Ruby's Secret

CHAPTER - 2

“The past explains how I got here, but the future is up to me – and I love to live life at full throttle.” ~ Janice Dickinson

RUBY'S P.O.V

It was already eight o'clock, time for the Cafe to open. I was still wrestling with my hair as it was getting difficult for me to put on this damn wig.

Yes wig, you heard me right.

I wore a wig to hide my natural hair colour because it was too eye-catching for my liking. I inherited it from my dead mother. It was exactly like her, the same length and same colour.

Maroon shiny straight hair.

Daphne always complained why I wear a wig but now it's become a habit. I just wanted to live the rest of life like a normal person. I don't want to attract unwanted attention and trouble.

For me, beautiful means curse. And I would do anything to run from it.

From a young age, I knew being beautiful came with its own pros and cons. On one hand I love how people used to compliment my hair, my green eyes, my fair skin but as I grew up I came to know the reality of this world.

The meaning for their words, the meaning behind their compliment. I saw how it ruined my mother and after she died it started coming to me.

Running from it was not an easy job but I did it. Leaving behind my past I started a new life with new me.

Wearing boring black wigs and thick glasses to hide my eyes I easily blended with people. People stopped noticing me and now if they do, it is only because of my clothes. I refuse to wear any revealing clothes whether it's summer, spring or winter you will find me covered from head to toe.

Giving it a final tug, I adjusted my wig and wore my glasses while wearing my overcoat jacket. I rushed out of the house. Daphne was with Chase taking care of him, she asked me to open the cafe because she will be late.

Opening the Coffee house, I wondered why the other employees Suzie and Bratt hadn't arrived yet. Suzie was the waitress and took the order and served the food. Bratt was a professional barista and pastry chef.

"Morning Sunshine." Bratt greeted me with enthusiasm as he took off his jacket.

Rolling my eyes at his endearment, I glared at him. "You are late."

He pulled out his tongue at me as he ran inside the kitchen. "Fashionably late, babe."

I shook my head as I put on a black apron, getting ready for the first customer. I went inside the bar counter and turned on the electronic cash register, as well as the coffee machines.

I learned how to prepare coffee from Bratt. When I worked here after coming from my college, he taught me how to do coffee artworks and techniques for preparing a very good espresso. I learned how to make pastry and embraced the knowledge wholeheartedly.

I was cleaning the bar counter when the first customers came inside. Teenage couples. I smiled looking at them as they both bantered about what to eat. The bell rang as I looked up and noticed two men, one wearing black suit and other charcoal grey with dark glasses hiding their eyes, entered the coffee shop.

I looked at the tall, black-clad figure of the man who came in second with a frown attached to his forehead. He halted at the front door and his eyes scanned the room. He stood there, tall, devilishly handsome with a strong physique.

I froze as I felt a shiver run down my spine. My mind stopped working and my body turned numb. Something about his appearance disturbed me. He looked vaguely familiar.

Where did I see him?

Is he a movie star, a model or a celebrity? He definitely was in the film industry with the way he was looking and his aura screamed wealth and power.

His dark glasses hide his eyes. It was impossible to find out where his eyes were focusing. But I was certain that he was not looking at me and for the first time I felt disappointment arose in my heart. He carried himself with a commanding air of self-confidence.

He said something to the other man, in return the grey suit man scowled at him as they both strode in the room. They took their seats in the centre of the room.

After five minutes the grey suit man came to the counter as he opened his glasses and put them on the bar. I sucked a large deep breathe as I noticed how handsome this guy was. His raven hair and grey eyes were so alluring that I felt my knee giving up.

"Good Morning, what's your order, sir?" I tried to smile as I felt my hand shivering.

"Good Morning. Can we have a cup of espresso and a cafe latte?" He spoke with a dark husky voice and smiled at me. He was probably in his early thirty.

My hands were trembling as I typed their order. I didn't know why I was behaving like this. It wasn't new to me meeting people like these. I always accompany Marcus in board meetings and meet different business men wearing suits.

But these men look like they directly walked out from some modelling agency. My eyes were going back and forth to the black suit guy who was busy reading his file. He looked like a very important man. His face was bronzed by wind and sun. The set of his chin were sharp and his lips were firm and sensual.

His present made me so edgy and nervous as hell and he didn't seem to notice me. He was very busy with his file and phone call which was non-stop ringing. I couldn't help listening to his voice. It was so deep with a velvet-edge and strong.

Coming out of my zone, I cleared my throat. "Is there anything else, sir?" My eyes shifted to the grey suit man who was standing with a card tucked between his index and middle finger.

He removed his eyes from his cell phone as he looked at me and then at the menu which was displaying right behind me on the big screen.

"Blueberry cheese cake, please."

I nodded and hurriedly punched his order, taking the card from his hand. I swiped it carefully and handed it back to him.

I served their coffee within five minute as I went back inside the kitchen to take out a freshly baked blueberry cheese cake.

Just then Suzie entered and her eyes struck at the two men. She looked at me, narrowing her eyes as I shrugged my shoulders going towards them. She stopped me holding my shoulder and took the tray from me.

I wanted to roll my eyes at her sultry behaviour but decided to ignore it. She always behaved like this whenever she saw some handsome guy.

Going back to the counter, I got busy as customers started to come. But my eyes find their way to check out the black suit guy. He seemed really familiar. I was sure I'd seen him before. I wished he would take off his dark glasses so I could see his eyes and figure out where I saw him before. Then I noticed that he took a spoonful of blueberry cheese cake and ate it. So it was his.

I tried to ignore them and focused on my job. I have to wrap up my work here and rush to the office, as I have tons of paperwork left at the company.

After a while, I saw Suzie again approach the two men. She changed into her uniform and opened her front button showing off her cleavage. She was saying something with a seductive smile when suddenly the black suit guy said something which made her face turn sour. Suzie immediately turned around and dashed inside the washroom and the men stood up with an arrogant face and started to make their way out.

The black suit guy halted in his place as he crossed the bar where I was standing with a scowled at my face. I could feel his eyes on me as I looked up at him.

My heart dropped to my stomach as I felt my cheeks heated up. I felt that he was seeing me naked the way his face held seriousness.

"Nick." The grey guy called his attention as he looked away from me and started walking out not before giving me one last look which shook my entire world.

"What the hell was that?" I whisper, taking a deep breathe as I wear my jacket and call Bratt to come to the counter.

With the thought of black suit guy on my mind, I started walking to my office.

Little did I know the fate already started his devilishly plan wrecking my once calm world.

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