Ruby...Red Slippers & All (The Gems & Gents Series Book 5)

by Iris Bolling

  The morning had certainly given her several warnings not to attend this meeting. "But no... you just had to come, didn't you?" She mumbled to herself as she walked out the door. "So what if it was a great opportunity to help a few families who were living on the street to find shelter from the cold?" She talked to herself while struggling with her umbrella. "Why couldn't she just let things be? Everyone else was willing to let people freeze on the street. Why did she have to be any different? The damn umbrella wouldn't stay up. Ruby threw it in the trash bin on the street. "You can go to hell too." She ran off to her vehicle.

  "Wait," Miranda called out, but the woman in red was gone in the rain by the time she reached the door.

  Miranda walked back to the conference room. "Tania we don't treat people in that manner," She shook her head.

  Tania looked up. "Oh don't worry about her Mrs. Upton. You will not see the likes of her again."

  Miranda took Devin's hand and the ice. "You call that young lady back in here. I'll handle my son."

  At the moment Devin wanted everyone to stop trying to handle his arm. It was generating enough pain on its own.

  "It's probably just a sprain, Mother," Devin took the ice holding it against his wrist. "I'll handle this." He took a seat. "Do you know that woman?"

  "No, I don't know her, but I think she was the young lady who helped me with my car this morning."

  "Your car? What happened to your car?"

  "It's not important," Miranda hushed him. "Let's go on with the meeting so Tania can do as I requested." She gave the woman a stern look.

  "Of course," Tania nodded. "For now we have a meeting waiting to begin."

  As they all took their seats, Miranda whispered to Tania, "Find her and get her back here before the end of business today."

  Tania knew not to cross Miranda. She wanted to be named head of Human Resources and Miranda pulled a lot of weight with her son. So she would do what was asked of her and call the woman back in. She could always sway Devin in a different direction when the time came. "Yes ma'am." She smiled then closed the door.

  Devin sat with the ice pack on his wrist wondering if he would see those eyes again.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  It was the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. There were plenty of things Ruby needed to do to prepare for the family dinner and annual football challenge. The last thing she had time to do was worry about some man who didn't have the common sense to watch where he was going.

  She walked through the back door of her parent’s home mumbling while struggling to bring bags in the house. She placed a bag on the counter top and paused. "What if it’s broken?" She shook her head then walked back out the door. She came back through with two more bags then placed them on the table. "You don't know who the man is so you can't check on him even if you wanted to." She walked back out the door. Ruby came back in with one last bag, placed it next to the others, then began removing her gloves. She stopped. "She called him Devin." She stared off into space for a long moment. Then she removed her coat hanging it in on the hook next to the back door. "That's just one name. You can't call a place and just ask for Devin. Devin who? They would ask and then what would you say?"

  After watching her daughter walk back and forth in the house talking to herself, Sally, the mother to the Lassiter clan, decided she had had enough. She had been sitting at the table drinking a cup of tea when her oldest daughter came in the back door the first time. She started to speak when Ruby began talking. At first she thought Ruby was talking to her, but then she realized her child was talking to herself. Now she was curious and decided to listen.

  "Okay I give. What's broke? And more interesting, what man? And who is Devin?"

  A surprised Ruby turned to see her mother sitting at the table. "Oh, hey Mom. How are you today?"

  And just like that the smiling Ruby was in place. "Pretty good," she said as she walked over to the bags. "You're off early today?"

  "I didn't go in. I had an interview today," Ruby began removing items from the bag, placing them in the cabinets. "Are you making the cakes today for Thanksgiving dinner?"

  "Ha," Sally laughed out loud. "No. They would not make it to tomorrow, much less Thursday."

  Ruby laughed. "You are right. What was I thinking?"

  "About a man."

  "What man?" Ruby continued to put the groceries away.

  "The one you were mumbling about when you walked in the door."

  With a wave of her hand Ruby laughed and changed the subject. "Oh, that. It's...nothing." She turned and continued emptying the bags of groceries. "When is Phire coming home? Is she bringing her roommate with her?"

  Sally noticed Ruby had changed the subject. "She will be home on Wednesday. I don't think she is getting along with her roommate too well." Sally frowned as she continued to put grocery items away. "She said the girl is uppity and has too many boys coming in and out of the room."

  Ruby stopped. "I met one of those heifers today. What is it about those itty-bitty heifers that think the earth is their ground to rule and the men theirs to conquer? Walking around in itty-bitty skirts, with their hair dyed some unnatural color and fake finger nails, well-manicured like they never washed a dish in their life." She held the five-pound bag of sugar in her hands as she pointed it at Sally. "Like the world is supposed to stop and bow at their feet." She put the sugar in the cabinet with a huff. "Give me a freakin’ break."

  Sally stopped working, leaned over the breakfast bar with her chin braced on her hand, staring at her daughter. "The little heifer." She exclaimed.

  "That's right," Ruby hefted the sugar into the cabinet. "Who is she anyway to determine if I am worthy of her little stink job? I got a job."

  "That don't pay a damn," Sally added as she ate a grape from the fruit bowl."

  "No they don't pay enough."

  "Not to mention they work you like a dog."

  "That's right." Ruby stopped. "Who are we talking about now?"

  "The job you don't need," Sally reminded her as she sat on the stool

  "Yes, that's right. I don't need that job. Even though I'm the right person for it. But would that heifer know that...NO!" Ruby reached down and pulled out the twenty-five pound turkey placing it in the sink. "Know why? ‘Cause the heifer didn't even let me interview. She took one look at me, frowned up her little stink ass nose and turned her back on me."

  "The heifer!" Sally exclaimed.

  "Who?" Ruby looked at her confused.

  "I don't know. Whoever the heifer is you are talking about."

  Ruby stared at her mother then the two women burst out laughing.

  Sally walked over to the counter and moved the now empty bags.

  "Sit." Ruby did, as Sally poured her a cup of tea. "Start from the beginning."

  "Mrs. Greenwood, the Director at the shelter submitted my name for the director of a new facility due to open spring of next year. They called me in for an interview. On the way there, I stopped and helped this sweet woman with her flat tire. I got dirty, and of course it's raining outside, so I got wet. When I arrived for the interview, I truly looked like a wet hen."

  "The people frowned on you because of how you looked."

  "Right," Ruby took a sip of her tea. "Not all of them, just the main one."

  "The heifer," Sally nodded.

  "Exactly. To further infuriate the woman I left her a dollar bill and told her to use it to wipe her behind."

  "I can assume you did not use those words," Sally raised an eyebrow.

  Ruby blushed. "Not exactly."

  Sally smiled knowingly. "And the man?"

  Sitting her teacup down. "Oh, yes. When I stormed out of the room I pushed the door open and a man was standing on the other side." She threw her hands up in the air. "Of course, he got hit."

  "This man was Devin?"

  "I had already embarrassed myself enough. I didn't hang around long enough to find out."

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Devin sat at the conference table with t
he icepack resting on his wrist. He hoped to keep the swelling down until he could get it examined. The pain was still throbbing, but nothing he couldn't stand.

  "The first order of business was to establish the Director for Aaron's House," Karin Jacobs stated. "However, the best candidate for the position just walked out the door." She sent an accusing glare at Tania.

  The petite, well manicured, fashion statement of a woman, glared at Karin, then with her nose in the air spoke. "If she was not able to withstand the inquiries of this Board she certainly will be lacking as a director."

  "There were no inquiries, at least not from us," Karin countered. "Only your insults from what I recall."

  "Ladies," Devin did not have the time or the inclination to go through a finger pointing duel between the two women. "The young woman who ran out the door was?"

  "To be honest Devin," Tania smiled. "She was so unimpressive I don't recall her name."

  "Ruby Lassiter," Cecil spoke as he nodded to Tania.

  "Oh yes," she smirked. "Thank you Cecil."

  Cecil turned to Devin. "We did not have the opportunity to properly speak with her. However, I found her to be quite straight forward and dead on with her opinions."

  "I was impressed with her resume," Devin nodded.

  "She was the young woman recommended by the Mayor," Miranda added. "If we did not give her ample opportunity to represent herself, I think it is incumbent upon us to rectify that error. After all, the Mayor will have to be the one to approve the zoning on the facility."

  "Well the City Council will have to give its blessing on the proposed site in addition." Tania stated. "As you know, we already have the majority of the votes needed.

  "From what I understand," Karin spoke. "Some members of the Council are waiting to hear from the person we select as Director. That conversation may sway their vote."

  "All the more reason we should hire someone who represents well and is able to articulate our desires."

  "I found her to be quite articulate," Cecil grinned. "She got her point across with the dollar bill."

  Karin laughed. "Yes she did. Either way we don't want to keep the City Council waiting if we want this project to begin by the first of the year. This is the week of Thanksgiving. If we want to speak with them, we need to make a decision today. In two days they will close for the holiday and then we will have to wait until Monday of next week to get started."

  "It is my hope to have this project ready to roll by January 1." Devin stated as he sat forward. "Were there any other candidates qualified for the position?"

  "Well," Tania spoke quickly. "Jeremy Claiborne is still available. His resume was very impressive."

  "I have concerns with him," Cecil sat forward.

  "He was the director of a few group homes my company has handled jobs for."

  "He dealt with troubled teens for the last five years." Tania looked at the document in front of her as she read off his accomplishments. "He's handled budgets," she looked up, "by the way Ms. Lassiter did not have that on her resume. And he has grant writing skills, which will come in handy in the future."

  "But he is asking for a rather hefty salary," Karin cautioned. "There are still unanswered questions regarding incidents at one of the group homes."

  Devin listened as he read through both resumes. "What were your concerns with" he looked at the papers in front of him. "Ms. Lassiter?" He looked around the table.

  "She was...well untidy, unprepared and frankly rude," Tania replied.

  "I think we may have started on the wrong foot with her," Cecil turned to Devin. "I think we should ask the candidate to come back in today if possible."

  "I don't think that's a good idea." Tania turned to Devin. "Mr. Claiborne is scheduled to meet with us at one."

  "Mr. Upton," Karin spoke. "Ms. Lassiter did not have the opportunity to speak to her qualifications. I have to agree with Mr. Dance. We should ask her to come back today."

  "Let's speak with both of them," Devin closed the folder. "Tania please contact Ms. Lassiter to see if she can meet with me this evening."

  "Meet with you?"

  "Yes. At her convenience." He opened another folder. "Cecil talk to me about this building you've selected for renovations. Give me the cost and timeframe."

  Tania opened the next folder perturbed by the outcome of the meeting thus far. It was fortunate that the Lassiter woman came in looking so disheveled. That gave her the ammunition she needed to put Jeremy in that position. If she could get him what he wanted, the better her chance of securing the HR position. She thought it was handled. Now she had to call the woman back in again.

  "What are your thoughts Tania?"

  "Excuse me?" She’d missed the entire conversation. She had to do better.

  "On the location of the facility," Devin explained.

  "The location is good," she stated while quickly glancing at the people at the table. When she reached Miranda the woman was staring at her as if she was trying to see through her.

  There was something about Tania that never sat well with Miranda. The woman thought as she watched her. She was up to something. Miranda had no idea what, but she would find out. There was a time when Aaron tried to get his new assistant and Devin together. Thank goodness that did not work out. Devin for some reason did not trust Tania and neither did she. Miranda turned her attention back to Devin.

  "Then we all agree on the location for Aaron's House," Devin was pleased to announce. "Tania since this is a personal project and not really a task for Upton Investments, I think we should have Cameron as the point of contact for the Director of Aaron's House. I know you are not too fond of this particular project. This will allow you to concentrate directly on Upton."

  Cameron Hicks! The name screamed through Tania's mind. That was the other person up for the Human Resources Director position.

  "On the contrary, Devin I would like to remain a part of the project."

  "Very well," Devin smiled. "We welcome your assistance."

  "Now that Devin is the CEO of Upton, I think decorum would call for you to refer to him, at least in public, as Mr. Upton." Miranda smiled. "Don't you agree, dear?"

  CHAPTER SIX

  Upton Investments was located in downtown Richmond, not far from the Federal Reserve Bank and close to the river. The twenty floor, glass enclosed building was one of the most modern and tastefully decorated in the area. The executive offices were located on the twentieth floor. There were private offices along the outer walls giving those executives city views or river views. Devin's office, which spanned the width of the building, had both.

  At times the view was calming and at others times bustling with activity. Today would be labeled as hectic.

  Miranda did not have an official office in the building. However, due to the late hours her husband would pull every so often, he had an office designated for her use only. She hadn't been there much since Aaron's death. But felt these first few months of Devin stepping into the leadership role, her presence would go a long way in smoothing the feathers of some of the men and women who had worked there from the beginning. Some believed they should have been named CEO when Aaron passed away, however, his will stipulated that his son, Devin, would be the lone CEO of the company. That was enough pressure. Miranda did not want anyone to attempt to take advantage of his learning curve. Especially someone like Tania.

  After the breakfast meeting, they went into the office. Miranda stopped by her office to drop off her purse and umbrella then joined Devin in his office.

  "I have no idea how Dad managed to juggle so many things at once." Devon smiled as he pushed papers around that were waiting on the desk when he walked into the office. Mrs. Talley, his secretary, indicated he had twenty messages waiting for him to return calls.

  "I placed the more important ones on top. That's the way I did it for you father. If you need me to do it in a different manner, don’t hesitate to tell me." The stylish, slim, fifty something woman stated.

  "What
ever way you handled it previously will be fine. Please, just let me know when there are urgent matters first thing each morning."

  "Very well, Sir." She looked at her tablet. "You have a meeting scheduled with New Account Acquisitions at two and Investment Services at three."

  "Thank you Mrs. Talley."

  "Oh, Ms. Reid requested I put an interview for a Mr. Claiborne on your schedule at one. Is that acceptable?"

  "Yes, I expected that."

  "I need you to let me handle your calendar if you plan to get things accomplished." She scowled. "You can't let everyone have access or you will be behind schedule before your day starts."

  "Yes Ma'am."

  "I'm not scolding, it’s just that at times Ms. Reid can be a little pushy."

  "No, I have never thought that." Devon looked up and smiled at the woman.

  "You have a sense of humor," Mrs. Talley returned the smile." I like that." She turned to see Miranda standing in the doorway." Mr. Upton there is a Mrs. Upton here to see you, shall I show her in?"

  Miranda laughed." After all these years you should know when it comes to this office I don't need to be announced." The two women hugged. "How are you this morning Ella?"

  "I'm doing well my friend, it is good to see you in the office." Ella turned to Devin. "Will that be all for now Mr. Upton?"

  "Yes, thank you Mrs. Talley."

  "Now that is the way that you should be addressed," Miranda stated as she stepped into the office and closed the door.

  "Oh I think people are just casual around here." Devin removed his suit jacket placing it on the back of his chair. He rolled up his shirt sleeves and took a seat at the desk." Mother, do you happen to know who Dad wanted to head up Human Resources? Did he ever mention a name to you?"

  "He did." She replied then took a seat and crossed her legs in front of his desk.

  Devin looked up." Will you share that name with me?"