Free At Last, Untouchable Now

"Are you serious?" Ruby's enthusiasm spilled through the phone, almost impossible to miss. Natalie knew Ruby had poured her every waking moment into building her studio since their college days. Its reputation was hard-earned, and there was no way she would let it collapse without a fight. Natalie replied, "From the way you made it sound, I thought you were in some kind of trouble. Just call me if you want help. I've got plenty of time right now." Ruby's excitement doubled. She wasted no time arranging the details, anxious that Natalie might change her mind. Morning came with Ruby's calls jolting Natalie from sleep before the sun could fully rise. When Natalie finally made it to the studio by taxi, she found Ruby waiting outside, waving so wildly it was impossible to miss her. Before Natalie could even say a word, Ruby dashed over and latched onto her arm, holding tight. "Come on, let's get moving! Everyone inside can't wait to meet you after I told them you could fix the painting. They've been here since dawn, dying to see what you can do." Ruby's playful excitement made Natalie chuckle without a word. Walking inside, Natalie quickly saw that Ruby hadn't exaggerated a bit. The place was packed. As soon as the door opened, every head in the room turned to stare. Most faces looked welcoming, though a few showed doubt, silently asking whether someone so young could really repair the battered painting lying on the desk. With the entire room watching her closely, Natalie walked straight to the table and started examining the artwork. It was clear how rough things had gotten—age spots, water stains, and traces of pests showed the years of neglect. "Did you get everything set up for me?" Natalie asked. "We've got it all ready!" Ruby replied, hurrying her staff to hand over the supplies. Even with everyone staring, Natalie remained calm. She began cleaning the surface with steady hands, careful not to make the damage worse. Her graceful fingers stood out against the brittle, yellowed paper, and the sight drew the crowd's attention like a magnet. Each stroke carried certainty. Bit by bit, the once faded painting regained its form. "She's done it! Her hands work like magic. It's unbelievable!" The spell broke when someone finally spoke, and the crowd stirred with renewed energy. "Would you take a look at my painting too? I'd like to set up an appointment." "I can pay two hundred thousand if you help me out." "I'll give five hundred thousand!" The entire studio was alive with eager voices, each person hoping to win Natalie's attention before someone else did. When all the business cards had been exchanged, Ruby could no longer hold back her emotions. "Natty, are you really sure you don't want to make a comeback? Without your help, this studio would never have even existed. If it hadn't been for your marriage, we could've gone even further by now." Although years had passed since Natalie had worked in the field, her gift hadn't faded. Her reputation still marked her as one of the brightest talents in the industry. Pressing her lips together, Natalie stayed quiet for a moment before speaking carefully. "I've left Thorpe Group, and I've actually been thinking of returning. Do you think there's room for me here?" She tried to make her words sound light, almost playful, hoping to ease the tension in the air. Ruby's eyes lit up, surprise and happiness mingling on her face. She could hardly believe what she was hearing. "This is the best news! I really need someone like you. If you join me, I'll set you up with projects, only take a ten percent cut, and I'll give you thirty percent of the shares. Does that sound fair?" Hearing such generous terms left Natalie a little taken aback. "Wait, the shares..." Ruby saw Natalie was about to turn her down and jumped in with a determined look. "Don't even think of saying no. You're the reason I even have this place. I made a promise to you back then, and I meant every word. This is yours by right." For once, Ruby's expression grew serious, and the sincerity in her words touched Natalie deeply, making her feel a rush of gratitude. "Ruby..." "Enough! If you're feeling moved, just stick around and help me out. Let's turn this place into something big. I want to show my dad that I can do it." With a mischievous lift of her brows, Ruby broke the heaviness of the moment. Her playful demand made Natalie laugh, and she nodded firmly, as if setting her mind in stone. Once the day's work was done, Natalie meant to head home for some much-needed rest. But Ruby insisted on celebrating in a fancy restaurant. Natalie caved in the end, figuring a little conversation wouldn't hurt. Even under Ruby's watchful care, Natalie, being the guest of honor, ended up drinking far more than she intended. By the time the glasses had gone around several times, dizziness crept in, and she slipped outside in search of air. "Natalie? What are you doing here?" a familiar voice called out, catching her completely off guard.