14

Ruby decided to spend her lunch with Ethan and Cassie at the cafeteria. She now enjoyed spending time with her colleagues and getting to know them. Some of them were impressed by how she won the contract and how she got the biggest office. For the first time, she didn’t feel left out or awkward, almost everyone got along with her or at least were formal with her.

They were seated at a table at the corner of the cafeteria. They ordered a couple of burgers and soda

  “I heard Reynolds company and co is going bankrupt” Stacy said, bringing up a topic of discussion 

She was now used to the gossip girls of the office, she rather found them interesting and listened to them when they talked.

  “I heard so too” Cassie remarked

“I heard Reynolds was jilted and duped by his soon to be wife which led to the bankruptcy”

Ruby had heard about it from Esme, it was a sad story. Reynolds' company was doing just fine until the whole thing happened. It saddened her that people were heartless and were out to break other people’s hearts.

 “Guess what?” Carla teased, her eyes dancing with excitement 

They all knew she was about to spill hot tea and never heard before gossip.

 “Tell me, tell me” Cassie and Stacy cooed as they circled in.

Ruby and Ethan let out a small laugh, their little gang never ceased to amuse her. Cassie was the gang leader while Stacy and Carla were just regular members.

 “Taylor Wyatt just posted a ring on her social media, I think she is going to tie the knot with Nate very soon!”

They squeaked and clapped excitedly as they filled their ears with more information.

The mention of Taylor’s name was Ruby’s cue to leave their little gathering but she didn’t want to, she was dying to know what Nate was up to and she wanted every single detail even though she knew she was only going to end up hurt. 

 “Look at the ring, that’s one big rock!” Stacy commented as Cassie pulled out a picture of the ring and passed it round for them to see.

 Ruby took the phone shakily as Carla passed the phone to her.

A beautiful ring sat on Taylor’s well manicured fingernails. It was a ring similar to Nate’s. Was Taylor hinting at her marriage with Nate? She thought.

Ruby also wondered if she was trying to show off her expensive ring. 

 “Don’t you think if Mr Jacobin was getting married, he would inform us?” Ruby asked

She needed other people’s opinion on the matter and she needed someone to assure her that the whole marriage thing was fake and Taylor was only seeking attention.

  “Mr Jacobin is a very private man, I doubt he would tell us about it” Carla spoke

  “I agree with you” Cassie nodded

Ruby rolled her eyes, why did she have to love a man who didn’t love her back? Why did he have to keep his employees in the dark too?

  “I don’t think the marriage thing is true” Ethan commented, speaking for the first time

  “Why do you think so?” Cassie asked as all four pairs of eyes turned to him attentively 

 “If Taylor was getting married, she would make a big deal about it and she would be trending all over social media” he explained 

The girls nodded their head in agreement, Ethan had a valid point. Taylor was a public figure who loved to show every detail of her life on social media so why would she hide her marriage?

Ruby took comfort in what Ethan said and concluded it was a publicity stunt.

  “Do you want me to walk you to your office?” Ethan asked when they were done with their food 

  Ruby smiled as Ethan linked his arm in hers. She saw it as a nice gesture. Ethan was warm and kind; he was the kind of friend that supported her and always called to check up on her.

“I saw how terrified you looked back there when you saw the ring” he observed 

 “Pfft” she sighed “it was nothing really, I was just shocked”

She hated that she always lied to Ethan but she couldn’t help it, she didn’t know how she was going to explain to him that she had fallen for her boss a long time ago and everyday she saw him at the office, she fell for him harder.

  “So, how do you like the others?”

 “Well, I feel welcomed here. I used to be a nerd in high school”

  “No freaking way” Ethan laughed “I can’t imagine you being called a Nate”

  “Well, I was that timid girl and my hair for some sort of reason was always frizzy. To make things worse, I wore bigger glasses than these, so I was definitely a nerd”

She laughed, it was the first time she talked about her high school experience without feeling the urge to cry. 

  “That’s crazy” Ethan nudged her

She could picture Ethan as one of the popular sweet soccer players.

  “One time, my hair got caught up in my glasses, I don’t know how that was even possible. It was so hilarious that I was sent to the nurses office”

Ethan laughed again as he held her office door open for her.

  “I used to feel so bad about myself, I always wished I didn’t have such frizzy hair and I’ll stop being a nerd”

 “Oh come on” he tucked a stray piece of hair from her face. “Your hair is perfect just the way it is and you’re one of the most beautiful lady I’ve ever come across”

Ruby smiled at him genuinely, he always had a way of making her feel better.

The phone in her office rang, of course it had to be Nate jacobin.

  “Come to my office now” he spat

 “I’m sorry, I have to go now” she said to Ethan, a sour expression on her face.

She was enjoying their conversation very much but Nate had to ruin it.