Ruby's POV
The thought of asking Elias to end our arrangement kept me awake all night.
I stared at the ceiling until dawn, wrestling with the decision. By six thirty, I gave up on sleep and dragged myself downstairs for breakfast.
Elias was already seated at the dining table, coffee in hand, eyes fixed on his tablet screen.
"Morning," he said without looking up.
"Morning," I replied quietly.
His expression was unreadable. As if nothing had happened between us last night in his bedroom.
"We need to talk. Sit down," he said, gesturing to the chair across from him.
I lowered myself into the seat, watching as he set down his tablet and folded his hands on the table.
"I'm offering you an out," he said bluntly. "You can walk away from this contract."
My breath caught. "I thought that wasn't an option."
"Under normal circumstances, it isn't. But after last night, if I crossed any boundaries, you're free to leave. No questions asked."
