Chapter 45: New Girl In The House

The low-slung supercar glided up the winding coastal road, cutting through the gates of the cliffside estate and coming to a smooth stop by the grand entrance.

As we stepped out into the crisp sea breeze, Ruby’s eyes widened as she took in the panoramic ocean view and the towering architecture of my newly acquired home. Before she could fully process the scale of the place, a soft, pleasant chime echoed in my vision, flashing the first official step of her Glowup.

[ INVESTMENT STAGE 1: VOCAL INCUBATION & TRAINING ]

Action Item: Secure elite vocal coaches, establish professional studio access, and initiate intensive daily vocal conditioning.

Target: Unlock the raw 9.1 vocal potential.

"Come on," I said, gesturing for her to follow me inside. "We’re setting up your initial training schedule starting tomorrow. You have a lot of ground to cover."

Ruby trailed behind me, clutching her small bag as we walked through the expansive, high-ceilinged living room. But the second we reached the upper-level hallway leading to the guest suites, her steps slowed down. She glanced at the massive master double doors, then back at me, her cheeks instantly heating up to a bright crimson.

"Wait," Ruby stammered, stopping dead in her tracks and fidgeting with the strap of her bag. "Are we... are we going to share a bedroom?"

I opened my mouth, a flat no already forming on my tongue, when a door down the hall clicked open.

May stepped out, wearing athletic gear and a light jacket after finishing her afternoon workout session. She took one look at Ruby, sized up the flustered expression on her face, and a sharp, mischievous grin spread across her athletic features.

"If she wants, we can even share the same bedroom," May joked smoothly, leaning against the doorframe with a casual, teasing smirk. "There’s plenty of space in the master wing."

Ruby turned an even deeper shade of red, sputtering as she tried to find her voice. The shock of being in a multi-million-dollar estate with a guy who had just bought her freedom was suddenly compounded by an elite female athlete casually suggesting a shared sleeping arrangement.

A sharp, unmistakable flash of protectiveness and sudden possessiveness sparked in Ruby’s eyes as she looked between May and me, clearly wondering just who this gorgeous, athletic woman was and what kind of chaotic household she had just walked into.

"Relax, that’s just May," I said, stepping in before Ruby’s brain completely short-circuited.

Ruby narrowed her eyes, darting a sharp, evaluating look at May. "Are you her... boyfriend?" she asked me, her voice dropping an octave with a sudden, tense edge of territorial curiosity.

May let out a rich, booming laugh from the doorway, pushing off the frame. "Boyfriend? Please. I’m practically her husband at this point."

Ruby went entirely silent. She stood frozen in the middle of the hallway, blinking as she processed May’s casual, hyper-confident claim. For a long, heavy moment, the corridor was dead quiet. Then, Ruby’s expression shifted from shock into a cool, calm mask of pure bravado. She lifted her chin, staring right back at May without a hint of fear.

"Well..." Ruby murmured, a slow, dangerously charming smile spreading across her lips as she glanced sideways at me. "I wouldn’t even mind being his second wife."

May’s jaw literally dropped. The elite world-class athlete—who faced down global pressure on the track without blinking—stood completely speechless, staring at Ruby in absolute disbelief.

May blinked hard, snapping out of her momentary shock, and stared at me with wide eyes. "Where on earth did you pick her up from?" she asked, crossing her arms as a grin tugged at the corner of her mouth. "You go out to deal with a real estate issue and come back with a fiery songwriter ready to sign up for a polygamous household on day one."

"Long story," I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck as I shot Ruby a side-long glance. "But she’s crazy, I know."

Ruby didn’t even look apologetic. Instead, she offered May a sweet, completely unapologetic smile that only a seasoned closer could pull off, before turning her gaze back to me with a look that said she wasn’t backing down from anything.

"Crazy is just another word for focused, mister," Ruby retorted smoothly, her earlier corporate timidity entirely burned away by the day’s events.

May laughed, shaking her head as she pushed off the wall. "Alright, player. I’ll leave you to your new project. But if she’s going to live here, her first real test isn’t vocal coaching—it’s surviving my morning cardio routine."

With a wink, May turned and headed back down the hall toward her wing, leaving a trail of quiet amusement in her wake.

I turned back to Ruby, gesturing down the opposite corridor toward a spacious, sunlit guest suite overlooking the crashing ocean waves below. "Your room is right this way. Unpack, get some actual rest, and enjoy the fact that nobody is ever going to touch a cent of your money or your voice again. Tomorrow morning, the real work starts."

Ruby stood there for a second, her playful bravado softening into something genuine and deeply vulnerable. The realization that she was finally safe—that her multi-million-dollar ghost-writing career wasn’t a trap anymore, but the launchpad for her own empire—seemed to finally settle into her bones.

"Thank you, sir," she whispered softly, her voice carrying a quiet weight that meant everything.

She took her bag and walked into the suite, the heavy oak door clicking shut behind her. But as I walked back toward the master wing, a system prompt flickered gently into view at the edge of my vision, signaling that the foundation was set.

[ STAGE 1 INITIALIZED: VOCAL CONDITIONING & BRANDING PREP ]

Next Action: Connect with top-tier vocal coaches and secure private studio time.

Asset Readiness: 100%

The next morning, the sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling glass of the cliffside estate caught the sound of quiet clinking silverware coming from the main kitchen.

I walked down the corridor, expecting to find May already out on her early run, but instead found Ruby moving around the kitchen island with effortless efficiency. She was wearing a simple, comfortable silk lounge set, her hair tied back in a loose clip, looking completely at home despite having arrived only yesterday.

The moment she heard my footsteps, her face lit up with a bright, genuine smile.

"Good morning, mister," she chimed, turning away from the stove and gesturing toward the polished marble dining counter. "Sit down. I wanted to make sure everyone had a proper meal before the chaos starts today. Your breakfast is right here."

I pulled out a stool and took a seat, looking at the plate of perfectly prepared breakfast spread before me. "Ruby, you didn’t have to play chef. We have staff for this."

"I wanted to," she said smoothly, walking over with a small plate containing a warm, perfectly crafted bite. She didn’t hesitate; she scooped up a portion on a fork, held it right in front of my lips, and gave me a soft, expectant look. "Open up. Tell me how it is."

Before I could even process the sudden domestic shift from ruthless corporate closer to attentive homemaker, I leaned forward and took a bite. Rich, balanced, and cooked to absolute perfection.

Ruby watched my face closely, her eyes bright with a mixture of hope and playful suspense. "Well? Is it delicious?"