Page 28 of His Jewel

Chapter Eleven

Ruby

It was done. It was over. There was no going back. No going forward. She was stuck, like she was being buried. That’s how the first week felt, like she had the flu. Cathy had been messaging and calling her incessantly, seemingly desperate to get hold of her. She should be a better friend and call her, or at least text her to let her know she was okay. She looked at the latest one.

Please, Ruby. I don’t understand. Josh said you had to leave effective immediately because of an emergency. What emergency? Just let me know you’re okay. I miss you xx

She squeezed her eyes shut against the message, against the bright light.

He hadn’t told anyone—he was still protecting her. He hadn’t even told Cathy that she’d been fired. Not just fired from her job, but as his girlfriend, fired from his life.

“Shit!”

She opened her eyes and glanced at her phone again. She was meeting Alana in an hour at the club. It would be the first time she’d gone out since ... it happened. She figured she couldn’t leave Alana hanging for much longer. It was her job, her reputation that she was ruining. She would tell her everything.

She groaned, rolling off the couch and stepping over copious amounts of takeout and wine bottles as she headed for the bathroom.

When she caught sight of her reflection, she did a double take. She looked like the girl from The Ring, for fuck’s sake. She’d really let herself go. She tilted her head, her hair spilling with her. It wasn’t often that the outward appearance reflected perfectly what the inside was feeling. But, hey, there’s a first time for everything. She set to work tidying herself, showering and shaving, and putting on some make-up. She looked almost human again. She rooted through her closet and found an old black dress and some silver thigh-high boots. Now all there was left to do was her lipstick. She hovered over her lips, looking at her reflection in the mirror.

Ruby Red. His nickname for her sang through her mind.

She closed her eyes and pocketed the lipstick without putting any on.

Fifteen minutes later, she gave her name to the security guard and was let in, but not before throwing a quick text over to Cathy to let her know she was okay and to ask how the business was going. In other words, to ask her how Josh was doing. With any luck she’d get an answer. To her surprise, Alana was already there waiting for her at the bar. She took a seat next to her.

“Hey,” she said.

Alana turned and wrapped her in an embrace. She patted her back awkwardly, but Alana clung to her, rubbing her back in circles. She held her friend tighter, and that’s when the tears fell. To her credit, Alana held her through them all.

“I fucked up. I really, really fucked up and I don’t know my way out of it.”

Alana listened to her sorry tale, making sure that their glasses of wine never dipped below half. She was way too good to her.

Alana took a sip of her wine, considering. “Sometimes there is no way out of it. We have to live with the consequences of our actions and move forward.”

Ruby reached out and took her friend’s hand. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry I put your reputation on the line, your business...”

Alana squeezed her hand. “Yes, I don’t think Josh Hall is going to be leaving me any five star reviews any time soon. He’s angry.”

Her heart sank. “You saw him?”

She nodded. “He came to return his card. I was the one who explained everything to him, who your parents are.”

She gasped. “You knew?”

“I knew. Well, I guessed and then I did my research, you’re not as good an actress as you think, you know.”

“How long have you known?”

“Since our drink with Josh and Drew at the club.”

She opened her mouth, but Alana held up her hand. “It’s on you, yes, but it’s also on me. I should’ve vetted you properly. But I think you’ve been through enough, don’t you? Let’s just move on. Have you talked to your parents?”

She hadn’t. And she wasn’t interested. Maybe someday there would be a reconciliation between them, but, no, she explained to Alana, who nodded.

“And Josh?” she asked tentatively, like she was a glass doll on the cusp of breaking. “Are you going to talk to him?”

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