"That's the truth. I've got no evidence, nothing to back me up. You can believe me if you want. Men like him and Jerkface Jeremy have problems with women. They probably have problems outside work but definitely they do not want to work with any woman in a technical role."
Oh hell, I'd called him Jerkface Jeremy to the boss's face. That was bad. I put my hands on the table to keep them still.
Alex Feng have me a tiny nod. I wasn't sure if that was agreement or just telling me to continue. I tried to say more but I couldn't talk. My words were trapped within me with all escape routes blocked.
"Would you like a glass of water?" he asked.
I nodded.
When he left the room, I reshuffled my notes and tried to calm myself. I wasn't sure if I was getting through to him at all. His face remained impassive. I had so much more to say but I wasn't sure if I could say it.
Alex returned with my water and I took a huge gulp, almost choking myself.
"I know it's hard for you, Ruby, I do need you to continue. I want to know what is going on inside my company."
"Chris David and Jerk – Jeremy," I'm pretty sure that he almost grinned when I said that, "is that they look down on women. They lack the basic ability to even see women as people. They talk but they don’t listen. They are too busy trying to score points. That’s never going to be a collaborative environment."
I stopped to take another gulp of water. I was ranting. I could hear myself ranting but all blockages had been cleared from my words. I had to say this.
"You want to create this innovative, cutting edge company but it's still built on this male focused paradigm. If you ask me, that is stuck in the Middle Ages. You don't want a cutthroat culture where your staff are backstabbing each other. I mean, what the hell was Jerkface doing anyway? He was all happy-perky guy then he called me in here and piled all these accusations on me without ever giving me a chance to defend myself. And really, why should I have to defend myself? How can anyone do quality work if they are constantly having to be vigilant against petty schoolboy attacks? If these guys paid as much attention to their own work as they did to bringing other people down with petty sabotage, they'd be much better off."
My mouth kept talking but inside I felt like the whole world was falling apart. I couldn't say these things out loud without destroying myself. There'd be push-back and it'd be harsh.
"I have a whole bunch of logs here with details of my work." I grabbed the print-outs from my bag and hurled them on the table. "Jerkface wouldn't even listen to me about them. He dismissed everything I said. This whole thing sucks balls, to be honest, and I'm sorry I ever agreed to work for you."
Whoa, that was more that I meant to say. I wanted to flee but forced myself to stay in my chair and look him straight in the eyes. Inside, my body turned to mush but I made the outside look like hard steel.
Alex picked up the printouts and leafed through them. He still didn't say anything. I wanted to fidget, adjust my clothes and scratch my face but I sat stock still.
"Just a moment," he said. He pulled out his phone and left the room.
What the hell? I did NOT want to sit in that room alone, waiting to be judged. Screw it. I wouldn't be judged. No matter what Alex Feng said, he was just one person. I didn't work for him anymore so it wasn't like he could do anything to me. If one more person in this world didn't like me or didn't think highly of me, it didn't mean a thing. Sheryl was right: what mattered was my opinion.
And Tex's.
I tried to hush that voice but I couldn't stop it. I wasn't sure if I'd even left anything to salvage there.
Alex Feng returned to the room.
"I think I owe you an apology. I've spoken to our support people and there have been some irregular happenings. I'll need to investigate it further but it seems you're right. Thank you, Ruby. Not many people would speak out like you have."
I stared at him for a moment. Was this a joke? He'd start laughing, mocking me for being stupid enough to fall for that.
"I'd like you to continue working for us. There will, of course, be major changes to the work environment and I'd like you on board for that."
Wow, I was NOT expecting that. This had to be a prank on me. Soon Jerkface and Chris David would burst in and they'd all laugh at me. Things did not work out that easily. My hands still shook from my ranting.
"I'm... I'm not sure..."
"I can understand if you want to review your options after this experience but if there is any incentive I can add to entice you to stay..." He smiled that disarming smile.
It hit me. I did have options. And I had an obligation to Hannah. She was relying on me to take over when Angie went on maternity leave. I couldn't leave her in the lurch and, to be honest, it would be much more fun working with her than with a bunch of corporate types. It’d only be short term and I'd have plenty of spare time to plan out my own projects, especially after I automated all the paperwork. I didn't need to work for someone like Alex Feng, even if he was a top bloke. I could be the Alex Feng of my own company.
"I'm sorry but I think I'll decline your offer." I even managed to say it firmly. Like I meant it, with no rising inflection at the end. “If you want any ideas about improving work place equality, I’ll give them to you for free.”
"Are you positive you want to leave?"
I told him what I'd decided. My heart thudded with the fear that he'd laugh at my stupid plans. Who was I to think I could do something like that. I could do the techie stuff but outsourcing work and dealing with other people? I guess I just had to deal with that if I wanted to do the fun parts.
"I'm sorry to lose you. I'd much rather have you make money for me than for yourself. I can see why you'd want to be independent though. If you ever need support or a mentor, please contact me."
He smiled and I smiled back.
I'd done it. I'd stood up to him. I'd said the things I needed to say and I'd survived. My whole body shook and I needed a long nap to get over the exhaustion but I'd done it.
If bloody Tex hadn't made me so angry, I'd have never set up this meeting.
"I'd advise you to leave soon," Alex said. "I've called Jerkface in for a chat. If you don't want to run into him, it might be best to get out of here."
I nodded and gathered up my stuff. My life was still screwed up and I'd ruined everything with Tex but I could walk out of this meeting with my head in the air.
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN - TEX
I paced the street, waiting for Ruby to come out of her meeting. She was taking so long in there, I hoped it wasn't going badly. She'd probably be so upset when she came out that she'd punch me and walk off.
I'd called Alex Feng. I didn't think Ruby would have the guts to do it and she needed to be heard out. This thing had destroyed her. I wanted to kill those guys who'd been such dicks but she'd be even angrier if I hunted them down. So, when Alex Feng told me that she'd already set up a meeting with him, I wanted to slap a big kiss on her. I couldn't believe my Ruby would do it. She'd stopped running.
Like a big creeper, I came to the meeting space and lurked around outside. We had to sort ourselves out. Because she was my Ruby, she'd always be my Ruby.
I itched for a cigarette but I fought that feeling, burying my hands in my back pockets. Instead, I leaned against the black Mercedes parked outside, under the cover of the trees.
Since that night with Devon, I'd made some hard decisions. I'd been so fucked up. I never wanted to go back to that place again. Literally and figuratively. I'd moved out of the house. It wasn't a healthy place for me to be. Too many memories and too much heartache. Although moving in with Devon probably hadn’t been the best move, at least it worked until I got things sorted.
I had plans for that house but I wanted to talk to Ruby first. What we had was worth fighting for. I might never be a perfect man but I was a man who’d try my hardest to be worthy of her.
"Hey, you don't want to lean on that car. I'm meeting with the guy who owns it and he's g
oing to be pissed off if he finds a bum like you is sprawled all over his Merc."
I turned to face the dick who said that. It wasn't just any dick. It was the Jerkface dick who’d fired Ruby. I remembered him from when I'd picked her up at that meeting.
"Fuck off, Jerkface." I couldn't hit him – Ruby’d kill me if she found out I did that, especially outside her meeting place – but I could hit him with my words.
"Holy shit, you're Tex O'Malley. Sorry, man. I love you. Like, I really, really love you. What are you doing here? You can lean on my boss's crappy Merc all you like."
God, the guy almost cracked a fat. His drooling disgusted me but I’d fuck with his head a little. He deserved it.
"No worries.” I stuck my hand out to shake his. “Say, how about I get your details and set you up with free tickets to my next gig? Front row?"
The guy's eyes were like saucers. "Really? That would be... oh my God... I can't even... it'd be my dream come true."
I grabbed him and threw him up against the car.
"As if. You screwed my girlfriend over, you big steaming sack of shit. I'm going to take a photo of you and if you ever turn up at one of my gigs again, I'll have security throw you out on your fat, jerky arse."
I laughed. Wow, that felt good. The poor bastard ran off as though he'd shat himself. Ruby was right – fighting didn’t solve anything. Screwing with people’s heads did though.
"Tex?"
Ruby stood on the steps, shining like a goddess. The glow within her could light the whole world. I ran to her and grabbed her in my arms without worrying if she was angry with me or if she'd push me away. I just had to hold her.
"What are you doing here?"
"Waiting for you."
She grinned at me and the warmth of that grin moved through me. She stayed in my arms, not pushing me away.
"You did it? You confronted him?"
"I did it and I survived." Her voice was triumphant.
"So, what now? You're going back to work for Alex Feng?" I took her hand and twisted my fingers through hers as we moved down the street.
"Nope."
"Nope?"
"He offered me my job back and I turned it down."
"Because being my housekeeper is the best job you ever had? That makes me so happy, Ruby. I have a whole bunch of dirty jocks that need washing."
She untangled her hand so she could punch me.
"I'm going to work for Hannah for a while –"
"Hell no. That is not going to be good for me. The pair of you will gang up on me and make my life a misery." I laughed and grabbed hold of her hand again. She walked beside me, a cool breeze blowing through the streets fluttered through her hair so that the strands tickled against my arm.
"And I have plans, big plans. I'm going to do the things that make me happy, even if it scares me. Well, terrifies me."
I squeezed her hand.
"I'll be here to protect you always. You know that."
"I don't want you to protect me. I want you to support me."
"Whatever you want. I'm so proud of you. You're so tough now, you might need to protect me."
She laughed but I turned to face her, serious for a moment.
"I mean it. I've done some thinking. I've been carrying this burden of guilt for so long, I don't even know what I'm doing. I know I'm not perfect, we're not perfect but we don't have to be. We just need to be together and help each other. I’ve been a jerk, but I want to make things right. I need your help, Ruby."
I'd never felt as vulnerable as I did at that moment. There was so much I needed to tell her. I had a future mapped out and I wanted to know if she was going to be part of it. I wanted us to work together as a team.
In the few seconds it took for her to answer me, the world stood still. A car zoomed past and kids screamed down the street somewhere but for me, time stopped, hanging on for her answer.
"You only had to ask." She smiled at me. “I love you, Tex. I’ve never stopped loving you. I just needed to sort things out for myself.”
“We’re a crazy pair.” I stroked her face. “But we work, don’t we.”
The stars sparkling in her eyes gave me all the answers I needed. I’d do everything in my power to make sure those stars sparkled forever.
We kept walking, hand in hand.
"Where are we going anyway? I hope the answer is to eat because I'm starving. I couldn't eat yesterday because I was so nervous. And we need to make a strategy because helping you is going to be the biggest project ever. Your problems run deep."
"Actually, I wanted you to go look at an apartment with me. I've moved out of the house, given it away to someone who needs all that space. I'm going to buy an apartment but I needed to know if it should be for one person or two."
"What? No way. You just gave away your house? Is that even possible?"
“It’s possible and it’s happening. The ghosts of that house will be laid to rest. I think an apartment in town will suit us. This place is close to a rehearsal space and it’s got all kinds of security. It’s gorgeous. And plenty big enough for a couple of kids.”
Ruby stopped. I waited for her protests about never having children but she just gave me a sly grin.
"I love you, Ruby."
I picked her up in my arms and spun her around. All the stars in the sky fell around us. Like our love, they were there even if we couldn’t always see them. We had something precious and no one could take that away.
"Of course. I love you, Tex, and I want to be with you. Forever."
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT - RUBY
I felt nervous going back to the house. Tex had been so tight-lipped for the last few months about what he was doing with it. He’d been out there a few times without me but hadn’t once let it slip what he was doing.
You don't just give away a house that easily, surely?
As we turned into the driveway, I stared up at the building. It looked different. More alive. That old house that had loomed over me the first time I came here seemed to sparkle in the sun. It had a welcoming feeling that it'd never had before, like all the bad atmosphere had been swept away.
When we pulled up, I heard laughter coming from the garden. Kids screaming. I looked at Tex. Had he given the house to a family?
He parked and pulled his guitar out of the back seat. I took off my seat belt and got out.
Then I saw the sign: "Julie's House".
An older woman walked towards us, smiling at Tex.
"What's this about?"
"You know that Julie and I grew up in foster homes after our parents died? They were horrible places. I started playing music because it'd seemed like my ticket out of that life. Not so much for me but for Julie. We couldn’t get out though, not really, but there are hundreds, maybe thousands, of kids like Julie. That's what the house is now. A place for those kids. What's the point of having a heap of money if you can't do anything useful with it? If I can save one kid from a fate like Julie's then all this fame has been worth it."
Wow, I never thought Tex was such a softie.
The woman approached and shook Tex's hand. "The kids are ready for their music lesson."
A young girl ran up to Tex.
"You think you can teach me guitar, mister? I don't think you've got anything to teach me, has-been. "
We exchanged glances and both laughed. She kicked him on the shin then ran off but turned back to poke her tongue out.
"You're teaching these kids music?"
"Yeah. I thought it would keep me off the streets. Not sure how I'm going to deal with that hell-demon though."
The grin twitched at the corners of his mouth. I wondered if he could see a part of Julie in that girl.
He put his arm around me as we walked into the house. The two of us had made so much progress from the grumpy bastards we’d been, trapped in that house. I mean, I still spent most of my days talking to no one but Tex but business was going well. I’d gotten together a heap of misfits who loved working with me
and we were preparing to rollout a few projects.
As Tex walked, he sang a song. A song about a girl with stars in her eyes and fire in her hair or was it fire in her eyes and stars in her hair… It was a song I’d never heard him sing before.
“What’s that song?” I asked.
“I wrote it for you. It’s called Ruby Red, but I’ve never performed it. Well, not properly.”
“It’s super catchy. Maybe you could sing it at our wedding.” I didn’t look at him.
He grabbed me in his arms and kissed me. “Really, Ruby, that’s like you are saying yes to the proposal I haven’t made yet.” He kissed me again.
We had to stop because the kids screamed at us.
“That’s disgusting,” the hell-demon girl yelled.
I grinned at Tex. It was so not disgusting. It was heaven. I had a life that I loved and I had Tex. It wasn't perfect but it wasn't far from it.
THE END
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Thanks for reading Be With You. I hope you enjoyed it. This is the final in the Fallen Star series, although I might be tempted to write Devon’s story at some point in the future. I would really appreciate if you took the time to write a review on Amazon.
Bad Boy Rock Star series:
Hannah Sorrento never planned to be a band manager but her father disappears and leaves her with only a management contract for hot, indie band, STORM. She wants to get back to her designer life ASAP but lead singer, Jack Colt, has other ideas.
Bad Boy Rock Star (Book 1)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GPP30O2/
Bad Boy vs Millionaire (Book 2)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J83LEVO
Be With You Page 15
