60 Nights with a Billionaire

3. Do you still remember those days?

Ruby lay on the cold floor, hugging herself tightly and unconscious. Her lips were slightly parted, pale, and dry. James walked up to her and remembered his outbursts the previous night. He squatted next to her and took a deep breath. Then he looked at the urine pool close to her body. His fingers trembled a little as he reached out to touch her shoulder.

He recalled, a year ago, he was bedridden and unable to speak or move. To him, Ruby had dedicated her life. She had taken care of his basic needs, cleaned him, and showed him her undying devotion.

Cradling her small body against his chest, he carefully carried her into his arms. Gently, he led her back inside the farmhouse's warmth. After carefully placing her on the bed, he called a doctor. But unwilling to face her, he left for work before she could come to.

When Ruby opened her eyes, her body ached like numbness. She found herself on the comfortable bed once her blurry vision cleared. A man was giving her an arm injection. Ruby squinted as she struggled to remember who it was.

"Mr Jones!"

When Alex Jones heard her, he grinned broadly and said, "Oh, you woke up at last! How do you feel right now?”

Alex helped Ruby lean back against the bed as she attempted to sit up.

"Don’t worry. You fainted from the cold, and... well, you even wet yourself while you were out," he said, trying to sound reassuring. "Just take it easy today and take your pills. You'll be fine."

Ruby's eyes widened as she looked down at herself, seeing she was suddenly clad in pajamas.

"The nurse changed your dirty clothes. "She will be here with you today, okay?"

Ruby turned to face him, her eyes filled with wonder. "How did you…?"

"James called me," he answered.

Ruby clamped her eyes tight, a rush of shame sweeping over her as she pictured James discovering her unconscious and vulnerable in urine.

"By the way, I never expected to see you again," Alex continued.

Ruby exhaled deeply and met his gaze. "I can't believe I'm in this situation either."

"He’ll never agree to sleep with you. He loves Maya very much."

“I know, Mr Jones. But I’ve to stick to the contract.”

Seeing her sad, Alex added, “When he was admitted to the care center, he’d only been married for six months. Maya was pregnant at the time.”

As her confusion increased, Ruby looked at Alex, attempting to take in what he had said. "But she said she could never get pregnant."

Slowly, Alex nodded. "She had a miscarriage, and then it was found out she couldn’t conceive again."

“Miscarriage!!”

"That accident was brutal, and there was basically no chance he’d survive, you know that. When Mr. Miller found out James was in danger and that his enemies were after him, he kept everything about James a secret. Only me and his dad knew he was alive. The rest of the world thought he was dead. Maya couldn't take it, and that’s when she lost the baby."

Ruby was lost in the past, plagued by the memory of that horrible night when she encountered James in a pool of blood. The notion sent shivers down her spine, and her heart ached.

…

As darkness approached, the Miller headquarters remained quiet and empty. The day's busy activities came to a close, leaving just the faint buzz of the lights on the top floor. James sat alone in his huge office, the city lights shining through the floor-to-ceiling windows. His assistant, Oscar Campbell, the only other person left in the building, sat comfortably on a couch nearby. He looked at the clock. The day's work was complete, but he realized that his boss was not interested in leaving.

"Sir, shall we go?" he murmured.

James sighed and rubbed his temples, attempting to push away the guilt that had consumed him all day.

"You go," he murmured in a raspy voice.

Oscar felt uncomfortable leaving James alone in the office.

"Is there anything else you need before I head out?" Oscar asked.

James shook his head. "No, that's it for today." James put out his cigarette.

Oscar nodded and picked up his bags, leaving James alone with his thoughts.

The office was silent, and everything appeared heavy and dense. James opened his eyes, and approached the window. A million lights lighted the metropolis in front of him, each acting as a continual reminder of the life and activity that lives outside those walls.

James inhaled deeply, prepared himself for what was about to occur. It was time to return to the farmhouse.

No, he can't have s*x with another woman. He was extremely dedicated to his wife. He cannot have a child with someone else for the sake of fame and wealth.

When he returned to the villa, he noticed the woman lying in bed, poorly.

Seeing him standing at the door, Ruby's throat became dry. She remembered how he had carried her to the bedroom while she was covered in pee. She leaned back weakly and buried her gaze in shame. Taking a deep breath, James walked over to the bed and asked, "Are you alright?" in a chilly tone.

With a gentle smile, Ruby said, "I'm fine, thank you."

"I can never beat Maya's stubbornness," he said, lowering his head as Maya watched his back.

He continued, "Whatever you need to pay her to break the contract, I’ll cover it. I’ll give you twenty times that amount, a villa, a car, servants—whatever you want, wherever you want. I’ll even get your mom away from Benjamin. You’ll have everything you need for a comfortable life." Then he looked her in the eyes and added, "But it’s not going to happen."

Ruby snorted sadly, "You want me to break the contract, take your money, and give it to Maya. I can't betray her like that. I just can't justify it."

"Think about it. You’d get twenty times what she’s offering without having to lift a finger."

"I’m not changing my mind."

"So, what’s the guy you’re into? Would he be okay with such a contract?"

"I know what I’m doing."

James saw that her words and her expressions didn't match. He stood up and lighted a cigarette.

"I’ll make up for the help you gave me a year ago. Why you won't accept it still baffles me."

"Can't you just forget it all for a little while, like you did… that night?" she asked, her voice shaking.

James stiffened as the memories struck him hard. "I have apologized for that mistake."

He turned towards her, his eyes darkening.

"I can't even think of touching you," he stated before exiting the bedroom.

Ruby closed her eyes and exhaled deeply.

She recalled that evening from a year ago.

FLASHBACK…

Outside it was pouring rain. James was lying on the bed. Ruby closed the drapes, keeping off the storm. A gorgeous, hopeful smile spread across her face as she turned on the gentle bedside lights and came closer to the bed, meeting his gaze. She pulled the blanket tightly around him and placed her palm on his forehead.

“You have had enough of the rain. Sleep." She said with a pleasant voice.

In the faint light, her eyes sparkled with affection. James slowly raised his palm, drew her, and allowed her to sit on the edge of the bed.

"I can't see sleep in your eyes today," she commented, patting his head.

His voice was hoarse as he responded, "I can't sleep after you leave."

"That's why I am sitting here until you do."

James kept her palm close to his chest, clutching it tightly. He closed his eyes, relaxed and secure.

Ruby recognized his weakness. It pained him greatly to be so helpless.

She whispered, "You'll get back to walking. Why are you causing yourself so much suffering?“

“I've been holding off for a year. My hopes are now crumbling," he remarked melancholy.

"I'm here, right?" Her grin, charming and motivating, always gave him confidence.

A loud boom of thunder followed immediately after, and Ruby clutched him, screaming in terror. Their bodies began to heat up rapidly. Her face was buried in his shoulder, and her trembling lips brushed against his throat. She realised as she heard his heartbeat quicken and tentatively lifted her head to meet his focused gaze. Their breaths merged, gently touching each other's faces. James lifted his palm on Ruby's back and held the back of her head, gently bringing her closer to him. Ruby knew what would happen next, but she didn't stop him. She closed her eyes before he kissed her lips. The kiss was delicate. The loud boom of thunder snapped her back into reality. They were both completely engrossed as they looked into one other's eyes. Ruby blushed deeply and departed his room, feeling bashful.

Sure, that was their first and only kiss.

The next morning, he apologized, shattering her feelings. She decided to wait for him to like her. On the last day, she decided to express how much she had adored him over that time. She hurried to inform him. He was on the phone when she noticed him dressed smartly in his black suit.

She also overheard him say, "Don't tell her that I'm discharged today; I want to surprise my wife." over the phone. Her eyes welled up with tears as she looked down at the pink roses in her palms. She left, never again showing her face to him. He got discharged. She kept trying to move on, and he never visited her.

PRESENT…

By the pond was James, smoking a cigarette; among the various plants stood Ruby, gazing from the bedroom window at his back. She never thought God would allow her to meet James in this way.

It was another quiet night of creeping darkness. Ruby went up to James and hugged her chest.

In a tone as cold as cracked ice, he asked, "Do you still remember those days?"