Anger boiled afresh inside of Ruby as she received a memo from Derek thirty minutes after leaving his office.
He had given directives for Bailey to be removed from the position of assistant creative director to the head of the sales and retail department without consulting her.
Ruby knew he was doing this to get her attention. But she refused to that the bait.
Moreover, having Bailey far away from her at the moment felt like a wise decision and she was okay with it for now.
"Gail," Ruby spoke into the intercom receiver, while setting up her desk. "Have the creative and production team assembled for a brief meeting."
"Yes, madam Ruby," Gail replied and Ruby hung up.
Picking up her mobile phone, which had been switched off for the past four days, she inhaled and exhaled before turning it on.
Immediately, the phone screen lit up, it started vibrating with backlogs of text messages, WhatsApp voice calls and video calls from families and friends.
Before she could open one of the messages from her mother, the phone started ringing with a private line flashing across her screen.
"Who could this be?" Ruby murmured, hesitating slightly before taking the call.
"Hello."
"Good morning, beautiful."
"Oh...it's you." Ruby rolled her eyes, the strained nerves on the back of her neck relaxing as Kai's soft and tender voice filled her with warmth.
"Thank goodness you are okay. I've been worried sick trying to reach you on your phone."
Ruby scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Why are you sounding like my mother? Moreover, I don't remember giving you this number."
"Well, I couldn't reach you on the phone I gave you. So I retrieved your number from your Facebook official page."
"How thoughtful," Ruby said drily. "What do you want?"
"I just want to check on my wife. How are you?"
"Fine. Will that be all?"
"Not really. Umm.... please, don't take this the wrong way, but I sent you a little gift as a way of saying happy resumption, and I don't like my wife hopping into different cabs.
"What?!" Ruby raised a brow. "What gift are you talking about and how do you know that I am currently at work?"
Just then, Gail appeared in front of her transparent glass door, holding a mesmerising bouquet of blue orchids and white roses, alongside a beautifully wrapped gift box.
"I make it my business to know everything about my wife sweetheart. Have a beautiful day."
The line disconnected before Ruby could say anything.
"Men!" She hissed, her narrowed eyes flickering to Gail who was already gushing over the flowers like a high-school teenager, while knocking on the door.
"Come in." Ruby motioned at Gail and she pushed the door open.
"I'm sorry to bother you, Madam Ruby. But this came for you."
Ruby stood up and moved around her desk to receive the bouquet, her heart pounding inside her chest.
"Did it say who sent it?" Ruby asks scanning the flower for an attached card.
"Yes, madam." Gail pulled out a small card from the golden ribbon at the base. "Here...it says from..."
"I'll take that." Ruby snatched the card from Gail's hand and turned her back on her while she read the message on the note.
'From hubby. Have an amazing day my sweetheart.'
"So annoying." Ruby. crumbled the paper in her hand, her face scrunching slightly as she turned her back to face her assistant.
"Do you want me to put the flower in a vase while you check out your brand new car?" Gail asked excitedly.
"My brand new car?!" Ruby's jaw dropped as she recalled Kai's statement about hopping cabs.
"Yes, madam." Gail nodded. "The flower and gift box came with a brand new car and a cute driver." She whispered the last part dreamily.
"Oh no.... Where is Derek?"
"In his office, madam."
"Who delivered this?" Ruby inquired further, making her way towards the door.
"The flowers and gift box were delivered by a delivery guy and the car by the cute driver."
"Okay....umm...." Ruby hurried back to her desk to pick up the iPhone Kai got her. "Put the flower and gift box away while I speak with the driver."
"Okay, madam."
Ruby hurried out of the building while dialling Kai's number.
Parked behind Derek's grey Honda Accord was a brand new latest edition white Maybach, decorated with a bold red ribbon. And standing beside the car was a tall and intimidating uniformed chauffeur wearing a polite smile.
For a minute, Ruby was left speechless by the beauty of the car until she heard Kai's cool and sexy voice echo from the phone.
"I hope you like your gift?"
"Huh...of course not. Why would you send gifts without first discussing them with me?"
"Because gifts are meant to be a surprise and not discussed," Kai said smoothly.
"Well, I don't like surprises." Ruby spat out between clenched teeth. "And I certainly do not appreciate men sending me flowers to my place of work."
"Okay.... I apologize for sending you those flowers. I only meant well. But for the car..."
"I don't need it." Ruby cut him off sharply. "I'm okay with my simple lifestyle and navigating myself around in cabs or buses. So please, have this car removed from these premises immediately."
"Wow! That wasn't the reaction I was expecting."
"Well, you should get used to it. You do not owe me anything at all. Good day." She ended the call and met the driver's polite smile.
"Good morning ma'am. I am Stan, at your service." The chauffeur extended his right hand.
"Hello, Stan." Ruby forced a polite smile. "I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave. I've already spoken to your boss and you should be expecting a call any moment. Please take the car back to him and tell him thank you."
"But madam..." Stan's hands fell back to his side, his brow furrowing. 'I've been given strict orders to take you wherever you want to go. Please don't send me away. I could lose my job if you do."
Ruby's fist clenched, "Fine, suit yourself. But I won't be entering that car." She turned on her heels and entered the building, only to find Derek standing by the base of the stairs, staring coldly at her.
Ignoring him, she made her way back to the meeting room where her creative and production team were patiently waiting.
The brainstorming session lasted for almost an hour as they all shared ideas and strategies towards the upcoming fashion event.
Afterwards, everyone returned to their respective workstations to implement all they had strategised.
Over the next couple of hours, Ruby busied herself with fabric selection, pattern drafting, artistic beading of a client's dress and styling. She didn't bother herself with food until her stomach began to revolt around 2:00 PM.
Picking up her handbag, she was about to exit her office for lunch when Derek came up to her.
"I just got off the phone with Mrs Perez," Derek said, faking excitement. "She wants us to meet her right now at The Blooming Rose Garden."