Ruby sat at her desk, staring at the blueprint but not really seeing it anymore. Her pencil had stopped moving a while ago. Her thoughts were elsewhere—drifting back to Adrian.
He had looked so quiet that morning. His eyes weren’t sad exactly, but they had that lost look. The same kind of look people wore when something was taken from them but they weren’t sure how to feel about it. Adrian wasn’t the type to sit still. He liked to work, to feel useful, to keep his hands busy. And now, suddenly being jobless... it must be eating him up inside.
She sighed softly and leaned back in her chair, letting her eyes rest for a moment. Then her thoughts drifted to Damel — the one who handled most of her accounting work. He was always quiet, polite, and so precise in everything he did. Ruby still couldn’t believe he was gone. The news of his sudden passing had hit the whole team hard, and she’d visited his family just yesterday to offer her help and support. But even now, her chest ached a little when she thought about it.
Her eyes returned to her desk. Bills, ledgers, and notes were starting to pile up. Someone had to manage the books. Someone trustworthy, quick to learn... someone who understood responsibility.
Her fingers tapped lightly on the desk. Adrian.
He was smart. Ruby had seen how quickly he picked up things when she taught them how to read. He didn’t need to be told twice. He thought deeply, and most of all—he was careful, calm. If she taught him the basics, gave him a little guidance, she was sure he could handle it.
A small smile tugged at her lips. "Maybe this is the right time," she murmured to herself.
She leaned forward and scribbled a small note on her sticky pad: "Train Adrian: accounting, basic ledger, system login, inventory updates."
Her chest felt a little lighter now. She wasn’t just thinking about it anymore—she had made a decision. And maybe... just maybe, this would help Adrian find his rhythm again. Give him something to pour himself into, instead of sitting alone in silence.
She reached for her tea, took a small sip, and looked out the window.
When she reached home, the first thing Ruby did was take a warm, relaxing bath. The headache from earlier still lingered faintly behind her eyes, but the water helped ease some of the tension in her body. She dried her hair quickly, tied it into a loose bun, then slipped into something soft and comfortable.
She walked into her room, her steps a little slower than usual, and picked up her laptop from the corner table. Then she made her way back to the living room, the wooden floor cool under her feet. The house was quiet, just the soft ticking of the clock echoing in the background. She curled up cross-legged on the sofa, setting her laptop on her lap.
With a soft chime, the screen lit up, and she opened the accounting sheets. Rows of numbers, names, and item codes blinked back at her. She narrowed her eyes slightly, checking the recent entries, cross-verifying them with the receipts she’d brought from the office.
Just then, she heard the kitchen door creak open.
Adrian walked out, a glass of water in his hand. His face was calm but blank, like he was moving on autopilot. There was something heavy in his silence—something that had lingered ever since he came home after losing his job.
"Adrian," Ruby called gently.
He paused mid-step, glancing at her. His brows furrowed slightly as if trying to read her expression. He didn’t speak, but his feet carried him toward her.
He always spoke less. Ruby noticed that early on. Adrian wasn’t the type to waste words. He watched. He listened. And only when he felt it truly mattered, he spoke.
"Sit beside me," she said softly, nodding to the empty space next to her.
Adrian sat down quietly, the cushion sinking under his weight. He looked at her laptop, curious but not asking anything yet. His arm brushed lightly against hers, and she could feel the quiet strength in his presence—even now, even when he seemed lost.
For a few moments, he just sat beside her, watching her fingers move across the keyboard. She scrolled through sheets, highlighted columns, and typed in small notes.
Then Ruby turned her face slightly to him. "Can you do this?" she asked.
Adrian blinked. "Do what?"
She tilted her screen toward him. "Manage these sheets. Keep track of materials. Orders. Outgoing and incoming stock. It’s nothing too hard, and I can train you."
He stared at the screen for a while.
"You want me to help?" he asked, finally speaking.
Ruby nodded. "I need someone reliable. Someone I can trust. You’re smart, Adrian. I don’t want you to sit around thinking you’re useless just because one job didn’t work out."
Adrian lowered his eyes. He didn’t reply immediately. His fingers curled lightly on his lap.
Ruby continued, "You can take your time. I’ll teach you everything. You won’t be alone."
There was a long silence.
Then slowly, he nodded. Just once.
Ruby smiled gently. "Good. Let’s start tomorrow."
Adrian didn’t say much after that. He simply stayed beside her, his eyes quietly following each of her movements as she worked. She explained a few things, but didn’t pressure him. He absorbed everything silently, storing it all somewhere deep in that thoughtful mind of his.
And when Ruby finally closed her laptop with a tired sigh, he gave her a small nod and stood up.
"I’ll go rest," he said, his voice low.
She nodded back with a soft hum, watching his tall figure walk down the hallway to his room.
The house was quiet again.
Ruby stretched her arms gently, rolling her neck to shake off the stiffness. Then she stood up and walked toward her own room. She placed the laptop on her desk, then pulled her chair closer.
To be continued... 🪄