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

  RUBY - RED SLIPPERS AND ALL

  Iris Bolling

  Copyright © 2015 by Iris Bolling

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

  Printed in the United States of America

  ISBN- 9780991342662

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2015921268

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are with the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, locales is entirely coincidental.

  SIRI ENTERPRISES

  RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

  www.siriaustin.com

  www.irisbolling.net

  Books By Iris Bolling

  The Heart Series

  Once You’ve Touched The Heart

  The Heart of Him

  Look Into My Heart

  A Heart Divided

  A Lost Heart

  The Heart

  Night of Seduction Series

  Night of Seduction/Heaven’s Gate

  The Pendleton Rule

  Gems and Gents Series

  Teach Me

  The Book of Joshua I – Trust

  The Book of Joshua II – Believe

  A Lassiter’s Christmas

  Ruby…Red Slippers & All

  Brooks Family Values Series

  Sinergy

  Fatal Mistake

  Propensity For Love

  Table of Contents

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHPATER ELEVEN

  CHPATER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHPATER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  EPILOGUE

  BOOKS

  CHAPTER ONE

  "Good evening Joe," Devin Upton spoke as he opened the door to the warehouse office.

  "Hello, Devin. Thank you for staying late. We have documents that need your signature to change the shipping accounts from your father's name to yours."

  Devin took a seat at his warehouse manager's conference table and began signing documents. "How is the family, Joe?"

  "The family is fine," Joe replied as he accepted the first document and glanced over it. "I'm sure your mother is excited to have you home for good."

  "Joe, may I ask you a question." Devin stopped writing and looked up. "How has she been? Honestly?"

  "Well, son, I'm just the warehouse manager. I don't see her every day."

  "My dad used to tell me if you want to know what's happening in the building, ask Joe," Devin smiled. "He may not talk much, but he treats every employee like family. And he was right. You are one of the reasons I felt comfortable leaving to take care of matters when Dad died. I knew you would check in on my Mother."

  "Your mother is a remarkable woman. There were days when she was down and I was a bit concerned. But your calls kept her spirits up," Joe replied. "I have to say, I miss your father. We had some good talks right here at this table."

  Devin looked off as Joe talked. He never really took the time to talk with his dad. They had a good relationship, but most of his father's time was spent at the office when he was young. Then he was off to Harvard, where they had their Sunday calls that consisted of the newest business developments, stocks, bonds, but never anything personal. He had no doubt his father had loved him, but it was his mother who had taken him to little league baseball games, the parent teacher conferences and who was the one who had the mother son talk, versus the father son talk. He’d had his first heart to heart talk with his dad ten days before he died. He came home after his mother called. She was upset. She had finally gotten his father to get a prostate exam, but it was too late. His father was given less than a month to live. It turned out to be ten days. They talked more in that time than they had his entire life. Devin’s father told him about his grandmother. How she was a single mother who had moved from shelter to shelter to make sure Devin’s dad had a bed to sleep in and at least one hot meal a day. She would take him to school then spend the day selling her body to take care of him. She died right after Devin’s dad graduated from high school. To honor her, he’d worked two jobs, gotten an efficiency apartment and put himself through college. He lived in that apartment for ten years, until he met Devin’s mother. He had made several small investments that had done well, but Miranda did not care. She loved him unconditionally. Soon after they married, he started Upton Investments. Twenty years later they were one of the wealthiest families in the country. They continued to live modestly with neighbors who had no idea they lived next door to millionaires. Devin had had no idea how wealthy his parents were until his father's attorney spoke with him after the funeral. For the last six months, Devin had been closing his father's many accounts trying to determine a final dollar amount for his estate. Between bank accounts, stocks, bonds and property, his mother would never want for anything. Now he had one promise left to fulfill. His father wanted to give homeless families the chance his mother had not received. Devin's plan was to make certain their foundation accomplished just that.

  Joe studied the thirty-eight year old. The younger man was six-two and a darker version of his father. Joe thought he would surely make some pretty grand babies one day. "You okay, Son?"

  Devin looked up. "Yes, yes, sorry about that, I was lost in thought."

  Joe laughed as he took the last set of papers. "Your dad used to do that when he came up with new ideas."

  "Do what?" Devin called out to him.

  "Get lost in thoughts. Then he would walk out that door and the next thing I knew something big would happen."

  "I have big shoes to fill," Devin sat back. "I'm not the same as my father. I have book sense where he knew how to get his hands dirty."

  Joe stood and poured both of them a cup of coffee. Young Upton was more like his father than he knew. When Aaron needed to talk he would sit at that table with him and just listen.

  "You've been here since the beginning of Upton Investments."

  Joe sat the cup in front of Devin. "Over thirty years. The company has been good to me. I've raised twelve children working here."

  "Big family," Devin drank from his cup. "How did he do it Joe? How did he keep the company strong for so many years?"

  Joe smiled. "Your father always cared about people like family. It didn't matter if they lived on the big hill with the gated communities or down the hill where there is a liquor store on every corner. He treated people like they mattered. He listened to people and would make decisions based on what he heard."

  "You know I always wondered why he never set up a board. A team of people to help with the decision making."

  Joe laughed, a deep rich laugh. "He used to say too many people could screw up a wet dream. Too many barr
iers to the desired outcome."

  Devin looked up from the document laughing. "It's hard to screw up a wet dream."

  "Not according to your father. He said every opinion added a week to getting an answer on how to reach a peak. If you know what I mean," Joe laughed then took a drink. "In the time it would take a board to meet and make a decision Aaron said he could have screwed every woman in the building. In his sleep, that is." Joe nodded thinking about the loss of his friend. "He trusted his gut and Miranda when it came to making decisions for this company."

  "He had my mother. Now it's on me," Devin stood. "Thanks for the coffee and the ear."

  Joe shook the younger man's hand. "You're the start of a new day here. Like your father, you'll find the right gem to light your way."

  "From your lips to God's ears. Good night Joe," Devin said as he walked out of the office. He thought about Joe as he walked to his car. The man had worked the nightshift for as long as he could remember. When did he find time to have twelve children? He shook his head smiling as he got into his vehicle. "That man must really love his wife."

  CHAPTER TWO

  The last thing on Ruby Lassiter's agenda was changing a flat tire. When she woke up this morning she checked everything on her schedule and was certain there was nothing mechanical on the list. Yet here she stood, no, bent, changing a flat tire, in her red, silk blend, nothing but business, suit on. In heels that were sure to make any woman scream "have mercy" and with rain dripping down her back from the umbrella the elderly woman was holding above her.

  "Are you okay down there dear?" the woman asked out of concern.

  "Yes, ma'am, It's just about done," she convincingly replied.

  All of the six girls in her family knew how to change tires, oil, and fluids. Hell, if need be, with the right equipment, they could replace a motor. Between her father and six brothers, they made sure the girls knew everything about cars and how to maintain them.

  "There you are ma'am." Ruby stood with the jack in her hand. "That spare tire will only hold you for a few miles. You may want to head straight for a mechanic once you leave here." She placed the jack in the trunk of the woman's vehicle.

  "Please let me give you something for doing this. I'm not sure what I would have done if you had not come along."

  "No, thank you. Just make sure you get that tire replaced soon, okay." Ruby looked at her watch. She was late. Some first impression she was going to make with the Board of Directors of Upton Investments. "I hate to leave you, but I'm late for an appointment. Are you sure you will be okay?"

  "Yes, thank you," the woman replied. "I don't have far to go."

  Ruby helped the woman into her car and then ran towards hers. Before she reached the door, an SUV drove past at a high speed and hit a puddle of water that splashed down the front of Ruby's suit.

  "Great," she declared, "Not only am I going to be late, now I'm wet." As she sat in her car, a few curse words escaped her lips, "Well, they are just going to see what a wet hen looks like for real." She turned the key in the ignition and pulled off.

  Satisfied that she had done all she could to make the front of her skirt presentable, Ruby took a deep breath and walked towards the conference room. When she walked through the door of one of the most exclusive hotels in the city of Richmond, she knew this was the type of place her sister Pearl or brother Joshua would frequent. Not her. She worked at Vital Statistics as a civil servant. Her salary barely covered her apartment and car note. There were no extras for something as elegant as The Jefferson Hotel. Ruby took a deep breath and opened the door to the conference room. Stepping inside, she was transformed into a different time period. The dome shape of the ceiling, with a mural depicting various periods in history astounded her. The Victorian style draperies and tapestry were absolutely beautiful, for a minute she thought she should bow or curtsy or something.

  "Excuse me." A feminine voice cleared her throat, "You must be in the wrong room. Housekeeping is down the hallway to your right."

  The condescending tone in the woman's voice, immediately struck a chored in Ruby. All her life people had talked down to her and her family, because they lived on the wrong side of the tracks or because her mother chose to have twelve children, so she was used to it. However, that did not mean she accepted it.

  "And the ladies room is just past housing, keeping on the left. You seem a bit uptight, you may want to relieve yourself, then come back and try greeting people again."

  Another young woman seated at the table chuckled, than stopped when an evil eye was sent in her direction from the first woman. Ruby smiled at the young woman.

  Tania Reid, the acting Human Resources director for Upton Investments stared at the woman in the soiled clothes and with a snobbish, once over, look, turned her back on Ruby.

  "This is a private meeting for Upton Investments," then she looked back, "I'm certain you were not invited."

  Still not liking the tone of the woman's voice, Ruby returned the snobbish, once over, look and replied. "I hope you didn’t put any money on that. You would lose the bank." She looked the woman up and down. "This is exactly where I am supposed to be."

  "Now you just wait one minute, missy..."

  "The name is Ruby Lassiter and you are?" Ruby simply raised an eyebrow at the woman daring her to say something else.

  The woman looked at the papers on the table and saw the name listed for the Director of Aaron's House. She looked back at the woman standing there with the ‘sister girl’ attitude, who looked to be no more than twenty-five and could not believe her eyes. Devin had lost his mind if he thought she was going to work for a woman that did not know you do not wear red to a business meeting. "Would you mind stepping outside for a moment?"

  "Look, I'm not sure what the problem is but I'm supposed to be here for a meeting concerning a homeless shelter for the downtown Richmond area, is this or is it not the right place?"

  "It's the right place," another woman sitting at the conference table replied as she stood. "I'm Karin Jacobs. I represent the city in this matter." Ruby shook the hand that was extended to her. "It's nice to meet you Ms. Lassiter, your name precedes you."

  "Thank you, Ms. Jacobs."

  "Cecil Dance of C.D. Construction," the man sitting at the table stood and extended his hand.

  Ruby shook it and smiled, "It's nice to meet you sir." She then turned to Tania, "Do you have a name that goes along with that attitude?"

  "Yes, I do. We will not be needing your services. You may leave."

  Ruby threw her hands up in the air, "Fine by me. I have a job." She reached into her skirt pocket, pulled out a dollar bill and placed it on the table. "Just in case they don't have enough toilet paper in the ladies room, ‘cause you got a lot of shit inside of you that needs to be let out." She turned and pushed the door to walk out but collided with something or someone.

  CHAPTER THREE

  The grace his mother possessed always amazed him. Devin Upton, the new CEO of Upton Investments shook his head as Miranda Upton walked towards him. Anyone looking at her would think she wasn't a day over forty, which was mathematically impossible because he was thirty-eight.

  "Hello mother," he lovingly kissed her on the cheek. "You look wonderful."

  "Thank you dear," she palmed his cheek. "How have you been? I haven't seen you in six months, is that any way to treat your mother?"

  Devin smiled lovingly at the woman he considered incredible. "You know I was busy dissecting dad's properties in the Caymans. Now that that is complete, I can concentrate on his final wish.

  "Did you find someone to handle the details?'

  They turned to walk towards the doors of the Jefferson Hotel conference room on the first floor. "We have two candidates from what I understand. The first one should be here. I have not met her personally, but I have it on good authority she will meet our needs."

  "Good, let's give your father something that proudly carries his name."

  Devin reached to open the door to the conf
erence room to escort her inside when the door swung open. He felt the impact of the door against his hand. A pain shot up his arm as he swung around grabbing his wrist.

  "Devin?" his mother called out.

  Ruby gasped, "Are you okay," she asked angry that she had caused pain to someone. "I am so sorry. I didn't know someone was outside the door. She looked up and saw the Concierge walking over with a concerned look. "Would you get some ice, please?" She asked as she dropped her purse and rushed to help the man.

  Devin saw the woman in the red suit and wished he could stop the pain long enough to say hello, get a number, an email anything except wince in pain.

  "It's fine," he lied as pain shot through his wrist.

  "Please, allow me to take a look at it," Ruby shook her head as she touched his wrist, "I'm so sorry about this. I don't think it's broken."

  For a moment the pain faded with her touch. "Ouch," wrong, her attempting to bend his wrist triggered another sharp jolt though his arm. "Not good," he swallowed hard.

  Suddenly they all heard a huff. "What is all this commotion?"

  Ruby didn't have to turn to know it was the woman from the meeting.

  "Devin!" She looked to see Ruby with Devin's hand in hers. "My lord what did you do?"

  Oh lord here comes the drama, Ruby thought. A speechless Ruby searched for words, "It, it was an accident. I didn't mean to do it." She said as the woman pulled the man away from her.

  "Devin, come inside the room," Tania wrapped her arms around his shoulders and directed him to the room.

  The Concierge approached with the ice bag handing it to Ruby.

  Tania snatched it. "I'll take that. You have caused enough damage here. You may go."

  Miranda looked at the woman and recognized her immediately as the one who had stopped in the rain to help her with her flat tire.

  Feeling dejected and guilty, Ruby did not respond to the blonde haired heifer with the bad dye job that was getting on her last nerve. She picked up her purse, took one look back then walked out of the door. Apparently she was not wanted or needed. The one thing Ruby never did was stay where she was not welcome. It was clear this was not the job for her.