Page 8 of Strictly Friends
‘As soon as possible. I can’t risk Jake getting into more trouble. Besides, if I leave it too long, I’ll bottle it cos, truth be told, I really can’t bear the thought of seeing Kenny again.’
‘Fine. You can take an unpaid sabbatical for as long as you need, and we’ll work out how to cover your role while you’re gone. If it means bringing in a temp, then so be it.’
Seeing Ruby’s troubled expression, Fi’s voice softened. ‘Rubes, you’ve been by my side every day since I started this business, and no-one’s worked harder than you to make it a success. You’re not just my office manager, you are family, and I can’t do without you. So go off and do whatever you need to do for Jake, and we’ll hold the fort while you’re gone.’
Ruby sat quietly as the memories stirred by Fi’s impassioned words came flooding back. As a single mother facing redundancy from a job that she’d hated and a supervisor she hated even more, Ruby had struggled to find a role that offered enough flexibility to cater to the demands of a clingy two-year-old. In hiring Ruby to join her fledgling company, Fi had thrown her friend a lifeline in more ways than one. Slogging alongside Fi to build her dream business from an idea into a successful communications company had allowed Ruby to literally work her way through the pain of Kenny’s disappearance and the loss of her parents. Fi, for her part, was only too grateful for the long hours Ruby put in to work and always made a point of waving Ruby off to Jake’s special school assemblies, sports days, and other occasions with a blithe ‘Just take the time, for goodness’ sake!’ Although Ruby had never felt taken for granted, this was the first time that Fi, who was possibly even less sentimental than Ruby, had been so open about how much she valued her.
‘I honestly don’t know what to say,’ Ruby admitted. Although Jake would always come first, she had been dreading this conversation with Fi and the reality of walking away from a job she loved with a team of people – many of whom she had hired – who were not only colleagues, but friends.
Fi’s scarlet-tinted lips widened into a wry smile. ‘I mean it, Rubes. You’ve been there for me through all my disasters, so it’s only fair I do the same for you.’
Ruby hauled herself out of the chair. ‘I’d give you a massive hug, but I’m worried I’d break you.’
‘Ha-ha, very funny. I wish you would stop putting yourself down all the time. You are tall, not a bloody monster!’
‘Says the tiny blonde bombshell who has every man she meets dying to tuck her into his jacket pocket,’ Ruby scoffed.
‘Whatever,’ Fi muttered. ‘Oh, and can you contact a couple of the recruiters we use and tell them we need a temporary office manager as soon as?’
‘Okay, boss.’ Ruby nodded. She walked towards the door and hesitated before turning back. ‘You know, youcouldgive Priya a chance at doing my job and just get someone else in to help her with the admin.’
‘Priya?’ Fi looked doubtful. ‘I dunno, Rubes. I’d rather have someone I can have a go at without feeling guilty. Just the idea of Priya giving me wounded looks with those huge brown eyes of hers ...’ She tailed off with a shudder. ‘Urgh! It would be like shouting at Bambi. Besides, is she tough enough to handle the account managers? I need someone who can keep them in check and make sure they don’t pad their expenses. They know better than to give you grief—’
‘That’s because they’re terrified of me,’ Ruby interjected with a wicked smile. ‘Don’t underestimate the power of towering over every one of them.’
Fi tutted impatiently. ‘There you go again! No, don’t give me that look –that’swhat intimidates people, not your height. I don’t scare easily, as both my ex-husbands can attest, but even I get a teensy bit terrified of that frown.’
Ruby’s mouth dropped open in outrage. ‘I can’t believe you just said that! Do youknowhow awful a stereotype it is when you call a Black woman intimidating?’
‘Noelle’s Black and she’s never scared me,’ Fi said airily. ‘This isn’t about horrible stereotypes, it’s aboutyouand how you’d rather scowl at people than smile in case anyone has the audacity to thinkyou’re a walkover. It’s got nothing to do with being Black and everything to do with the fact you don’t trust anyone.’
Ruby’s indignation was replaced by shock.Where the hell did that come from?Momentarily stunned into silence, she opened the door. Then, she shut it again.
‘Fi, Idotrust people...’ Her voice tailed off as she heard herself sound less than convincing.
‘Really? Let’s see. When did you last go on a date, then? No, don’t bother trying to rack your brains because it was two years ago, and the reason I know is because I’m the one who set it up. I’ll also remind you that you blocked the poor bloke on your phone the very next day.’
Ruby pulled a face. ‘Yeah, well, that’s because I hadn’t wanted to go out with him in the first place. Let me remindyouthat not only did you threaten to sack me if I didn’t go, you also conveniently omitted to tell me he was only five foot six.’
‘Well, Paul’s a lovely man – as you’d have found out if you’d given him half a chance. But, no, you won’t allow yourself to trust anyone and be happy.’
‘Happiness is overrated,’ Ruby said breezily. ‘Besides, as hard as it is for you to believe, I don’t need a man to complete me or any of that romantic guff people seem to think is real life. I’ve got my incredible son, a job I love, and friends who – when they’re not interfering in my life – are absolutely brilliant, thank you very much.’
‘If you say so,’ was Fi’s sardonic response. ‘By the way, don’t go getting any funny ideas about leaving me while you’re out in the tropics. I’d like us to have a chat about promoting you when you get back. With our overseas business expanding so quickly, I want to move marketing out from sales and I’m going to need someone to run the team. Marketing has always been your passion and you’ve been involved in loads of our campaigns – not to mention you know the company and our services inside out. It would meanworking closely with sales, and with Nick and the tech team, and you’d have to beef up your digital skills, but I think you’d be perfect for the role. Think about it while you’re away, will you? It would mean a good bump in salary.’
Ruby grinned. ‘Sounds brilliant. Bloody hell, I should resign more often!’
Fi looked pointedly at her watch and then tapped on her keyboard with a perfectly manicured finger. ‘I’ll talk to Priya, but I still want you to brief a couple of recruiters in case I’m not convinced.’
This time, however, Ruby was determined not to let Fi have the last word. ‘Priya will do a great job of managing the office, and you should have faith in her. It’s only because she looks like a puff of wind would blow her away that no-one realises the girl is as tough as old boots.’
‘No surprise you two get on so well, then,’ Fi muttered.
Ruby’s expression didn’t shift, and Fi was the first to drop her gaze. ‘Fine. Send her in and I’ll have a chat with her. If, by some miracle, Priya does as good a job as you say she can, I’ll consider letting her take over as office manager when you come back. But, Ruby, if I’m willing to give her a chance, then maybe it’s time to take your own advice and give others a chance. You’re too young and too bloody gorgeous to shut down any chance of love. I know what Kenny did to you was unforgiveable and I totally get how that’s put you off relationships, but not every man is going to be likehim.’
Ruby stared at her wordlessly, and Fi pulled her laptop closer and peered at the screen. Reaching for her glasses, she perched them on her nose and, without glancing up from her computer, added crisply, ‘You can close the door on your way out.’
6
