Chapter 22
Can I see that?? Tina asked.
Ruby held up her hand excitedly, admiring her own nails.
“It looks really good. They did a great job, Tina said, smiling at her.
Ruby couldn’t remember the last time she was pampered in such a way. Tina had arranged an entire spa day for the both of them, complete with massages and hair and nail appointments The entire thing had been incredibly nice, but even more than that, she had missed the feeling of spending an entire afternoon lazying around with a mother figure. There was nothing better than it. She could still remember spending hours and hours just sitting in a cute coffee shop or shopping and getting her nails done with her mother. Those were the memories that she held close to her heart.
“Thank you,” she whispered to Tinn.
“Oh nonsense,” Tina waved her hand in a dismissive fashion with a smile on her face. “Darling, you’re my daughter inlaw now. You’re my daughter. It’s my job to spoil you” she brushed her hair behind her ear as she spoke, still smiling.
Ruby had noticed that more often than not, her mother seemed to be lost in thought with a sad expression on her face. But not today. “Riday, she was smiling. And it was obvious that the older woman had enjoyed the day just as much as Ruby had.
“Alex explained that you would be going on more dates for the sake of the press? You know that won’t be easy right?”
Ruby nodded nervously, gulping down air. “I know,” she murmured. “But we don’t have a choice, we have to ward off all the
rumors”
“Those nasty rumors. I hope they die down soon. Preferably before my father comes into the country. I love my father, but he’s a sly fox. It’s best to tread carefully when it concerns him. If he even so much as suspects that you and Alex aren’t in love because of those rumors, all hell will break loose, And Alex he’s worked way too hard to have everything go to shit for him.”
She nodded thoroughly, “don’t worry about anything. We’ll be fine.” She didn’t know if she even believed the words leaving her own lips, but she knew that it was important for Tina to hear them.
Tina smiled, “I know you will be.”
They were attending a charity event, and she had felt confident in the gorgeous emerald green dress she had chosen, but now that they were here, she wasn’t so sure anymore. Ruby was used to this life of glitz and glamour, she grew up in it. But she had never truly felt like she belonged. She never did quite feel connected to them. And especially after spending the past six years living like a pauper just so she could afford to pay the hospital bills, she felt even more detached from this life. She knew she looked like one of them in the physical sense; she was wearing a ten thousand dollar dress and diamonds on her neck. She knew she looked beautiful. But if there was one thing she knew about the elite circle of New York, it was that they could tear down her confidence just as fast as she could walk through those doors. They would analyze and criticize every tiny detail until she was left questioning herself. She just hoped that everything would be a little easier since Tina was by her
side
Blake opened the door to the restaurant for them. Today, he had two more men from the security team with them. Tina sighed as they walked in, “I hate these charity lunches,” she said to Ruby. “I’d much rather just donate some money and leave, or even better, make an anonymous donation. But unfortunately, we’re required to show our faces. But on the bright side, I do believe that it’s a good opportunity for you to get reacquainted with some of the people that you lost touch with. Connections are a Blackwood’s most valuable asset, and you Ruby, need to start making some of your own.”
Ruby nodded nervously. Tina smiled at her reassuringly and grabbed her arm, squeezing tightly in a comforting manner. “I’m here now,” she said to her. “You’re no longer alone, Ruby.”
She sat down next to Tina, feeling our of place despite her comforting words. There was a beautiful blonde woman sitti
sitting next to her that she had never seen before, so she smiled at the woman, trying her best to portray confidence but failing terribly.
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Chapter 22
The blonde woman grinned and stuck out her hand. The gesture was so different from all the carefully practised air kisses that Ruby had been getting since she could remember, that she was startled, in the best way possible.
“Amy,” the woman said, her smile genuine and friendly, very unlike the plastic smiles that almost every woman in the room was sporting.
She shook the woman’s hand and nodded politely. “Ruby.”
Tina smiled and leaned in. “Amy is Peter Clark’s wife. They don’t live here, but whenever Amy’s in town, she usually joins us for lunch. Amy and her husband have funded many charitable organizations, and Amy is really passionate about making a difference. I think you’ll be good friends,”
Amy winked at her. “Peter is the fintech guy,” she said, referring to her husband.
Ruby’s eyes widened as she stared at Amy, “Oh my God! His company recently branched into medical research, and the findings have been crazy impressive. I was looking into it for my mother, but I wasn’t…”
She paused as her heart sank. There was no way she could even get in touch with Peter Clark, much less be able to afford and gain access to some of his technology.
Amy looked into her eyes, her gaze searching. And then she smiled, reached into her purse and pulled out a card, handing it to her. “This is my husband’s direct line. Call him and tell him I told you to reach out to him. He’ll help you with whatever
you need.”
Ruby stared at the card, with hope filling her heart. Alex was already trying to fly in some of the best doctors in the world, but this might help too. She clutched the card tighter to her chest as she thanked Amy profusely.
The room suddenly fell silent and she looked up in wonder. Natalie had just walked in. She frowned when she saw Ruby sitting there and walked over, immediately tensing when she noticed that Tina was there. The silence broke as everyone started congratulating her on the engagement, and Ruby watched as she blushed, feigning surprise. “Oh thank you, we were. trying to keep that a secret for now.”
Ruby held herself back from rolling her eyes. From what she knew, Natalie had been telling everyone and anyone who cared to listen about the engagement, and if that didn’t pass the message across, her instagram posts definitely did. She sat back and listened as Natalie answered questions about her upcoming wedding. And when she was asked about what she th married life would be like, she grinned and looked straight at Tina, her eyes shining with mischief. Ruby tensed, immediately knowing that Natalie was up to no good…
“No one knows more about happy marriages than Tina Blackwood.”
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