Substitute Wife For The Blind CEO

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. "Do

Stefan said immediately. "But I trust

"This is bigger than just Richard’s greed. If we play this right, we can expose everything he’s done without giving Ashford full

nodded slowly. "Then let’s play

wouldn’t be standing right now," he said after sometime and her heart

way. You

plan?" Ruby asked after sometime, the weight of the folder in her hand heavier

like a cold fingerprint pressed against her skin. She turned slowly to Stefan, who

could sense it—he was thinking.

to do, I want to know. Do you believe

still couldn’t help but wonder if truly all Mr. Ashford said

to stay relevant," Stefan replied, his voice calm but cold. "And I believe he’s willing to throw Richard under the bus to do it. So

nodded and placed the folder down on the desk. "Still,

But I think we

Clear. Precise. Cold when it needed to be. But as she watched him reach for the folder, his fingers brushed hers, and something

to do and how do you plan to use him? You’re not seriously considering

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

with me. We need to map

their shoulders brushing, and tried to focus despite how aware she was of his nearness. His scent—clean, warm, familiar—wrapped around her like a comfort she didn’t

snapping her out of her thoughts. "Highlight anything that connects to board members, or anyone who could become collateral damage when this

asked. "Wouldn’t it help to expose

we lose leverage. But if we isolate Richard—make him the villain while protecting the others—they’ll

widened slightly. "That’s...

war I didn’t start—but one I’m going to

was rebuilding—but part of her still felt like an imposter. Like

working

the way others did, they still found her—like he could sense exactly where she was, feel the tension in

difference between Richard and me. He walks into traps blindly. I

Ruby’s lips. He was infuriatingly confident. And yet, with every

start reviewing everything tonight," she

but firmly. "We’ll do it

breath caught. "You trust me with

never let me

features. He doesn’t even know the worst of it. That I’m not who he thinks