Chapter Seven

Swallowing my humiliation, I took off my dress, leaving myself in nothing but the lingerie set I had on. It was different when I was on duty, nudity was expected, but now, it was so much different.

Celia did her work thoroughly, before stepping away when she couldn’t find anything.

“It seems she isn’t the thief,” The Bishopp finally concluded, but I didn’t miss the slight edge to his voice.  

“Is there anything else you’ll need from me?” I questioned, but my question was meant for the jerk with a look of total indifference on his face, not that I’d expected him apologetic.

“No, Ruby. You may leave.” The Bishopp answered.

I picked up my clothes to do just that, but then… something fell.

It hit the ground with a clink.

I froze.

On the floor sat an emerald ring… a ring which had supposedly fallen from the dress I now held. My dress.

A series of emotions crossed the Bishop’s face. Disappointment, sadness and then anger.

“I—I don’t know how it got into there, I swear—”

The  Bishopp slammed his palm against his table—hard enough to send the glass of wine he’d earlier been nursing toppling off, “Don’t you dare lie to me Ruby, don’t you fucking dare!”

I’d seen him angry before, but never this angry. Betrayal burned just as bright as his anger, as he stared at me.

“What haven’t I done for you?” he questioned shaking in fury, “I provided for you, I protected you, I put a goddamn roof over your fucking head and this is how you pay me back!” spittle escaped his mouth as he spoke.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, because I knew no explanation would be good enough, not right now. What was I supposed to say? That I had no idea how the ring got there? That didn’t even make sense to my own ears, and yet it was the truth.

“I gave you your chances, Ruby. I begged you to tell me the truth, but you lied, again and again to my face—” he shook his head, now in disgust, “Make no mistake, you’ll pay for this. I’ll make sure of it.”

“If anyone should be punishing her,” Cassian said as he rose to his feet, “It’ll be me. Not you.”

I thought I saw something cross the Bishopp’s eyes but it was gone just as fast, leaving me wondering if I’d just imagined it.

“But I imagine when I'm done with her, she’ll be too broken to be marketed,” he said, like I wasn’t standing right there before him.

“Business is all about profit… and losses. Do what you must.” The Bishopp permitted with a wave of his hand.

I’ve had men watch me perform, I’d objectified myself more times than I could count, but never till now had I felt like one.

I could see every plan I’d made crumbling down to the ground, and there wasn’t a thing I could do about it.

“How long have we been friends, Adolphus?” questioned the devil’s incarnate.

“Seven years,” The Bishopp answered and Cassian nodded his agreement.

“Those years had shown me that you, Adolphus, are a businessman before anything else and I’d hate to be the reason you’d run at loss. So I’ve come with a proposal.”

Cassian walked to me, and when we were no more than inches apart, he squatted to pick up the emerald ring. 

“Not many people can steal from me and get away with it, then lie straight to my face after being discovered. It’s bravery on a whole different level.” He placed the ring on the Bishopp’s table. “You see a thief, but I see a woman with… potential. That’s exactly why I’ll be buying her off her contract.”

Realization dawned on me instantly. He hadn’t come to report me, no, he’d come to grant me exactly what I’d begged him for. But first, he’d placed the Bishopp in a position where he was left without an option.

The surprise on the Bishopp’s face matched mine, but I could see the glint of greed every good businessman had in his eyes.

“But this is an heirloom belonging to your line,” said the Bishopp, but something told me that wasn’t coming from a place of real concern.

“And it’s worth millions of tunams in the market, even more on the black market. So what do you say Adolphus, do we have a deal?”