Shine Not Burn(31)

I pointed to the chair. “No. Don’t get up. I’m not done.”

“Oh, and it’s all about what you want, isn’t it?”

Now we were getting somewhere. “Not all the time, but I am the attorney and you are my assistant. What’s bothering you about our relationship?”

“If you’re talking about being your assistant, then nothing’s bothering me. Not one single thing.”

“What if I’m not talking about you being my assistant?” I was fishing now. I had no idea what she was getting at, but I damn sure wanted to find out. If I could fix whatever was broken with Ruby and me, it would turn my life into a bed of roses again, especially considering how many hours I worked in this place. Or almost a bed of roses. Yes, there would still be some thorns, but I could live with some thorns. A girl has to live with some of those if she’s going to marry a man. I’d accepted that as a simple fact of life. A necessary evil that went with being around a guy.

She clarified. “Not as your assistant? Okay then, if you’re talking about us as two women who mutually admire one another, then that’s a different story altogether. There’s plenty bothering me where that’s concerned.”

That hurt my feelings. I prided myself in my people skills. I was known as the Rainmaker at the firm, single-handedly bringing in more new clients than any other junior partner for the last two years running. Everyone liked me. I got invited to all the parties and networking events. “How so?” I asked.

“I like my job.”

I thought her response through for a few seconds, but reflecting on it didn’t help ease my confusion in the least. “What does liking your job have to do with anything?”

“It has everything to do with everything. If it hadn’t been for my need of this job, you wouldn’t have … done the things you’ve done maybe or I wouldn’t be working here anymore.”

I dropped my face into my hands, trying to keep myself from displaying the frustration that swirled around inside me. I didn’t have any idea what she was getting at, but there was no way I could let this go until I had figured it out. She was finally talking to me after more than a year of the silent treatment or sometimes even straight up disrespect. It was time to put it all to bed.

My voice came out muffled as it battled to make it through my fingers. “Please tell me what the hell you’re talking about, Ruby.”

“See, that’s one of the problems right there. Your mouth.”

“My mouth?” I lifted my head and looked at her again.

She pursed her lips and shook her head. “Hm-um. I’m not saying anything more. I need this job.”

“Are you saying that you feel like you can’t talk to me because if you do, you’ll get fired?”

She gave me a tight smile. “That’s exactly what I’m saying. See, you’re a smart girl.” She stood. “I have files to work on, so if you don’t mind…”

I was angry now. “I do mind. Sit.”

“Don’t you talk to me like that! I’m not your dog!” Her southern accent came out towards the end, the one she worked to keep out of her voice at work when surrounded by us lawyers.

I stood up, my voice louder than it should have been. “I know that, Ruby! I know you’re not my dog! I’m just asking you to sit down and have a civilized conversation with me for a change!”

The door opened and Bradley’s head popped in. “Trouble, sweetie?” he asked, not even looking at Ruby.

“No,” I waved him away, “I’m fine. Just give us a few minutes.”

“Yeah, sure,” he said stepping into the room.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Ruby rolling her eyes.

“I just wanted to firm up our date at the country club with The Coral Group? Tomorrow at seven sharp. We can’t be late.”

“Yes, I remember. It’s in my calendar.”

“Okay, great.” He flashed me his good-job grin, the one that used to make me feel all warm inside but now just made me want to slap him. I immediately felt guilty. A girl probably shouldn’t feel that way about the man she was going to marry in just a couple weeks.

“Do you mind?” I said, trying not to sound as annoyed as I felt. “We’re having a little meeting right now. If you need to chat, I’ll be out in a minute.”

“Oh, you want me to leave?” He looked at Ruby. “What’s the matter, Rube? You screw something up again?” He gave her his best cheesy, movie-star smile. When Candice and Kelly were still talking to me, they said it was too perfect. At the time I’d argued. Now, seeing him here kind of harassing Ruby, I wasn’t so sure.

Ruby got halfway out of her seat before I intervened. “Bradley, come on, just give us a break, would you?”

He put his hands up. “Hey, it’s just a joke. Come on, ladies, lighten up.” He backed out of the room and went through the door in reverse, stopping when everything but his head was out of my office. His voice went from jocular to businesslike. “Ruby, seriously, though … let me know when she’s free so I can stop by and chat with her, would you?”

She didn’t even acknowledge him. Bradley left after winking at me, giving me a thumbs up and pointing at Ruby’s back. He probably thought I was going to fire her. To say he and Ruby do not get along would be a massive understatement.