Billionaire Kept His Feelings Hidden, Never Thought His Assistant Would Feel the Same

Sparks at the Gala

The charity gala was in full swing when Lucas arrived. The grand ballroom of the Meridian Hotel was transformed into an elegant winter wonderland to raise funds for children’s education.

Crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over the crowd of Seattle’s elite gathered in their finest attire.

Lucas scanned the room, nodding at acquaintances but looking for only one person. He found her near the champagne fountain.

She looked stunning in an emerald green gown that hugged her curves before flowing gracefully to the floor. Her auburn hair was styled in loose waves that cascaded down her back.

This was so different from her usual professional updo. Ruby was smiling at something Daniel Ross was saying, though Lucas thought he detected a hint of discomfort in her posture.

Before he could analyze it further, she looked up and met his gaze across the room. Her smile shifted, becoming more genuine. She excused herself from Daniel to make her way toward Lucas.

“There you are,” she said as she approached. “Fashionably late, as usual.”

“Worth it, though,” Lucas replied. “You look beautiful, Ruby.”

A flush crept up her cheeks. “Thank you. You clean up pretty well yourself.”

Lucas adjusted his bow tie self-consciously. “This thing is strangling me. Remind me why we do these events?”

“Because the Ainsworth Education Foundation needs donors, and you’re its most persuasive advocate,” Ruby replied promptly.

“Speaking of which, Mrs. Holloway is headed this way, and she’s considering a seven-figure donation.”

Lucas groaned quietly. “Elina Holloway talks more than she donates.”

“Be nice,” Ruby warned, though her eyes twinkled with amusement. “I’ll rescue you in fifteen minutes.”

True to her word, Ruby appeared at his side exactly fifteen minutes later with an apologetic smile for Mrs. Holloway.

“I’m so sorry to interrupt,” she said smoothly, “but Mr. Ainsworth has a scheduled call with our Tokyo partners in five minutes.”

“At a charity event? How dreadful,” Mrs. Holloway tutted.

“International business waits for no one, I’m afraid,” Ruby said with a gracious smile. “Different time zones make scheduling quite challenging.”

As they walked away, Lucas leaned in close. “There’s no call, is there?”

“Not unless you count my call to save you from another story about her prize-winning poodles,” Ruby whispered back.

Her breath was warm against his ear. Lucas laughed, placing his hand lightly on the small of her back as he guided her through the crowd.

“My hero.”

The touch sent electricity through Ruby, though she maintained her composure. This was what made her feelings so confusing.

Moments like this occurred when Lucas seemed to single her out. His gaze lingered a fraction too long, and his hand found reasons to touch hers. But then the moment would pass, and they’d return to their professional roles.

The evening proceeded as such galas typically did, with speeches, dinner, dancing, and networking. Lucas worked the room with his usual charm but kept finding his attention drawn back to Ruby.

He noticed how she deftly handled potential donors, her intelligence and warmth drawing people in. He also noticed how Daniel Ross seemed to hover near her whenever possible.

During the dessert course, Lucas found himself seated at a table with several board members of his foundation. This included Gregory Winters, his longtime mentor and the former owner of the shipping company Lucas had acquired ten years ago to start his empire.

“Your assistant is quite the asset,” Gregory observed, following Lucas’s gaze to where Ruby was charming a notoriously tight-fisted tech mogul. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen old Harrington laugh like that.”

“She’s exceptional,” Lucas agreed, perhaps too fervently.

Gregory studied him over the rim of his whiskey glass. “Known her long?”

“Three years. Best hire I ever made.”

“Hmph,” Gregory murmured. “And how long have you been in love with her?”

Lucas nearly choked on his champagne. “What? That’s not—we’re not—”

“Save it,” Gregory cut him off with a knowing smile.

“I’ve known you since you were a hungry twenty-five-year-old with big dreams and bigger ambitions. I’ve never seen you look at anyone the way you look at her.”

Lucas sighed, seeing no point in denying it to the man who knew him better than anyone. “It’s complicated, Greg.”

“Only because you’re making it so,” Gregory replied. “Take it from someone who waited too long to tell the right woman how he felt. Time isn’t guaranteed.”

Before Lucas could respond, the orchestra began playing a waltz. Couples moved toward the dance floor. He saw Daniel Ross approaching Ruby, clearly intending to ask her to dance.

“Excuse me,” Lucas said abruptly, standing and making his way across the room.

He reached Ruby just as Daniel did. The two men exchanged curt nods of acknowledgment.

“Ruby,” Lucas said. “Would you do me the honor of this dance?”

Surprise flickered across her face, followed by something that looked like pleasure. “Of course.”

Daniel stepped back, a hint of annoyance crossing his features. Lucas led Ruby to the dance floor. He placed one hand on her waist, taking her right hand in his left. They began to move with the music.

“I didn’t know you could dance,” Ruby said, following his lead effortlessly.

“There are many things you don’t know about me,” Lucas replied. He pulled her a fraction closer than was strictly professional.

Ruby’s breath caught. “Such as?”

“Such as the fact that I learned to waltz specifically for these charity events, which I actually despise.”

She laughed, the sound making his heart constrict. “I knew that part. You’re not as good at hiding your boredom as you think.”

“Only you would notice,” Lucas said, his voice softening. “You see things about me that no one else does.”

The humor in Ruby’s eyes gave way to something more vulnerable. “It’s my job to know what you need.”

“And what if what I need isn’t professional at all?”

The words were out before he could stop them. Ruby’s steps faltered slightly, but Lucas steadied her. His hand pressed more firmly against her waist.

“Lucas?”

She looked up at him, confusion and hope warring in her expression. The music ended before she could say more. The spell between them was broken by polite applause.

Lucas reluctantly released her, though everything in him wanted to pull her back into his arms. “I should make the rounds,” he said, suddenly uncertain. Had he said too much?

“Not enough,” Ruby thought. She nodded, smoothing her dress with slightly trembling hands. “Yes, of course. The Thompsons are over by the ice sculpture. They were asking about your Asian expansion earlier.”

Just like that, they were back to boss and assistant. The moment of connection slipped away like smoke.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur for Ruby. She went through the motions of networking and facilitating introductions, but her mind kept returning to that dance.

She thought of the look in Lucas’s eyes when he’d asked what if what he needed wasn’t professional. What had he meant?

Was he simply being flirtatious, as wealthy men sometimes were at events like this? Or was there something more to it?

“You seem distracted,” Daniel said, appearing at her side with two glasses of champagne. He offered one to her.

“Thank you,” Ruby said, taking the glass. “Just mentally reviewing Mr. Ainsworth’s schedule for tomorrow.”

Daniel’s expression hardened slightly. “Always the dedicated assistant, aren’t you? Even after hours.”

“It’s my job,” Ruby replied simply.

“Is that all it is?” Daniel’s tone had an edge to it now.

“Because from where I’m standing, it looks like there might be more to it. At least on your side.”

Ruby felt herself flush. “I don’t know what you’re implying, but—”

“I’m not implying anything,” Daniel interrupted. “I’m stating what’s obvious to anyone watching you tonight. You’re in love with him.”

Ruby opened her mouth to deny it, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, she set down her untouched champagne.

“I should go.”

She made her way through the crowd, needing air and space to think. Finding a secluded balcony off the main ballroom, she stepped outside into the cool night air.

The Seattle skyline glittered before her. The waters of Puget Sound reflected the city lights. Ruby wrapped her arms around herself, the evening’s emotions catching up with her.

Was Daniel right? Had she been that transparent? If others could see her feelings so clearly, did that mean Lucas knew too? The thought mortified her.

The sound of the balcony door opening made her turn. Lucas stood there, his expression unreadable in the dim light.

“There you are,” he said softly. “I’ve been looking for you.”

“Is everything all right?” Ruby asked, instinctively shifting into her professional role. “Did you need something?”

Lucas stepped closer. He was close enough that she could smell his cologne—sandalwood and something distinctly him. “That’s just it, Ruby. I always need something from you.”

“Your efficiency, your insights, your ability to make everything run smoothly—that’s what you pay me for,” she replied. Her voice was barely above a whisper.

“But that’s not all I need,” Lucas continued, moving closer still.

“I need your smile in the morning when I come into the office. I need the way you know exactly when to bring me coffee without my asking. I need the sound of your laugh.”

Ruby’s heart pounded so loudly she was sure he must hear it.

“Lucas—”

“I’ve been trying to keep this professional for so long,” he said, reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

“But tonight, seeing you with Daniel—watching him look at you the way I’ve been trying not to for years—it made something very clear to me.”

“What’s that?” Ruby asked, barely breathing.

“That I’m in love with you,” Lucas said simply. “And I’m tired of pretending I’m not.”

The world seemed to stop. Ruby stared at him, searching his face for any sign that this was a joke or a misunderstanding. It was anything other than the declaration she’d dreamed of.

“You’re in love with me,” she repeated. Her voice was small.

Lucas nodded, vulnerability evident in every line of his face. “Completely, utterly in love with you. Have been for years.”

“But you’re—you’re Lucas Ainsworth. Billionaire shipping magnate. And I’m just—”

“Just the most remarkable woman I’ve ever known,” Lucas interrupted.

“Just the person who knows me better than I know myself. Just the one I think about first thing every morning and last thing every night.”

Tears welled in Ruby’s eyes. “I never thought—I never let myself believe you could feel the same way.”

“The same way?” Lucas’s voice was suddenly hopeful. “Ruby, are you saying that—?”

“I’m in love with you, too,” Ruby finished. A tremulous smile broke through her tears. “Yes. Yes, I am.”

Lucas’s face transformed with joy. He stepped forward, cupping her face in his hands.

“May I kiss you now? Because I’ve been wanting to for approximately two years, seven months, and thirteen days.”

Ruby laughed, her heart overflowing. “That’s very specific.”

“It was the day you yelled at me for working through the night and then brought me breakfast anyway,” Lucas said. “That’s when I knew.”

“For me, it was when you remembered my birthday and gave me those first-edition Jane Austen novels,” Ruby admitted. “No one had ever paid attention to what I loved like that.”

“I pay attention to everything about you,” Lucas whispered, leaning closer. “And yes, in case you’re wondering, this is extremely unprofessional of me.”

“I think we’re beyond professional boundaries now,” Ruby murmured as his lips hovered just above hers.

When their lips finally met, it was like coming home to a place Ruby had never been but had always known existed. Lucas kissed her with a tenderness that made her heart ache.

When they eventually parted, both slightly breathless, Lucas rested his forehead against hers. “I should have told you sooner,” he said quietly. “I was afraid of ruining what we had.”

“I was afraid of the same thing,” Ruby confessed.

“Plus, you know, the whole falling for your billionaire boss cliché seemed like a disaster waiting to happen.”

Lucas chuckled. “Is that what we are? A cliché?”

“Maybe,” Ruby smiled. “But I think we might also be something wonderful.”

A discreet cough from the doorway interrupted them. They turned to see Gregory Winters, an amused expression on his weathered face.

“Hate to break up this long-overdue moment,” he said. “But your absence has been noted, Lucas. The foundation president is looking for you to make closing remarks.”

Lucas sighed, keeping one arm firmly around Ruby’s waist. “Duty calls, it seems.”

“Go,” Ruby said, giving him a gentle push. “I’ll be right here.”

“Promise?” Lucas asked, his eyes searching hers.

“Promise,” she replied, her heart full.

As Lucas reluctantly headed back inside with Gregory, the older man clapped him on the shoulder. “About damn time, son. About damn time.”