You Looked Down on Me Once Now You Look Up (Patricia and Oliver) novel Chapter 147

“What’s with that look? Why are you staring at me?” Nina caught Ruby’s eyes and made a show of touching her neck, pretending she had no clue about the love bite.

She’d worked hard last night to get Theo’s attention, just so she could stand here today and land a blow right in front of Ruby. After all that plotting, there was no way she was going to let her efforts go to waste.

“It’s nothing,” Ruby said, shifting her gaze to the barista making coffee. “What are you even doing here?”

Most people had no reason to be hanging around the lobby of the Martin Group building. Nina showing up here, at this hour, wasn’t exactly a coincidence—at least not in Ruby’s mind.

“My brother’s got a meeting next door, so I thought I’d grab a coffee. You know how it is—can’t get a decent cup over there,” Nina said, shrugging like it was just an ordinary inconvenience.

Acting like she had no other choice.

“Seems like a long way to come from the south side just for a coffee, doesn’t it?” Ruby asked.

Nina gave a light laugh. “Oh, I didn’t come from home. I stayed at the Newtons’ last night.”

The message couldn’t be more obvious: not only had she spent the night at the Newtons’, but she’d also been with Theo.

Ruby took her coffee from the barista, gripping the cup so tightly she almost cracked the lid. As she turned to leave, Nina’s familiar smile faded from her face.

Theo wasn’t always going to be the Martin family’s son-in-law.

Patricia picked up her latte and left, throwing Nina a meaningful glance on the way out.

Nina stood at the counter for a long moment, thinking. She never liked Patricia—the woman was sharp, almost scary, and every word felt like a puzzle. But still, Patricia wasn’t on Ruby’s side. And the enemy of my enemy… well, that’s close enough to a friend.

So Nina ordered forty-two matcha lattes, marched right upstairs with the barista, and pushed open Ruby’s office door like they were best friends, arms linked and laughing. Anyone watching would’ve thought they were inseparable.

Once all the coffee was passed out—exactly forty-two cups—Nina finally understood what Patricia meant about the number.

Ruby glared at her, jaw clenched. “Since when are we this close?”