Chapter 133 Ruby Was Beaten
Athena turned around to see a familiar face—a man in a sharp suit, holding a briefcase. His expression was calm, though there was a slight tension in his eyes as he took in the scene.
“Mr. Williams,” Athena said, her voice composed, though her heart was pounding from the sudden outburst.
Ruby, still standing there, her face flushed with anger, looked at the newcomer and sneered. “What do you care, huh? You’re just another one of Byron’s underlings!”
Mr. Williams stepped closer, his gaze flicking to Ruby before returning to Athena. “I’m sorry, Miss Newton. I didn’t mean to intrude, but it seems there’s some… tension here. Is everything alright?”
Athena didn’t respond immediately. She wasn’t sure how to explain the situation. Ruby’s words still echoed in her ears, and despite the fire that burned in Ruby’s eyes, Athena could sense something more vulnerable beneath the surface—something she hadn’t seen before.
“I think I can handle this,” Athena said, her voice firm, but there was a hint of weariness in it. “Thank you, Mr. Williams, but I’m fine.”
Ruby let out a harsh laugh, though it sounded more bitter than mocking. “Fine? Of course, you’re fine. You always get everything you want, don’t you, Athena? Byron… he’ll always pick you over anyone else.”
Athena’s expression softened slightly, though she kept her distance. “It’s not like that, Ruby. I don’t want to fight with you.”
Ruby scoffed, stepping back, her posture almost defeated. “You’ve already won, Athena. You’re living the life I always wanted. And now, you think you can just waltz into my world and take everything from me.”
Athena’s brow furrowed. She had no desire to take anything from Ruby. She hadn’t asked for any of this.
Mr. Williams stepped in again, his calm demeanor still unshaken. “Perhaps it would be better if we all took a moment to calm down. Miss Newton, if you need assistance—”” No,” Athena cut him off gently, shaking her head. “It’s okay. I’m sorry, Mr. Williams. I’ll take care of it.”
Ruby was glaring at her now, her eyes narrowed in frustration. “You always say that,” she spat, before turning to leave, her heels clicking sharply on the pavement.
Athena watched her go, her mind racing. She didn’t know what to make of Ruby’s outburst. But one thing was clear—things were unraveling around her, and no matter how much she tried to distance herself from the drama, it was impossible to ignore.
Mr. Williams, still standing beside her, spoke once more. “Miss Newton, if you need any assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m here to help.”
She offered him a tight smile, feeling a bit of relief that someone was trying to be reasonable. “Thank you, Mr. Williams. I appreciate it.”
As he walked away, Athena stood there for a moment longer, her gaze lingering on the space where Ruby had stood. She didn’t know where all this was going, but she could feel the pressure building, pushing her in directions she didn’t want to go.
She glanced at the time, taking a deep breath as she turned toward the entrance to the company. “Focus on the work,” she whispered to herself. “Just focus on the work.”