CHAPTER 37: COULD BE A TRAP

Naomi gave a tight nod and left the room. Once they were alone again, Ruby stepped in front of him, her eyes narrowed with concern.

"Are you sure about this? It could be a trap."

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Stefan gave a small smile. "Probably. But I’m not afraid of traps."

"Maybe not," she said. "But I am."

He touched her cheek gently. "You don’t need to be. I have you."

Ruby felt her breath hitch. How could this man—surrounded by pressure, betrayal, and expectations—still manage to see her?

"You’re reckless sometimes," she whispered. "You know that?"

He grinned. "You love that about me."

She rolled her eyes but didn’t deny it. Not because she it was true but because she somehow liked this part of him.

He reached out, taking her hand and pulling her gently onto his lap. "Just stay this way," he murmured. "Just for a minute. Before the chaos begins again."

Ruby relaxed into him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "One minute," she agreed. "But you owe me coffee later."

He chuckled softly. "Deal."

As they sat there—locked in a rare moment of stillness—neither of them knew what Mr. Ashford would bring. But for now, it didn’t matter.

The silence in the office was broken by another knock—firm, deliberate.

Ruby stood from Stefan’s lap quickly, smoothing the front of her blouse as Naomi opened the door.

"Mr. Ashford is here," Naomi announced, stepping aside.

The man who entered was tall, silver-haired, and always perfectly dressed. Glennford had a face carved from marble—emotionless, sharp, and unreadable. His expensive navy suit hugged his lean frame like it was stitched directly onto his skin.

Stefan remained seated behind his desk, upright and composed, but Ruby could sense the way his muscles subtly tensed as Ashford approached. She moved to stand beside him—not behind him, not away from him—but beside him, where she belonged.

"Mr. Ashford," Stefan greeted. "To what do I owe this unexpected visit?"

Ashford offered a faint smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "I thought it was time for a... private conversation. One free of theatrics or unnecessary alliances."

"Interesting," Stefan said, motioning for him to sit. "You’ve always been Richard’s strongest supporter."

Ashford didn’t deny it. He sat down slowly, crossing one leg over the other. "I support power, Stefan. And the ability to hold it without blinking."

His eyes flicked to Ruby. "Is she part of this conversation?" he asked and Stefan didn’t need to ask who before nodding.

"She is." he answered without hesitation.

Ashford’s gaze lingered on her for a beat too long before returning to Stefan. "Very well."

Ruby sat quietly, keeping her expression neutral, but her mind raced. What does he want? And why now?

Ashford leaned forward, resting his hands on his knees. "Richard made a mistake today. A costly one. Challenging you in front of the board without a backup plan? It exposed his desperation."

"He thought I was weak," Stefan replied simply.

"And you proved otherwise." Ashford’s lips curved ever so slightly. "The way you handled the accusations... it impressed more people than you realize."

Stefan tilted his head. "Are you saying you’re switching sides?"

"I’m saying I’m considering it," Ashford said smoothly. "But not without terms."

There it is, Ruby thought, almost snorting out.

"What kind of terms?" Stefan asked, his voice even.

"A merger," Ashford said. "My consulting firm has been expanding rapidly. If we joined forces—if I had a guaranteed role in shaping Winters Corp’s international strategy—it could be mutually beneficial."

Stefan’s brow furrowed. "And what about Richard?"

Ashford smiled. "He’s not my concern anymore. He backed the wrong horse."

Ruby studied the man. There was something too polished, too rehearsed about his delivery. He’s hiding something. Or he’s playing both sides.

"Why now?" Stefan asked, echoing her thoughts. "Why come to me directly, after all this time?"

Ashford didn’t flinch. "Because, unlike Richard, I don’t let personal ego blind me to rising tides. You have momentum. I recognize when it’s time to adjust the sails."

Ruby watched Stefan carefully. His expression was unreadable, but she could feel the way his fingers drummed faintly on the desk’s edge—his silent tell that he was analyzing, weighing, dissecting.

"I appreciate the candor," Stefan said finally. "But I don’t make alliances based on flattery or convenience."

"I wouldn’t expect you to," Ashford replied. "Which is why I came with proof."

He reached into his briefcase and pulled out a thin folder, sliding it across the desk.

Stefan didn’t move, so Ruby opened it instead. Her eyes skimmed the pages—and her stomach dropped.

"These are... internal communications," she said. "From Richard’s office."

"Stolen?" Stefan asked dryly.

"Leaked," Ashford corrected. "By someone who no longer believes in his vision."

Ruby read quickly, her fingers tightening on the page. "Richard’s planning to move funds from the employee benefits reserve into a dummy offshore account. If this went public..."

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"...he’d be done," Stefan finished. "So would the company’s reputation."

Ashford nodded. "You’ve been trying to rebuild this company’s name. This will help you do that."

Stefan was quiet for a long moment. Then he leaned back in his chair. "You want a stake in our global expansion in exchange for handing over a man who once called you a brother."

Ashford gave a cool smile. "I want to be on the winning team. And you, Stefan, are the only one who can carry Winters Corp forward."

Ruby felt a chill run down her spine. Ashford’s words were smooth, his posture relaxed—but it was all calculated. He doesn’t care who leads. He just wants to attach himself to power.

Still, there was no denying the value of what he offered.

"I’ll consider it," Stefan said at last. "But I won’t be rushed."

"You have forty-eight hours," Asfford said, standing. "After that, I’ll assume you’re not interested."

He turned to leave, pausing only to glance at Ruby once more. "You’re a lucky man," he said to Stefan. "She’s sharper than most of your advisors."

Then he walked out, Naomi following behind. Silence filled the office again.

Ruby turned to Stefan. "Do you trust him?"

"No," Stefan said immediately. "But I trust the leverage."

He reached out, running a hand over the folder she still held. "This is bigger than just Richard’s greed. If we play this right, we can expose everything he’s done without giving Ashford full access to our future."

Ruby nodded slowly. "Then let’s play it right."

"You’ve changed everything, Ruby. Without you, I wouldn’t be standing right now," he said after sometime and her heart skipped.

"You’d find a way. You always do."