Ruthie's Desire - The Esquire Girls Series - Ruthie's Story (Books 1, 2, 3 & 4) - Box Set

by Cassie-Ann L. Miller

  Chapter 16

  It’s been a week since I’ve been away from Michael.

  His calls go to voicemail. His emails go unanswered. Hailey’s been trained not to answer the door when he shows up unannounced.

  I’m not his plaything. I’m not a puppet that he can manipulate to produce the results that best suit him.

  I’m a woman.

  And I’m in love with him.

  So, for him to get down on one knee and propose to me when he can’t even tell me that he loves me…that’s insulting. It’s offensive.

  I can’t lie. I’ve daydreamed about what it would be like to be Michael’s wife and the mother of his dark-haired, blue-eyed, half-Italian babies. But unless he feels the same way that I feel about him, I won’t do it. I won’t allow him to use me for political reasons. A marriage of convenience would never give me the deep fulfillment that I’m looking for.

  So, that’s why I’m curled up on my couch with a glass of warm milk and a box of tissues watching for the television announcers to countdown to the New Year. Hailey’s out with that mystery man of hers. Amber’s on her honeymoon with Spencer. I turned down Nadia and Jasmine’s invite to go watch the ball drop in Times Square.

  Campbell had made arrangements for Michael and me to attend a New Year’s Eve party at some state senator’s home. She said that it would be a great opportunity for us to rub shoulders with the most influential citizens of New York without the blinding glare of the media. Undoubtedly, it would be helpful to Michael’s political career.

  No thank you. I’m sticking to my couch tonight.

  I know that this is no way to ring in the New Year but I don’t want to live a lie anymore. That’s what my relationship with Michael has become. A lie.

  Just as I get up to refill my glass of milk, I hear a loud banging at the front door. I leave my empty glass on the kitchen counter and head to see who my uninvited guest is.

  Are you fucking kidding me?

  I roll my eyes as I swing the door open. Campbell storms inside looking sharp in an all-black Akris business suit, her coat draped over her arm. Buzz Cut follows behind her carrying a black garment bag and a shopping bag from Neiman Marcus.

  I glance at the clock on the DVD player in the living room. 9:18 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and these two are in work mode, hardcore.

  They need a damn vacation.

  “Ruth, I’m still waiting for you to sign the prenuptial agreement. I sent it to you a week ago. What’s the hold up?” She rolls her eyes at me when I don’t answer.

  There’s no need for me to sign a prenup because I’m not getting married.

  “You and Michael need to get married before your marriage license expires. Anyway, the limo will be here in forty-five minutes to pick you up and take you and Michael to Senator Hick’s penthouse for the party,” Campbell announces as Buzz Cut spreads out the garment bag on my couch and unzips it to reveal a stunning, beaded champagne-colored evening gown.

  “I’m not going,” I say folding my arms in front of me and pouting like a petulant child.

  Campbell narrows her eyes at me. “What do you mean you’re not going?”

  “I’m done playing this game, Campbell. I won’t be a pawn in your little strategy to get Michael into office.” I’m standing firm. I won’t let her break me.

  She arches her perfectly-shaped eyebrow. “Ruth, Senator Hicks New Year’s Eve party was clearly listed in the Image Rehabilitation Strategy I gave you weeks ago,” she says matter-of-factly. Buzz Cut stands silently off to the side.

  “Honestly, I don’t care what was in the ‘Image Rehabilitation Strategy’. Michael doesn’t love me and I’m not marrying him.”

  Campbell pulls a deep breath before she approaches me where I’m standing near the front door. She rests a hand on my shoulder and looks more than uncomfortable doing so. “Look Ruth, I know that executing this plan is a bit exhausting and you probably just want life between you and Michael to go back to the way things were before. But the truth is that the two of you made a pretty big mess with that sex tape and it’s my job to clean it up. I’m just doing my job.”

  “Michael wants to run for office. Great! But I’m not going to give up who I am to make that happen. He doesn’t love me.”

  “Okay. I see where you’re coming from. Asking you to marry him is a big step. But think about your own career, Ruth. You’re about to graduate from law school and enter the corporate world full-time. Do you think that anyone will take you seriously with a sex tape hanging over your head? No. Not unless you change the story and restore your own reputation. That’s what I’m trying to do.”

  I laugh bitterly at Campbell’s flagrant attempt to manipulate me. “You work for Michael. Don’t pretend like protecting me is your main priority. Don’t patronize me.”

  Campbell sighs again in frustration before she motions to Buzz Cut. “Okay. Have it your way. But you’re going to regret this if you don’t take control of the narrative and spin it in your favor sooner rather than later.”

  “Thanks for your concern,” I say sarcastically as I hold the door open for them.

  Buzz Cut exits first, taking the evening gown and shopping bag with him.

  Campbell stops in her tracks and looks back at me just before she walks over the threshold. “Oh, by the way, the private investigator that I’ve been working with pulled up some very interesting information. Apparently, the sex tape was most definitely released to the press by a Cartwright Moretti Stevenson employee. The servers weren’t hacked from the outside. It was someone on the inside who leaked the video footage to the press…if I were you, I’d take a good look at the people around me and ask myself which one of them is out to get me.”

  One of my co-workers – one of my friends – did this to me?

  I stand there with my mouth hanging open as Campbell makes her way down the stairs leaving me to digest that realization.

  Chapter 17

  When I walk into the office on the Monday following New Year’s, I feel like an alien.

  The other interns are all gathered near our cubicles, talking about their holidays and laughing like nothing happened. But to me, everything’s different. Everyone’s different.

  These are people I thought I could trust. But someone between these walls betrayed me. One of my coworkers has exposed my deepest secrets in the most despicable way.

  There’s a snake in my presence. And I don’t know who it is.

  It could have been Luke. He told me that he loves me. That announcement came totally out of left field. I was not expecting it. Maybe he’s obsessed with me. Maybe he thinks that by destroying me in the public eye, I’ll turn to him and find solace in his arms.

  Or was it Nadia? It’s no secret that Nadia can be jealous at times. She did apologize to me for saying that I was sleeping with Michael to climb the corporate ladder. Still, maybe her apology was motivated by guilt over the fact that she betrayed me in a moment of envy.

  Then, there’s Hailey. She comes across as this innocent, homely Southern girl. But she’s shown that she’s good at keeping secrets. What if she’s been a wolf in sheep’s clothing all along?

  And what about Jasmine? She’s the new girl. None of us really know her and what her intentions are. Plus, she was there, standing right next to me the moment the pictures were released to the press. Maybe she had something to do with it.

  I admit that paranoia is a feeling that I’ve become accustomed to after years of trying to keep my darkest secrets hidden. But over the past few months, I’ve come to trust these people. I’ve come to like them. And it breaks my heart to know that one of them tried to destroy me.

  “Ms. Salvador.”

  I jump, started when I hear my name.

  I look up and find Mr. Moretti leaning against the edge of my cubicle, walking stick in hand. Liz lingers in the background, hovering just beyond earshot. “Mr. Moretti, I’m gonna get going now. It was nice to see you,” she says.

  Mr. Moretti smiles at her. �
��It was nice to see you, too, Elizabeth. Thanks for walking with me.”

  “It was a pleasure,” she says beaming. She gives me a friendly nod just before she walks away.

  I rise to my feet to greet him. “Mr. Moretti. What are you doing here, sir?”

  He laughs softly running his hand along the fabric of his three-piece custom-made suit. “Well, I’ve only been gone for a few weeks. Do you mean to tell me that I’m no longer welcome here at the law firm that I founded?”

  “No, no. That’s not what I meant. I’m just surprised to see you. That’s all.” I’m fumbling over my words.

  Madison approaches us, a worried look on her face. “Daddy, is everything all right?”

  He smiles reassuringly at his daughter. “Yes dear. Everything’s just fine. I just wanted to have a chat with Ms. Salvador.”

  I feel my heart speed up at his declaration. “Me?” I squeak out.

  “Yes. Let’s find somewhere private where we can talk.” He turns, wobbling down the hall. I take that as my cue to follow him.

  Chapter 18

  Mr. Moretti motions for me to close the door behind me when I enter his old office behind him. Everything is just as it’s always been; his dark mahogany desk is spotless and organized, the chairs are perfectly aligned and not one book on the shelf is out of place.

  He sits in his large executive chair looking poised and polished. “Have a seat, Ms. Salvador,” he says after clearing his throat. I do as I’m told and sink into one of the dark leather chairs opposite his desk, twisting my hands nervously in my lap. I’m not quite sure exactly what Mr. Moretti wants to talk to me about. But I know it can’t be good.

  Mr. Moretti picks up his bejeweled pen from the desk and taps it against his chin. He’s making me nervous.

  He looks slightly uncomfortable as he speaks. “Ms. Salvador, as we are both aware, intimate details about your past as well as your relationship with my son have come to light recently. Detailswhich have caused embarrassment to you, Michael, our family and this firm.”

  Merda – I was hoping that this wasn’t the direction this conversation would take. But, come on – what did I expect?

  One thing is for certain, making eye contact with Mr. Moretti all while knowing that he’s aware of my sex tape with his son is mortifying. The idea that he may have actually seen the elevator footage makes my cheeks turn a deep shade of red.

  “Mr. Moretti – I really never meant for any of this to happen – Michael and me – we obviously weren’t thinking straight – I –” Words are rolling out of my mouth at one mile a minute.

  Mr. Moretti holds up his hand authoritatively and my rambling comes to an abrupt halt. “Ms. Salvador – please. I’m not interested in your excuses. You and my son are both intelligent adults and what you did was reprehensible.” His words hit me like bricks. I thought that I had experienced the epitome of embarrassment over the past few weeks, but this moment right here – being scolded for my sluttery by the founder of this law firm – is definitely it.

  “I’m sorry,” I say in a small voice, bringing my eyes to my lap.

  Mr. Moretti sighs. “Ms. Salvador, the way the press and the court of public opinion scrutinized you and dragged your name through the mud is…unfortunate. You probably feel ashamed. It’s probably difficult to trust those around you. But, don’t let your negative feelings cloud your judgment.”

  I look up at him, surprised by the conversation’s change in direction.

  “My son asked you to marry him. You rejected him.” He makes the statement matter-of-factly.

  “Michael doesn’t love me,” I protest vehemently.

  “He may not be able to express it at the moment, but his heart and mind belong to you, Ms. Salvador.”

  “How can you say that?”

  “Because I know Michael. His career has always been his number one priority. He’s wanted to be a politician ever since he was a child. Ordinarily, he would never let anything get in the way of his goal…unless there was an overwhelming reason. Ms. Salvador, if he didn’t love you, he wouldn’t hesitate to throw you under the bus and save his reputation. The fact that he’s risking his entire future for you…it says something to me.”

  “Mr. Moretti, your son wants me to marry him. Not because he loves me, but because it would work for his career.”

  He chuckles softly. “Let me explain something to you,” he says calmly. “Campbell Cross is very good at her job. She’s the best. She could easily find a way to get Michael out of this situation that doesn’t involve the two of you getting married. The thing is, you might get hurt in the process and Michael doesn’t want that. If he didn’t plan on keeping you in his life in the long haul, Campbell would not hesitate to rectify the situation in another way.”

  “Sir, I understand that you want what’s best for Michael, but marrying him for all the wrong reasons isn’t what’s best for me.” It’s only natural that a father would go out of his way to protect the interests of his son, but I won’t let myself be a pawn in the Moretti quest for power. If that’s the game they’re playing, I’m not interested.

  Mr. Moretti looks at me with compassionate eyes. “Ms. Salvador, I trust that you will do what’s best for you. But I don’t doubt that my son loves you. It’s just that he’s a man. He doesn’t throw those three words around loosely. If you give him time, you’ll hear him say it with his own lips and it will be the most beautiful thing you’ve ever heard and there will be no doubt in your mind that it’s true…All I’m saying is that I think that you should give Michael another chance…don’t give up on him.”

  With that, Mr. Moretti gets up from his seat and wobbles over to the door. He holds it open for me.

  As I walk through, he pats me lightly on the shoulder. “Please Ms. Salvador, don’t give up on him yet.”

  Chapter 19

  “Would you like some more wine, miss?”

  The waiter’s deep, husky voice startles me out of my thoughts. I look up at him and offer a small smile. “Sure. Yes, please,” I say, tapping the rim of glass with my fingernail. He refills the glass dutifully before walking away.

  Today was intense, to say the least.

  I’d started the day feeling deeply paranoid about my co-workers and trying to figure out which one of them had betrayed me. Then, I’d had that very uncomfortable conversation with Mr. Moretti. Then, I received an email informing me that my scholarship has been suspended since my grades had slipped significantly last semester.

  Fuck!

  Tonight, I just need a glass of wine. Red wine.

  And some time by myself.

  I’m having dinner alone at a quaint Indian restaurant a few blocks from my apartment. I usually really enjoy their prawn masala dish, but tonight, it tastes like paper. I know I can’t blame it on the chef though.

  I have no appetite.

  I have no desire to eat.

  I’m missing Michael. And the longer I’m away from him, the more I just want to give in to him. I love him. I would like to marry him. I would love to be his wife. I could see my future with him. I just want to make sure that we’re on the same page. I want to know that he loves me as much as I love him.

  Mr. Moretti’s words keep replaying in my mind as I pick at my meal.

  Give Michael another chance. Give Michael another chance.

  He insists that his son loves me and that he wouldn’t ask to marry me if he didn’t. I’m not really convinced. I wish I was.

  Just then, my phone starts ringing in my pocket. I pull it out and check the caller ID.

  It’s Michael.

  I take a deep breath as my finger hovers over the screen. My mind tells me that I should just send him to voicemail again. My heart tells me that I need to be in his arms tonight even if that means compromising what I really believe in.

  I give in.

  “Hello,” I say as I bring the phone to my cheek.

  “Ruth, thank god. You’ve finally answered.” God – I missed the sound of his voice.
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  “What is it, Michael?” I ask trying to keep my voice from cracking under the weight of my uncried tears.

  “I need to see you. Please.” I can hear the sincerity in his voice and it breaks my heart.

  I close my eyes and purse my lips for just a second. This is the moment that breaks my resolve.

  “Meet me at my apartment in half an hour,” I hear myself say.