"Well, I did learn from the best," Sana replied playfully, casting a glance at her mother.
Ruby smiled at their exchange.
"I appreciate the guidance," Ruby said sincerely. "Starting something from the ground up feels less daunting with advice ."
Sana’s gaze softened. "We all start somewhere. Just keep your head straight, and don’t hesitate to ask for help if you need it."
Old Witch Zee grinned, nudging Ruby lightly. "And you know where to find us if you do."
Ruby chuckled softly. "I won’t forget."
As the meeting wrapped up, Ruby stood.
"Thank you again, Sana. I’ll see you soon when the next steps are ready."
"I’ll be here," Sana replied with a nod. "Good luck, Miss Ruby."
With that, Ruby followed Old Witch Zee out of the office.
After Old Witch Zee dropped her back at the market, Ruby thanked her several times before finally deciding to head to her next destination.
She walked through the busy streets until she stopped in front of a familiar shop. Pushing the door open, Ruby stepped inside.
Sure enough, Behind the counter, a dark-haired, dark-eyed man was carefully sorting through various fabrics and trimmings. His head was lowered, focused on his task, but the moment Ruby stepped inside, he lifted his gaze as if he could sense her presence without even looking.
His eyes softened, and a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
"Welcome back again," he greeted, his voice smooth and calm.
Ruby returned his smile, feeling a sense of calm wash over her. There was something about his shop, a certain energy that made her feel at peace.
This was the same place where she had bought fabrics, laces, and beads to make her robes.
But today, Ruby wasn’t just here to buy supplies. She had a bigger plan in mind – one that, if he agreed, could benefit them both.
She stepped closer to the counter, her gaze flickering over the shelves lined with bolts of fabric and jars of shining beads.
"I see you’ve restocked since my last visit," Ruby said Lightly.
Ethan chuckled softly, folding a piece of cloth neatly. "I try to keep things fresh for customers like you. Always looking for something new, aren’t you?"
Ruby smiled at his observation but didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she leaned slightly against the counter, meeting his gaze directly.
"Actually, I came for something a little different this time," she said, her tone serious.
Ethan arched a brow, intrigued. "Oh? What can I do for you, Miss Ruby?"
"Can we sit while we talk?" Ruby asked, glancing toward the back of the shop.
Ethan nodded politely. "Of course. Please, come with me."
He stepped out from behind the counter, leading her toward a door at the far end of the shop. With a light push, Ethan opened it, revealing a small, well-kept sitting area.
The room was cozy, with a dark wooden coffee table placed between two comfortable couches. The soft glow of a lamp illuminated the space, giving it a warm, inviting atmosphere.
Ruby followed him inside, her eyes briefly scanning the room. Ethan gestured to one of the couches, and she took a seat while he settled across from her.
Ruby met his gaze, her hands resting lightly in her lap. "Actually, I wanted to talk about business," she began, her tone calm but serious.
"Oh," Ethan said, leaning slightly forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "What kind of business talk brings you here today?"
Ruby met his gaze, folding her hands neatly in her lap. "Actually, I wanted to discuss a potential business partnership."
Ethan’s brow arched slightly, a flicker of curiosity crossing his dark eyes. "Partnership?"
Ruby nodded, her expression growing serious. "Yeah... I want to start my own business. And for that, I’ll need a large stock of fabric to prepare robes," she explained, her voice steady.
Ethan’s dark eyes studied her carefully, his face unreadable as he leaned back slightly in his chair.
"Of course, I’ll help you," he said, his tone calm but distant. But then, his gaze sharpened, and his posture straightened. "However..."
His eyes narrowed, holding Ruby’s for a long moment. "You’ll have to convince me. How does this plan benefit me?"
His fingers lightly tapped the arm of the couch, his voice lowering. "I’m a single dad, Miss Ruby. I can’t afford risks that don’t pay off. I have to think about what’s best for my child too."
A shadow flickered through his eyes, but it was gone just as quickly as it appeared, hidden behind his usual calm expression.
Ruby met his gaze head-on, sensing the hesitation behind his words.
"I get it," she said softly, leaning forward slightly. "I know this isn’t just about business for you. And I’m not asking for favors."
Ethan’s eyes stayed steady, quietly fixed on her as he listened to everything she had to say.
"I already have my business registered," Ruby said, her tone calm but firm. "It should be confirmed in a few days. I’m planning to prepare a large stock of robes to sell at the Diamond Moon Festival."
Ethan’s eyes flickered with interest, but his expression stayed calm and guarded.
"You just need to supply me with materials once I secure a loan from the bank," Ruby continued, leaning forward slightly. "I’ll hire skilled robe makers to help with production, but all the designs will be done by me."
She watched Ethan carefully as she laid out the entire plan, not missing the way his gaze glistened with each word.
"I know this isn’t a small project," she added, her voice softening. "But the festival brings in people from all over. If we can put the robes in front of the right crowd, they’ll sell."
Ethan was silent for a moment, tapping his fingers lightly against the edge of the table. His dark eyes scanned Ruby’s face, searching for hesitation, something to suggest she hadn’t fully thought it through.
But Ruby met his gaze without flinching.
"You’re aiming high," Ethan finally said, sitting back with a sigh. "The Diamond Moon Festival is one of the busiest times of the year."
"Exactly," Ruby replied quickly. "It’s the perfect chance to get my brand out there. People are always looking for unique robes to wear during the festival."
Ethan crossed his arms over his chest, his face unreadable. "And you’re confident this will work?"
"I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t."
Ethan watched her for a long while before finally exhaling.
"Alright," he said slowly. "I’ll supply you with the materials once you get that loan. But I need to see the designs first."
Ruby smiled, relief washing over her. "Deal. I’ll bring them by as soon as they’re ready."
Ethan’s lips twitched slightly, almost forming a smile. "I’ll hold you to that, Miss Ruby. Just don’t let the festival sneak up on you. It comes faster than you think."
"I’ll be ready," Ruby promised, already running through ideas in her mind.
"By the way, how’s the little one?" Ruby asked, tilting her head slightly as she watched Ethan’s expression shift.
His stern face softened, warmth flickering in his eyes. "He’s fine," Ethan replied with a small chuckle. "Still doesn’t like doing his homework, though."
Ruby laughed, shaking her head. "Sounds about right. Say hi from me, will you?"
"I will," Ethan said, nodding as Ruby stood from the couch. He followed suit, brushing his hands against his robe absentmindedly.
"Well, I’ll take my leave," Ruby said, flashing him a gentle smile.
Ethan nodded. "Take care, Miss Ruby. And I’ll be expecting those designs soon."
"You’ll have them," Ruby assured him as they walked toward the front of the shop. Ethan opened the door for her, and the soft chime of the shop bell rang as she stepped outside.
The air felt a little cooler as Ruby stepped into the street, tugging her robe closer around her shoulders. Her mind was already filed with ideas for her robe designs, but there was one more thing to take care of first.
She had promised Milo, Julian, and Karl that whoever wrote the most words would get a gift.
Her eyes scanned the nearby stalls and shops as she walked, but nothing really caught her attention.
Eventually, her gaze landed on a small confectionery stand at the corner of the market. Brightly wrapped chocolates were neatly displayed in glass jars, their rich scent drifting faintly in the air.
"Perfect," Ruby thought with a soft smile.
She stepped closer, purchasing a large bar of chocolate for the winner and smaller bars for the others. The vendor carefully wrapped each one in simple paper and put it on bag.
"Winner gets the big one, the others can enjoy the smaller ones," Ruby thought as she took the small cloth bag from the vendor. She handed over two coins, watching as the vendor tucked them into his apron with a nod of thanks.
With the chocolates secured, Ruby made her way toward the wagon station she had seen the last time she visited the market.
The area wasn’t as busy today, only a few wagons were lined up
—To be continued...🪄