“I quit.” I said in a loud, firm voice, cutting him off.
For a moment, the room was deathly silent. He looked at me as though I’d lost my mind. And maybe I had, but losing my mind and giving up a good-paying job was still better than dealing with this sort of abuse every day.
“What did you say?” he asked, his nostrils flaring with anger.
“I said, I quit. I’m not going to stand around and be abused like this anymore. I’m a hard worker. An honest worker. And I’m going to find a job with a boss who appreciates that instead of constantly berating me.”
He sat in stunned silence for a few moments, and then he started to laugh. He threw back his head and let long, obnoxious peals of laughter come out. “You can’t really quit. You need the money.”
“There are other ways to make money besides scrubbing toilets while being yelled at over your shoulder by some psychopath boss. And I’m going to go find one of those ways. I quit. Oh, and best of luck with finding someone who can work even half as quickly as I can. You knew I was the best, and instead of appreciating me you were a jerk to me. Now you’re going to see how difficult it is to get everything done without me. And I know you’re going to have a hard time replacing me. Perhaps next time you get an employee who is competent and industrious, you’ll treat him or her with a bit more respect.”
My boss rose from his chair, his face turning purple with rage. He pointed a finger at me, and yelled at the top of his lungs, “You can’t quit!”
He looked like he was ready to slap someone, and I decided it was past time to make my exit.
“Oh yes, I can,” I said, then turned on my heel and walked out. He continued to yell at me, and I quickened my pace until the noise of the dryers drowned out the noise of his obnoxious voice.
My heart was pounding in my chest with a mixture of fear and triumph. I’d done it. I’d actually had the courage to walk in there and get in my boss’s face and tell him I was leaving. One day, I would tell Chloe this story, and tell her she never had to put up with anyone treating her like crap.
But I had also just given up my only source of income, which meant I had a limited amount of time to find a new job. I wasn’t going to let Ian swoop in and save me with his billions. No way. I was going to prove that when I set my mind to something, I could do it—and I could do it on my own.
That’s how I found myself in downtown Driftwood Island in the middle of the day, going from store to store and asking all of the local businesses if they were hiring. I started out with quite a bit of enthusiasm, but as the day went on my enthusiasm started to wane, and I began to panic a little. What had I gotten myself into? I heard the same message over and over: “Sorry, Ruby. We’d love to hire you, but we just don’t have the money to add another employee right now.”
It doesn’t matter how many times I hear the word no. I must persist. I must find a way to make this work.
It didn’t help things that the rain’s intensity was increasing. When I drove by the Conch Shell Café and saw that Julia, the owner, was boarding up the front windows of the café, I decided to stop in and ask what the latest on the hurricane was. Things weren’t looking good from out here, and I clutched my raincoat tighter around me.
“Hey, Ruby,” Julia called as I walked up. “Give me just a second and I’ll take your order. These boards are a beast to get up. I should have made Logan do this, but I sent him to get Maisie from daycare.”
My heart froze in my chest. Should I go get Chloe from daycare? Had things gotten that bad that quickly?
“What’s the weather report?” I asked, trying not to sound panicked as I sat down at one of the café tables.
“Not good,” Julia said grimly as she nailed the last nail, then headed toward the café’s front door. “They’re expecting the hurricane to hit tonight, although there’s still a small chance the worst of it will miss us. Either way, we’re going to be getting some bad weather, as you can see. Most people are going home early and trying to board up their houses just in case. Are you off work?”
I winced as I followed Julia into the café. “Um, yeah. I guess you could say that. I actually just quit.”
Julia stopped and stared at me. “You quit? But that job paid so well.”
“I know.” I felt a pang of regret as I thought about all the money I’d just given up. “But my boss was unbearable. So now I’m on the hunt for a new job. You’re not hiring, are you?”
Julia shook her head as she peeled off her raincoat. “No, sorry. I don’t have any openings right now. But I’ll talk to Logan and see if he knows of anything. He works closely with a lot of the businesses so he knows when they have openings.”
“If you wouldn’t mind checking, that’d be great. I need—”
“Ruby Jennings!” a familiar voice spoke sharply as the front door flew open, bringing in a burst of wind and rain. I looked up and winced.
It was Kelsey. My good friend Kelsey, whose texts and calls I’d been ignoring since the day Ian showed up at the library. I had been meaning to get back to her. I just hadn’t figured out yet what to say. Looks like I was about to figure it out really quickly.
“Hi, Kelsey,” Julia said in a calm tone. “It looks like you two have a few things to talk about. I need to secure up a few things in the back, so I’m going to head back there. But let me know if either of you want anything from the pastry case.”
Julia discreetly disappeared, and I was left standing awkwardly in front of Kelsey.
“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” Kelsey asked as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. “I thought we were good friends, but it looks like you’ve had some pretty big changes in your life over the last few days, and you haven’t bothered to tell me. Not only that, but you won’t even answer my calls.”
“Um…” I wasn’t sure exactly what to say. She was right. I’d had some big changes. Changes you normally would tell one of your best friends about. Why hadn’t I talked to her? Was I embarrassed of Ian? Embarrassed to admit that I’d known who he was all along?
Kelsey huffed. “I’ll just cut to the chase. Is Chloe’s dad back in town?”
I nodded, looking down at my feet and feeling ashamed. But I should have known better than to think Kelsey would judge me. Instead, she softened her voice.
“Are you okay?”
I looked back up and nodded. “Yeah, I’m alright. I think this is going to be a good thing in the end.”
Then I told her everything. I told her about how I’d known who Ian was all along, and about how we’d had a summer fling five years ago that had resulted in Chloe. I told her how I’d stalked him, but had never contacted him to tell him about Chloe because I hadn’t thought he would care about her—or that if he did care he’d take her away from me. Then I told her about running into Ian again, and about introducing him to Chloe. I even told her that I’d slept with him again last night. And of course I told her about finding the courage to quit my job, and about how I’d spent the entire morning trying to find a new one. When I finally finished talking, Kelsey was shaking her head in amazement. I had been afraid she would judge me, or that she’d be angry with me for keeping all of that from her. But she didn’t seem angry at all. Only a bit overwhelmed.
“Wow. That’s a lot to take in.”
“Tell me about it. I have to admit I’m a little scared. He could probably take Chloe away from me if he really wanted to. He’s got the money to hire the best lawyers.”
Kelsey’s eyes turned fierce. “No one is taking Chloe away from you. There are a lot of people in this town who love that little girl. A lot of people who also have money. We would never just stand by and let anyone come in and take your baby away.”
“I don’t want to take anyone else’s money,” I protested.
“I know the feeling. When I first started dating Luke, I was worried everyone was going to think it was about money, and it definitely wasn’t. But when it comes to your kid, you do things you wouldn’t normally d
o. And I know you’d let Luke and the other Driftwood Island billionaires help you. They’d do it without blinking an eyelid.”
I chewed my lower lip and nodded slowly. Kelsey was right. I wasn’t alone on this island. There were quite a few people here who had money, people who were my friends who would make sure I got what was fair when it came to sharing custody of Chloe. But I didn’t truly think that was going to be a problem at this point, and I told Kelsey that.
“I don’t really think Ian is going to take her. I think he wants to figure out a way to make things work between us. I don’t see how that’s going to happen but…” I trailed off and shrugged my shoulders.
“Is that what you want? For things to work between you guys? I mean, you must still have some feelings for him if you slept with him last night.”
“I have a lot of feelings for him. But I don’t know how things would work between us when he has a business in New York City and I’m here. I don’t want to move away from Driftwood Island.”
Kelsey smiled. “Don’t worry too much about that. If it’s meant to be, you’ll find a way. Luke and I found a way. Zach and Abby did. So did Trent and Megan and Julia and Logan. It’s not as hard as you think.”
I gave her a small smile, feeling a little bit better. “I hope you’re right. I guess only time will tell. And I’m sorry for not answering your calls. I was afraid you’d judge me.”
Kelsey shook her head. “No way. I would never judge you. I know life is complicated. Besides, you’ve always been there for me through all my shit. If you need a shoulder to lean on, I’m here.”
“I’m here, too,” Julia piped in, coming back out to the front of the café. “But I think we all need to get going and get to shelter now. Sorry to interrupt whatever this is about, but Logan just called me and told me that the storm is getting closer, and looking like it’s actually going to make landfall on Driftwood Island.”
“It’s already coming?” I asked, clapping my hands over my face in alarm. “I need to go get Chloe from daycare.”
“It’s not here yet, but it’s coming fast,” Julia said. “If you don’t get to shelter now you’re going to end up caught in the worst of it. Do you both have somewhere safe to go? Otherwise you’re welcome to come to my place.”
“Luke and I have already boarded up our house, and we’re going to weather things out in the library,” Kelsey said, then looked at me. “Ruby?”
“I need to get Chloe,” I said. “Then I’ll figure it out.”
“Well don’t take too long. And text me when you figure out where you’re going so that I don’t worry about you. You can always come to the library.”
I nodded, but I was already heading for the door. I had been so caught up in my hunt for a new job that I hadn’t been paying attention to just how badly the storm was going. Now, I was starting to panic. I had to get to Chloe, and get her to safety.
“Wait!” Julia said before I could completely make it to the door. “I’m not going to be able to sell all my pastries and cupcakes today, since the weather is so bad. Let me give you each a to-go box. It’ll keep the food from being wasted, and it’ll be a nice treat in the middle of the storm.”
I paused to wait. I wasn’t going to argue with that. It would only take a few minutes extra to get the treats, and Chloe loved everything from Julia’s bakery. Hopefully it would help keep my little girl calm during the storm.
Once I had the box of goodies, I gave Julia and Kelsey both quick hugs, and then ran to my car. I was only outside for a few moments, but the rain was coming down so hard now that I was soaked to the skin in just those few moments.
It didn’t matter. I’d change and get dry eventually. Right now, all that mattered was I needed to get to Chloe.
Ian’s face flashed across my mind as well. Was he safe in the resort? Surely, that place was one of the safer places on the island, although the presidential suite was probably a little too heavy on the windows to be truly safe during a hurricane. He was a big boy, though. He knew how to take care of himself.
I tossed my purse onto my passenger seat, and I was just about to start up the engine when I noticed that my phone was lit up with a missed call message. I grabbed the phone to see who had called me, and that’s when I realized that I had a half-dozen missed calls from Ian, along with just as many texts. From a quick scan of the texts, I could tell that he was trying to make sure Chloe and I were somewhere safe during the storm.
My heart melted a bit at the realization that he was quite worried over me. It had been a long time since someone had worried over me. I was about to call him back and tell him that I was on my way to get Chloe, when the phone started ringing again with another call from him.
“Hello?” I answered.
“Ruby! Thank god. Please tell me that you’re somewhere safe with Chloe. This storm is coming in fast.”
His urgent tone made my heart start pounding faster. I turned my car on and started driving, putting him on speakerphone so I could keep both hands on the wheel. The rain was out of control. I felt the dread within me starting to creep up again. I had to get to Chloe!
“Ruby?”
I realized that Ian was still waiting for a reply from me. “Um, yeah, I’m here. I don’t have Chloe yet, though. I’m on my way to pick her up from daycare. Then we’re heading to the library to take shelter. Although I guess I need to run home and grab a few clothes and essentials first.”
“What? No! That will all take too long. Where is her daycare?”
“Close to the resort actually. On Sand Meadow Street. It was more convenient for me to put her there with me working at the resort.”
“I’ll get her,” Ian said. “Call them and do whatever you need to do for me to have permission to pick her up, and I’ll get her and bring her to the resort with me. She’ll be safe here. I switched to one of the smaller suites that has much smaller windows, and I’ve got someone from the hotel boarding up the insides right now. You can both stay with me and be safe. The resort is one of the sturdiest buildings on the island.”
I hesitated. How would Chloe feel about being picked up by Ian? She’d liked him well enough last night, but would she be scared if I was suddenly sending someone else she didn’t know very well to get her?
“Ruby, please,” Ian said, the impatience in his voice growing stronger. “I can get her and have her back to the resort within fifteen minutes. It’s the safest thing for her. She’s my daughter, too, and I’m worried about her safety.”
I heard it then. The hitch in his voice. The crack in his otherwise smooth, confident façade. He was genuinely worried about Chloe. He cared about her a great deal.
Why wouldn’t he? She is his daughter, after all.
I took a deep breath. It was time to stop trying to do everything on my own. It was time to let Ian take care of Chloe, too. I should have been letting him do this from the start. “Okay,” I said. “I’ll call her daycare and explain. You’re her dad, so you should be allowed to pick her up anytime.”
“Where are you? How long will it take for you to get to the resort? I’d been hoping you were already here at work, but it sounds like you’re in your car.”
“Yeah. I’m downtown.” I figured I would explain about quitting my job later. Right now I needed to concentrate on getting to safety. “I’ll stop by my beach house and get some clothes for Chloe and me, then head to the resort.”
“Forget about the clothes. We can get you something from one of the resort’s gift shops to wear.”
I nearly laughed. I doubted they had much for Chloe in the gift shops, and besides, separating Chloe from her favorite books and stuffies for the night would not go over well. Ian had a lot to learn about four-year-olds, but I couldn’t blame him for that. It was my fault that he had missed the first several years of his daughter’s life.
“I’m watching the radar on my phone,” I said. “I still have time to get home quickly and get back to the resort before things get much worse.”
&nb
sp; Ian sighed, but seemed to accept that I was right. “Fine. But hurry. And don’t forget to call the daycare and tell them about me.”
“I’ll call them,” I promised.
“But not while you’re driving!” Ian added.
“Not while I’m driving. I’ll pull over.” I couldn’t help but smile. It was nice to have someone care so much about me. No matter how much was still uncertain about my future with Ian, at least I knew he was a good man who cared about the important people in his life. Hopefully, Kelsey was right and all of the other stuff would work itself out as well.
For the moment, though, I had to stop worrying about that and worry about getting stuff from my house and getting back to the resort. The sky was growing darker, and all I really wanted was to be holed up safely in a hotel room with Ian and Chloe, knowing that my family was safe.
A streak of lightning lit up the sky, and I shivered. I hoped that when the storm passed Driftwood Island would still be standing. Otherwise, how was I going to have a realistic chance at convincing Ian to move here?
Because I had just decided that that was exactly what I needed to do.
Chapter Nine
* IAN *
I have to admit that I was incredibly relieved when I heard a knock at the door, and a worried voice saying, “Ian? Are you in there? It’s Ruby.” And my relief wasn’t just because that meant Ruby was safe, although I was definitely glad about that.
My relief came from the fact that I had no idea how to calm down a frantic four-year-old who had realized there was a big storm coming and just wanted her Mama there. Chloe ran to the door of the suite the second she heard Ruby’s voice, flung that door open, and collapsed into her mother’s arms.
“Mama! There’s a hurry-cane coming! I heard Miss Kate talking about it at school. She said it’s gonna be the worst hurry-cane we’ve ever seen and that it’s going to destroy the island.”
Trusting Him: A Billionaire Beach Island Romance (Billionaires of Driftwood Island Book 5) Page 6