Weiss's mind was running in circles; she knew that in a couple of hours she'd find herself at the middle of a party filled with investors, and that bothered her to no end. The problem was not in being surrounded by a bunch of egoistic, old people she couldn't care less about, the problem was in having to share a room -no matter how big it was- with the one person she hated the most in her life.

Perhaps if Winter was there, she'd find a way to lift up her spirits if even for a bit. Leastwise knowing Whitley would be missing out on the dinner caused the night to become a hundred times more bearable.

However, even with that, the idea of having to attend managed to ruin her day.

"Here you go!"

Before she could react a cup of coffee was placed in front of her, giving off a rich scent so familiar it forced her whole body to relax. How was it possible for a second-rate coffee shop to have someone who made such a good coffee?

Well, that someone was Ruby Rose, the waitress who recently served her orders and seemed to be the only one at the establishment who knew how to prepare a non-mediocre coffee. And she didn't mean it in a flattering manner; the last time she savored a coffee prepared by the other server -a nameless blonde man near her age- she had almost spat the coffee on his face. It didn't help that the guy had the audacity to call her 'angel' a second before she drank the disgusting liquid.

"Thanks Ruby."

Weiss barely turned her head, taking a minute to look sideways at her waitress. She was a spirited girl who, even while standing still, irradiated palpable amounts of energy from every pore of her body. She would always find her with a charming smile filled with genuine delight towards her job.

Their eyes intertwined for a couple of seconds, never straying from each other until Weiss transformed her serious grimace into an actual smile, causing Ruby to break visual contact, scratching the back of her neck as she tried to remember what she had on her mind.

"Anything else you'd like to order Weiss"

"That would be enough, thank you."

The girl just nodded and reminded her that if she wished to order anything else she'd be happy to oblige, before retiring to continue tending the coffee bar badly handled by her blonde companion whom Weiss loathed.

Perhaps loathing was a strong word to describe her feelings towards the clumsy server, but the guy prepared too bad of a coffee to be working in an establishment dedicated to the task.

While Weiss returned her attention to the window leading to the street, she took a sip of the warm coffee held in her hand. In that instant a million sensations reached her palate, overrunning it with its mixture of ashy and pungent flavors.

Personally, she liked her coffee bitter, with no sugar and no milk. She couldn't explain it, but somehow Ruby managed to bring out spicy and roasted flavors out of a simple black coffee. A modest taste of molasses here and there, tempered enough to bring out a roasted flavor. A faint hint of cinnamon that coated her tongue before flowing down her throat. And finally, that delightful temperature where it was hot enough to bring out the best of each ingredient but not so much that it burnt her tongue.

It was intriguing, Weiss thought as she started to digress, not so long ago she didn't give a damn about the flavor of the coffee she was going to drink -as long as it was drinkable-. Yet now she was very grateful for the time given outside her office, since it allowed her to drink Ruby's exquisite coffee.

Her love for said beverage began the fateful day when Weiss decided that the office was suffocating her too much to stay there more than was necessary. That afternoon she rushed out in an attempt to calm down after having an argument with Whitley about a stupid decision he had made. Decision which would, oh surprise, have dire consequences for Weiss's entire department for the next business year but benefit his.

After the inhuman effort she had to put into not strangling her brother in front of the whole company, she needed more than a couple of minutes for herself. And if possible something that would aid in soothing her anxious mind.

And, boy, was she lucky!

She found a coffee shop nearby and knew that her younger brother wouldn't even come close, since apparently any establishment that charged less than four digits for any kind of service or less than three digits for a menu item wasn't worth his time.

Unfortunately, just when she finally managed to begin clearing her mind and relax her body, the blonde server came up to her -in a quite clumsy manner if she may add- and handed over the coffee she had ordered minutes before.

"Here you go." The young man was shaking on his boots as she nodded in acknowledgement and took the coffee from his hands.

By the time she brought the coffee to her lips and she heard the shuffling guy stutter an embarrassed "I, um… well you… I mean, hope you enjoy it, a-angel", she almost spat out her drink in a mixture of utter disgust and annoyance.

Thankfully for him Ruby stepped up, profoundly apologizing on behalf of the management department before she could demand to talk with their boss. The girl even proposed preparing her a new coffee free of charge as compensation.

Weiss didn't know if it was her quick and sincere apology, being conscious that perhaps she was overreacting due to stress or a combination of both, but she ultimately accepted her proposal as long as it wasn't prepared and delivered by the 'blonde oaf'.

The probability that the drink would be thrash once again was most likely high, but as long as it gave her an excuse to spend more time outside of the office, she'd gladly accept it.

A couple of minutes later the younger woman turned in the new beverage with an apologetic smile still plastered on her face. Weiss took a moment or two in deciding whether she should give a chance to the compensation coffee, but as soon as the rich smell reached her nose her decision was made.

Quite a great decision actually. The flavor and sensations it left were so strong it made Weiss momentarily forget any memory of the various problems that had arisen throughout her day.

Since then, day by day the white-haired heiress would arrive to the same place and ask that same coffee out of Ruby. Every day, amidst the early hours of her office schedule, she'd go for her coffee to recharge and then go back to her elegant prison with pristine white walls.

They never exchanged a lot of words, nor any of them attempted to create meaningless or empty chatter. Whether it was out of disinterest or because they did not find any need to do so, neither of them knew, but both were okay with it.

From her visits Weiss knew the girl's name was Ruby Rose thanks to the neatly written name clipped on the front of her black apron. Meanwhile Ruby, knew that her name was Weiss, Weiss Schnee. Apparently someone deemed necessary to tell her not only her last name, but also what it meant to be a Schnee and the 'respect' it entailed.

Of course, the moment Weiss heard the other girl call her 'Ms. Schnee' instead of the casual 'Weiss' she felt not only major discomfort and awkwardness but also distrust settle in her heart, becoming wary of Ruby's intentions. And yet, the younger girl had such a light-hearted atmosphere around her and apologized so sincerely for her 'transgression', that she couldn't even fathom the possibility of her having any bad intentions towards her.

"Just call me Weiss as usual. It's not like I'm my mother." she masked her troubled feelings by making it look as if it wasn't that big of a deal.

And so, both of them let the incident slip, returning to their previous routine.

A quiet routine that didn't last long, for things changed in their interactions three months ago.

It was a Thursday in the evening, the day was cloudy, but not enough to seem like it would rain anytime soon. Weiss was just sitting at the café, not having ordered a beverage like usual. Or if she had, she couldn't really remember.

Her mother… the woman who, though cold, proved to be kind and tender when she needed her… she was dead. Dead from hepatic cirrhosis caused by alcoholic liver disease.

She had seen it coming for a long time. But it was still difficult for her to digest the situation as a whole.

Drowning in her negative thoughts she barely realized someone put a plate in front of her. Her blank stare, few could identify as a mechanism to mask her distress, settled on the food laid in front of her, before taking a look at the person who had the gall to interrupt her thoughts.

Hey eyes quickly recognized Ruby, bearing a rather worried expression

"Hey… I don't mean to be rude but… It looks like something is bothering you today."

She said, sending her way a small smile of understanding, without delving much into the subject.

"And, when something makes me feel bad, a cookie always brightens my day. At least for a bit."

Her words explained why she had brought her a small plate with a cookie and a cup of her usual coffee in front of her.

"This one is on me; I… uh, like, you know… hope all is well Weiss."

And with no more words she disappeared, leaving Weiss sitting by herself with a too sugary cookie for her liking and the perfect coffee she always enjoyed.

How… How dare she? How dare she even try to come close when all she wanted was to be alone with her thoughts. She should've been angry. She should've confidently turned down the plate and the warm drink. And yet… Although in her mind painful thoughts of her mother were still present, she felt like that simple gesture, though it wasn't what she wanted, it was just what she needed.

Not the informative report Winter had given her on how their mother's condition worsened during the week. Not the uninterested retort Whitley spat on how it was a surprise it had not happened earlier. And definitely not her father's impersonal invitation to what would be his wife's funeral.

Knowing there was someone, even if it was a stranger, who cared about her well-being without double thinking if the gesture would annoy her or tarnish their image, in a way it reminded her on how her mother had once been years ago... And it breathed new life into her person remembering who her mother was before the vice.

It was a gesture that though simple, meant a lot to her in the moment. Making the coffee more delectable than usual and the sugary treat manageable enough to eat.

Since then, as the days went by, she found herself more often than not noticing small details in Ruby and how she carried out her work. It ranged from simple stuff such as how the genuine smiles she gave to each customer hid innate shyness and how on Mondays her hair was messier than usual, to more complex stuff such as the fact she always wore the same pair of shoes on Fridays. Or that she had a thing for placing the spoon for the client's coffee on the right side and turned down sides.

Without noticing, they soon began holding short conversations. There were always composed of just a few words and not very deep; not even close to how a decent talk should be, but both of them felt fortunate just from having them in the first place.

She looked at the plate holding her coffee and found a small heart made with whipped cream. She quickly identified it as Ruby's personal touch whenever it was something she prepared. The lively woman would always leave it on Weiss's plate instead of the coffee because she knew the white-haired woman didn't like anything with that level of sweetness inside her cup.

She held a tiny smile as she took a small bit of the whipped cream with her spoon and licked it clean. Ruby's coffee always found a way to make her day just a tad more bearable.

Taking her time, she slowly savored the first sip of her habitual brew, using the free time out of the office to prepare mentally for the encounter she'd have at night with her father. The man who would continually try to take control of her life for his benefit, always finding a way to make her feel insignificant.

In a good day, her father was… quite difficult to deal with. Both Winter and she were particularly aware of what he was capable of.

Weiss shook her head and massaged her temple softly. The point of this outing was to focus on the positives, not wallow in her misery. She had to look at the bright side of the gathering, the party was nothing more than a competition of who would flaunt better their assets and earnings. Therefore, there was a high chance she wouldn't need to interact with her father much. She'd just appear as another property for him to show off for a couple of hours, and then disappear for the rest of the night.

Moreover, it wasn't like her father enjoyed spending time with her, their relationship was fine as long as she presented good results. And recently the company's numbers had been increasing, so technically there weren't a lot of reasons why to worry.

Weiss sighed heavily, her long fingernails tapping the wooden table anxiously.

And yet, her negative feelings towards him resurfaced whenever she recalled how he acted like a cretin at her mother's funeral. How could she trust herself not to act out of spite as soon as she saw his face after what he'd done?

Still, if she was being honest with herself, she didn't really have a choice in the matter, she never had whenever it came to be dealing with him. So, unless she wanted to have a long discussion about her responsibility as his assigned heiress, and perhaps a punishment or two, she had to behave in front of his 'acquaintances'.

Once she began thinking about what she could do and shouldn't do in his presence she found out the whole ordeal was fairly simple given that she followed the basic steps for whenever the Schnees met.

Step number one, dress the best she could so that he wouldn't sneer as soon as he saw her.

Step number two, politely greet every single person she was presented to no matter how little she cared about whatever they had to say.

And finally step three, shut her mouth unless she was asked to answer a question or hold a trivial conversation.

It was almost funny how similar it was to how she dealt with Whitley at their monthly reunions.

Satisfied with her decision to swallow her resentment and act out her part in order to avoid trouble, Weiss let herself stop thinking about the event and instead focus on enjoying her free time.

There wasn't much liquid left inside her cup, so it wasn't long before she finished her drink and found herself listing in her small note all the tasks she had to carry out before leaving the office to get ready for the night.

"Done for today Weiss? Or can I get you anything else?"

A peppy voice she'd learn to recognize came from her side as a lithe hand took the small plate with the white cup. There was an affable smile on Ruby's face as she solely focused on Weiss.

"That'd be all Ruby. Today I'm running short on time. But thank you as always." She stood up from the wooden chair by the window, taking her note and the bag perched by her side, and left a generous tip at the table before heading for the exit.

"Thank you Weiss. Have a great day!" Ruby beamed at her as she took the money and waved at her retreating figure. Ruby was such a child whenever she wasn't making anything coffee related. Weiss thought as she shook her head and waved back; though she had to admit she was really rubbing off on her.

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The rest of the day, though loaded, went by in the flash of an eye. First she dived deep into her unresolved work at the office, continually pointing out mistakes in documents and sending Velvet to retrieve archives from various departments at the company.

She was distracted enough not to think about the party at night until it was time for her appointment at the best beauty salon of the city. She left the rest of the work at the hands of her capable secretary, called her personal driver to pick her up and finally arrived at the renowned two-story building with ample crystal windows and golden highlights.

Her stay was time-consuming to say the least, extending for hours, nonetheless it was worth every second and every cent she paid. Her trusted hairdresser lost no time and quickly tended her silky white hair; profoundly washing it, carefully drying it, and finally taking her time to properly stylize her tresses into an elaborate side braid with her bangs swept sideways.

It wasn't overly intricate, but it looked elegant enough to fit into what her father described as a 'proper business image for social events'.

Paying and saying her goodbyes, she left the building and headed to her apartment to change into the clothes she had chosen with anticipation after hours of continuous deliberation. It was a white halter dress with long skirt, its baby blue accents matched the color of her eyes bringing out their lighter hues. It's cut and open back accentuated her curves, adding to her alluring appeal without being overly exposing.

After applying light makeup to hide her eye bags, product of her sleepless nights, and pink blush, she put on her most expensive yet petite blue earrings to help highlight her sharp features and add more color to her very white outfit.

The rest of her preparations were carried out without thinking, almost as if she was an automated robot centered on getting ready for the event. She had to admit it was impressive the level of self-absorption she could reach, when she least expected she was inside her car being driven to her father's personal mansion.

She could feel her hand tremble as she intensely gripped her coat in an attempt to stop their incessant quaking. She knew she was better than this, she knew that being a Schnee meant she wasn't allowed to show any weakness or be perturbed by petty stuff.

And it angered her. She was angry towards herself for letting such a small thing affect her to this extent. She was angry she couldn't trust her body on doing what she wanted it to do no matter how much she willed it. But most of all she was enraged her father's teachings were still running deep inside her, dictating what she should and shouldn't do even when he wasn't present.

A sudden ringing noise coming from the inside of her white purse caught her attention. She held her breath as she searched for the device and turned its screen to look at the caller. A sigh escaped her lips when she saw it was Winter who was trying to contact her. Feeling her stress deflate que squared her shoulders and answered the call with a tiny smile.

"Hello Winter?"

"Good evening Weiss, I reckon you're heading to father's manor?" Winter's firm tone made her question sound more like a statement. Weiss felt her smile falter and frustration bubble in the pit of her stomach. She was calling for this?

"I'm fine too, thank you. I see you still get right to the point." Weiss grimaced when her sister sighed in return, she knew Winter was getting aggravated by her bitter tone.

"Weiss…"

"And to answer your question, yes. I am heading there in this moment. After all, whether I like it or not, we both know I cannot just miss father's event… Unlike others in the family." she furrowed her eyebrows in annoyance but soon felt her irritation subside, substituted by regret.

"I… I'm sorry… It's just overwhelming… That was out of place."

"Weiss… I understand. It is as you say, I pushed my responsibilities onto you for my selfish desires. You have more than enough reasons to be mad at me." Winter's usually steady tone seemed to almost become vulnerable by the end of her sentence.

"No Winter, I embraced the obligations and restraints that came with being the heiress. It definitely was your decision to reject them… but it was mine to take them. It's no one's fault I have to follow father's whims but mine…" Weiss did her best to sound confident and stable enough to convince her sister, who she knew had her own demons for 'running away' from the burden of being a Schnee.

"Truthfully, I was just upset because it seemed like you called me just to check if I wouldn't back out. It was immature from my part; therefore, I apologize. What I really wanted to say, rather to ask was, will you be coming too?"

Weiss waited patiently for her sister to answer only to receive an uncharacteristic but short chuckle.

"Ever so serious. Weiss… I did not call to ensure your presence at the party; I called to check up on your well-being and be the one to inform you that indeed I will be present at the event."

Weiss felt a smile try to pop up on her face but did her hardest to hide it even though Winter wasn't even capable of looking at her at the moment. She gave herself a second to clear her throat to make sure her voice wouldn't betray the gleeful feeling spreading through her chest and proceeded to speak in what she hoped was her usual tone.

"R-really?" she cringed at her stutter, there goes playing it cool. "Well that's wonderful. After all we have not seen each other in quite some time. I'd like to hear more of your military and personal stories. Will you be there when I arrive?"

"Unfortunately, I'll be arriving an hour late due to delays in my flight. But rest assured, I'll be there before father's toast for the Company's anniversary." Winter quickly appeased Weiss's worries before they could even be spoken.

There was a comfortable silence that lasted no more than a couple of seconds into the call before Winter's voice spoke up again, this time much harder than before, surprising her sister.

"Weiss… Before you arrive I must tell you. I know that in the recent months you and father have not exchanged a lot of words, so you may be out of the loop regarding his actions outside the company. Thus…" In an uncharacteristic manner Winter seemed to be at a loss of words, igniting worry in Weiss's heart. Her sister was never a woman to become speechless.

"What I'm trying to say is… Just don't let him get under your skin. He may not do anything tonight but be ready for any unexpected issue that may arise." Winter finished her sentence rather puzzlingly, beating around the bush through the whole ordeal. Which only pushed her harder into avoiding the topic and instead focus on Winter's advice.

"I'll be prepared." she replied with certainty, trying to make her sister proud.

There was a small, almost undistinguishable pause in the call Weiss barely managed to notice, almost as if Winter was debating whether to speak or not.

"Take care Weiss… See you then."

The call ended in a somewhat disconcerting manner, but Weiss decided to shrug it off, attributing it to her anxiousness towards the party. When she looked at the window her breath hitched when she found her father's manor, along with multiple expensive cars and wealthy people, come into view.

Seems she had arrived.

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"It's a pleasure meeting you Mr. Steelford. I hope you are enjoying father's soiree." Weiss did her best to sound polite as she gave a small bow to the older man standing in front of her.

"Why you must be Jacques's second daughter! The pleasure is mine young miss. Jacques must have done a great job as a father to have such a young lady handling more than perfectly the duty of a head manager just after graduating. Impressive feat indeed!"

Weiss knew the comment was meant to flatter her father and compliment her efforts, but just the thought of that man being anything close to a good fatherly figure didn't sit well with her. She tried her hardest not to grimace or reflexively disagree, instead nodding in practiced compliance.

"You must have a great eye not only for business Mr. Steelford, but also results. 'The company deserves no less than the best'; that has always been father's motto and of course the reason of his partnership with your firm. It's not surprising he's done everything in his power to make me the best at what I do. I hope in future projects I'm able to withhold your expectations and his wishes." again, she smiled almost mechanically to deliver well-mannered friendliness.

"You flatter me Miss Schnee, my eyes aren't as good as you make them to be. I'm just a watchful old man who's learned to read numbers. But perhaps I should take a page or two from your father's book regarding my sons, they could need a thing or two taught to them about responsibilities and obligations." he laughed joyfully at the glare the two younger men at his side sent him.

Weiss could feel her smile crook at his comment but managed to fix it just in time.

"That's also an impressive skill to carry Mr. Steelford. And, I'm sure your heir will be more than capable of carrying out his duties under your guidance." she smiled at who she thought was the older brother and then methodically looked at the white watch on her wrist. "I must apologize for cutting our conversation short, but I haven't seen father and it will soon be time for the midnight toast. If you'll excuse me."

Once again she gracefully bowed and turned on her heel to what would probably be the worst part of the night. Sure, the first hour or so of boot licking, fake politeness and continuous introductions had been horrible and tiring to say the least, but it wasn't even remotely close to how energy-draining the interactions with her father were.

Throughout the night she'd been purposefully avoiding that man, it was fairly easy considering the huge crowd that betrayed his presence and his lack of interest in interacting with her. After all he needed no more than knowing she was at his event doing the job he'd told her to do.

But now that the time for the toast was close, both of them had no other choice but to act as father and daughter in front of the guests. And so, with heavy steps she decided to head towards the crowd of people that flocked around her father like bees to honey. She'd hoped Winter would be by her side by the time she had to do this, but her sister hadn't arrived yet.

As the regal figure of a tall man clad in a pristine white suit came into view she felt her stomach churn with uncertainty and annoyance. It seemed he'd also recognized her by her characteristic hair color and was decent enough to spare her a glance for a second before continuing his discussion with the man in front of him.

When she finally came to step in front of him, heart hammering inside her chest, he barely nodded in recognition of her presence.

"Good timing. Mr. Alshams, this is my second daughter and current heiress Weiss. Weiss, I would like you to meet the latest member of the Schnee conglomerate Alkubraa Alshams, from Taqa. We were just speaking of how their company would have continuous exchanges with the headquarters here at Vale."

The man standing before her seemed to be in his early 30's, his tanned skin and emerald eyes along with his clothing made Weiss think about Vacuo, a continent her father had been interested in for years.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet the famous Schnee prodigy. I'd heard she was very young for her position, but to think she'd be the age of your special guest. I can't image how polished her studies must have been to make her this capable." he whistled impressed and Weiss knew her assumptions of him being from Vacuo were correct. Business etiquette was much less strict from that Kingdom.

And yet she didn't even pay attention to that fact, or how disrespectful that introduction had been for her taste. She was centered on the mentioned special guest. What did he mean with special guest? Her father considered none special enough to invite if they had naught to offer to his company.

She eyed her father quickly and noticed him huff in annoyance, a firm frown settling in his face at the unneeded comment coming from his new partner in business.

"That'd be all Mr. Alshams, I must speak with my daughter before the yearly toast. If you'd excuse me." he subtly glared at the younger man, causing him to nervously bow and step away from their sight.

An uncomfortable silence settled as they both began walking away from the crowd around them, a single stare from her father communicating he desired no more company from those around him. Weiss expected them to head to the stairs where the toast was usually carried out, but instead they walked to the area of appetizers.

"Weiss, as you must be aware, your sister won't be arriving at time for the toast due to the delay in her flight. And since Whitley won't be present and your mother is no longer available, we'll postpone the toast for half an hour to give her time to arrive. We don't want to give an image of a fragmented family to the investors. I won't accept anything but perfection, understood?" he looked at her right in the eye with his hands behind his back.

Weiss nodded and clenched her fists angrily; he was implying he didn't want a repeat of what she'd done at her mother's funeral. And it infuriated her how he dared to make it seem as if she was on the wrong for reacting as she did.

Nonetheless, "As you wish father." she answered obediently.

"See you in half an hour Weiss. Don't. Cause. A scene." his voice became colder as he turned around and headed towards the table filled with appetizers. Weiss arched an eyebrow and crossed her arms at her father's words and decision to go for a snack.

Wasn't he the one who'd always say eating before a speech was unacceptable?

Yet, as soon as she saw him arrive at the table and hold a young woman with a black and wine-colored dress by the waist, she understood not only his warning, but also Winter's words before the party about being prepared.

Their mother had been dead for less than four months and he was already parading around his own parties with a woman the age of her second daughter? And she was the one supposed to behave?

She profoundly glared at the black-haired woman standing at her father's side. She was enthusiastically talking about the variety of treats present on the table, doing big gestures with her hands and arms.

Her father always hated talkative, hyperactive people, but apparently the way the expensive dress hugged that woman's curves was enough to make him forget his animosity. It was either that or the girl's evidently athletic figure and youth.

She was fuming, and she knew that unless she erased that shocking image from her sight she'd do what her father said and cause a scene. Gritting her teeth, she turned around and headed towards the garden at the back of the mansion.

She needed not only fresh air, but also to cool down after what she'd seen.

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The half an hour dedicated to wait for Winter went by in a blur of mixed emotions for Weiss. She was barely able to take notice of the time when she stood and headed for the stairs, just in time for the toast.

She found her older sister standing by on the first step, posture regal as always and back completely straight. Her deep blue eyes were searching for someone, stopping their scanning as soon as she saw Weiss walking towards her among the crowd of wealthy people.

"Weiss, It's-" her words died at her throat as soon as she saw the unamused look Weiss was giving her. She sighed and wished to speak again, but Weiss beat her to it.

"Let's just… not Winter. Father wants no complications… And I want no more from this bullshit. Let's get this over with so I can just… go." Weiss walked past her sister without even looking at her. She was angry at what Winter had hid for who knows how long, but she knew that if she began asking questions the situation could probably get out of hand.

As she raised her head she felt her brows furrow when once again she found her father with the young woman he had invited turning her back to her. She could feel the intense anger burning from within her but bit her tongue in an attempt of subduing her words.

"Father, won't you introduce us your company before the toast?" she couldn't stop the words from leaving her mouth as soon as Jacques recognized her presence. He quickly turned his indifferent stare of recognition into a scowl, subtly rubbing his temples. It almost made her smirk since she knew he had no other choice but to be polite and present both women. Otherwise he'd risk seeming rude.

At this point Jacques, Winter and Weiss herself, all knew her frustration was reaching a point where she was becoming narrow minded and too emotional. However, as big as it was it fizzled out the moment she came face to face with the unexpected guest her father had invited on a whim.

The choppy black hair that turned into a brighter red color near the tips, the fair skin functioning as a soft, protective layer for the athletic muscles beneath it and finally those characteristic bright silvery eyes, looking at her in a mixture of shock and embarrassment. Weiss had grown to know all these traits and their quirks very well, they belonged to-

"Weiss, this young lady, as you already know, is my personal guest for this year's event. Her name is Ruby Rose and she is under contract as my escort. Treat her well, am I being clear?" his voice, though relaxed, held a cold tone that Weiss could usually identify as a threat. At least she would have detected it if it weren't for the fact that her brain was occupied with someone else.

As soon as the silence settled in she scrambled to mask her surprise mixed with disappointment, setting in place a neutral expression and a polite smile. She gracefully extended her hand and looked at the younger woman right in the eye "It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Rose. I'm Weiss… Weiss Schnee, Jacques second daughter and current heiress of the company. I hope father has been an amiable host."

For a couple of seconds Ruby's eyes seemed to be incapable of looking at Weiss's own, her silvery orbs constantly shifting from the other woman's extended hand and the floor until she finally gathered enough courage to shake the pale hand in front of her and look at her if only for a moment.

"It is, uh I mean... Pleasure is all mine, Weiss… Ha ha…" she nervously chuckled as she fought the urge to clam up. "I couldn't ask any more out of Jacques. A-as a guest of course." the young woman scratched her neck awkwardly, internally wincing at her gawkiness while her other hand rubbed against her dress anxiously.

"Let's go. Winter. Weiss. We must not keep the rest of the guests waiting for the toast." Jacques thankfully ended the awkward exchange between both ladies. "Wait for me at the base of the stairs Miss Rose." he ordered with a rather soft voice before climbing the stairs.

Winter soon followed him not before sending a warning stare at Weiss who was still holding Ruby's hand and looking at her as if studying every single one of her reactions. When both of her relatives turned around she let her polite smile fall, letting a displeased frown replace it.

"Enjoy your night… Miss Rose." she let go of her hand and felt her steps become heavy as a jumble of thoughts plagued her mind with the unexpected encounter. She had only climbed a couple of steps when a voice behind her stopped her in her tracks.

"Weiss!" It was Ruby's voice.

She turned around, knowing she wasn't able to properly contain the troubled expression embodied in her face when Ruby lowered her head as soon as she saw it.

"I'm… Sorry… I mean... it's just uh, I... I don't know what to say."

Weiss looked at her, finding the young girl with her own troubled expression filled with remorse, and then shifted her gaze to look at the floor. She stood silently for what felt like an eternity, until she finally turned her back towards Ruby, fatigue causing her shoulders to fall.

"There's nothing to be said."

She then climbed up the rest of the stairs, heading to her place at the annual toast.

It's a shame how she'd let down Winter once again.

There goes being prepared for the unexpected.

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It was with the gentle tinkle of Jacques's glass that he gained attention from the entire room, completely silencing the chatter present at the party. All the guest turned their eyes to the rows of furniture that had been placed on the second floor by the stairs.

At the center of the second floor an ivory white podium stood tall above the long tables at its sides, on the left important investors for the company sat silently; many of these with a historical record of affiliation to the company, in addition to several Schnee relatives who had put their trust and money into Jacque's projects.

On the right side were all the high members of the Schnee Dust Company; those that formed the different branches and head managers of every single important office. The wide platform at the center was seized by no other than Jacques with his brows lightly raised in contemplation of the guests at his sides. At his left side was Winter with her usual stoic expression, she was occupying the place that once belonged to the matriarch of the family, while on the right side was Weiss, being his second in command and future heiress of the company.

The silence within the room was absolute; there was no noise that could steal the attention away from Jacques Schnee's toast. Everything was going perfectly.

And yet for Weiss, something was ... wrong.

The fatigue inside her body was staring to penetrate deeply into her being. Little by little it was gnawing at the bits of mental strength she had left. Even though she was sure that the climax of her father's event was happening around her, her brain wasn't able to register the string of words leaving his mouth.

She only heard a buzz, deep inside her mind, that was slowly but surely getting more and more annoying. The rise and fall of her ribcage whenever she breathed was the only bodily sensation tracked by her mind, yet the feeling was so fuzzy she could barely notice how it was faster and more erratic than normal.

With a stoic expression, Weiss raised her hand gently and took the glass of champagne placed in front of her. Between her fingers and on her palm she felt the droplets of condensation that stuck to the surface of the glass due to the difference in temperature. She separated her hand from the expensive crystal, and instead traced the foggy surface with her digits, seeking to relive the coolness its condensation brought to her touch.

She saw the people at her side grab a firm hold of the glass placed in front of them, and she mirrored their movements by reflex. Her eyes fixed on her hand and the object it was grasping, and although her mind was still blank she let out a heavy sigh.

She had to admit it was easier to pretend it was than to actually keep her mind clear.

The last weeks had been stressful; in fact, it'd been that way ever since Weiss had obtained the title of head manager at Vale; there always seemed to be problem after problem, difficulty after difficulty. Not to mention the endless list of procedures that had to be optimized. All done with the single purpose of proving she was someone able to fix her predecessor's failures; a worthy heiress of the company.

Much better than her progenitor ever aspired to be.

And yet…

It seemed like Whitley did everything in his power to make working with him insufferable, and, though scarce, every interaction with her father managed to increase her stress and self-doubt tenfold. Not to mention that Winter was far from everyone.

In short, there were many days in which she felt truly alone.

Despite that, there were small things that made her days more tolerable: one of those was her break time at midday when she went to the coffee shop a walk away from work. Taking a couple of minutes away from work, smelling the rich aroma and drinking the delightful coffee that somehow, be it caffeine or something else, gave her new life.

Said coffee was prepared by Ruby Rose.

The girl who had been there to silently show care for her every now and then.

The one person who actually did something to make her feel better when her mother passed away. Not Whitley, definitely not father, and it pained her to say it but, god, not even Winter. It was Ruby.

And now, that same girl was the one supplanting her deceased mother with her father. Giving everyone present a vain show of elegance and eroticism; strolling around the room as if she was just another object for Jacques Schnee to possess and exhibit.

That made her nauseous. But, above all, it filled her with ire.

How was her father capable of hiring a woman to bring her to such an event?

Didn't he have a single hint of remorse towards the late mother of his three children?

Wasn't he capable of caring about anything other than his stupid desires?

Weiss's eyes, which already bore a serious and aggressive expression in itself, turned away from her fingers, looking at the ceiling in an attempt to calm her running mind.

But she wasn't successful.

Was she the only damn sane person present in this room?

It was wrong that her younger brother was a damn fool, blinded by the lien he aspired to produce!

She felt so abandoned by her sister that there were times she thought Winter's concern for her wellbeing was all a lie produced by her mind!

The last times she'd seen her mother the woman wasn't able of telling her apart from Winter due to how alcoholic she was!

Her father had decided it was okay to hire a woman her age!

Didn't anybody think it was strange?! That it was wrong?!

…

Did Ruby consider it was fine for her father to hire her?

Why ... had she accepted?

As the questions flooded her mind Weiss's felt the strength leave her body.

She had already spent some time trying to keep her appearance strong and imposing, with her back straight and avoiding the back of her chair. But the convincing image she created shattered in a second, teared apart by the tiredness weighting down her shoulders.

She softly let her body collapse on the chair, fully leaning on the backrest. Her shoulders dropped, and her line of vision which had been kept straight ahead had now fallen to the surface of the table, seemingly lost.

There was a sandy dryness scraping at her throat. The incessant buzzing was still nagging at her ears. And, even though she was supposed to be used to the feeling, everything when it came to her father felt cold, almost foreign.

A thought invaded her mind, and she completely lost herself in it: This was Ruby's real work. The one that paid the bills.

Her hands went down to her lap, where they clutched the dress that adorned her frame. The force she applied was immeasurable, she was in such a deep state of trance she didn't notice how the threads of her clothing were slowly being torn apart by her fingers.

She probably has a need that pushes her to do this. And now, it has brought her to the wolf's den. Where everyone eager to show what their dirty money can get them… The worst is father will leisurely savor the main course at the end of the night.

It was then that Weiss's eyes widened, realizing what Ruby's contract could entail.

"Cheers, for the Schnee Dust Company!"

The loud shout of celebration snapped Weiss out of her trance, tearing through the haze and the ringing alarms settled in her mind. She gracefully took the cup, lifted it and drunk the liquor within it just like the rest of the people around her.

The bitter liquid caressed her throat with promises of relief, yet the raw feeling of worry etched into her mind began consuming her every thought.

The event was over, every person would gradually leave the mansion and go off to their home. It was highly likely her father would leave the task of seeing out the guests to both her and Winter since he always retired to his quarters after a late event.

Which meant that Ruby would disappear from her sight and ... God would know what else would happen between them.

Turning to her side she noticed her father was long gone; it was customary for him to retire first, then those on the left side and finally herself. But quite frankly right now she didn't give a damn about which rules she was meant to follow.

She got up immediately and turned Winter towards her by the shoulder, unlike her she was waiting for the rest of the investors to withdraw.

"Winter. Where is father?"

Not only the question, but also her tone of voice took the older woman off guard, who looked at her with something akin to a surprised expression.

"I am not aware of father's current location. I assume he withdrew to his chambers, he retreated as soon as the toast was finished... By-"

Without waiting any longer, Weiss shot through the room, leaving behind a very confused Winter. The heiress could swear that her sister was screaming for her name, but she paid no heed, there was a far more urgent matter to check on.

As she went down the stairs she desperately searched for the characteristic bicolor hair and excited attitude. Father had told Ruby to wait for him at the base of the stairs, so she was supposed to be nearby. Yet the closer she got to the first floor the more evident it became that, although there were many people there, there was not a single trace of Ruby's hair or presence.

Upon arriving, and noticing that, in fact, neither the young woman nor her father was here, she felt her heart sink to her stomach.

With a quick motion she turned to look at the top of the stairs on the opposite wing of the mansion, where the numerous bedrooms and living quarters were, but most importantly, where her father's personal chamber was located.

There was still a possibility that they were both on their way to his bedroom and she'd be able to intercept them.

She skittered through the left wing, the main hall and finally the right wing, careful to avoid crashing into any guest. She started climbing the stairs curving rightwards, her thin heels making a noticeable stomping sound due to the speed and strength she carried in every step.

Lacking air due to her 'graceful' sprint through the mansion she breathed with agitation. Weiss finally arrived at the second floor, just a couple of rooms away from her destination; breathing deeply she stilled her nerves and advanced expertly through the long hall, heading to the last room of the corridor. Hopefully she'd be on time to ruin whatever the hell he planned on doing.

The feeling of cold sweat was almost as bad as her thundering heart beats inside her chest. She wanted to turn back and forget that anything had happened. After all it was Ruby's business what she did with her body… Yet it felt so wrong not to even try to be there for her.

So, she kept on.

Until she finally reached the huge mahogany doors that separated the hallway from the interior of her father's room.

Through the gap at the bottom she could see a yellowish stripe of light that extended a meter or two down the corridor; the only person allowed into the room was her father. He was here.

The previously silenced buzzing came back in full force, turning the stillness of the corridor into a deafening silence. It was maddening how the lack of noise could be either a good or a bad sign. She tried to strain her ears but lacked the courage to do so; a part of her wanted to hear if they were inside, yet her negative thoughts were telling her that perhaps she didn't really want to hear whatever was happening inside.

Slowly Weiss raised her right hand and took a deep breath in an attempt to gather the resolution she'd need to defy her father if it was needed.

Doubtlessly, her knuckles knocked very gently on the door.

She waited, being unsure of how much time had passed since she decided to knock on the thick, wooden door. Her knuckles thumped softly one last time against the door.

This was taking too long, she needed to act now.

She forced herself to bleed out the tension inside her, enough so that she'd be capable of loudly knocking at her father's door. It was the only way the older man wouldn't be able to ignore her if he was sharing his room with someone else.

But when she was inches away from pounding at the wood, the light emanating from the room flicked out. Her hand reflexively went to the pommel, attempting to open the door, but it didn't bulge, being locked from the inside. Her breathing stopped and her gaze fell to the ground.

It felt as if a bucket of cold water had been thrown all over her body, extinguishing her courage.

It… it was harder than she had expected…

Facing the fact that she was too late.

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It was Monday at night, the clock's needles pointed very closely to nine o'clock, which meant that the time to close the café was just a couple of minutes away. While Jaune was taking care of moving some boxes with a brand-new blend, Ruby was washing parts of the coffee maker and putting away all the tools she used to make her blends.

She usually put a lot of effort into this part of her day; looking at the small utensils that pulled out the best out of each coffee bean always brought her joy. Yet today her mind was simply gone. She couldn't put the same enthusiasm.

Ever since Saturday night Ruby's head had been in the clouds. Just that they were not pretty fluffy clouds, instead they were black and stormy. Despite the fact that she didn't have to work on Sunday, her mind got no rest, for it was preoccupied with constantly reliving what had transpired at the party.

She paced all over the rooms inside the house, rambled whenever she was asked to answer anything and had eaten three whole packages of cookies by the time the clock reached 12:00 at noon.

Even Yang who was tired by work noticed Ruby fidgety state, asking her if there was anything wrong.

"Acting weird? Me? Pffff… Nah, I'm… Just worried about a project! You know that teacher I've always told you about? The one that is too keen on details. Well, I sent him the file with an editing error. Which is bummer because it's a big part of the grade. B-but even if I fail I have money saved to take again the course and..." her rant had lasted 3 whole minutes and didn't seem to end anytime soon, making her nervousness only more obvious.

It always brought a smile to Yang lips seeing how Ruby tried so hard when she was a person who wholeheartedly bore her emotions. The blonde woman heartily chuckled at Ruby's hasty explanation and let it slip.

"It's okay Rubes, I get it." she ruffled her hair and sent her a knowing smile.

During the rest of the day she was able to distract herself with Yang, but when night came and she had to go off to work, Ruby was left all alone in her bed with her thoughts. Then, it all came back flooding her mind.

The next day she would only have her job, since on Mondays she had no courses to attend; which meant she would see Weiss again after the fiasco that happened the night before.

That single thought was causing her to eat her heart out. Pretty quickly the minutes of the night were turning into an hour, and then two. Yet all she was able to do was roll around her bed and pace in her room without being able to get a pinch of sleep.

It was scary, having to face Weiss on Monday.

But it was much scarier the thought that maybe Weiss wouldn't even come up.

The possibility petrified her to such an extent that all her fidgeting and walking came to an abrupt end.

What if Weiss never came back?

She was an important customer for the establishment…

Plus, Ruby would feel bad if she would have to walk further away just to get a single coffee because she had ruined her experience…

But… above all, she… She genuinely thought the two of them were starting to become actual friends, not just acquaintances.

A nagging voice inside her head had always called her delusional for entertaining the thought, more so when Jaune told her Weiss was apparently very rich and very important. Yet their recent exchanges silenced it, the short interactions made her believe that there would come a day when the two of them could call each other 'friend'.

After yesterday it was back, and this time more wounding and relentless.

Making friends had never been her forte, she'd been painfully aware of the fact ever since she was a kid.

She was awkward. And clumsy. Yet too smart and capable for her age. Which only gave the kids older than her more reasons to feel uncomfortable around her presence.

Ruby brought her knees up to her chest, resting her head on top of them as she tried to wrestle back control of her own head. She hated when negative thoughts and bad memories were the only thing that she could focus on. It somehow turned all her actions meaningless.

When morning came, she had barely slept.

Upon arriving at the cafeteria, she greeted Jaune, who obviously noticed that his friend had a pair of prominent dark circles under both of her eyes; something that never happened considering Ruby was a person who could sleep 4 hours and still seem more refreshed than him when he slept 8.

In spite of that, he decided not to ask her about it. Perhaps it was nothing too serious. After all it wasn't strange for Ruby to stay up late planning stuff for their future campaign.

It was when he noticed she made a mistake in two orders and almost broke a plate in less than an hour that the blonde's alarms began ringing loudly. There was definitely something wrong. She was the one supposed to be the dependable in the store, not him!

It was early so Jaune took advantage of the lack of customers to talk with her, finally asking his friend what was troubling her. He fumbled with his words as he tried to be as tactful as possible about her recent mistakes but was ultimately able to get the words out.

Just like Ruby, if not more, Jaune was an extremely awkward and self-conscious person, so his friend's understanding and honest response sort of surprised him, more so considering he delivered what he thought was nothing more than a mess of incomprehensible sentences.

Apparently Ruby was stressed and tired from dealing with her inner demons that resurged after a recent blunder she had made. As a result, her lack of sleep plus her still present concern, were causing her to make various uncharacteristic slips.

Jaune noticed how distressed she was about her mistakes and pondered about what he could say to lift her spirits.

"H-hey… don't worry… I know I'm not the best to say it, but it's okay to make an error or two. Uh, I-I mean look at me, I make them all the time! Yet that doesn't push neither you nor the others away from me..." he smiled thankfully. "Without your support I don't know what I'd do... I think it's my time to pay you back for the help you've given me. Let me help you out"

The young man tried to seem reassuring as he puffed his chest out and gave her a thumbs up. Feeling better when he noticed a tiny smile appearing on her face.

"Besides look at the bright side, it's almost time for Weiss to come. She isn't nice with me, but she's like another person with you. And lately you've been getting along quite well. I'm sure when she arrives you'll feel better."

The boy half-joked knowing that, with the young heiress, Ruby always made an effort to serve her more cordially. But when his friend's eyes, along with her smile, dropped and she retreated to the kitchen without uttering a word, he knew he'd talked more than was necessary.

Throughout the morning, Ruby's eyes would regularly check on the clock at the cafeteria. When the clock's hands pointed at eleven o'clock her heart began to pound like crazy; although the times when Weiss had showed up at the shop early had been scarce, there was still a chance that she would show up early today, and then Ruby would have to face her.

Weiss, however, did not appear

The throbbing of her heart became stronger when the clock turned from eleven to twelve; Weiss's favorite time to arrive for her coffee.

Every time the bell by the door chimed, Ruby's breathing hitched; without fail she would turn towards the entrance with a mixture of fear and hope in her eyes. An optimistic part within her desired to find Weiss by the crystal door, while the other was utterly terrified by the prospect.

Her jumble of emotions would be temporarily appeased as soon as her eyes found out the person by the door wasn't the girl she was expecting. Even though the uncertainty persisted, her breathing would slowly go back to normal.

By the time the clock in the cafeteria struck half past twelve, Ruby's insecurity turned into worry. But when twelve turned into one, she simply... did not know how to react. There were other cases in which Weiss had showed up late; the most common being a quarter past one, other times past two due to work overload. But this felt different.

Which meant that with every passing minute Ruby grew increasingly worried by how long it was taking for the older woman to come for her daily coffee...

What if she didn't come? How would that make her feel?

Every movement by the door pulled Ruby's attention to the entrance, checking if perhaps Weiss had finally arrived. In addition, whenever she had a chance, she'd take a look at the streets from within the building, hoping to find a glimpse of the white-haired girl in the distance.

The minutes turned into hours agonizingly slow. Two in the afternoon became four at a snail's pace, and then into five. It was at that moment when Ruby's mood completely collapsed.

She felt lost; the mixture of regret, relief and exasperation swirling in her chest and stomach was frustrating her to no end. Having the latter completely empty didn't help in making the churning disappear.

This morning she had decided not to eat breakfast for the simple reason that she was not hungry enough at the time. Besides, she really wanted to get to her workplace as fast as possible, that way she'd have some time to properly deliberate what she'd say to Weiss when they met.

She also hadn't taken a single bite of food throughout her work hours because she was afraid she wouldn't be present if Weiss came by. There was no way she'd risk not being at the café in case the other woman appeared.

And as the hours went by, the continuous churn in her stomach pushed away her feeling of hunger.

Her gaze was so dull and crestfallen that even without looking at a mirror she could tell she didn't look anything like her usual self at the moment.

It didn't take long for Jaune to tell her that he could take care of both the counter and service, leaving her in charge of preparing the coffees and some light cleaning in hopes it helped her clear her mind.

Thankfully the influx of customers decreased, which made her task a lot easier than it was on a normal day.

In spite of that, even if the lack of clients was some sort of blessing, it just made Ruby's day feel like it was dragging on.

As the tranquil darkness that came with the night ate the last tinges of yellows and reds characteristic of the evening twilight, numerous musings flooded the young woman's mind.

Why, out of all possible clients she could have had, did it have to be Weiss's father?

Was this whole situation a punishment for not mentioning her sister about her nightly work?

Was this retribution for agreeing on choosing that line of work in the first place?

Maybe it was. After all, she got the necessary money to continue her studies from her work at the coffee shop, which Yang had said was more than enough help for their economy.

So, why was it that she had become so centered on earning more? Since when did the desire to help her sister pay the bills become a sin?

The questions were many, but she lacked proper answers. And she didn't know if she wanted them in the first place.

The only thing she knew was that right now she truly hated herself and her decisions.

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With nine o'clock at night on the premises, closing time arrived. Ruby tried her hardest to focus on her task of carrying out the cash desk closing at the back of the store. It was an important task, and the sooner she got it done the sooner she'd be able to leave. Her tired mind was really needing some sleep.

The characteristic sound of the door's bell echoed within the vacant cafeteria, followed up by the sound of heels against the floor's polished ceramic. Jaune, who was at the counter, raised his head and felt his stomach drop at the beautiful woman entering the shop.

The serious expression on the white-haired woman made his legs tremble and his mouth go dry.

"G-good night! Wei- I uh no no, sorry I mean what can I" he was swiftly interrupted by the heiress monotone voice.

"I need to talk to Miss Rose."

"Understood!" Jaune shrieked as he felt her uninterested gaze fall directly on his face. "But… It's uh, I mean, I'm afraid we're closing now and… uh, she well, she's at the back and-"

Weiss's withering glare worked wonders in stopping his ramble, and it had the added bonus of efficiently telling him she wasn't asking for her presence; she was demanding it. The young man quickly nodded his head and retreated to the back of the cafeteria.

With fumbling steps Jaune reached Ruby, finding she had finished the cash desk closing and was now working on cleaning, her petite hands placing the remains of coffee beans in a plastic bag would probably end up in the garbage.

"Ruby! Uhm ..." the girl turned slowly towards him, bearing such a tired expression he was surprised she wasn't falling asleep while standing. "You uhh... Miss Schnee is looking for you." he croaked out awkwardly, feeling like he was being pushed around.

"Weiss Schnee of course."

As soon as the name left his lips Ruby's eyes widened, the fatigue previously settled in them being replaced with fear and renewed apprehension. Jaune scratched his hind head uncomfortably and pointed at the front of the store with an apologetic expression.

"I'd go there if I was you. She seems to be in a hurry."

Ruby instantly obeyed and left the kitchen. As she walked through the door that connected the restaurant with the pantry, she only saw the emptiness of the establishment, but it was promptly replaced by the image of Weiss's snowy hair, pale skin and expensive dress turning her back towards the cash register.

When the beautiful woman turned her head towards her, she felt as if a gust of icy wind had hit her square, taking her oxygen with it; She was most definitely not prepared for this.

Ruby approached her, hands clasped in front of her stomach and lip softly quivering as her gaze was locked on the floor in an attempt to avoid the clear blue eyes and unexpressive expression. Maybe if she didn't look at her face she'd be able to diminish how bothering her own presence was for the other woman.

When Ruby's stare lifted a couple of centimeters, she was met with the image of Weiss raising her index finger in front of her.

"I have to talk to you for a minute."

"We uhm, are closing right now, but I mean it, uh, in a moment I'll finish and then we can-" Ruby's voice, which came out as a nervous stutter, was silenced when Weiss furrowed her eyebrows at her answer. She admitted she was looking for an excuse to give herself a minute or two to remember the proper explanation she had come up with, but it wasn't a lie that she had to finish her work as soon as possible.

"Now."

Weiss commanding tone left no room for discussion as the woman turned around, not bothering with Ruby's answer as she headed to the table closest to the door; it was one of those tables placed beside the wide windows leading outside. The pieces of wooden furniture were arranged so that it was almost impossible to look at anything other than the person sitting at the front, or the streets outside.

It was the same table where Ruby remembered Weiss had sat down the day she seemed so heartbreakingly gloomy.

Timidly Ruby came out from behind the counter, following Weiss at a slower pace. Her vision was constantly dancing between the woman's back and the clean floor beneath their feet, lacking the courage to raise her head and look directly at her figure.

When she heard the sound of a chair moving, she found that the other woman was already sitting. Clumsily, she did the same and sat in front of her. Her hands her fidgeting on her lap and her eyes still guiltily avoiding the penetrating gaze examining her every movement.

A few seconds passed in which none of them made any noise or spoke a word.

But the silence was cut short when Weiss put her left hand on the table and took a slow breath.

"Why?"

Ruby's gaze lifted slightly, fixed on Weiss's fair neck. She wanted to speak back, to look her in the eye and explain her side of the night, but the more she tried to look at her eyes and properly answer, the less her body was willing to collaborate.

She didn't know if it was because she didn't have the courage to do it, or because she didn't really know how to answer the question. Why what exactly?

Not receiving an answer, Weiss's expression remained stoic. Unhurriedly opening her mouth for her second question.

"How much did he pay you?"

A strong chill ran down Ruby's back, reaching every part of her body. The sensation was so strong it forced her to finally look directly at Weiss. Their eyes met, and she opened her mouth to no avail. No answer came out of her.

She bit her lip hard and, though her eyes were once again back on the table, her gaze was resolute. If she didn't try her hardest now, the brittle foundations of their friendship would fall apart. She had to force the words to come out of her mouth.

"The nor-" she flinched when her answer felt short, the sentence feeling too wrong to be said.

Weiss waited for her to finish but quickly gave up on receiving a proper answer. Not like she needed it; she'd heard enough to intuit the rest.

A scraping sound, akin to a pen writing on paper, caught back Ruby's attention.

It quickly came to a halt, followed by the louder sound of paper being thorn away delicately. When she was starting to catch up with what was happening Ruby saw Weiss carefully folding the paper in her hands.

"Get the check. Do not approach my father."

Weiss's hand moved forward, pushing the folded rectangular paper across the table with her index and middle finger until it was left right in front of Ruby.

"Ever again."

With nothing else to say, the young heiress stood up from her seat, turned around without sparing her another glance, and headed towards the door leading outside.

Stunned, Ruby observed the paper without fully understanding what had just happened, her mind was working too slow for her to keep up with Weiss's actions.

Mere seconds later she instinctively turned her head towards the establishment's door, her mind screaming to going after the heiress even with the nervous tension weighting her down, and her breathing hitched.

But it was too late.

The door closing due to its weight was the only thing Ruby found when she looked at the entrance.

Placing a hand on her chest while the other tiredly held her head she did her best to breathe, then again it was incredibly hard knowing she had not been able to form any coherent sentence, much less properly apologize.

In fact, just remembering Weiss's toneless voice, lacking the friendly pitch it formerly carried, upset her.

Her previous fear had been well-placed; she had messed up badly.

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Fierrin: So. We are back. The last time we published was almost three years ago in Love Live. We decided, a couple of weeks ago to just write a fanfiction because, I, read a so poorly written one with a so-so same thematic, that I tell Sati "You know what? We could write something better" Three weeks later, with a lot of anxiety we are here. For those who don't know, English is not our first language, and in fact Sati took all the work of translating everything I wrote to English, so please praise the egomaniac that is inside of her. With nothing more to add, we have at least planned out until half the story, and already envisioned until two more chapters on the road. We don't know how much time we will take to write, but every comment encourages us to continue.

Enjoy, and see you next time.

Sati: Why you gotta be so rude~ . Regardless of Fierrin's desire to be a dick, I'm honestly glad we finally managed to publish something again. We usually come up with a ton of ideas but never manage to get it on paper since we… uh, I get distracted quite easily. We've really put a lot of effort in planning this work's current and future structure, so hopefully you stick with us till the end. You may get mad at us in various points of the story, but uh... (without spoiling) some stuff is not as it seems. Any piece of advice towards the writing structure and grammar is appreciated.