Ruby Allen (Louisa Lytton) shuts down a desperate plea from love rival Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) in EastEnders next week.
As fans know, Ruby is currently loved up with ex-husband Martin Fowler (James Bye) once again, despite the bubbling tension between him and his other ex-wife Stacey.
But next week, there is trouble in paradise after Ruby’s dealings with Councillor Barker over the closure of the Bridge Street market have unintended consequences for Martin.
Forthcoming scenes see Martin giving his girlfriend the cold shoulder over how she handled the situation with Barker, and his mood does not improve even when it is announced the marking can stay open.
In a bid to prove him wrong, Ruby finds Barker and tries to put things right. However, Barker is feeling vengeful and later delivers the blow that while the market is staying open, he is closing Martin’s stall for an alleged health and safety violation.
Martin is furious at Ruby but Stacey surprisingly speaks up for her former best friend, before Martin goes off to visit his cousin Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt).
Hoping to get support from him about their family’s legacy, Martin is devastated when he’s met by total indifference to the stall’s closure from Ian, and it is left to Stacey to try and lift his spirits.
Later, she goes to see Ruby and begs her to use any tricks she can to get the stall back.
However, Ruby refuses Stacey’s plea, determined to prove that she’s changed once and for all.
‘Martin has made it clear that he doesn’t want to be with that version of Ruby,’ actress Louisa Lytton, who plays Ruby, explains.
‘Ruby knows that by [doing what Stacey asks], she’ll just lose Martin, so she has to stick to what she’s promised him.
‘Also, it’s Stacey who is asking her to do this, not Martin, and why would she do that for Stacey? She’s not going to jeopardise what she’s got with Martin and push him back towards Stacey.’
But without Ruby’s support, Stacey sets off on mission to get Martin’s stall back – and Ruby may live to regret not offering her help when she then witnesses a warm moment between them that almost results in a kiss…
EastEnders airs these scenes from Monday 27 January at 7.30pm on BBC One, or stream first from 6am on iPlayer.
