Page 2 of Heart & Hope

“Montana might be a bit far for that. Sorry, babe.” She pauses. I guess, she’s checking her phone of the time. “But only five months ’til I can come back and hit that joint with you.”

“Don’t sound so excited you’ve left me, Adds.”

“It’s only a short stint, and you know I couldn’t stay there with everything that happened with Adam.”

“I know, but I miss you. Promise you will come home when you’re done. No running off into the sunset with some muscle-bound cowboy.”

“Ride off,” she says with a laugh.

“Huh?”

“I think they ride off into the sunset, Rubes.”

I scoff and close my eyes. Of course they do. My cell vibrates and emails flood in. Mari. “Hey, I have to get back to it. Please stay safe, Adds. And text me if you need me, promise.”

“Yes, Mom. Love you, Rubes.”

“Love you too, Addy.”

I tap the red circle as emotion clogs my throat and my office door swings open. Addy and I have always been close. People mistake us for sisters, our eyes both dark brown, similar complexion. Figures, since the only difference really is our hair. Hers is curly and brown, mine is wavy and natural blonde. A voice clears to my left. Olive stands, arms crossed, in my doorway as I swivel the chair to face her.

“Ruby, do you have a sec?”

“Ah, I thought I was coming to you, at eleven?”

“We can do this now.”

As if I didn’t have my day scheduled to the minute, but hey, it’s not like I’m the boss... yet. “Sure, Olive, take a seat.”

She waits by the door and when she doesn’t move, my gut sinks. I push out from my desk as she nods toward the door. Following her down the hall, we reach the elevator, and she punches the button for the ground level. When the door pings, we step inside and turn to face the sliding doors automatically. My heart pounds in my chest as the elevator drops. I don’t like things out of routine. And taking a walk with Olive, trying to make it casual, is making my nerves sing.

“Ruby, you know I love the work you do. Your events are top-tier. Always.”

Oh wow, here goes.

Here comes thebut.

“But?” I ask, deciding to rip the Band-Aid off.

“Some of the clients have given us some feedback about your relations and the way you have been handling staff lately.”

“Efficiently?”

“Bluntly. And very inflexible.”

“Olive. You know how I operate. Events of that caliber aren’t accidents. And someone has to hold the ship together or it fucking sinks.”

She cringes, her fifty-something wrinkles pulling at her blue eyes as she sighs. “Ruby, you need to relax a little, or we are going to start losing the larger accounts to those hacks across town.”

She is referring to Premium Events. Original. Honestly, who chooses a company name so basic? Surprised they bring in any business at all.

“Fine, I’ll tone it down a little. Let a few things slip. And when complaints come pouring in, I’ll direct them straight to management.”

She tilts her head, muttering my name exasperatedly.

The elevator bings and the doors swing open.

“You can tone it down right now, Ruby. I understand you have standards and not everyone lives up to them. But this controlling side of you isn’t healthy. So...”

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