Eighteen

Ruby

"What?"

The murmurs increased as the woman's statement made no sense as seconds passed.

My father, Dominic Powers, is the father of her child?

The aged man that was querying the teary woman looked at my Dad who was sipping wine from the glass cup in his hand as if a woman didn't just accuse him of something outrageous, something my mother mustn't hear.

"Are you certain of what you are saying, woman?" the elderly man asked again and the woman nodded so firmly, my heart broke in reaction.

Just when I was about to walk up to my father and ask him if it was true, he resumed his majestic steps and walked to where the crowd was. After pushing his way through and having his steps stop just in front of the fuming woman, his hands went into his pockets.

"Dominic Powers?" The tone of his voice and his question killed the noise in the hall and made my curiosity rise even more.

"Yes, that man wants to ruin my daughter's life."

I scoffed unbelievably. What was that? Does she even know the person she is calling the father of her child? Or is there any other Dominic Powers tucked somewhere in the huge space?

"My dear..." The old man butted in. "Do you even know who this man is?"

"Who?"

"The man in front of you."

Lifting a hand to tuck a loose strand of her hair behind her hair, the woman who instantly looked sort of coy, said, "I don't know who he is. Who is he? He is quite gorgeous."

Like the man, every other person in the room threw their heads back in surprise.

"He is Dominic Powers."

"Uh?" The woman failed to believe the man's words.

"Are you trying to run some kind of scam here? Security! Come in here and-"

"Mr. Harrison, it's fine. " My father retrieved his tucked hands and faced the woman squarely. His gaze affected her because she became pale and looked as though she could drown in the depths of the porcelain floor if it were possible. "Who sent you?" he asked.

"Huh?"

"If you don't tell me, I'll have you locked up and when that happens, the money you were paid to frame me would go to waste."

"Well..."

"I'm listening."

"It- it's not like I was sent-"

"That person is in this room, right?" Dad scanned the crowd for some seconds. "Tell me who it is."

The woman scratched the back of her neck nervously. "Mr. Anderson. I-It is Mr. Anderson."

Dad smiled and had his shoulders swing for a second before he turned towards a man who I noticed had been blinking abnormally.

"Mr. Anderson. It sure is nice to confirm how much of an enemy you are. "

The stout man who wore a ridiculous-looking mustache began to protest, his hands thrown in the air to refute the woman's claims.

"You should have prepared her well though, " My father interrupted the protest while he nodded toward the ashamed woman. " It is quite a shame she didn't who she was about to blackmail with a ridiculous claim. And, you know what? "

It was crazy how attentive everyone was. Have I underestimated how much powerful and influential my father is? I have always seen him as a simple man with companies here and there and that was all I saw.

"I am quite disappointed. This is not how I have taught you to do things. You need to be thorough and-" My father scoffed and took a pause. "You are fired."

That was all he said and the gathering was soon disrupted. Everybody went back to their initial position after giving both the disgraced woman and the fired man looks of disgust.

Tremendously relieved that I wouldn't be relaying a piece of terrible information to my mother, I made to go back to the food section when I noticed my father signalling at me.

When I got to where he was, my Dad faced the old man beside him. "Mr. Harrison... I'd like you to meet my daughter, Ruby Powers."

Already recovered from the shock of the earlier incident, Mr. Harrison, who stood a few inches above me, wore a welcoming grin as he extended his hand for a shake. When I grabbed his surprisingly firm hand, he said, "It is good to finally meet the person that pushed Dominic to become a better businessman."

" Uh?" I asked confusedly.

"I am pretty sure he has never told you." Mr. Harrison laughed heartily. " He was about to give up business at some point, but because he knew he had to take care of you, he kept going."

" That's..." My eyes locked with my father's. "That's so good to know."

"Is your mother not here?"

" M-my mother?" Hopefully, he is not referring to Diane. That would be a topic that will ruin the atmosphere.

"Yes, Grace, is she not here?"

"Uh... Mr. Harrison, it's just Ruby and me today."

" Ahh, I see." The man patted my hand which was still in his grip before he finally released it. "I guess it is that time for you to face reality."

Reality.

My Dad had mentioned that word earlier and I was yet to fully understand why my reality would be so easily decided.

"Mr. Harrison, I would like to have a word or two with Ruby, if you don't mind. I know you have a lot of stories you want to share with her."

"I love doing that." The aged man wore a playful look and I became amused. " It makes me feel like a grandfather."

'But you look like a grandfather.'

Thank God my Father pulled me away before that statement could leave my lips. I can only imagine how the man would react and it doesn't seem so pretty.

I couldn't help but deduce he is the kind of person that hates it when people remind him of his aging.

"You were a bit shocked, weren't you?" My Father's deep voice interrupted the scenarios I was already painting in my head.

"I was scared. But why were you so calm about it? What if Mom just happened to walk through that door and overhear the woman?"

" Why are you overthinking, Ruby?" he quizzed, his brows knitted. "It wasn't true, was it?"

" I don't know, Dad." My eyes fell to the side as my imagination took over again and the sight of my mother hearing that woman by chance made me feel burdened.

"You are just like Grace," he scoffed.

"Uh?"

"You both overthink."

"Whatever you say, Dad. But why were you not surprised earlier? Were you aware that woman was coming?" Curiosity mounted my mind again and I queried my father, my eyes looking all serious.

"Ruby?"

I hummed a response and he proceeded to leave me in suspense as he reached for the end of his suit and dragged the thick material off his body.

What was crazier about his action was the way his eyes glinted with mischievousness.

A minute or so later, my Dad was still dealing with his suit. He was actually folding it... unsuccessfully. It was quite a sight. But I couldn't laugh as my inability to understand his drama overrode the urge to laugh.

"Ugh! How does your Mom do this?" He complained when he failed to tuck the cloth properly for the fourth time.

And, I couldn't take it anymore.

"Jesus Christ! Just give me that." I snatched the suit from his hand, aligned the sides, folded it into two, and hung the suit over my arm. "Now, please answer the question so we can leave this boring place."

Dad eyed me for a while as if I stole his precious item. Then he converted his seriousness to some kind of goofiness as he asked, "Do you know why I made sure you came here?"

"No."

"Because I knew that woman was coming to accuse me of something I haven't done."

" Does Mom know about this?"

" How is your Mom related to this?"

" What if she had-"

" She is not here is she?" He killed my argumentative spirit. " Ruby, let's focus on the issue at hand."

" What issue?" His eyes finally wore that look that I dreaded and I understood without a hitch. "Oh... That."

"I am not going to reprimand you, I know you have done nothing wrong. But Ruby, you need to understand one thing." I felt so much like a little girl.

" That woman that wanted to frame me is not so different from the fool that is trying to ruin your life by doing what? Sharing provocative pictures that are not even you?"

" I don't understand what you are-."

" Things like that will continue to happen, you like it or not. People like them will continue to spring up as long you live."

" But why, Dad?" My forehead displayed my anger and worry at the truth he was telling me. " I just want a normal life."

He scoffed. " Do you think you can get that normal life Ruby?" I frowned. "With your nature and the fact that you are my daughter, trust me, crazier things are going to happen. I know it will suck. I have had my share of crazy false news so has your Mom. And they all sucked."

" I know..."

I can never forget when my Mom was still expectant of Zion. News about how she used to work as a hooker right after she left the orphanage she grew up in kept flying here and there. It was a crazy moment that almost destroyed her.

My Dad continued, "I can only do as much as clean up whatever mess those people create around you. But Ruby, you need to do two things to ensure you don't come crashing."

" What is that, Dad? "

" First, never cease to be your true self. Don't let them change you. Second, you need to confide in your Mom and me more. The incident that recently happened is being handled but what if we didn't find out when we did? Trust me, Ruby, the outcome would have been too much to handle. We wouldn't even be able to stay in this very room with our heads intact."

" It's just that... It isn't easy."

" Nothing in this life is easy, Ruby. You need to realise at this moment that the battle for your life has begun already and you must make sure to win for your own good."

I felt weirdly scared yet energized at the same time.

"Thanks, Dad."

"You are not being bullied in school, are you?"

A burst of quite malicious laughter escaped my lips before I replied, the tone of my voice on the deep side," They dare not."

" Oh, that sounded so scary." Amusement mixed with the solemness on his face. "But I am glad you are standing strong. Now you are going to do one thing for your wonderful Dad.."

Trust me Dad to praise himself once in a while. With a smile tugging my lips, I asked, "What?"

" Give a middle finger to the fool that intends to ruin your life and show him how much of a fighter you are."

" Should I literally give him the finger or..."

He burst into a chuckle before dragging me to his side and walking us toward the exit. "However you wish to do it, darling. And make sure to let them know who you are. "

" That I am Ruby Powers? "

A curt nod was followed by a reply that surged my confidence.

"That you are Ruby Powers."