CHAPTER 6

I will never stop trying. Because when you find the one, you never give up

- Crazy, Stupid Love

Ruby was neck deep in her sketch book when the door of her office opened without a preceding knock. She looked up quickly in irritation, ready to berate the intruder. However, her mouth quickly went dry when she realized that intruder was Hunter. He was dressed in a powerful navy blue suit, his green eyes focused on her. She straightened in her seat and quickly ran her fingers through her hair, trying to smooth out the creases in her hair. Typical of Hunter to barge into her office on the day she dressed for comfort, not fashion.

"Hunter." she said, hating the squeaky and breathless tone of her voice.

"Hey, can I come in?" he asked, still standing at the threshold of her office.

"You are already in." Ruby said sardonically.

"That I am." Hunter smiled at her as she stepped in, closing the door behind him. Ruby furrowed her brows. Hunter has never given a genuine smile since their fatal run in.

Hunter came to stand in front her desk, looking down at her.

"You look beautiful today." he said. Ruby looked at him, disbelievingly. "And that looks beautiful as well." he said, motioning to her sketch.

"Are you okay?" she asked, as he unbuttoned the single button on his jacket to take a seat across from her.

"How do you mean?"

"What sort of mind games are you playing?"

"Mind games?"

"Yes, mind games. You know what I'm talking about."

"I can assure you that I don't."

"You come in here being all nice and respectful and generous with compliments. And you expect me not to be skeptical?"

"What is so shocking about giving you compliments?"

"You haven't even given me a genuine smile since we ran into each other again. And now you are complimenting my sketches? What do you know about women's fashion?"

 "You're right. I know nothing about women's fashion. But I know a beautiful thing when I see it." She raised a brow in disbelief and continued staring at him in silence. It seemed to rattle him as he shifted in his chair.

"And you are also right." he continued. "I am going out of my way to be nice to you."

"Why?" Ruby asked, confused.

"I spoke to my mother and…" he started before Ruby cut him off.

"You spoke to strangers about my son? How could you?" she cried, as she rose from her seat to glare down at him. Hunter regarded her quietly from his seat.

"I would hardly call my mother, his grandmother, a stranger. Don't you think?" he said in a flat voice. When she realized he was not going to react further to her glowering, she reluctantly resumed her seating.

"As I was saying, I spoke with my mother and she made some valid points which I took under serious consideration."

"Like what?"

"There is nothing to be gained from us fighting each other. It does not benefit Zach in any way. We have to put his interest above ours." He was quiet for a while, looking out the windows behind Ruby. He turned to face her, staring at her with those intense green eyes of his.

"I'm sorry." He continued. "I'm sorry for barging in here. I'm sorry for barreling into your home and invading your space. I'm sorry that I didn't understand your position. I don't know. I'm just sorry for everything."

Ruby stared at him, shell shocked. She was not expecting this. She was expecting to go to war with him again. Anything but this. She felt her hackles lowering. Suddenly he stood up, walked around her desk and took her hand, pulling her up. She followed him numbly.

"We have a son together. That means we're stuck together for the rest of our lives, whether we like it or not. We can agree on the fact that we'll always want what is best for Zach. You are his mother, I can never try to take him away from you or replace you in his life. All I am asking is the chance to be a father to him. Please."

Ruby stared at him in wonder before she broke into a fit of giggles. She put her hand over her mouth to silence herself but the giggles kept popping out.

"Should I even bother to ask?" Hunter said, looking at Ruby liked she had grown a second head.

"When was the last time you said that word?" she asked. He tilted his head to the side in question.

"Please. When was the last time you said those words?" she asked smiling up at him.

"To be honest I do not remember." he said, smiling back.

"That's what I thought. You looked like you had swallowed something vile." she said. He shook his head.

"You are his father, no amount of wishing can change that. I just don't want him to be disappointed."

"And he won't."

"That is yet to be determined. But we won't know unless we try."

"So what are you saying?" Hunter had an excited look in his eyes.

"I'm saying you don't need to ask to be a part of your son's life. You already are."

Hunter's corresponding smile could light up an entire room.

…..................................................

"So you are really going to do this?" Gabrielle's voice emanated from the phone lodged between Ruby's head and shoulder.

"I am." Ruby responded as she diced up chicken with she was going to throw into the salad she was preparing for dinner.

"You know it's the right thing to do. The boy needs to grow up with a father. Not just any father. A billionaire. Girl, your baby daddy is a billionaire. Do you even realize the opportunities your son has? The sky is his limit. Even you, this could boost your business to insane levels. This is insane." Gabrielle said, the excitement visible in her voice.

"I know G, there is no need to rub it in." Ruby said in a dry voice.

"And if you end up falling in love and getting married. Oh my God, I can just see the headlines. Billionaire businessman marries brilliant fashion designer, Mr and Mrs Rockwell. And of course I get to serve as the maid of honor. It's giving high fashion already."

"I think we're getting ahead of ourselves here."

"Come on, you can't tell me you haven't thought about it."

"It doesn't matter. Hunter and I would never end up together. All that matters is Zach and his happiness."

"Okay, you just keep telling yourself that, while I keep this ship sailing, okay?" Ruby rolled her eyes.

"Since when did you become a hopeless romantic?"

"Since I married my sweetheart who by the way sends his love."

"Give him my love as well. G, I have to go. I don't want Zach eating charcoal for dinner."

"Okay, I'll call tomorrow. Be a good girl."

"As always." Ruby ended the phone call and tossed her phone onto the kitchen counter. She was preparing salmon with a salad for dinner. She had an excited tingle in her stomach. Why? Because Hunter was coming over for dinner. She did not know what she was thinking when she asked him on the spur of a whim to come over for dinner on Saturday. She did not even know how she was going to tell Zach that his daddy was back. Actually, his daddy never left, he just didn't know his son existed.

Ruby knew she was doing the right thing. She grew up without a father. She knew hard it was. She thought of the nights she cried herself to sleep, the days she wished her father would come like a knight in shining amour and whisk her away from the hellhole that was her mother's house, the number of daddy daughter dances she had to skip because she was embarrassed, the number of times over the years she thought she was not good enough, questioning what she did that was so wrong that he could walk out of her life without so much of a backward glance. She did not want that for her son. She wanted him growing up to enjoy parental love on each end.

Maybe Gabrielle was right. Maybe she was projecting her fears onto Zach. She was scared of losing herself to Hunter. She saw the look in his eyes the first day he came to her office after the fashion show. The saw the heat, the fire, the need to own her. She was not just scared, she was excited. And she was scared of that excitement. She did not want to get hurt, especially not when she had Zach to worry about. 

Ruby was transferring the food onto serving dishes when she heard the doorbell ring. She washed her hands and dried them on a kitchen towel before walking to the door. She was surprised to see Hunter holding a bouquet of lilies, crouched on his knees in front of Zach, who was toying with a large box set of toys, his gaze intent. He smiled up at Ruby, then Hunter, then back to Ruby.

"Daddy." he said. Ruby looked at him in shock before she crouched to knees to level herself with her son.

"What did you say baby?" she asked her son, tears catching in her throat.

"Daddy." he repeated. He touched his eyes before reaching out to touch Hunter's. The eyes. He has the same jade green eyes as Hunter.

"Yes baby. This is daddy." she said, her tears spilling over her cheeks. Zach threw his arms around her, dragging Hunter into the awkward hug. They all stumbled laughing onto the floor. From the corner of her eyes, she could see Hunter wiping a tear. Maybe, she thought, they were going to be okay.