Ruby rolled her sleeves as she strutted into Anderson’s office. Her heels clacking against the vinyl flooring. Her eyes were sunken so she covered them up with dark shades.Over the past few days, she had been through crying and throwing up. She tried to console herself but that wasn’t working, she kept reminding herself to eat but that wasn’t working either. Nate was even more frustrated, he told her about Adam and Jake. She had successfully put up an act around him because she didn’t want him worrying about her.Maria was now back in the house and took up her job, cooking for them and making sure everything was in place. “Ma’am, you can’t go in!” Anderson’s secretary exclaimed and then rushed to stand at the door, her hands wrapped around her chest with a stern frown on her face. Ruby sighed and laughed sardonically. If only the secretary knew the evil she was capable of doing at that moment. She had tried booking a flight and it kept getting canceled. She called an

Both friends watched the sunset. Their silence held so many unsaid words as they wondered how Jake was faring. Jake’s children were grown up like Nate so there wasn’t much to worry about. His wife on the other hand was a local farmer and she wasn’t taking the news well, Nate saw that she was cared for and lacked nothing. “What do you suggest we do?” Katie asked as she walked into the room.Her black catsuit reminded Nate of Charlie's angels. Her hair was slick back from her face, making her cheeks and bones more rigid. Adam shifted a little in his bed and Nate smiled knowingly. They had gone on some sort of martial arts training with Katie once and Adam ended up with a broken nose. Ever since then, Adam avoided Katie like a plague.She didn’t exactly look like the type to fight but when she did, she shocked everyone. “Wyatt is very dangerous, we have to play it safe for Jake’s safety” Nate reasoned as he rubbed his chin. “Whatever happens, Jake must come out of it unhu

Ruby twirled her spaghetti with a shaky fork. The room was silent, save for the relaxing piano music. On a normal day, she would be on her second plate of spaghetti but with all that had been going on with her, there was barely anything that brought her happiness. “Maria told me you’ve barely touched any of the food she served you”Nate’s voice sent shivers through her as she turned to face him. She didn’t expect him to join her for dinner as he spent most days talking on the phone.He had employed top security agents to find Jake. At nights, when she hoped they would finally have some time to themselves, they were always disrupted by Nate’s annoying ringing tone. She understood and felt the pressure of what it was like to have a missing friend, in Esme’s case, she wasn’t missing but Ruby couldn’t access her which bothered her so much. “I haven’t been hungry” she replied and got back to twirling the pastaShe could barely hold eye contact with Nate as she feared she w

Doris pulled out a map from an old drawer that creaked when it was opened. They had now moved from the sitting room to Doris’ study. Ruby stared at the study in awe, just like the sitting room, she had potted plants and candles lit in every corner of the study. She could tell that the study had seen better days but was kept clean. “Call me a plant mom” Doris grinned proudly. “That’s what Wonder called me”Ruby smiled, she wanted to hear more about Doris and Wonder’s love story but had a lot to deal with. “I’ve lived here for the longest time and I know every place. Wonder used to tell me everything, that’s why I can see through Wyatt”Ruby nodded. “What is your father’s name?” Doris askedJust Doris, her parents had lived in Portland all their lives so they knew almost everything that went down. She figured if she told Doris his name, she might also figure the truth about her. Not that she didn’t trust Doris enough but she’d rather play it safe. “He doesn’t liv

Doris stopped at a laundromat. “Do not say anything” she mumbled to Ruby.Ruby was too tired to reply. Her feet hurt badly, wearing sandals had been a bad choice for when she was going to walk a long distance in the heat. Also, she felt sweat trickle down her back through the scarf. Doris pushed the bell and let herself in. The laundromat seemed very busy, a couple of people were using the washing machine. “Can I help you with anything?” A young lady walked up to them with a friendly smile “I’m here to see Ricardo,” Doris said in a thick Spanish accent.Ruby almost gasped and hit her head, it felt like she was the only one who didn’t take foreign languages seriously in school. “Can I have your name?” “Just tell him Wonder is here”The lady nodded and asked them to sit. They watched her move to the back of the washing machines lined up and assumed there was an office there. “I would introduce you to him as a distant relative who was traveling and only stopped be