karl’s eyes sparkled like a kid given permission to enter a candy castle. "You’re the best wife ever!!" he shouted and bolted out of the car before she could even roll her eyes a second time.

Ruby shook her head softly, pulled out her key, and locked the door behind her with a quiet click before stepping forward to follow him inside.

Of course, by the time she stepped into the bakery, Karl had already charmed the staff. He was holding a small tower of expensive chocolate bars in one hand, two cups of velvet-cream ice cream balanced in the other, and he was now pointing at a tray of ghost-shaped cookies with a greedy sparkle in his eyes.

Ruby walked up just in time to see him ask the baker, "Excuse me, how many of these cookies can one husband legally buy before his wife starts scolding him?"

"Put it on the same bill," Ruby told the baker dryly.

"Yes ma’am," the witch said, trying not to laugh.

After paying for Karl’s sweet feast, the two of them returned to the car. Karl was licking his ice cream like it was a precious jewel he’d won in a battle.

"By the way," Ruby said as she buckled in, her voice casual. "You’ll receive a letter if your role is confirmed or not."

Karl nodded happily, mouth full of cookie. "Okayyy~!"

Ruby gave a small smirk. Of course, she already knew he had gotten the role—but it was far more entertaining to watch his face light up when he found out for himself.

"Oh, and one more thing," she added, starting the engine again. "Soulstream production is ready to sign you. You’ll be getting a manager and a personal assistant too."

Karl stopped chewing mid-bite.

"Wait—what?! Like a real assistant?? Like... someone who brings me warm water and carries my coat and gasps when I enter a room?"

Ruby side-eyed him. "Why would they gasp?"

"Because I’ll be famous, duh," Karl said, grinning from ear to ear. "But... wait—do I get to pick the assistant? Because I want someone like me or someone who gives me compliments every five minutes."

"You’ll get whoever they assign you, you spoilt ghost."

Karl huffed. "Fine. But if they don’t gasp, I’m quitting."

Ruby didn’t say anything. She was too busy trying not to laugh.

"Wife?" he said after a minute, peeking at her shyly. "Do you think I’ll look good on big screen?"

She looked over at him and smiled.

"You already do."

And for once, Karl was quiet.

...For like ten seconds.

Then he shoved a ghost cookie in her hand. "Wife, here. This one’s name is Clarence. Eat him with respect."

Ruby chuckled, shaking her head as she drove them home.

To be continued... 🪄