Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

Chapter 38

Chapter 38: Confess

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. .com

"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..."

"...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.

to Stefan.

immediately. "But I

"This is bigger than just Richard’s greed.

nodded slowly. "Then let’s play

you, I wouldn’t be standing right now," he said after sometime

way. You always

do now? What’s the plan?" Ruby asked after sometime, the weight of

fingerprint pressed against her skin. She turned slowly to Stefan, who hadn’t

sense

to know. Do you believe any of that?" she

capable first hand, she still couldn’t

cold. "And I believe he’s willing to throw Richard under the bus to do it. So

down on the

But I think we use him—before he

when it needed to be. But as she

use him? You’re not seriously considering giving him what

babe," Stefan said with a chuckle. "But I’ll let him believe

We need to map this

beside him as she opened the folder again, laying out the damning communications. She leaned closer, their shoulders brushing, and tried to focus despite how aware she was of his nearness. His scent—clean, warm,

Stefan said, snapping her out of her thoughts. "Highlight anything that connects to board

asked. "Wouldn’t it help to

But if we isolate

eyes widened slightly. "That’s...

said simply. "A war I didn’t

again, her thoughts tangled. She wanted to help him win, protect what he was rebuilding—but part of her still felt like an imposter. Like a fraud sitting beside a man

said softly. "What if Ashford is still working with Richard? What if this is truly

his eyes didn’t see her the way others did, they still found her—like he could sense exactly where she

earlier, I don’t doubt it’s a trap," he said. "But that’s the difference between Richard and me.

smile tugged at Ruby’s lips. He was infuriatingly confident. And yet, with every move, he proved that he had a

reviewing everything

gently, but firmly. "We’ll do it

"You trust me

never let me

He doesn’t even know the worst of it. That I’m not who he thinks I am... and that Ivy did fail

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255