Chapter 206: They Have Arrived.

After hanging up, Ruby turned back to us, her eyes sparkling. "I want to record the first live track tonight! The atmosphere, the lighting, my voice—everything feels so right right now."

Chloe frowned slightly, her sharp eyes instantly narrowing with concern. "Ruby, that might not be a good idea tonight."

"Why not?" Ruby asked, tilting her head in confusion.

I stepped in and brought her up to speed on the situation at the diner—Gorel’s massive debt, the predatory loan contract, and the scumbag loan shark planning to show up at nightfall to seize the place. "Don’t worry, though," I added smoothly, placing a hand on Chloe’s waist to reassure her. "I’ve already bought the diner, Sarah wired the cash, and backup security is on the way. I’ve got it completely under control."

Before Ruby could ask more, we heard fast footsteps crunching over the gravel. Emiliana came running up to us, panting heavily, her cheeks flushed.

"There you are!" Emiliana gasped, catching her breath. "I went to the house and didn’t see you, Ruby! I wanted to help out so badly, but I’m so sorry I couldn’t come earlier—my mom dumped a whole load of farm chores on me the second I got back!"

"Hey, don’t worry about it," I chuckled, a fresh idea popping into my head. I looked over at Ruby, then back to Emiliana. "How about this, Emiliana? How would you like to sing backup vocals on Ruby’s first track tonight?"

Emiliana’s jaw dropped. She looked between me and Ruby like she had just misheard. "B-Backup vocals?! On a real superstar’s album?!"

Ruby beamed, catching on instantly. "Oh, I love that idea! Your harmonies are gorgeous, Emiliana. Come on, let’s go practice before we head to the diner tonight!"

Emiliana looked like she was about to cry tears of joy. "Thank you so much! I won’t let you down, I promise!" she gasped, clutching her chest in pure, unadulterated gratitude.

I walked back toward the main house arm-in-arm with Chloe, who looked up at me with a soft, affectionate smile.

"You really are a sweetheart under all that tough businessman swagger, aren’t you?" she teased gently, leaning into my side. "Giving Emiliana a shot like that... it means the world to her."

"Just building an empire, counsellor," I chuckled. "And keeping good people around us."

We chilled for the next few hours, soaking in the calm afternoon weather until the quiet ranch suddenly turned into a hive of activity. A sleek fleet of vans rolled onto the property—Ruby’s full production team and live band had arrived in record time, unloading crates of specialized audio gear, lighting rigs, and instrument cases.

I stepped up to oversee the setup alongside her manager, making sure the crew had everything they needed to seamlessly interface with the diner’s new setup.

Meanwhile, Patricia had returned from her meeting with Emiliana’s mom, looking practically radiant. She joined Chloe and me on the porch, watching the bustling scene with a cool, satisfied expression. Over by the main rig, Ruby was passionately gesturing, explaining to her sound engineers and band members exactly how she wanted the live acoustics and harmonies to hit for tonight’s session.

As I stood there taking it all in, my thoughts briefly drifted back to May.

I wonder what May is up to right now... I thought to myself, a faint smirk touching my lips. Probably lazing around, being her usual adorable self.

It struck me that unlike Ruby, Chloe, and Patricia, I hadn’t really sat down for proper one-on-one time to pour back into her and see what she wanted to build. When we get back, I definitely need to fix that, I noted internally.

Before I could ponder it further, Sarah stepped onto the porch in her sharp, immaculate suit, her phone in hand as she approached us.

"Everything is in order, boss," Sarah reported smoothly. "The $1 million capital transfer to Gorel has cleared, the $125,000 physical cash is secured, and your heavy security team has just arrived on site."

She nodded toward the driveway, where a dark SUV pulled up and three burly, stone-faced security guards in dark suits stepped out, ready for whatever the loan shark thought he was bringing to the diner tonight

Inside the diner, the atmosphere was electric. Ruby’s band sounded incredible, and her raw, soulful voice carried through the space while Emiliana held down the backing harmonies like a seasoned pro. The few locals left in the room were completely mesmerized, soaking in what felt like a private, intimate concert.

From the center of the stage, Ruby caught my eyes mid-chorus, giving me a subtle, glowing smile without missing a beat. Beside me, Chloe and Patricia were swaying along to the rhythm, completely sucked into the heavy, late-night vibes.

Even Sarah was standing stiffly against the wall, trying her absolute best to maintain her usual stern, professional composure—though I didn’t miss her foot quietly tapping to the bassline.

I leaned closer to her with a quiet chuckle. "Relax, Sarah. I’m not a tyrant boss. There’s no harm in a little fun."

Sarah immediately caught herself, snapping back into her rigid posture with a soft, rare blush on her cheeks. "Just staying alert, boss."

"Keep an eye on the stage," I said, giving her a nod. "I’m going to wait outside."

I picked up the leather briefcase containing the $125,000 in cold, hard cash, along with the predatory loan contract Gorel had signed, and stepped out onto the porch of the diner.

The cool night air hit me as I sat down on a wooden bench under the warm porch light, taking a slow sip of my smoothie. My three heavy security guards stood shadow-still nearby, blending effortlessly into the darkness around the building.

The diner doors muffled the sweet sound of Ruby’s music behind me, creating a quiet, surreal contrast to the confrontation I knew was coming.

After a few minutes of waiting, the quiet rustic night was broken by the sound of heavy boots crunching against the gravel driveway. Loud, arrogant chatter and rough laughter drifted up the road.

The loan shark and his crew had arrived.