CHAPTER 32: ACTION STEFAN

The next morning, the tension in the conference room was thick enough to cut through.

Papers rustled, pens tapped against notepads, and the quiet hum of whispered discussions filled the space.

Ruby sat beside Stefan, her fingers flipping through one of the many contracts sprawled across the table. Everyone from the legal team was present, their brows furrowed in concentration as they combed through the ten-year lease agreement with the troublesome Mr Sherlock.

Every now and then, one of the lawyers would point out a clause, murmur a possible lead, or scribble down a note. The urgency in the room was palpable—this wasn’t just another corporate strategy meeting. This was a mission, a desperate search for a legal lifeline to sever ties with a man whose negligence was endangering lives.

Ruby glanced at Stefan, who sat still beside her, his jaw tight, eyes hidden behind dark glasses. Even though he couldn’t see the chaos of documents in front of him, he was clearly tuned in to every word being said. Naomi stood on the other side of the table, flipping through pages of older contracts, highlighting differences between the drafts.

"It’s got to be here," muttered one of the senior attorneys. "There has to be a clause on safety violations or breach of operational standards..."

Just then, the heavy wooden door to the conference room slammed open with a loud bang, startling everyone. All heads turned sharply as Richard Winters stormed in, his face flushed with anger and disbelief.

"What the hell is going on here?" he barked, eyes sweeping across the room until they landed on Stefan.

The lawyers froze, unsure whether to speak or retreat. Ruby stiffened, her back straightening as she closed the folder in front of her.

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Stefan didn’t flinch. Calmly, he turned his head toward the sound of his uncle’s voice and said, "Exactly what you think, Uncle. We’re going through the contract, again."

Richard took a step forward, fury radiating off of him. "You’re going to ruin everything we’ve built with this foolishness," he snapped. "That man is one of our best-paying investors. You can’t just kick him out over some drama stirred up by workers."

Ruby stood up, her voice calm but firm. "Drama?" she repeated. "What we saw yesterday wasn’t drama—it was disaster. People are getting hurt. Someone is in the hospital, fighting for his life. And you want us to sit back and pretend like everything’s fine just because you care more about the money than the people?"

Richard turned to her, his tone sharp. "And since when did you start poking your nose into business matters, young lady?"

Ruby didn’t back down. "Since I married into this family," she replied without hesitation. "And as part of this family, I won’t keep quiet and let lives be destroyed for the sake of profit."

Richard’s face twisted with anger. "You have no idea how business works—"

"I know how decency works," she cut in. "And I also know that a business built on the suffering of others is one that’s doomed to collapse."

Richard’s eyes narrowed at her before shifting back to Stefan. "You’re letting her speak for you now?" he growled.

Stefan rose slowly from his chair, his posture composed but commanding. "No," he said, his voice calm yet final. "She’s speaking for herself—and everything she said is right. You’re obstructing the legal team’s work, Richard. If you’re not here to help, I suggest you leave."

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There was a moment of tense silence. Richard’s chest rose and fell rapidly as he looked between his nephew and Ruby. When neither backed down, he scoffed in frustration, turned on his heel, and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

A heavy silence settled over the room once again, but this time it was laced with something else—respect. A few members of the legal team glanced at Ruby with newfound admiration. Naomi gave her a small nod of approval, while Oliver let out a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding.

It was obvious this Ivy wasn’t the one they knew. She had probably hit her head somewhere, resetting all her buttons.

Ruby sat down again, her heart still racing. She hadn’t meant to go toe-to-toe with Richard, but it felt necessary. She looked over at Stefan, unsure of how he was processing everything, but his next words settled her nerves.

"Well," he said, quietly but firmly, "let’s get back to work."

And just like that, the room came back to life—this time with more urgency and unity than before.

Just minutes after Richard stormed out of the conference room, slamming the door behind him like a child denied his favorite toy, silence reigned.

Suddenly, one of the attorneys, Mr. Langford, a sharp-eyed man with graying temples and a reputation for his attention to detail, sat up straighter in his seat. "There it is," he said, tapping his pen against the contract page as if he’d just uncovered a buried treasure.

Everyone in the room stilled. Naomi looked up first, brows furrowed. "You found something?"

"What is it?" Ruby asked, her heart picking up speed. She hoped it would be enough to go against Richard and whoever the Mr Sherlock was.

Langford lifted the document slightly, holding it up as if presenting a piece of evidence. "It’s subtle, buried under legal jargon, but it’s here." He cleared his throat. "The contract can’t be terminated arbitrarily, yes. But there’s a clause under Section 4, Subsection 9. It states that if the company deems that the investor is repeatedly failing to implement safety protocols and has been found negligent with no attempt to make amends despite formal notification, the contract can be dissolved at the company’s discretion."

For a moment, there was silence again. And then—a smile broke out on every of their faces.

"That’s it," Naomi said, her voice almost a whisper before it rose with excitement. "That’s the way out."

Ruby felt her heart swell with relief and pride. "He’s definitely been negligent, and yesterday proved he doesn’t care to make things right."

Stefan’s lips tightened as he nodded. "Then we’re not waiting around anymore." His voice was low but resolute. "I’m calling Mr. Sherlock in for a meeting. If he refuses to show up, I’ll involve the press. He either honors the contract or we end it."

Ruby blinked at him, a slow smile curving on her lips. Watching him like this—so composed, so determined—it stirred something warm in her chest. It wasn’t just about business anymore. He wasn’t letting his blindness define his leadership; he was stepping into it with strength.

Naomi nodded. "I’ll contact his office now."

"Schedule it for Friday at noon," Stefan added, turning toward her slightly.

"Yes, sir," Naomi said with a small smile before leaving the room.

Ruby leaned a little closer to him. "You were brilliant back there," she said in a hushed voice meant only for his ears. "That was the kind of fire I love to see in you."

"I had you beside me," Stefan replied, turning his face in her direction. His voice was softer now, like the fight from earlier had melted into something more intimate.

Ruby looked away quickly, trying to hide the sudden heat that crept to her cheeks. "Still... you’re kind of amazing when you’re in control like that."

Just then, Naomi returned, her expression grim. "Mr. Sherlock’s secretary says he won’t be attending. He’s tired of ’repeating himself’ and won’t be coming for any more meetings."

The room tensed again. Ruby looked over at Stefan, who remained composed.

"What now?" she asked quietly.

"We wait," Stefan said calmly. "Let’s give him till Friday. He’s been warned. And if he doesn’t come, we’ll show him we weren’t bluffing."

The legal team murmured in agreement before they resumed gathering papers and notes. Slowly, one by one, the room began to empty as the workday drew to a close.

Later that evening, as the car pulled out of the parking lot, Ruby glanced at Stefan from the corner of her eye. The last golden threads of sunset brushed against his cheekbones, and for a moment, she felt the weight of the day settle in her chest, along with a quiet sense of admiration.

"You know," she said, twisting her body slightly to face him, "I really liked seeing you in action today. Calm. Confident. Completely in control."

Stefan turned his head toward her. "That’s because you were with me."

Ruby chuckled softly, shaking her head. "You’re going to make that your excuse for everything now, aren’t you?"

"I might," he said, his lips twitching. "You should come to the office with me every day."

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Ruby let out a small laugh. "I already do, don’t I?"

"Then keep doing it," he said with a grin. "It suits us," she said and he nodded, glad to have this new version of Ivy by his side.

And with that, the car carried them away into the fading evening light, their hearts a little lighter despite the storm still waiting at the end of the week.