Ruby's Secret

CHAPTER 1

Ruby St. Clair's POV

Two days after I came home I cooked breakfast in my twin sister's fabulous kitchen while Emerald slouched on the living room sofa reading a novel. I shook my head in resignation, my twin has a state-of-the-art kitchen yet she never even once opened her kitchen burner.

At sixteen, Emerald had a history of nearly burning our family's home to the ground. She volunteered to cook for our breakfast one morning and for some reason, the fire started in our kitchen. The housekeepers since then had banned her from the kitchen. I was fairly amused that it's been years since she moved in here and her housekeeper had somehow known to forbid her in her kitchen.

"You want some help, sis?" My twin's voice floated from the living room.

"No," I called back, flipping the pancakes with such efficiency. "You know something bad will happen when you enter the kitchen."

"I've told you there's something wrong at the burner that day!" I grinned at the fierce denial of Emerald. Ever since that day she always claimed that something was wrong in our kitchen.

I put the mixture on the pan again, concentrating on cooking pancakes. Living alone in aboard for years had taught me basic things such as doing my laundry and living in a cheap class apartment. I also studied culinary arts in France for four years before wandering for another two years around the world. I like the way my life is now, the way I can go to another country whenever I want and meet different kinds of people.

After the last mixture was placed on the pan, I got the blueberries and raspberries from the fridge with maple syrup. I also arranged the table while Emerald was still in the living room. My twin couldn't even set the table of her own. I bet everything in her penthouse was bought by her interior decorator. She didn't even know where her utensils were located. I would pity the man she'll marry in the future. He picked the only woman in the world who couldn't cook to feed herself.

"Food is ready, Em!" I said from the dining room, putting the finishing touches on the table arrangement.

"Ah, sis..." Emerald said from the living room. "You might want to come here first. There's a slight problem. I think you're the only one who can solve this mystery."

I frowned at her words. What could my twin sister want to show me in the living room? I removed my apron and went to the living room to find out myself. My heart nearly stopped beating from my chest when I noticed that a man was standing in front of Emerald.

No!

It couldn't be...

My brain refused to acknowledge the fact that I knew those smoky grey eyes who had been studying my twin then his attention slid to me. I could see the disdain on his face.

He looked like a very much pissed beast.

I swallowed hard, this was just a dream--no, a nightmare. He couldn't be here. I had made sure to leave no trace of my whereabouts. Hell, I would bet he didn't even know my real name, for heaven's sake! So why he was standing in front of me now? I asked myself silently, as I looked at the man who was so angry.

"Ruby..." Emerald broke the painful silence, looking from the exasperated stranger and then back to me. "He was looking for a woman named 'Red' I believed there was some misunderstanding here."

I let my gaze trailed back to the very pissed Spaniard who was looking at me with such cold eyes. I looked at my twin sister and smiled warily in her direction. "Uh, Em...w-would you give us a moment, please?"

My overprotective twin didn't look convinced about leaving me alone with him. I could see questions in her million-dollar face. "You sure?"

"Yes." I nodded, taking a deep breath. He would not hurt me, I reminded myself. Even though his eyes were like hell frost right this moment. I could manage him. If I would just explain the details and the mistake I made when I agreed to marry him I'm sure this little hitch would be settled in no time.