Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 240

Clad in black from head to toe, he melted into the crowd, impossible to pick out. Instead of entering the bistro directly, he scanned his surroundings and slipped into a private room on the second floor of the building across the street.

Within moments, a camera trained itself on the two people sitting by the window.

It wasn’t until Ruby and Garrison appeared together on the ground floor, walking side by side, that the curtain to the corresponding room quietly slid shut.

“I really appreciate you coming, truly,” Ruby said, her voice low and sincere. “Honestly, I never imagined Townsend could persuade you. I’m sorry for the trouble.”

She bowed her head slightly, the picture of humility.

Garrison couldn’t help but chuckle at her solemnity, his laughter gentle but tinged with amusement. He glanced at Ruby, but when their eyes met, she quickly looked away, her composure returning with a polite smile.

“We go back a bit,” he said, lips curving into a thoughtful line.

Ruby accepted this explanation easily, though she couldn’t hide her surprise—and a touch of envy—that Townsend knew someone like Garrison.

Garrison arched an eyebrow, feeling oddly flattered by her reaction. Normally, he wasn’t one for long conversations during his free time, especially not while strolling around town, but for some reason, he found himself wanting to linger a little longer with this woman.

“Selina,” he began, “the designs you gave us were a hit. People loved them, and, frankly, our sales numbers have never looked better. I can’t wait to get my hands on your next collection.”

His admiration for her talent was unmistakable.

Ruby flushed at the praise, but then her expression grew serious as she seemed to recall something. “Of course, I’d be happy to work on something new. But weren’t there still two gowns from my last designs that haven’t been released yet?”

Garrison nodded. “That’s right. You specifically said you’d personally oversee those two, but after that, we lost all contact with you. We had to put the project on hold.”

Ruby’s lashes trembled as she dropped her gaze, momentarily caught off guard. That stretch of time, when she had disappeared from C Collective, she’d actually been locked away, waiting out endless, hopeless days behind bars.

She swallowed, then looked up. “Do you still have the design sketches? Maybe I can fast-track the prototypes for those two dresses, and then your team can take over from there.”

Garrison’s excitement was obvious. Back then, Ruby had provided them with two collections—one of elegant evening gowns and the other of luxurious daywear. Both had become instant favorites among socialites and debutantes, smashing sales records as soon as they launched.

He half-raised his fist to his lips, clearing his throat, though the spark in his eyes was impossible to miss. “I carry your sketches with me even when I travel. Right now, they’re in my hotel suite. If you don’t mind, I could take you there to retrieve them.”

Even Garrison’s usual composure gave way to an enthusiasm he couldn’t hide.

Ruby had expected he’d simply have a copy on hand, so learning that he had the originals was a surprise. Still, the news seemed to thaw something frozen inside her, letting warmth seep back into her veins.

“That would be perfect.”

“Of course I know! Just check the headlines. You’ve been caught looking around, and now everyone’s twisting it to make you look guilty—as if you’ve got something to hide!”

Townsend’s irritation was palpable.

“Guilty?” Ruby echoed, disbelief coloring her words.

Just then, a news alert flashed across her phone.

#Ruby Allegedly Cheating During Marriage—Secret Ties With C Collective’s CEO!

Below, the comments section was filled with self-proclaimed revelations.

“I knew it! Why else would the CEO of a company as big as C Collective come all the way to Quinborough just to clear Ruby’s name? They must have had something going on for years!”

“How shameless! Ruby hasn’t even broken up with Mr. Veyne, and now she’s already cozying up to someone else.”

“Everyone knows what Ruby’s after. Sure, the C Collective CEO doesn’t have the usual middle-aged paunch, but he’s still old enough to be her father. What is she even thinking? She has no shame, honestly!”