Ruby

"Is that so?" I heard my Dad calmly yet authoritatively ask. He then took a deep sigh and shifted in the leather seat of the BMW model he had gotten the previous year. "Good. At least we know who the traitor is."

My head turned to the side and my eyes captured the entrance to our house. My mind then traveled to the unexpected turn of events, playing right from the moment my parents hinted that they had something planned for me.

True to her word, Mom took me to the closest mall and had me try gown after gown without slipping a word about what was going on.

After choosing a red, low turtle neck, knee length, and a smooth-feeling gown that Abby would call sexy, Mom dragged me to a beauty salon and made sure I sat through the whole process.

Trust me, I hated every moment.

The fact that I had to sit for so long, the incessant chattering around me, the hands in my hair, the eyes staring at my face, I hated it all because I felt uneasy.

But the result, I like.

In Mom's words, I look like I am capable of seducing eight men out of ten. It was a weird compliment alright, but it made me feel more confident about the sudden change.

But one thing that I just couldn't wait to know was why I was undergoing such a change.

And it seemed I was about to find out because the car finally got kicked to life and soon joined the busy roads ahead.

As my father took out a notepad and began scribbling some things, it was obvious he was still in his work mode, thus, it would be useless to ask him anything.

So, I reached for my phone from my ridiculously tiny black purse that was designed with small pearls forming an arc in its front, which could only carry my phone. And I let out a small sigh almost unconsciously.

"Are you bored?" My Dad asked in reaction and I wore a small smile, smacking my glossy lips after.

"I am just curious." His brows lifted in inquiry. "I expected you to deal with my situation in a much more different way. I didn't see all of this..." I took a quick look around the car as if it was a strange arrangement. "I didn't see this reaction coming."

"There is a reason for this, Ruby. You just have to be patient." There was this softness in his thick voice that told me to just relax.

And I did just that.

"Okay, Dad." I turned my attention back to my phone.

"Ruby?" My head swung to the side again and I noticed that he had set the notepad and devices that he was straddling earlier, aside

"Yes, Dad?" Our eyes met.

"You look gorgeous." I felt my insides squish with joy at his comment and a large grin could not be helped.

Leaning forward with silliness in my body language, I said, "Of course, I am. I am your daughter."

He let out a small laugh which soon got replaced by his signature serious look. But contrary to what I thought he would do, he reached for the back of my head and patted my hair gently.

"Of course." A small pause ensued. "You are my daughter."

I replied to him with another smile and he soon retracted his hand and focused on his work once again.

~~~~~~

Two hours later, the car finally stopped, just right in front of a very familiar sight.

As I bent my head to observe the tall building through the tinted glasses, the door on my Dad's side flew open and a suited man with a slightly creepy smile offered to help him out while greeting him.

Just as I was about to shuffle my way to the opened door, the one on my side opened and a nice breeze embraced me.

"You are welcome ma'am," said another suited man who seemed younger to the creepy-smile man. He looked quite cute too especially with his dimples that popped up without him trying hard. As I gave him an appreciative smile, he held out his hand and my brows cocked.

What did he want me to do? Shake him? Or is it money he wants?

With a smile still on his face, his eyes motioned towards his tended hand and I wore a very unsure smile.

"I-" My voice seemed croaky, so I cleared my throat gently. "What do you want me to give you?" I asked as gently as possible so as not to come off as rude.

"Your hand, ma'am. I'd like to help you out of the car."

Oh! Was that why?

Feeling a bit silly, I let out a small chuckle and put my hand in his. "You don't have to-"

"It's what I am paid to do, ma'am," the young man said and dropped my hand once I was out of the car. " Do have a nice day, ma'am."

"Stop calling me... ma'am." The high tone of my voice got murdered when I realized he had already left my front.

"Ruby, come here," my Dad ordered and I didn't have the time to feel silly anymore. As I made my way to the main entrance of the enormous building, it hit me that I was in a different world.

I could dare call it the world of the rich.

It is a ridiculous tag, but that's how it is.

The building itself screamed of wealth and with what I was seeing from where I was, I was yet to see anything.

Before I could start to wonder about my father's unknown plan, my Dad reached for my right hand which was already clenching to hide my building worries.

"Let's go in, shall we?" He hooked my arm with his and we were soon walking past the automated entrance.

"What is this place, Dad?"

"Well, Ruby... I would like to call it your reality, but I have made sure it isn't."

" My reality?" As my eyes wore a frown and took one more look around, I noticed that the majority of people walking in our path stopped to throw an eager greeting at my dad while curiously staring at me.

After he sent a gruff reply to a woman who I sensed was trying to flirt- Good luck with that, woman- he said, "This is my life, Ruby. Fancy hotels, crazy meetings, mad connections, fancy meals. It all seems nice right?"

"A little bit."

" It sucks." My head snapped towards him and he let out a deep chuckle. We had finally made it to the elevator and he pressed a button. "And that's why I have tried over the years to keep you from this life. "

Well, it's not like I fancied that kind of life anyway, so thank you, Dad. But, why are we here?" I asked, the appreciative tone in my voice not getting a chance to be displayed.

"Because you have a thing or two to learn." The silver-plated lift slid open and we entered without a pause, our arms still hooked.

Thanks to the block heel sandals I had on, I gained some height, so my dad didn't seem so excessively tall.

Without a word more about the topic he had briefly touched, we patiently waited for the whirring elevator to get us to our destination.

The whirring, being the only noise in the space, brought me into a field of focus and I found myself thinking about the whole drama at school. Then, I wondered what Abby and Jake would be up to.

I actually miss them and would definitely not mind listening to their weird gist and bickering.

"Okay, Ruby..." My Dad sounded like he was a squad leader in the army who was about to lead his soldiers into war. "Whatever happens in there, just be yourself."

"In where?" The elevator opened and he pulled me with him, my question left unanswered.

Soon, the huge carved door which my Dad and I were approaching swung open and a new sight welcomed me.

A classical piece filled the air with melody, chatterings flowed from here and there from the scattered clusters of men and women who were all dressed like they came from high society.

Actually, it was obvious, they were high society members. From the exquisiteness of the large hall which had touches of white and gold, to the expensive-looking clothes of the occupants and the prim and proper acts, it was just so obvious.

And, it wasn't my kind of place.

"Dad..."

He looked down at me and smiled with his eyes. "I know this will be boring for you, but trust me, you need to be here."

"Why?" I had to ask again, this time, with extreme curiosity in my voice.

"You'll find out." My Dad tapped my hand before unhooking our arms. Then he said, " I need you to do something for me."

"What?"

"I don't want to put you through the stress of repeatedly introducing you to people, so go stand by the food section and observe things from there."

" Observe, Dad? This place reeks of boredom. There is nothing to observe "

His hands went into his pockets, his tongue clicked and he said, a bit amusedly, "I assure you, soon, it will become interesting."

It would have been useless to argue any further, so I gave an agreeing nod and walked towards the section of the room that would assuredly do a good job of keeping me occupied.

When my legs stopped just beside the long table that carried a lot of delicacies that no one seemed to be glancing at, I suddenly wished my friends could have had the opportunity to come with me.

We would happily devour most of the meals on the table.

As I made to grab a chair to sit in, a masculine voice stopped me as he asked, "Do I know you?"

Turning, my eyes fell on a sight that bore no difference to the gathered men and women. Once I saw the man dressed in a dark blue suit with his white shirt carelessly showing off part of his chest, I started to conclude my dislike for the blonde guy.

As he wore a smile I read as condescending, I let out a tired sigh and said, "I don't think you do."

"Hmm." He sounded amused. "Even if I don't know you, you have caught my eye and I want to spend time with you." He let out a small laugh before his eyes raked my body in a way that made me feel so uncomfortable. "You really have caught my eye," he repeated, rubbing his lower lip with a finger while he wore a look of confidence that greatly nauseated my soul.

Oh, Lord.

Sighing again to let him know how annoying I was finding his presence, I said a bit lifelessly, "Caught your eye? I am afraid you have the wrong person." I tended my palms. "As you can see sir, I don't have any human eyeballs in my hands, so if you think someone has caught your eye, maybe you should look somewhere else."

I ended my statement with a smile and his annoying smile wasted no time in becoming a frown.

"What? Do you think I am some kind of joke?" He took a step closer and I couldn't ignore how much he reeked. "Do you know who I am?"

"Hmm..." I pretended to think for some seconds before saying, "I don't care."

"You-"

"Where on earth is he?" A woman's voice screamed into the hall and the little liveliness the room possessed died down. A bit curious myself, I watched the entrance as the question came again, this time louder.

A woman who was dressed in a simple blouse and skirt, which seemed to have long-term memories with a laundromat entered, her hair dishevelled.

The guy in front of me scoffed. "What on earth were the guards thinking? Letting such a filthy woman enter this place. It's just-" The glare of disgust on my face shut him up and he gave me a dismissive wave before walking away.

My attention turned back to the woman who was now shedding tears. To observe things better, I moved closer.

"I want him to come out here now!" she screamed.

"Calm down, ma'am." A fairly aged man who was also part of the party approached her and tried to placate her.

"I won't. I can't!"

"Why?"

"Because he needs to finally acknowledge my child and me." She sniffled. "Just because that poor girl is born out of wedlock, doesn't mean she should suffer. He should at least acknowledge her existence."

" Alright. Your grievances are heard. Who is this person? Is he here?"

" Yes," replied her feverish voice.

I felt so bad for her. It indeed must have been hard for her to take care of her child alone.

" Who is he?"

"His name is..." Her hands fisted.

"It is okay, you can tell me."

Her eyes closed as she wiped the tears from her face and she said, "His name is Dominic Powers."

The room gasped almost in unison. And, I felt like someone just punched me in the chest.