The Billionaire's Contract Lover

CHAPTER 4

Leo Carter

He was tall, dressed in a perfectly fitted charcoal suit. His expression was sharp, intense-eyes like polished steel. His dark hair, slightly tousled from the morning breeze, softened his otherwise intimidating appearance.

He walked toward her with long, confident strides.

Ruby froze.

Her pulse thundered in her ears.

She had never seen someone like him in her entire life.

"Are you alright?" Leo asked, his voice deep, calm, but carrying authority.

Ruby opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Her throat felt tight.

She nodded quickly.

But Leo didn't seem convinced. His gaze swept over her-her worn out shoes, her faded uniform, the small bruise forming on her knee.

"You almost got hurt," he said.

"I'm-I'm fine," she whispered.

A small crowd had gathered, murmuring.

"That girl is lucky. That car almost hit her."

"Isn't that Leo Carter?"

"Why is he talking to her?"

Ruby felt her cheeks burn. She hated attention. She hated being stared at like she didn't belong.

She stepped back, bowing her head.

"I'm sorry for causing trouble."

Leo raised an eyebrow. "Trouble? You fell. My driver should have slowed down."

He turned to his driver.

"Martin, watch blind corners. People walk here."

"Yes sir, I'm sorry sir."

Ruby blinked.

A billionaire apologizing on behalf of someone else?

She had never seen humility from even normal rich people, let alone a man like him.

"Do you need to go to a hospital?" Leo asked.

"Oh no sir!" Ruby quickly waved her hands. "Please don't bother yourself. I'm late for school already."

"School?" he repeated, eyes narrowing slightly, as if he was analyzing her entire life from that one word.

He glanced at her torn bag and the worn strap hanging by threads.

"What school?"

"Ridgeway High," she said softly.

He nodded slowly.

Then, without warning, he crouched slightly-yes, Leo Carter lowered himself-to look at her scrape.

Ruby panicked and stepped back. "Please, sir! You don't have to-"

"You're bleeding," he said, not listening.

"It's just a scratch," Ruby insisted. "I'm used to it-"

She stopped herself.

Leo's eyes lifted to hers sharply.

"Used to it?" he repeated with a tone that was almost too calm. A warning tone.

Ruby's stomach tightened. She looked away. She didn't want anyone to know about her life-especially not a stranger. Especially not a man who could read people too easily.

Leo straightened and nodded to Martin.

"Get the first aid kit."

"No, sir," Ruby pleaded again. "Please, I'm fine. I really need to go-"

"Are you always this stubborn?" Leo asked.

Ruby's breath hitched. "I'm not-"

A tiny smile touched his lips.

"Hold still."

Martin approached with the kit, and Leo took it from him, gently cleaning her knee. His touch was careful but confident-like someone used to taking control.

Ruby stared, confused.

No one in her family had touched her with such care in years.

She didn't understand why a billionaire would kneel to help a girl he didn't know.

When he finished, he stood up, closed the kit, and studied her again.

"What's your name?" Leo asked.

"Ruby," she whispered.

"Ruby..." he repeated, as if testing the name on his tongue. "Pretty name."

She flushed.

No one had said her name with that kind of softness in a long time.

Leo reached into his coat and pulled out a sleek black card.

"If you ever need help," he said, "call this number."

Ruby stared at the card like it was a forbidden object. She didn't reach for it.

"I don't think I should take that," she murmured.

"And why not?"

"Because..." she swallowed, "...people like you don't talk to people like me."

Leo's expression changed-sharp, unreadable.

"Take it," he said simply.

Ruby hesitated.

Leo stepped closer. "Ruby, life doesn't choose who to be kind to. People do."

Her heart trembled.

Slowly, with shaky fingers, she took the card.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Leo gave a small nod, turned, and walked back to the SUV.

The crowd dispersed.

She stood there, staring at the black card resting lightly in her palm.

Leo Carter Carter Holdings Private Line

Her own reflection stared back at her on the glossy surface.

Carter's mansion was quiet.

Not the peaceful silence of a home, but the kind that hovered in the air, heavy and expectant, as if the walls themselves knew what was coming.

Leo stood at the entrance, hands in his pockets, staring at the massive mahogany doors. He had been away from this house for months, drowning himself in work, hiding behind meetings, contracts, and flights across continents. Yet here he was again-summoned.

And nobody ignored a summons from Richard.

The doors opened before Leo could knock. The butler, Mr. Halden, bowed slightly.

"Welcome home, sir."

"Thank you," Leo muttered, stepping inside.

The mansion smelled of polished wood and expensive cologne. Everything seemed almost too clean, too flawless-like a museum meant to display the Carter name rather than house a family.

Leo walked past the grand staircase, his shoes silent on the marble floor. The closer he moved to his father's study, the colder the air felt.

He stopped at the heavy double doors, he knew the conversation waiting behind it, he also knew he couldn't avoid it any longer.

Leo exhaled slowly and pushed the door open.

Richard sat behind his enormous desk, dressed in a dark suit even though he wasn't going anywhere. His hair, once jet black, had begun to gray around the temples, giving him an even more commanding look.