Trevor Westall Memoir
My Life with Ruby Jensing
Maria Paola Chironi
Copyright © 2011 by Maria Paola Chironi
Smashwords Edition
BOOK I
Ruby Jensing tiptoes into my office.
As I scan her, I notice she's not wearing a skirt. Interesting. Normally, that's how all my female assistants try to impress me during their first interview. They show me as much skin as they can because they believe I'm going to give them the job as a reward. Maybe they're naive enough to think I have never seen a woman's legs before.
I may like what I see, but it doesn't mean I want them anywhere near me as my assistants. This job is hard enough without a pest attached to my balls all day.
I can read Ruby. Fearful and hopeful at the same time. Insecure, desperate, sweet, sad. She may just be what I need. I motion for her to sit. She hasn't said a word so far. What's the deal with her?
A brunette is a breath of fresh air. I'm tired of blondes. Her eyes intrigue me, so disheartened and honest. She still doesn't talk.
There's something special about this little one.
I smile at her and instead of relaxing, she's scared shitless. Her instincts are very good.
"This must be a first," I say. "An assistant who doesn't talk. Don't you want to tell me how good you are? Impress me with your references? Tell me a dirty joke from last night?"
I like her smile.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Westall."
'Mr. Westall.' I love it when they come here scared like this. It makes everything funny.
"Do you know what happened to your predecessor?" I ask her.
Her timid smile disappears from her face. She knows about Linda's suicide, of course. Who doesn't?
I knew having sex with Linda was a mistake, but she wanted it so much, what else could I have done? I have a hard time rejecting women.
"Okay, so tell me what you think about what happened," I ask her.
"About the fact itself?" she replies.
She cracks me up. She's not joking. She's really a philosopher. I'm reading this useless piece of paper she calls resume. I wonder if Patricia, who selects the candidates, is doing her job with her eyes closed these days. All these references Ruby wrote down here seem fake.
"If you want to work for me, you better learn to answer my questions straight. What. Do. You. Think. About. What. Happened?"
The anger flashing in her eyes right now means there may be a tiger inside that little proportionate body. She's a fighter, a survivor.
"I think you're a son-of-a-bitch. I think in your own perverse way you like to feel guilty about her, not because she meant anything to you, but because it confirms your idea that the universe and its occupants revolve around you."
Did she just call me a 'son of a bitch?' She has a lot of heart. She also speaks like a guru. I like the way she looks at me, straight into my eyes. I smell her fear and yet she's still here returning my direct stare. There's a certain sweetness to her, combined with strength and passion.
She has some deep, real scars. She's not faking the load of despair on her shoulders. It's going to be enthralling to find out what caused that abysmal sadness in her eyes. When the time comes, I'll see if I can bring some joy in her life.
I can't wait to have her here with me. I'm going to make her dance in the palm of my hand.
"Come back tomorrow, eight o'clock," I say. "Let's see what you can do."
I also want to see what she's hiding under those pants.
"Lose the pants."
I like her a lot.
I hear Ruby's voice from my office. She's chatting with Marla, my secretary. She sounds too relaxed on her first day of probation. Let's put some fear into her. I better find out right away if she's able to handle the stress of this job.
I walk to the open door and stand there. Her legs are short but overall aren't bad. What fascinates me is why she was hiding them from me during her interview.
Ruby sees me. There's a good amount of surprise and fear in her eyes.
"You're eight minutes early," I tell her. "If I say eight o'clock, it means exactly eight o'clock."
If I had slapped her face she wouldn't have that freaked out expression.
I close the door behind me and go back to my desk.
She looks extremely tired, which means she didn't sleep last night and it also means she cares. I have the feeling she can be really good at this. I wait eight minutes then I use the intercom to call Marla.
"Tell my assistant I want my coffee."
Enough with Ruby Jensing, at least for the next fifteen minutes. I reckon she won't be able to get a coffee any faster than that. The coffee joint is always packed at this hour.
I dial Phil's number.
This 'Chromies' situation is becoming a nightmare. We've been stuck for over five months negotiating and dealing with prima donna bullshit and temper tantrum. Now my casting director has decided she doesn't want to cast the leading lady anymore, Isabelle Gorgic, just because she has been arrested a couple of times and technically she's a model and not an actress. Details. People love her and they want her in the movie. Our leading man, Mark Keith, wants her in the movie with him, so they can have some love scenes together to spice up their real life relationship. If I didn't believe this movie will make us a lot of money, I would have already passed on it.
"Hey Phil, give me good news," I say on the phone.
Phil has been my partner for the last sixteen years. I can't wait to see Ruby playing with him. He's not a bad man but when it comes to women, he just can't keep his hands to himself. A few of my female assistants were really upset about him. If they're good enough for the job, they should know how to put someone like Phil in his place.
I'm not hearing any good news on the phone when Ruby enters the office with my coffee. I bet she was running, there's no other possible explanation for how fast she came back. I stick my hand out for my coffee and point my finger to the chair in front of my desk. She hands me the coffee.
"I never said I was okay with that, Phil."
Ruby sits in front of me. Let's see if the temperature of the coffee is good. When it's too hot, it just makes me want to scream and when it's cold, I don't even taste the flavor anymore. It normally takes a few days to all of my assistants to get the temperature right for me.
This coffee is way too hot. I give Ruby a deadly look. She doesn't react.
"Fine. Let's talk about it in..." I say, checking my wristwatch, "forty-seven minutes."
I hang up the phone. This phone call with Phil was a waste of time and the coffee Ruby gave me just burnt my lips.
"Are you trying to burn my mouth?" I ask her. "Because it's working."
I throw the cup on the floor and the coffee spills out everywhere. Ruby stands in front of me. Something is up, she doesn't panic.
"I'll get you another one," she says. "No problem."
She walks away from my desk.
"Where are you going? Clean that mess on the floor!"
It makes me laugh to see her getting the tissues to clean the spilt coffee by herself.
"Do you want to be a janitor or my assistant? Tell Marla to get somebody here to clean up!"
She's really running now. Good. At least I have established she's ready to do whatever I tell her to do, even if it's not her direct responsibility. She will have to get her hands dirty from time to time. The last thing I need is a crybaby with a weak stomach.
I'm not fully enjoying this humiliation, but she needs to have clear in her mind that I'm the boss and... she's back.
There's no way she could have gone downstairs to get me another cup of coffee. I bet she ordered two coffee when she went there before. This is going to be the best first day of probation that I've been through with any of my assistants.
I stick my hand out again and she gives me the cup.
I take a sip with great caution. It's better.
"Someone has been coaching you," I tell her. "Interesting. Still you're not quite there yet."
I get up, put my jacket on and place the cup of coffee in front of her.
"Now it's cold."
Here's the tiger coming out at me again. The anger flashes in her brown eyes.
"I'm very sorry about that, Mr. Westall."
When I step next to her, she shrinks. She's not much of a tiger when I'm this close.
"I bet you are. Let's go, we got a meeting with Phil."
She follows me to the door. I stop. I guess she has earned her first little victory for today. I feel extremely generous, probably because I never liked an assistant as much as I like her.
"Call me Trevor."
Victor is more than a driver. He has been working for me for almost ten years, just like Marla. I believe in keeping a valuable employee when I find one. I trust his instincts. He confirms my first impression of Ruby when I perceive he likes her. She seems to like him too. The normal reaction from someone so petite next to someone as big as Victor is a sense of security and protection.
I sit with Ruby in the back seat.
"This is my new assistant, Ruby Jensing," I tell Victor. "Be nice with her, at least for this week."
Victor studies Ruby from the rear view mirror. Ruby smiles at him.
"Yes, sir," he says.
"Just listen, don't take notes," I tell Ruby. "Use your memory."
She has a smart expression, absorbing information from me like a sponge. I can tell she's nervous but she's relieved I'm not bitching about coffee temperature and other small details. I should have given her more credit than that, but I can't make it too easy for her. I'm sure she heard a lot of stories about me and the assistants I put through hell. I'm not confirming that any of those stories are true, but why should I change her perception of me so soon?
Victor arrives at destination. Ruby opens the car door.
"Stay out of Phil's reach," I tell her. "He's a little handsy but I work with him so I can't help you there, unless he physically assaults you. Which he's not going to do, because he's truly a pussy."
She stares at me with a blank expression, as if she doesn't remember where she is anymore.
"Go on, what are you waiting for?"
The meeting is well under way when I enter Rhonda's conference room with Ruby. Phil sees her and he's immediately on the prowl. He nudges me.
"Who's that?" he asks.
Ruby is terrified. This is not the first time a man's eyes make her uncomfortable. Maybe it was a mistake to warn her about Phil. Instead of giving her confidence with the advantage of having that kind of information, I scared her to death.
"I'm here to settle this, Phil."
I sit next to Rhonda.
"Rhonda, can you at least reconsider--"
"Did you see the papers, Trevor?" she blares. "That bimbo is a recipe for disaster. Don't even get me started on her acting."
Phil goes around the table, trying to get close to Ruby. Ruby casually moves in the opposite direction. I see we're going to have a problem here. If she doesn't find a way to deal with Phil, she can't work with me.
It's a damn shame because I don't want to lose her.
My leading man's agent is in the room with us. I tell him to book Mark for lunch with me, today. Let's see if I can restore the schedule on this project.
In the middle of her argument with Phil, Rhonda notices Ruby for the first time.
"You're a woman. I want your opinion on this."
The terrified expression on Ruby's face changes into pure panic. I wasn't expecting Rhonda to notice her or ask her any question. She never acknowledges the existence of anybody working for me.
"Are you familiar with Isabelle Gorgic?" Rhonda asks.
Ruby looks at me. I'm sorry but I can't help her. I need to see what she can do by herself.
"Yes."
"These guys here are blinded by her boobs," Rhonda says. "She can't act, she has been arrested twice in the past four months and she's trouble wherever she goes, whatever she does. Knowing all this, what would you do?"
The wheels turn inside Ruby's head. She glances at me a couple of times. I don't like the fact that I want to help her. She's just another assistant, on probation.
"Everyone deserves a second chance," Ruby says.
She's reckless and honest. She couldn't be anything else, with those eyes.
Phil is joyful like he has just hit the jackpot. If I had any doubts before, now I know he will chase Ruby until he gets his hands on her.
Rhonda clutches her jaw and turns to me.
"If I were you, I would fire her."
We're back in the car. I want Ruby to understand that the most important rule in this business is not to cross important people who might get back at you in the future, unless it's absolutely necessary. Upsetting Rhonda was the last thing she should have done. Upsetting my partner Phil would have been just as traumatic for a newbie on her first day of probation. On the other hand, she's out there to please me, not to please my co-workers and nothing would please me more than put an end to the negotiations for this movie. Ruby might have helped the movie with her comment.
"Did I say something wrong?" she asks.
"Rhonda is someone you try to keep on your side," I say. "It's like an unwritten rule."
"You didn't tell me what to answer to that question."
She's brave. I was expecting her to be crushed by Rhonda's poignant observation about her future with me.
I turn to look at her.
"You have a brain for yourself, one can only hope. I don't believe I told you to talk at all."
"She asked me a question, what was I supposed to do, not answer?"
Now she's getting on my nerves. Her normal reaction, after deciding to respond directly to Rhonda without checking with me first, should be to keep her head down and to be quiet. Maybe I have a soft spot for her. I don't remember being so magnanimous with a new assistant before.
I don't like it.
"Book me a table at ChiroBros for lunch."
She doesn't seem too bold now, questioning my suggestions and my authority. She knows the name of the restaurant and how difficult it is to get a table there on such a short notice.
"What time?" she asks.
She's really trying to impress me. I exchange a funny look with Victor in the rearview mirror.
"How about one o'clock?"
"You got it."
She's confident again, with a sweet smile on her face. If she's playing games with me, she's going to find out it's the biggest mistake of her life. It doesn't matter how much I like her, I'm going to tear her to pieces.
Could it be that she's not as honest as I think? I was expecting her to apologize and tell me it's impossible to get a table there. That would have been an honest answer. Instead she's playing it cool. Whatever the outcome, this is going to be fun.
I follow Ruby into the main hall of ChiroBros. I try so hard not to laugh at her. She's been quiet in the car and not as confident as before. Either she has made the reservation or she hasn't. It seems like she doesn't know if she did.
The maitre d stands by a podium and welcomes us with a professional smile.
"Welcome to ChiroBros. May I have your name, please?"
"Ruby Jensing," I say.
The maitre d scans the list in front of him. I glance at Ruby. She's not even breathing. What the hell, I'm holding my breath as well. If she made the reservation herself, why is she so nervous? Unless somebody else made it for her.
The maitre d raises his head.
"Your table is ready. Follow me this way, please."
I don't like this kind of surprise, especially when I don't see it coming. I have seriously underestimated this little girl. If she survives her probation with me, I'm not going to do the same mistake again.
When we get to our table, the maitre d moves the chair out for Ruby.
"She's not staying," I say.
He leaves us alone.
Ruby stands there by the table. She's relieved but confused. She thought getting a table here was going to make me happy and it was what I wanted from her. Well, I'm not happy and I won't be until I find out how she did it. She can stand there for the entire lunch, for what I care.
Mark Keith arrives. The leading man of 'Chromies' is perfectly on time. He sees Ruby standing by the table, offers her his hand.
"I'm Mark, nice to meet you."
Ruby shakes his hand.
"It's my pleasure, Mr. Keith."
Mark sits next to me. He keeps looking up at Ruby, perplexed. As much as I would love to have her standing there like a statue for as long as it pleases me, I see Mark won't listen to a word I'm saying with that kind of distraction.
"Wait in the car," I tell her.
She has a great smile. She walks out like a giant, content with herself and the big stunt she just pulled on her soon-to-be boss.
When I go back to the car, Ruby sits in the back seat, worried. I ignore her and get on the phone with Phil.
"Phil, it's done. If he wants to keep his job or any job in this town, he won't play casting director. We got our hands full with Rhonda on that."
I observe Ruby while I feign to be interested in Phil's nonsense on the other side of the line. When he finally ends the celebratory monologue, I hang up and put away the phone.
"So what are we going to do with you, assistant?"
I give her a pat on the shoulder. She's paralyzed in fear. Whatever confidence she has before is now gone.
We enter the office and Marla greets us with messages on Post-it notes and little details I couldn't care less about, since I'm all into Ruby and her successful task. She caught my attention and yes, she impressed me.
It was truly unexpected. I look at her and still I have no idea how she pulled a stunt like that. She's a real surprise. She tries to escape from my eyes and stands by the window.
"No phone calls or interruptions, unless it's the end of the world," I tell Marla.
Marla walks out of the office and leaves me alone with Ruby.
I want to take my time to grill her and to see what she's hiding from me. It must be big because nobody can get a table at ChiroBros in a few hours. Even I would struggle with that.
"Hey you, come here and sit with me."
The truth is that I would love to have her sitting on my lap. I know exactly how to make her confess all of her secrets, fears, hopes and dreams. I guess that would be pushing her a little too much, on her first day with me. I can't afford the risk to break her like fresh, unformed clay between my hands. She's not ready to sit on my lap yet, but I can tell she will be. She may even surprise me if I ask her to come that close to me. She's the most intriguing puzzle I have had in years.
"Are you going to tell me how you did that?" I ask her.
"Somebody owed me a favor," she says, playing innocent.
"Bullshit."
"The result is what matters, not how you get there."
Her secret is huge.
"Really?"
"It's like with magic," she says. "The magician performs his trick and astonishes you. You don't need to know how he did it. The moment you know, you lose the magic."
"Maybe I'm a curious bastard."
"I don't want to spoil it for you."
Okay, this little girl can keep her secret for now. I don't want to push her too hard and break her. She won't be able to hide it from me for long.
I hand her the Post-It notes Marla gave me.
"Here, take care of my messages and get out of my sight. Work with Marla."
"Sure."
She tries to get the notes from my hand but the more she pulls, the tighter I hold them. She pulls again and I let go with a charming smile. She walks to the door.
"One more thing," I say.
She turns around to look straight at me.
"I want a blow job before the end of the day. Make it happen. Show me the magic."
I normally ask for it at the end of the probation week, but Ruby is a special case. Let's see how she does.
Ruby is doing everything by the book. My book. A professional hooker steps into my office. She's outstanding in a tight black suit, black stockings and stilettos.
She marches toward my desk.
"I'm Leslie," she says.
I turn my chair around, she kneels in front of me.
While she takes care of me, I think about Ruby. I rest my head back and close my eyes.
There's nothing in her work history that could explain how she was able to book a table at ChiroBros, which probably means my first impression on those references is correct and they are all fake. Somebody made that reservation for her. What I don't understand is why she's so desperate to work for me with that kind of connection. She might have burnt a few bridges. The expression she used, 'somebody owed me a favor,' makes me think she may have done something in the past that she's not proud of and whatever it is, it's personal.
Leslie is done. She smiles at me then leaves the office. I must get her number from Ruby.
Speaking of which, let's see if I can make her smile.
I push the intercom button.
"Marla, send my assistant in, please."
"She's on her way," Marla replies.
Ruby enters the office and comes to sit in front of me. She returns my smile but she's very nervous. I keep her waiting there. She tries to read my mind but I can tell she has no clue about what I'm thinking. I'm not concerned with her being my new assistant. I knew I wanted her with me the moment I saw the fierce expression on her face when she called me a 'son of a bitch' during her interview. Booking that table at ChiroBros did the rest.
All I'm thinking of now is that I can't wait to find out everything about her.
Her smile hasn't faded but I reckon she has been waiting enough so I press the intercom button again.
"Marla, have the contract ready for my assistant to sign before she leaves."
I leave my chair and go around the desk. She stands up, startled and overwhelmed. I take her small hand between both my hands and shake it.
"Welcome aboard, Ruby."
I knew I could put a big smile on her face.
My mom and I always had problems.
The reason why she's coming to the office this morning is not because she wants to see me, but because she wants to see my new assistant. After what happened with Linda, she felt responsible because she liked the girl, she had lunch together with her a few times, after doing some shopping and just like me, she didn't see it coming.
I have always avoided the discussion about what happened between Linda and me but I'm sure my mom knows.
I went ahead and got the coffee by myself this morning. I'm too nervous to deal with Ruby messing up the temperature again and I don't want to hurt her.
She's stunned to see the cup in my hand.
"It was wiser to go ahead and get it myself," I say. "My lips are still recovering from the burn you gave me yesterday."
I show her a large cardboard box under my desk.
"Read as much as you can."
Ruby ransacks inside the box where I put all the scripts Phil and my previous assistants gave me.
"Take the box over there, by that table," I say, motioning toward the window. "I've got work to do over here."
Ruby tries to lift the box first. It's too heavy for her so she squats down. The skirt slides up slightly, showing me a little more of her legs. I like what I see. She glances at me with the corner of her eye. She's probably wondering why I'm staring at her ass right now instead of helping her. I'm sure she wishes she were wearing pants.
My eyes stay on her ass while she pulls the box across the floor and stops next to the table by the window. She takes a few scripts out, sits down with her laptop open in front of her and begins to read.
I sit at my desk and work on my laptop. I have at least five hundred new emails to reply to and since I booked Ruby as a script reader for the day, I'll have to do it myself.
My mom is late. How hard is it to be on time?
I spy on Ruby as I keep typing on my keyboard. I told her to scan through the scripts and make two piles, one for the 'yes' and one for the 'no.' Something is wrong with those piles in front of her.
Her body language shows that she knows I'm looking at her. She pretends to be focused and concentrated but she's getting nervous.
Finally she raises her head and looks at me.
"Which is the 'yes' pile, the left or the right?" I ask.
She stares at the piles in front of her and doesn't answer. The pile on the left has four scripts, the pile on the right one script. Either she didn't understand my instructions or she has no clue about how to speed read a script and select one that's good enough to be produced.
"Have you ever read a script before?"
"Of course," she says, "I've read hundreds of scripts. I've actually written a couple too."
"Please don't tell me this was an elaborate plan to get close to me and pitch me your script. It has happened before."
I remember at least two different assistants who survived the probation week, started working for me and then pitched me all their scripts before I kicked them out.
"Why, would you like me to?" she asks.
I don't like the way she looks at me now. Cheerful, playful, relaxed. I'm not used to have my assistants so relaxed on their second day with me.
I glare at her until she lowers her head. She puts down the script she's reading and offers me a professional stare.
"No. I will never ever pitch you any of my stupid stories, until you tell me to do so."
"Then you might just have a future here," I say and go back to my emails.
My mom is really pushing me this morning. Where the hell is she?
My phone buzzes. It's about time.
I press the answer button and keep on typing.
"Yes?"
"Your mother is here," Marla says.
I get up and go to the door. I open it and my mom strides in.
"Virginia."
"Trevor."
"You're thirty-seven minutes late."
My mom gives me a dreadful look. They're less dreadful than mine but still effective enough.
"And how many seconds?"
She looks for Ruby in the office. She finds her at the table and charges in her direction. Ruby springs up from her chair.
"Ruby Jensing."
"Virginia Westall."
They shake hands, then my mom goes to sit behind my desk. She studies Ruby for forty seconds.
"So you're the new girl," she says.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Any personal problems we should know about?"
"Virginia?" I say.
"What? It would have saved us all a headache to know more about the last girl before the... accident."
I knew she couldn't help it. She had to bring up Linda's suicide again. She has been in my office for less than two minutes and I can't wait for her to get out. My mom and I can't stand each other, but at least we can read each other's minds.
She stands.
"Lunch together?" she asks.
"Yes."
"Then I'm out of here."
Virginia marches out. I glance at Ruby.
"Go with her. Help her shopping."
"What about the scripts?"
"Read them at home. I don't care."
I want to be sure she's listening to me. I sneak next to her and tower over her little figure.
"If something happens to her, I'm going to kill you."
Ruby grabs her jacket and bag and escapes from my reach.
"Okay."
She has that playful tone again. Maybe it's not clear in her mind what this shopping expedition is going to be like. My mom will interrogate her to find out what's on her mind, what kind of person she is but most important, when she will sleep with me.
Ruby shouldn't be this happy to leave me and her job anyway. I have been too soft with her. I'm a sucker for sad eyes.
I can't believe I'm calling Ruby and she's not picking up the phone. I better establish some rules for my new little assistant because this is way beyond what I can tolerate from anybody.
When I call Victor, he picks up but doesn't have the information I need, which is: when is the shopping mall experience over so I can plan something for lunch?
I hang up and try to calm down. There must be a good reason for her not to pick up a phone call coming from me, while she's entertaining my mom during her shopping extravaganza. I'll be damned if I know what that reason is, except the desire of being fired on her first official day with me. I won't accept anything less than a plague, an earthquake or a sudden death.
In the middle of this mind storm, my phone rings.
"You better not do that ever again. Why didn't you pick up?"
"I'm sorry," Ruby replies, "the phone was set on vibrate. Do you need anything?"
If she were standing in front of me, I will hurt her so bad that she will beg to quit this job she wants so much without looking back.
"Are you done at that damn mall?"
"I believe we are."
I hang up on her and dial my mom's number.
"I told her to pick up the phone at the mall," she says.
"Are you going to your usual place for lunch?"
"Yes."
"I'll be there in thirty-seven minutes."
I hang up.
These two women have exhausted my patience for the entire week.
When I get to the restaurant, I see my mom and Ruby sitting together like old friends. Ruby won't last long with me if she doesn't follow my instructions to the letter. I told her to help my mom shopping, not to become her friend.
I sit next to my mom and glance at Ruby.
"You can go now."
"Don't be ridiculous," my mom says. "I already ordered the special for her."
I guess my mom didn't learn her lesson with Linda. She can't bond with my employees because that's just what they are: employees. That line should never be crossed because when you do, like I did with Linda, you lose control and perspective and the shit blows up in your face.
I make eye contact with Ruby. She seems truly surprised to hear my mom ordered for her. Maybe she left the table for some reason and missed it.
"She has work to do back at the office. Go now."
Ruby stands up.
"She stays," my mom says.
Ruby is lost. She looks at me, hesitates.
"I'm not going to tell you again."
"Thank you very much for a wonderful morning, Virginia," Ruby says and walks away.
"That was really unnecessary," my mom says.
"You're doing the same mistake again."
"Which is?"
"Bonding with my employees."
Ruby seems stronger than Linda and while she's intimidated and terrified by me, she doesn't seem to be attracted to me in a sexual way. Not yet. Linda was in love with me from her first probation day. She was sweet and fragile, but ultimately damaged to her core.
Ruby is damaged too, but she's full of resources and she's a survivor. She has fallen many times but always got back on her feet. I couldn't read Linda's mind as well as I can read Ruby's mind. Everything about her is in her eyes.
"Bonding is not the issue," my mom says. "If you can keep it on a professional level, you'll be fine."
"I always keep it on a professional level."
"And keep your dick in your pants. You should have enough toys to play with anyway."
"What I do with my dick is none of your business. I'm starving."
My mom sips her wine.
We eat in silence.
When I go back to the office, Ruby continues to read the scripts. I sit behind my desk and stare at her. She doesn't raise her head and pretends to be immersed in the reading. We're going to have that chat now.
She must have heard my thoughts because she finally glances at me.
"How much do you like this job?"
"A lot," she says in a whisper.
"Then you better learn to follow instructions."
There's sadness in her eyes and fear.
"The next time I tell you to leave, you leave at the exact moment I say so."
"I didn't want to offend your mom."
I push my chair away and dash toward her. I hover over her, as she tries to get smaller on the chair.
"You leave her out of this. You work for me, respond to me, obey to me, live for me, always, no exceptions, remarks or questions. Do you think you can do that?"
Her lips tremble. She bites them to make them stop.
"Yes."
"Now get out of here."
She fidgets to get her stuff and dashes out.
I inhale to calm down. Then I see she didn't even bother to take the scripts I told her to read with her.
I chase her.
"Ruby!"
She turns to look at me, like a caged animal.
"Take those scripts home and read them. How many times do I have to repeat myself?"
She returns to the office and takes a few scripts in her arms. Then she proceeds out.
"All of them!"
She keeps her head down as she passes me at the door and walks back inside the office. She puts all the scripts inside the box and pulls it across the floor. Her ass catches my eye again.
Marla observes the scene petrified.
I follow Ruby outside in the corridor and up to the elevator. Her body language says that if I push her more today, she's going to break. I stand in front of her, outside the elevator. Her eyes are begging me to let her go.
The sliding doors close and the elevator takes her away from me.
I want to see where she lives. I also want to make sure she's not completely devastated after her first round with me.
I have the key but since I've never been here before, I decide not to use it and knock on the door instead.
I hear some noises on the other side. She's not opening. She sees me through the peephole and thinks she can keep me out. I don't want to but I can't stop smiling.
"I can hear you," I say.
The door opens. Ruby peeps out.
"Can I come in?"
She wears a tank top and a pair of shorts. Barefoot. She lets me in.
I step in a room that's completely empty, except for a cheap sofa bed in one corner, some books scattered on the floor, a table and stool on the kitchen side. This shithole is not bigger than three-hundred-seventy-eight square feet. This little girl really knows how to surprise me.
Between her empty place and the sadness and shame in her eyes, I have to struggle with myself not to take her into my arms to comfort her.
"Am I not paying you enough?"
She looks away.
"Furniture is overrated."
My little philosopher. I would love to believe that this room is empty on purpose and she doesn't have any furniture here because she needs space to think and meditate. Something tells me this is not the case.
She's not giving me any more clue about the subject, so I go to the kitchen table and take out my checkbook. I see the scripts she's reading and her laptop. She's following my orders like a busy bee.
A big AA badge hanged on the wall catches my attention. I figure she didn't take it down because she didn't know I was coming here. At the restaurant with my mom, I noticed Ruby's wine glass was full, untouched.
That's one big secret right here.
She sees me looking at the badge. For a moment I think she will run out of the room to get away from me. Instead, she just stands there, with her head down.
I write a check and hand it to her. She reads the number I wrote, shocked.
"Is this my severance pay?" she asks.
I pocket my checkbook and smile at her.
"You always think you know everything, don't you?"
I walk to the front door.
"See you tomorrow."
I head back to my car. I hear Ruby chasing me. Her bare feet make a funny sound on the concrete.
Victor stands by the car.
"What's this for then?" she asks, when she catches up with me.
Victor opens the car door. I scan Ruby one last time. I can see more of her body with her home outfit. She probably sleeps wearing it. She's pretty.
"You earned it. Virginia looked happy."
I hop in the car. Victor closes the door.
I spy on Ruby from behind the tinted glass.
"You're going to catch a cold out here," Victor tells her.
She looks at herself, baffled. She didn't realize that she ran after me in shorts and a tank top. She looks so vulnerable and lost, holding the check I wrote in her hand with her bare feet freezing on the concrete.
I think about the AA badge on her wall. It could be a big part of the sadness in her eyes, but it's not all of it. That's just the tip of this mysterious iceberg.
I haven't been this intrigued by somebody in years.
I'm having a meeting with Phil and a writer called Hank Karst. Ruby sits next to me. Her notes about the script are extremely good. Our little 'chat' about following my orders must have worked as I'm finally seeing concrete results coming from her.
"Was the cop's death the reason why Gloria changes her mind about the project?" I ask Hank.
"Yes, absolutely."
Writers. He's so hopeful, sitting here with us. Ruby liked the script enough to mention it to me, Phil liked it too. I didn't read one word of it. I simply don't have the time. I will have to trust my assistant and my partner and see if we can make some real money here.
Phil rubs his hands with his usual childish energy and enthusiasm.
"Let's do it!"
I nod. I shake Hank's hand and Phil escorts him out.
Ruby has a big relieved smile on her face. I give her back the notes.
"These are good notes."
She seems to levitate in the room, content.
"However, I think I mentioned one paragraph max."
She holds my stare and smiles.
"The story is solid. I got carried away."
Phil comes back in the room. The happy smile dies on Ruby's face.
"Wow, what the hell was that? Can you quote the script by memory?"
I already see where this is going.
"How are we doing with Rhonda?"
"Fine," Phil says.
He rubs his shaved head, trying to figure out when I started reading scripts with this detailed level of attention.
"Wait a minute."
He walks behind Ruby, who's still seated. He sees the notes in front of her and puts his hand on her shoulder.
Ruby closes her laptop and stands up.
"It was you!"
She moves away from him. Phil takes a step closer to her and she takes two steps away.
"I don't bite, kid."
Ruby looks at me for help. I sigh. This is the last thing I should do for her, but I'm in a very good mood. I see the potential of the story she chose for me. She deserves a little help.
"Go ahead. Tell Victor I'll be out in a minute."
Ruby dashes to the door while checking on Phil.
"Hey, Ruby, that was a compliment. Come back!"
Ruby closes the door.
Phil laughs.
"Seems like we have a winning horse. Did you ride her yet?"
I shake my head.
"Let her breathe. She just started."
"Are you kidding me? You always let me play with your assistants."
I remember Linda slapping Phil's face in the middle of a meeting with a studio exec, screaming 'keep your hands to yourself, Mr. Slattery.' That was her way to put Phil in his place, a public humiliation. Somehow I think Ruby will choose a private confrontation. It will happen, it's just a matter of time.
"You can play with her, as long as you don't break her."
"Did I ever break one? And why are you going all soft on her? I swear I don't recognize you anymore."
"Be careful. She's into magic tricks."
"So you did ride her."
I laugh and walk out of the room.
When I go back to the car, Ruby and Victor are laughing to tears, both hysterical.
"What are you two laughing about?" I ask.
Victor becomes serious immediately. Ruby struggles for a little longer to compose herself.
"Nothing," she says.
"I would love to laugh like that too. But I can't right now. Do you know why?"
Her mood changes. She knows I'm not joking.
"I thought the meeting went well."
"I need to know you can handle Phil."
Now she also knows she's in big trouble.
"I work with him. Sometimes we're in the same room all day and I need you there. You just can't get up and run away. Not if you want to keep this job. I told you he's absolutely incapable of hurting anybody."
"I can handle Phil."
"Besides, the more you run, the more he will chase you. It's nature's law."
There's something in her eyes that makes me think she can truly hurt Phil, if she wanted to, not because her nature is evil but because of her survival instinct. I doubt she's that strong physically, but she may use her powerful connection to hurt my partner. The criminal background check I did on her came back clean, but the secrets she hides could be related to somebody who's not clean at all.
Ruby is not laughing now. She looks outside the car as we dive into traffic. She's lost in thought.
I bet she's planning how to tackle Phil.
Enough with her.
We are now driving to a jewelry store. My girlfriend Sarah is upset again and I have to keep her happy with another rock, which I'm going to give her at lunch later.
Sarah is late, as usual. Sometimes I wonder why I still put up with her bullshit. After two years, she still doesn't understand why it's important to be on time when she's dealing with me. She's one of the most boring people I know, but also the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. It's good to have her by my side to parade around. She's able to turn me on with a smile when she wants to.
When she finally joins me at the table, everybody in the room turns to looks at her. She gives me a quick cold peck on the lips and sits down with me.
"You're fifty-three minutes late," I say.
"You and your minutes. I don't have much time. Let's make it quick. I can't eat anything anyway before the flight. My hairdresser has pneumonia, so I'll have to go to the other salon where his assistant works. It's a fucking nightmare. He's going to fuck up my hair."
My phone rings. Marla's name blinks on screen.
"Hello?"
Sarah keeps talking about manicure, hair and other female needs.
"Marla, could you please calm down and start again?"
I stand up. Sarah finally stops talking and looks up at me.
"Where the fuck are you going?"
"I'm coming over."
I hang up the phone.
"I have a situation at the office," I tell Sarah.
"You're out of your fucking mind. I drove for over an hour to get here--"
I hand her a ring box.
She opens it, smiles.
"I'll call you later," I say.
I leave her there with her new rock. That's all she cares about anyway. I'm trying not to run but I'm really worried.
Apparently an angry writer has taken Ruby hostage at gunpoint in my office. Marla managed to get out of the room and called the police first then me.
I may be about to lose the best assistant I have ever had on her first week with me, and for once it's not going to be because I fired her.
The office looks like the set of an action movie. Marla's desk has been pushed next to the door. When I enter with Victor, I see the Swat Team and at least another twelve police officers. Marla comes running to me.
"She saved my life."
Everybody listens by the intercom phone on Marla's desk.
"She turned the intercom on," Marla says.
I join the group around the desk.
"I'm concerned about your hero, Bill," Ruby says in the other room.
Her voice is normal, extremely calm.
"Why?"
It's a male voice I don't recognize.
"Well, if he's on a mission to redeem himself, why did he poison his ex-girlfriend's cat?"
"You don't know what she did to him!"
The designated negotiator stands by the door, ready to talk to Bill. I approach him.
"Trevor Westall. This guy is here to meet me. Let me in the room first then you can take him out."
"The man is armed and dangerous. I can't let you go in."
"By the way," Ruby says, "I really liked the instructor's character introduction... 'when he sweats he makes you wanna die'. I can see him, it's good."
"I'll have him to open the door for me," I say, "then you can take him down."
The negotiator looks at me.
"Just stay out of the door's range. He may shoot through."
The Swat Team takes position around me. I knock on the door and stay out of the door's range.
"Open up, Bill."
"Trevor is here for you, this is your chance Bill," Ruby says.
How can she be so calm with a gun pointed at her?
"How does he know my name?" Bill screams through the intercom.
"Probably Marla told him," Ruby says.
"No, no, no, she was already gone when we started."
I move back, behind the Swats.
"You turned that thing on!"
A gunshot blares in my office.
We don't hear any voices through the intercom anymore.
Four Swats are ready to break in when there's another gunshot. They break down the door and swarm in my office. I can see Ruby standing by my desk. I don't see any blood on her.
I move out of the way, behind Marla's desk. Victor has been standing there with his arm around Marla's shoulder. She's crying. I try to calm her down.
"She pushed me out of that room. She told him I was diabetic and I needed food and he let me go."
My phone rings.
As I answer, I see Ruby coming out with one of the Swats.
"Hello?"
Marla runs toward her, throws her arms around her neck.
"Not now, Sarah," I say and hang up.
This is going to cost me another rock with my obnoxious girlfriend.
"I can't hear anything!" Ruby screams.
At least she speaks. I feel relieved. I have to remind myself she's just my assistant as I walk toward her and watch a paramedic clear her face from little plastic fragment. She's covered with the remains of my phone. I thought I was going to lose her. I don't know how I got attached to her so quickly.
Her face is radiant, probably from the adrenaline rush. Marla cries into her arms as she sits next to her on the sofa.
When the paramedic is done putting small plasters on Ruby's face, I sit next to her.
I take a notepad, a marker and I write down for her: TAKE THE DAY OFF TOMORROW.
She bursts out laughing, hysterical, just like she was laughing in the car with Victor this morning. I'm puzzled. Is she in shock?
I take her hand and examine her eyes. She's elated and keeps laughing.
Marla writes down for her: I'M GOING HOME AND EAT UNTIL I EXPLODE.
I have absolutely no idea what her message means.
Ruby does, as she kisses her forehead and gives her a hug.
She's extraordinary. For someone who just escaped death, she's more than fine. She didn't shed a single tear or panicked or showed any negative emotions. She seems just happy to be alive.
This little warrior of mine is tough. She must have gone through hell to become like this.
The last thing I remember before the fall is that I was kissing Tamara outside the club. My hands were busy on her ass so when somebody pushed me, I lost my balance and fell. I heard Tamara screaming and calling for help, before losing consciousness.
Now I'm stuck in a hospital bed. The asshole who pushed me stole my phone. Tamara scared him away with her screams so he didn't bother to get my wallet too.
I'm going to find that motherfucker and kill him.
I sent Victor to get Ruby thirty-six minutes ago. Where the hell is she?
This couldn't have happened at a worse time. We have another meeting for 'Chromies' tomorrow, with our new producer and a new casting director. I couldn't fix the situation with Rhonda so she dropped out of the movie.
Tamara sits by my bed. Her eyes are still watery. She has a good heart and I don't care what the critics said about her in 'Life Thrills,' she's not that bad. Okay, I may be a little biased because of her gorgeous ass.
A nurse comes in the room. This is the fifth time I ask her to speak with the doctor. She gives me a condescending smile. Ruby enters the room with Victor.
"You took your damn sweet time."
"Traffic," she says.
"It's 3:42 a.m.. There's no way it's going to take this long, at this hour, to get here from that cave where you live."
She comes close to the bed. Her hand hovers over mine, then she draws it back, suddenly remembering who she is and who I am. She looks worried and sleepy.
The nurse leaves the room, while Tamara stands up, ready to go.
"I need my laptop, my book, my console game, some clean clothes and underwear. I don't know how long these eggheads are going to keep me here."
"Sure, just give me the keys and I'll go to your place."
"No."
If she's trying to upset me, it's working.
"You will never ever go to my place, until I tell you to do so. Go to Sarah's. She's still in Milan but the housemaid will let you in."
Ruby nods and leaves with Victor. Tamara sits.
"You can go now," I tell her.
"I want to stay."
I close my eyes. My headache is increasing.
I have an important decision to make. I know Phil can take care of everything but sometimes he gets carried away. I need somebody at the "Chromies' meeting who can talk for me and represent me and make sure Phil doesn't get astray.
I'm not sure Ruby is ready for that, considering her sheer terror of being around Phil but I don't have a choice. She will have to be ready. She will have to work together with him and solve all of her issues by herself. I can't help her this time.
The landline phone on the bedside table rings.
"Where the hell are you?" I say.
"I'm on my way," Ruby replies. "With Miss Den Hamer."
She's sharp. She knows Sarah won't be happy to see Tamara here. I hear some noises on the other side.
"Are you alright?" Sarah says.
She must have took the phone from Ruby.
"No. I'm stuck in a fucking hospital bed with a concussion. Why did you take the phone from Ruby? Put her back on!"
"Why are you screaming?" Sarah shouts.
There's a thud.
"Anything else?" Ruby asks.
"Can you believe I've been here for seventy-three minutes and I haven't spoken with a doctor? Hospital should be the right place to find one and I can't find any in here."
I hang up.
I motion for Tamara to get close to me.
She holds my hand.
"My girlfriend is coming here."
Tamara nods.
"Just tell me you're going to be okay."
She caresses my bandaged head.
I reach out for her hips and slide my hands down on her ass.
"For this time, I think I'll survive."
I pull her close. She gives me a long, passionate kiss then leaves.
I close my eyes. She's a sweetheart. I must help her to recover from the bad reviews. Maybe call that prick who controls the movie critics and put a good word for her. I have an image in my mind about a jacket on the chair.
I open my eyes and confirm that Tamara left her jacket on the chair.
"Tamara?"
Too late, she's gone. Oh well, it's just a jacket.
Ruby enters the room, followed by Sarah. She sees Tamara is gone and seems relieved. She comes by the bed and hands me a bag.
I open it. I bet Sarah prepared it, which means something is surely missing. Sarah comes to the other side of the bed and gives me a peck on the lips. It's like a cold shower after the loving kiss I received from Tamara.
"Are you okay?" she asks.
Ruby is embarrassed. She moves away from the bed. She sees the jacket on the chair and glances at me. Before she can do anything, Tamara comes back in the room.
"Sorry, I forgot my jacket," she says. "Wonder where my head is at tonight."
She smiles at me. So sweet. Sarah fumes. She's ready to unleash her frustration and to perform her fake jealousy show. Tamara admires her. She knows she can't compete with that kind of beauty. I don't know anyone who can.
"You're so lucky, he's such a hero," Tamara says, sniffling. "He saved my life tonight."
She's going to melt my heart. Sarah catches me smiling at Tamara. I don't care. But Sarah does.
"Party's over," she barks. "He used you for the night, you can go."
"What's your problem?" Tamara asks with an innocent smile.
Sarah takes a few steps toward her. She easily towers over her.
"My problem, you slut, is that I don't have the time to deal with his bullshit all the time. Now get the hell out of here."
Tamara grins.
"See, that's the difference between us. I have all the time in the world for him, whenever he needs me, however he needs me."
She's definitely turning me on now. She comes by the bed and gives me another passionate kiss. I can't touch her ass this time, with Sarah looking at me, unless I want to start World War III.
"Call me," she says.
Sarah yanks her by the hair and tries to choke her. Ruby stands there watching the fight in disbelief.
"Ruby!"
I wake her up from the stupor.
She gets in between Sarah and Tamara and tries to stop the fight. A nurse comes in and pulls Sarah back, then blocks her in a sleeper hold.
Ruby does her best to restrain Tamara and gets kicked in the leg.
"Hey! Enough!" Ruby tells her.
The nurse is a gorilla. Sarah doesn't stand a chance.
"You fight, you pass out. Got me?"
Sarah nods and calms down.
Ruby takes Tamara out of the room.
The nurse lets Sarah go.
I can't believe it. All this drama over a jacket.
The nurse leaves me alone with Sarah.
She gives me the silent treatment. Good, because my headache is still here. I never understood why she plays the part of the jealous girlfriend when everybody knows how things are between us. She's such a bad actress anyway.
She rubs her neck with her hands.
"Do I have any bruise? I'm going to sue that cow if I do."
I look at her neck.
"You're fine," I say.
"Why do you keep humiliating me like this?"
"You said you were going to be in Milan. I told you two weeks ago about this party, what else do you want me from me?"
"I got on a plane for twelve hours to come back to you and this is my 'welcome home' present."
Ruby is back in the room.
"Sorry," she says and walks out.
"Come back here!" I shout.
Ruby peeks in.
"We got work to do."
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