Chapter Text
The reflection in a freestanding mirror showed an immaculately dressed woman adjusting her dress. Her makeup was applied lightly. It was only to accentuate her beautiful features. She was warned that the guests she was joining may judge her if it was worn more heavy. She responded by saying she was going to be judged the moment she stepped foot in the place regardless.
Her brown skin was complemented by the dark red dress she had picked out. She paired it with a matching red lipstick. Hair lightly curled and pinned into place. She sprayed a mist of perfume and then stepped into it. Taking one last look at herself, she turned to check out the reaction of her partner.
William, sitting on her bed in his pressed black tux, was too engrossed in his phone to notice her finished look. Disappointment settled in her chest as she had to clear her throat to get his attention. He didn’t look up after she had made the noise. She folded her arms and tried tapping her heeled shoe. Nothing.
“William?”
His head lifted from the device and his eyes fall on the curves of her dress then settled near her top half. More specifically, on her chest. She tutted as she caught his gaze. The noise only worked as encouragement for him to walk towards her and place his hands on her waist. Pulling her towards him until space was almost invisible between them. His forehead touching hers as he stole a quick kiss.
“You look stunning,” William complemented. That husky voice had a way of melting away some of the tension in her body.
“Thank you.”
He pulled back slightly and gave her another once over. “However, I think you may want to change into something more dull.”
Defensiveness and annoyance went hand in hand.
She rolled her eyes as she replied, “We’ve already had this argument. I’m not going to wear an ensemble, especially some covered up one, just because you’re worried about what some old coots will think.”
“I’m not worried about what they will think.” She recognized the look in his eyes. He didn’t need to give those thoughts a voice but he still did. “I’m worried about not being able to keep my hands to myself and ripping it off you.”
She shuddered and ducked her head as he went in for another kiss. If they started that dance, they wouldn’t be leaving the bedroom that night. As much as she wouldn’t mind missing it, William did have business he needed to deal with and he did mention wanting Ruby to meet his father and his elusive sister. He had only mentioned her once before in passing.
“Come on,” Ruby said. He reached his hand out for hers but groaned as she tugged him, by his belt loops, towards the door, “Let’s get going, big boy.”
The car radio played some smooth jazz as William drove them towards his father’s estate. Ruby would sometimes feel underdressed when she sat in William’s black jaguar. Most of the time, she was still in her work uniform when he picked her up when she was finished at the bar. Now, in her current outfit, she felt as rich as the wealthy who bought these types of cars. That mindset would be what she needed to deal with these people tonight.
As if reading her mind, William glanced over at her. “Worried about meeting my father’s guests?”
“No.” He didn’t look convinced. “I’d rather not deal with the looks. The moment they see you walking in with me, some heads are going to turn and the moment they find out what I do for a living. I could do without more judgement especially from stuck up rich snobs.”
“I appreciate you agreeing to come with me,” he replied, reaching across the console and squeezed her hand. “They may make comments, but I’m going to be right by your side the entire night to back you up.”
She gave him a small smile and then sighed with the annoyance she was sure she would be feeling later. She felt more apprehensive now than secure.
They drove for another half hour until William took a turn off the main road and drove down a widened path. Even in the dark, she could see the massive estate lit up in the night. Floodlights shown on the building and the garden, illuminating it from the pitch blackness of the road leading up to it. She was slightly surprised it wasn’t gated but noticed multiple armed security guards stationed near the house and walking around the gardens. She swallowed past the lump of anxiety in her throat.
William parked outside the front door. Ruby’s door was opened for her and she was escorted out while another staff member of the estate did the same for William. He left the keys in the car for the young man to drive the car around the back and park it up. As the car drove off, William held his hand out for hers and walked them through the doors.
Ruby was right, heads did turn.
Suffocating would be the right word to describe how she currently felt. The air, the large groups of people, and the entire atmosphere of fake superiority about the place were getting to be too much for her. William had almost immediately broken his promise. A group of men had walked towards him as they stepped through the door and pulled him away to talk business. He threw her back a sympathetic look as he was hauled away into another room.
She could feel the stares of the women, the unwanted trophy wives, eyeing her up from the corner of the room. They weren’t discreet in their gossiping about her. Not wanting to leave her glass down around these people, she brought it to the bathroom with her.
William had told her that his father conducted most of his work out of the manor and had set many of the rooms up like a business but she was still shocked to walk into the bathroom and find the set up to look like a small lounge.
There were 4 stalls, one currently occupied, a round chair for multiple people to sit on in the middle, and four sinks with one large mirror stretching across the wall above them. The lights were dim and the room mainly decorated with mahogany wood. Two sets of eyes found hers as she stepped into the bathroom but then turned their attention back to each other. Ruby fixed her makeup at the sink.
“I hate that Charles keeps bringing me to these stupid things. This outfit is fit for a club in Morocco not Braithwhite's living room.”
“You’re telling me. Stephen paid to have this custom made for me. I thought I was going to be surprised with a holiday, instead I was told to put it on as we were coming here, but I suppose they have to make an impression on the old man.”
In the mirror, Ruby caught the eye of one of them. A woman whose face looked like she signed up for every procedure a plastic surgeon had to offer, and then had them twice. The woman glanced back towards her friend with a sinister smile.
“Even surrounded by all these old bats, it’s nice to see William is looking as fine as ever,” she heard the other woman gasp and glance towards Ruby.
They had both seen her enter with him and Ruby knew the woman was testing her. She wanted Ruby to react and then plead innocent to whoever she came here with while Ruby would look like the rude guest. She wasn’t going to give in.
The other woman seemed to sense what her friend was up to and added, “Now, there’s a man I wouldn’t mind warming my bed at night.”
She settled for gripping the counter with one hand instead of gripping the woman’s hair.
“Unfortunately, I hear he’s off the market. Shacked up with some woman from the southside.”
She heard them snigger. Riling people up was the energy these women fed off.
“That’s a shame. From what I remember of the women he used to date, I would be exactly his type.”
‘No, Ruby! Don’t rise to it.’
There was another giggle and then a bitchy tone said, “I don’t think so Sarah, apparently, he’s into fat girls now.”
That’s it.
She turned around with eyes full of fury when the toilet flushed and the door opened. The women’s smiles were taken off their faces as they watched another woman step out. Long blonde hair and piercing blue eyes that lingered on Ruby. Her presence filled the room, as she adjusted the sleeves of her pantsuit, rolling them up to her elbows. She eyed the women as she walked past them to the sink. She picked the one right next to Ruby and began washing her hands.
She didn’t look up as she addressed the women. “Lindsey, it’s nice to see you now you’re out of that program. I thought those things lasted a few more months?” The woman grit her teeth but didn’t respond to the remark. “Doesn’t matter. I’m sure when you slip up again in a few months, and Charles pays for your treatment, you’ll catch right up where you left off. That’s if he isn’t after trading you in for a newer model by then.”
“Well, at least I can find a husband,” came a quiet retort.
If the woman standing next to Ruby was insulted by the comment, she didn’t look phased by it. Instead, she focused on the other woman who was giggling at the roast of her friend. “Sarah, it’s been so long since you’ve come here. Usually, Stephen brings one of those women whose paid by the hour. That is, before he abandons them and slinks off to the bathroom on the far side of the estate with John.”
“Fuck you, Christina!” Sarah shouted, striding out of the bathroom with her friend following after her. They made sure to slam the door closed behind them.
“You didn’t have to do that,” Ruby said, after a moment of silence.
“No, but it does liven these things up. Don’t you think?” Christina replied, turning to look at her and give her a cheeky smirk.
“I told William this would happen. He promised to stay with me but the minute we stepped foot in this place, he ran off with a pack of those old hounds,” Ruby sighed.
“William is an idiot,” Christina said, wiping her hands dry on the washcloth.
Feeling more relaxed within this woman’s presence, especially since she put those women back in their place, she found herself being more open. She wasn’t insulted on William’s behalf. The woman was right, and she hadn’t said it with malice.
After a moment of thinking about it, she admitted, “Yeah, he was worried about my outfit around those men in there.”
The woman looked her up and down. Her eyes stopping at the generous amount of cleavage the dress was providing and then looking up at Ruby with noticeably darkened eyes. Her tone was more serious as she spoke. “Again. William is an idiot.”
“Who are-” Ruby couldn’t finish her sentence as the woman excused herself and practically sprinted from the bathroom.
Ruby finished fixing her makeup and then left the bathroom. She went to the bar to get another drink, trying to catch sight of William or the blonde woman as she did. There was no sight of her. The one person who seemed normal in this place, of course, had to be a bit off. The bartender poured her a generous helping of whiskey that she tipped back. She immediately got into a coughing fit.
“That’s a sipping whiskey,” the bartender said, looking at her sympathetically.
“Now you tell me,” she replied, trying to get her breathing back to normal.
There was a loud racket of laughter coming out of a side room as the door opened. She spotted William within the group making their way towards the stage area. He stopped them as he caught sight of her and whispered into an older gentleman's ear. The man nodded, and the two strode towards her.
“Sir, this is Ruby Baptiste. Ruby, this is my father, Samuel.” The man narrowed his eyes and nodded. He made no motion to shake her hand and she made no motion to give it.
“I’ve heard plenty about you, Samuel,” Ruby replied, after some awkward silence. She caught William’s frown and got the idea that she had said the wrong thing.
Her suspicions were confirmed when Samuel corrected, “Actually, Ms. Baptiste. I prefer Mr. Braithwhite to guests.”
“Ok, Mr. Braithwhite,” Ruby agreed. The man pulled back thinking he had won this power exchange.
Ruby smirked and William’s frown deepened.
“I, however, prefer to go by Ruby. It’s only Ms. Baptiste for when I’m handling my personal affairs.” She made an obvious glance at William. “Or for when people are feeling particularly indecent.”
There was a chuckle next to her. Turning her head, she caught sight of the blonde woman from earlier. Ruby briefly wondered how she had managed to sneak up behind her as the woman smiled at her. Samuel glanced between them with disdain.
“What exactly are your affairs, Ms. Baptiste?” Samuel asked, ignoring her previous statement.
“Like I said, it’s Ruby and I manage a bar,” Ruby replied. She held her head high, daring him to make a disparaging comment on it.
“Ruby’s a singer there too. She sings sets at the weekend. It's how we met. She has the most beautiful voice,” William added.
Samuel looked at him. It didn't take a genius to figure out the silent conversation he was having with his son. He leaned over and whispered in his ear and then waved her goodbye.
“I’ll be back in a few minutes, I promise,” William said, kissing her cheek and then pushed through the crowd after his father.
She wondered where that bartender had gotten to. She could do with another drink.
She was going to yell after him, but he was too far gone in the crowd. She turned back around in the seat. The woman must have known what she was feeling as her hand was up in the air and a second later the bartender appeared.
“I’ll have a shot and whatever the lady would like,” Christina said, waving her hand in Ruby's direction.
“Same,” Ruby replied. She didn't look away from the woman in case she disappeared again.
Christina opened her mouth to reply when there was a sudden clinking of glass getting everyone’s attention.
Samuel was standing on the stage with William standing slightly behind him but looking pleased.
“I would like to thank you all for coming tonight. I’m sure you’re wondering why I called for this sudden gathering. I’m not going to keep you guessing for long, but I do want to say some things first. ”
“And here we go,” Ruby heard the woman sourly mutter.
Out of the corner of her eye, she watches her slam her shot back and then flag the bartender for another. She looked back to the stage and tried catching back up with what the older man had been saying.
“... so when my grandfather passed it down to my father, who then passed it into my care, it was under the understanding that the business would always remain within our family. Our clients deserve our utmost diligence and care. They’re the ones who can make or break us. There is one person who learned that and has been constantly striving to improve our business whenever possible. My son, William.” He looked back towards the taller man. “Which is why, I can now, with great pleasure, introduce William as the new partner of our firm.”
There was a loud round of applause from everyone in the room except for the woman sulking on the stool next to her. Ruby clapped along absentmindedly. Ruby, as proud as she felt for her boyfriend, couldn’t help but feel hurt as he kept this achievement from her.
“One more thing,” Samuel added, holding his finger up. “With this recent development, I have gotten in touch with the legal department and from Monday morning, the business name will be changed from 'Braithwhite’s legal firm' to ' Braithwhite & Son'.”
“Jesus Christ."
Ruby watched the small frame tip back another shot. There were several glasses gathering in front of her. The bartender had left the bottle with her as she kept calling him back.
William shook hands with his father and took the mic. “Thank you. I appreciate the support, truly. Thank you to my father for this opportunity. Thank you to every member and mentor who has helped guide me on this path and gotten me where I am, I wouldn’t be here without you…. ”
“As if Daddy paying them all off didn’t get you there.” The words were sloshing out of her mouth the more she drank. Ruby wondered what she meant, but thought they were just the drunken words from a disgruntled employee of the firm.
“... there is one person who has helped me who I have not forgotten about. Her ideas have helped shape this company in some ways I don’t think I could have ever come up with without her. She is truly a blessing to have in my life, and I am hoping she might join me on stage. Ladies and gentleman, if you could please give a round of applause for my sister, Christina.”
Ruby’s mouth dropped. She looked from William back to the woman who drank one more shot as she slid off the stool. She caught Ruby’s gaze and gave her a sad smile as she made her way to the stage. William wrapped her in his arms in an overtly public display of affection. As Ruby took in the sight, those blue eyes caught hers over his shoulder.
She grabbed the half empty bottle next to her and poured herself a generous shot.