Ruby Rose (16 page)

“What makes you say that?” Evan asked.

Adam piped in, “Just ignore her.”

Evan was undaunted. “Well? Where did you get these facts?” He stood there smiling, arms crossed against his chest. A part of him enjoyed seeing how mad Maxine was getting.

Maxine shrugged. “Whatever. I was just trying to be nice. Believe me or not, but if I were you, I’d ask that little lying fake yourself.”

 “Just leave us alone,” Gage ordered.

Maxine nodded toward the direction of Ruby, who was walking back toward the group. “She’s using you, Evan. Using you for all your connections and your name. She fucks you, whores herself out, and surprise, surprise, now she’s on a cover of a magazine. I bet she’ll use it for her own story. You’re a fool if you thought this was about love.”

Evan stood still, frozen by the biting words. He knew it couldn’t be, but Maxine’s words still hurt like hell. He took in what he’d just heard, then shook his head and viciously attacked. “There’s only one whore in this room, Maxine.”

“Let’s just ask Ruby and end this shit right now,” Gage interrupted.

“Ask me what?” Ruby asked as she walked up and reached for Evan’s hand.

This whole conversation was absurd. There was no way Ruby could secretly be using him. He trusted her. Evan just hoped that Ruby didn’t get upset by Maxine’s accusations.

“Why don’t you tell everyone how you're a deceiving, lying, filthy whore,” Maxine snapped.

“Shut your mouth!” Evan yelled, a red haze of anger nearly blinding him.

“What? What the hell is going on?” Ruby looked confused and stunned by the nasty claim.

“Maxine, get your ass out of our faces before one of us paddles your ass so hard you won't be sitting for days,” Adam yelled.

Maxine took a couple of steps back. “Tell them all about the article. It seems your filthy, cock-licking mouth has been caught.”

Evan lunged for Maxine only to have Adam step between them. “Get out of here, now!” Evan’s voice vibrated throughout the room. Fury coursed through his veins.

Maxine turned to leave and then suddenly stopped. She turned and spoke over her shoulder. “I find it ironic, Evan, that you are the all-famous Dom, and yet you're taking it up the ass a lot lately. How's the ass fucking feel?” She smirked and quickly glided away, leaving her path of destruction behind her.

Evan turned toward Ruby and saw her startled eyes. Evan wanted to scoop her up in her arms and apologize for hours for having to witness that. Maxine was out of control.

“I’m so sorry, Ruby. I’ll make sure that bitch never comes near us again.” He wrapped his arms around Ruby and felt her body tense. Ruby didn’t return the embrace.

“Evan, I’m sorry, I should’ve told you this a long time ago.”

Evan’s heart sank.
A long time ago?

Ruby’s beautiful smile and excited eyes had changed to a sullen expression. All Evan saw in them was fear… or was it guilt? It felt unreal, like some kind of nightmare. Evan searched her eyes for answers. Desperately searching for clarification. Reassurance that Maxine was full of shit. Evan searched for… hope. For a second, he thought he was going to be sick. His breath caught. This couldn’t be happening.

“It’s not what you’re thinking,” Ruby started. “I'm a writer, you know that. I did come here to get a story on Domestic Discipline. But I swear I'm not using you.”

Evan’s ears rang. He stood there, heart hammering. He took a few steps back. “You told me you’re a writer. But an article on… me?” Evan stared at her, hoping he had heard her wrong.

“On Domestic Discipline,” she said. “I meant to tell you from the very beginning, but we started to get close and I didn't want to lose you, and I…”

Ruby’s words echoed against the walls of his ears. Every word was like a punch to the gut. Evan wanted to vomit. All this time, Ruby had been working undercover. Evan shook his head in disbelief and backed away even further.

“Evan, please.” Unshed tears rimmed Ruby’s eyes, but it didn’t matter. Evan couldn’t comfort the woman he loved. He couldn’t reach out and dry the tears. He couldn’t give… love.

Ruby stepped closer to Evan, attempting to reach for his hand. Evan recoiled, not wanting her to take another step. Gage and Adam stood to the side, speechless. As the reality of it settled in, the shock and pain turned to anger.

“So, did you get all the information you needed?” Evan’s voice rose with every word. “Plenty of material gathered through your experimental phase with me?”

Ruby shook head, tears coursing down her face. “Evan, please, you don’t understand. Let me—”

“So, what the hell was I to you? I didn’t think you were using me. I honestly thought you loved me.”

“I do love you! I lied, but I swear to you that everything between us was genuine. I'm a writer, but I never intended to write something negative. Please, let me explain.”

“I trusted you, Ruby. I gave you my whole heart. I had no idea you would do this to me.”

Evan stormed away, fighting back tears, vomit, and fury. He needed to flee fast. He didn’t want Ruby to see just how intensely she affected him. Those days were over.

Through the corner of his eye, he saw Ruby rushing toward him. Evan didn’t need to hear anymore. Whatever she had to say didn’t matter. It was all lies. Everything was a lie.

“Evan,” she said. “Hear me out, please.”

“There’s nothing to say, Ruby.” He stopped and glared. “Unless you can tell me you didn't move here to write a story. That you haven’t actually been lying to me on a daily basis. Can you say that, Ruby?”

“This is my job, Evan. I kept quiet because I knew you all wouldn't allow me in. Yes, I lied and I was stupid. But I was telling the truth when I told you that I loved you.”

The words felt like a blow to his face. He spun around. “Don’t ever say those words to me again. I trusted you! I don’t trust many, but I thought I could with you!”

Ruby tried to grab his hand, but Evan quickly pulled it away. “But I do!”

Evan didn’t want to ask, but he had to know. “Did you use me for fame or for getting your curiosity filled? Did you fake being submissive? You submitted to me for the sake of a story, huh? Bravo. Job well done.”

Ruby looked as if she had just been slapped. “Please don’t do this. Don’t be mean.”

Tears threatened to escape Evan’s eyes. It was all he could do to not lose it and punch his fist through a wall. He had to leave before they made any more of a scene. He was embarrassed enough.

“Good bye, Ruby.” Evan nodded at his dumbfounded friends. “See you guys later.”

He rushed out of the room without looking back.

“Evan, please, don’t do this,” he could hear Ruby cry.

Chapter 18

“He's got this all wrong! I swear I haven't been faking my feelings just because of this stupid article.” The tears streamed down her cheeks, no doubt dripping make-up all over her face. The only thing Ruby cared about right now was fixing things with Evan. She pulled her phone out of her purse and started dialing Evan’s number frantically.

“Give it a moment, Ruby,” Adam said as he walked up and grabbed the phone.

Ruby looked at him and started to sob, desperately trying to catch her breath. “But I have to. I've never seen Evan so mad.”

Adam nodded. “I’ve never seen him like that, either. You broke his heart.”

“That was fucked up, Ruby,” Gage said. “Evan really loved you.”

Ruby took a deep breath attempting to regain composure. “I love Evan. This was a stupid lie that I let get out of hand. I swear to you I wasn't using him. I've been nothing but honest about my feelings with Evan.” She reached for her phone. “I need to let Evan know that.”

“Were you ever planning on telling him? If it was no big deal, then why the hell keep the secret?” Gage asked, disgusted.

Gage walked away toward the photo set without waiting for an answer. Ruby wanted to crumple in a ball and just cry. She had allowed this all to happen.

“If you want my advice, just leave Evan alone for a while.” The disappointment in Adam’s eyes stabbed at Ruby's heart. He turned without saying goodbye and walked toward Gage.

Ruby released another wave of tears, but quickly dried them up when she noticed Maxine staring on with vindication all over her face. Ruby wanted to walk over and knock it right off. That little bitch loved every second of this. The sad thing was that Ruby looked a whole lot worse in people's eyes than Maxine did.

She turned and made her way outside so she could call a cab for a ride home. She broke down again as soon as she felt the cool air hit her face. Anger replaced her sadness. She was so angry at herself for letting such a stupid and insignificant thing get so out of control. This was ridiculous! She had lost Evan over something so stupid and it was all her fault. All she had to do was tell the truth a long time ago.

Adam was probably right, she decided. Now was not the time to try to explain, with Evan so upset. She’d wait until the morning to call him. She had nothing left in her to give.

****

Glad to be home and away from the judging eyes, she reached for the glass of wine on the edge of the table and drank. Ruby picked up the bottle of chardonnay and filled the empty glass, sloshing a bit on the floor.

She stared at the darkness in front of her, allowing the tears to flow down her face. She took a healthy swig of the liquor, steeling herself for the truth.

It was my fault. I lost Evan.

Ruby leaned back in her chair. “Fuck,” she muttered. She stared at her glass, berating herself for doing something so stupid.

Glancing at the clock, she noticed it was past midnight. Time for bed, if it was even possible to fall asleep. Cradling the nearly empty bottle of wine under her arm, she flipped off the kitchen light, picked up the empty glass, and stumbled upstairs to her bedroom.

After climbing beneath the covers, she poured herself one last glass, hoping it would bring on the desired narcotic effect. Leaning back against the pillows, she took a sip of the cool liquid, letting it soothe her palate. She swallowed, welcoming the warmth spreading in her chest, craving the oblivion that would erase the pain of losing Evan.

Despair was the only thing left.

****

The high-pitched, ear-shattering ring of her phone had Ruby reaching for it frantically. It was early, but she had been up all night tossing and turning anyway. She held her breath, hoping it was Evan returning the messages she had been leaving. She reached over and looked at her phone. It was Harold. She had left a frantic message for him as well.

“Hello?” Ruby stood at the kitchen sink, the cup of coffee in her hand, an ineffective antidote for her throbbing temples.

“What's going on? I couldn't make out anything in your message. All I heard was crying.” Panic blanketed Harold's voice.

Tears welled up in her eyes again. “I messed up, Harold. I've lost Evan because I was a stupid fool.” The tears turned to sobs.

“Calm down, take a deep breath,” he soothed. “What happened?”

“I lied! I lied about this stupid article, and I kept it from him, and then it came to light in the worst way, and…” Ruby blurted out the rest of the evening in a blabbering jumble of words, tears, sobs, and exhausted thoughts.

There was silence on the other end, then a sigh. “I'm sure once Evan calms down, you'll be able to explain,” he said. “But it doesn't look good. That's for sure.”

Ruby wiped at her eyes and blew her nose. She hoped he was right. The thought of being without Evan killed her.

“It’ll be okay. You need to calm down, get some rest, and give it a little time. I'm sure Evan will forgive you.”

“No, he won't. He thinks I've been using him for this damn article!” Ruby’s declaration, louder than she’d intended, caused an icicle of pain in her skull.

“Well, if you love him as much as I think you do, you'll just have to try your hardest to convince him of that.”

She took a deep, consoling breath as she watched Melanie walk into the kitchen. Word of what happened had clearly made it to Melanie. Ruby knew she had a lecture coming, or an ‘I told you so’. She quickly ended her conversation with Harold, promising she would keep him updated.

Ruby sat down and tried to give a weak smile. Faking her happiness to her good friend would be futile, but at least she would try.

Melanie frowned. “You look like shit. I take it the rumors I heard are true.”

“Can we not talk about it?” Ruby sighed as she sipped on her much-needed cup of coffee.

“Not an option,” Melanie declared as she grabbed a mug. “Why didn't you tell him?”

Ruby shrugged. “It's over, Melanie. I don't see the point in discussing this any further. It is what it is.”

“Bullshit.” Melanie actually looked angry. “I see how much you love him. Your heart has been ripped out of your chest. Don't even try lying to me.”

Ruby grabbed a spoon and fiddled with it between her fingers. For the first time, Melanie made her uncomfortable.

“Seriously, Ruby. I don't understand why you have to be so damn stubborn. You love this guy. It's obvious that you do. So why are you so determined to try to destroy it? Fight for him!”

“It’s more complicated than just love. He feels betrayed.”

Melanie nodded in agreement. “As he should. But you can fix this.”

“You didn’t see his face. It’s over now.” Ruby took a drink before adding, “I’m not in the mood to hear a lecture. I’m letting you know that I'm leaving soon. I need to get back to S.F.”

Melanie crossed her arms, leaned back in her chair, and glared in response.

Ruby shifted in her seat. “You look mad. Come on, Melanie. Don't be mad at me.”

Melanie continued to glare.

“You knew I wasn’t planning on staying for long. I need to figure my life out and, well…”

The silent glare from Melanie continued.

“Stop staring at me like that! You're making me feel bad.”

Melanie took a deep breath before speaking. “This is typical
Ruby
.”

Ruby could feel her temper rising. “And what do you mean by that?”

“You run when you get scared. You're a coward.” Melanie had never sounded so blunt and harsh before.