Ruby
I was in a dark place. Everything was in my favorite color��black until I saw Vexon.
"Vexon... what are you doing here?" I asked.
He avoided my question and took out his gun. Then, he stabbed Carter. Blood splattered my face.
My eyes jolted open. I was gasping for breath.
"Thank God, you're awake," Vexon let out. I looked up only to see Vexon's worried face. I realized my head was on his lap. I slowly got up.
Dear Lord! What did I just see in my dream?
Vexon twitched his lips and glanced at me. He handed me a water bottle that was kept on the nightstand. "Have this," his tone was awfully cold.
Quickly, I gulped it within a go. I realized while drinking how thirsty I really was. After I finished drinking, I slightly threw the bottle on the bed, facing Vexon once again, to find him glaring at my lips.
What was wrong with my lips?
I looked at the mirror of the dressing table on our left side, only to find a cut on my lips. Much to my shock, I was in a different attire. I was in a tank top with blue trousers. Did Vexon change it?
As soon as the thought got into my head, I turned my head towards Vexon as fast as if my neck would crack. However, I only found his blue orbs competing with my grey ones. Sensing my fear, he answered coldly, "Pearl did it."
What was wrong with his tone? He used to talk softly with his cute charming voice with me. Now he was talking with me as if I was a sheep.
Well, I tried to run away. I really couldn't expect him to be all lovey-dovey. Of course, he was angry and I needed to apologize to him.
"Vexon, I'm sorry. I��" he interrupted me.
"Take some rest," with that, he got up from the bed and stormed off the room. Our room.
"Ve��"
He closed the door with a huge bang, leaving me alone.
I got up from the bed and was about to follow him. I opened the door, only to find Pearl. She had a small forced smile on her lips. She entered the room holding my hand.
"How are you feeling, Ruby?" she questioned.
Without having second thoughts, I hugged her. I felt warm liquid flowing through my cheeks to her shoulder, but I couldn't care less about this situation.
She caressed my head.
"Pearly, I was so scared. I thought��he...he would rape me and��"
"Shush." Pearly hushed me. "You don't have to say anything now, okay?"
I nodded, becoming silent, however, I was sobbing. I needed my mom at this moment. But Pearl was no less like a mother. I felt eternal bliss, putting my head on her lap, crying silently.
___
"Look, who's here. The runaway girl," Newana spat out while I and Pearl entered the dining area.
Everyone else was already seated. I kept my head low, feeling ashamed.
"What's there to be ashamed of, when you never thought about its drawbacks? Running away from the Mafia, how clever!" Newana said, sarcastically.
Unable to bear it, I was about to get back to my room, but Pearl stopped me by holding my arm. She glared at Newana. "And you, taunting the almost raped girl. How nice!"
Newana just rolled her eyes.
"Sit here, Ruby," Pearl said and pulled out my chair.
Vexon didn't even look at me once. As soon as I sat on the chair, Vexon got up. "I need to make arrangements for the coronation," with that, he went away, without glancing back.
I looked at his plate, the food was fully untouched. I took pasta on my plate but didn't put it in my mouth. I was playing with the spoon quietly.
"How are you, Ruby dear?" Vanera asked to break the awkward silence.
I answered, "Better than before."
"I'm sorry for injecting you," Cason apologized, sitting next to me.
Injected? Wait... Did Vexon kill Carter?
"Did he��" I was interrupted by Kace.
"No, he didn't kill him yet."
He didn't kill him, but why?
Some part of me was happy that he wasn't the killer, but some part of me was upset. If he loved me, why would he even forgive the killer?
"You know, Ruby, we are going to move out the day after tomorrow," Kendrik changed the topic.
My eyes grew as wide as saucers. "Why?"
"Because it's time for us to disappear," Pearl said with a sad smile.
I frowned. "You said that you would go after the coronation. What about it then? Don't tell me the coronation is tomorrow."
"It is, dear," Vanera cleared my assumption.
I started panicking even at the mention of the coronation. "But... I don't know anything about it. I don't even know what happens there and��" Newana cut me off with her poisonous tone.
"And you all decided to make her the next Mafia Gladiolus Queen. Bravo! I can see the future of the Gladiolus."
Why was she attacking me through her words?
"Newana, enough," Kace said in an alarming tone, making her rolled her eyes before sealing her lips.
Vanera told me, "Ruby dear, calm down. After dinner, I will explain everything to you."
I looked at Vanera and got up from the chair. I announced, "I'll be waiting for you then. I'm full," with that, I walked towards our bedroom.
Our bedroom. It sounded weird but peaceful.
I entered the room, only to find Vexon talking over the phone. "I want the crown with diamonds. Yeah, ruby stones and��" he glanced at me when I cleared my throat. "I'm going to talk to you later." He cut the call and sat on the couch, opening his MacBook.
I decided that it would be a nice opportunity to explain to him that I tried to return. I mean, I did run away, but I was about to return until I got kidnapped. I couldn't bear this cold-shouldered Vexon. It made me feel like a stranger.
"Vexon, I want to say something." I took a seat beside him on the couch. He didn't say anything. I took it as a sign to continue. "I...I did try to run away. And, I'm sorry about that. But I di��" he cut me off.
"Will this change the fact, Ruby, that you were almost raped?" The way he said Ruby instead of Gem, it clenched my heart.
"Vexon, I��"
"It's a yes or no question, Ruby." He was glaring at me now. I shook my head in answer. He got up, keeping his MacBook on the tea table. "Then what are you trying to explain even?" his voice was a little bit louder, making me flinch at his tone.
He seemed to notice that I was scared of his sudden outburst. Vexon sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "You know what? Leave it."
He was about to go away but I grabbed his arm. "No, please. Just hear me out once Vexon. Please."
He tried to push my hand away, but I did something, which I thought was right at that moment. I stood on the coffee table, my hand still on his arm. He was looking at me as if I had grown two heads.
"You better get down from the table. You might get hurt." Pure concern flashed through his eyes, which he covered it with a blank look. "And��"
I put a finger on his lips to shush him. "Shush. No more words."
He stiffened at my sudden movement. I saw his Adam's apple bobbing hard. My finger felt weird against his soft lips. It was forming a tingling sensation in my stomach.
I leaned towards his left cheek. Softly, I placed my lips on his cheek, giving him a kiss. After that, I whispered into his ear, "I'm sorry."
I was so embarrassed. I could feel immediate heat rushing through my cheeks.
Vexon removed my finger from his lips without a word. He grabbed my waist and pulled me down from the table.
I looked at him with the hope that he would forgive me. But then he just walked towards the door and went out; leaving me alone, in complete shock.
Did he just do that? How dare he?
Anger grew in me. Without waiting for a second, I changed into my shorts and went to bed. I put the blanket over me and tried to close my eyes, only to feel warm liquid on my cheek.
Gosh! I was crying because Vexon just rejected me. I took an emoticon pillow and pulled it towards my chest, closing my eyes.
After a few minutes, I heard the door click. I didn't open my eyes.
"Is she asleep, already?" I heard Vexon mumble.
I pretended to be fast asleep.
"How is that possible? I left for a few minutes to bring this trolley." He sighed. "Maybe she is tired after everything she went through today. She should get some rest. But I can't let her sleep in her empty stomach. Should I wake her up?" he was talking as if another person would answer his question.
"I thought we could eat together. Actually, I should freshen up at first and then wake her up," with that, I heard his footsteps leading him somewhere.
I peeked through my blanket, only to find him going inside the washroom. After he went inside, I got up from the bed and looked at the trolley near the couch. It was filled with food.
I knew he didn't have dinner. But how did he know that I didn't have dinner as well? Did he go out to bring us dinner? Did he want us to eat together?
After a few minutes, the washroom door opened before I could jump back in the bed.
"Oh, you're awake," Vexon's voice made me jump slightly.
I turned to face him, which I regretted that very moment.
He just got out of the shower. Water droplets were dripping from his dark brown hair. He wore a navy blue t-shirt with black trousers. He was looking so hot. Oh, God!
Is it the temperature or him? Gosh! I sound like that Cat!
"Actually...umm... I brought us dinner," he said, running his hand through his hair. I didn't fail to notice a little redness on his cheeks. Was he blushing?
Silently, I sat on the couch and took two plates. I unwrapped the triple cheeseburger and placed one on each plate. I noticed the chocolate muffins with Hershey syrup on another plate. There were two glasses of chocolate milkshake too.
Gosh! If I kept eating like that, I would turn into a pig soon. However, I knew Vexon would still keep me under his captive, and I like this feeling a little.
I took a sip of chocolate milkshake and glanced at Vexon. "So, are you just going yo stand there?"
His cheeks flushed more and he bit his lip, before making his way towards me.
Oh God! Why was I feeling like this? Why did he look hotter than usual?
___
"Boss lady, the mistress called you," Maya said as I ate the last muffin and glanced at Vexon, who was on his phone talking about the coronation.
Instantly, I got up and gulped a glass of water, before following Maya because I still didn't know the directions.
After entering Vanera's room, I breathed out, "Did you call me, Mom?"
Vanera was arranging a few papers. She eyed me to head to toe before smiling at me. "Yes, dear. Come, have a seat."
"You know, the coronation starts tomorrow. I know you are so tense about it. But I will tell you the basics," she informed me. I nodded at her words. She further spoke, "If you think it's hard, then it will be fire. If you think it's easy, it will water."
"Mafia life is similar to this. I follow this quote and I want you to do the same. When I became the queen, I was so scared, but gradually I started understanding things. It was like water for me. You see, you aren't a queen if people don't treat you like one. Once you are crowned as a queen, you need to stick to that position. Gladiolus men will respect you but not from the bottom of their heart until you do something to prove that you're worthy of that crown," she explained.
"Crown?" I asked, placing both hands on my lap.
"Yes, crown. You and Vexon will be crowned. I will be putting the crown of the king to Vexon and he will put the queen's one on you. Do you know the best part?"
I raised my eyebrows, asking, "What?"
"I get to design his crown and he gets to design your one," she answered.
"What do I get?" I asked out of curiosity. Weren't they being unfair to me if I got nothing to do?
"You get to choose the Gladiolus outfit."
"Outfit?"
Vanera nodded. "Yes, outfit. Every time, the queen gets to choose the outfit. The current outfit was designed by me. Now, it's your turn."
Suddenly, a question popped in my mind. "Mom, if you give your throne, what are you going to do?"
She chuckled. "I'm still the President of the Bevines' Armament company."
"So, Kendrik, being the CEO, will work under you?" I inquired, to which she nodded.
"He will. And yeah, one more thing. As we are in the Mafia, you can't reveal it to anyone. Not even to your distant relatives," she said, leaving me confused.
"What will I say then? My husband is jobless and earns money by begging internationally?" I asked sarcastically, making Vanera laugh loudly.
"No, no, silly. Every Bevine has a post in the Bevines' Armament company," she replied, still laughing.
"What post?"
"I'm the President and Kendrik is the Chief Executive Officer. Vexon will be the other CEO after the coronation. Cason is the Chief Technical Officer and Kace is the Chief Financial Officer. You see, we all have to explain how we get the money," she explained to me the posts and I nodded, understanding it.
"What about Newana?"
"She's the Managing Director, and Pearl will be a graphic designer working under Cason. I also asked Vexon what post I should give you, but he said he will handle it."
Does he want me to be a housewife and do nothing?
I didn't mind though. I wanted to live in this huge mansion in peace. At least, I didn't have to work and I could focus on cooking.
"Wait a minute. I have a question regarding the Mafia life." Vanera hummed in response, so I asked, "Do I have to kill people?"
Vanera stopped flipping the papers of her file. She looked at me and thought for a while before answering, "We never kill good people, Ruby."
I gasped at her response. It did mean I had to kill people.
"Also, once you're the queen, you have to take the training. You know, you have to know how to fight in case of emergency."
I and fight? I would rather run away from the training because I hated physical work. Ugh.
"Mom, you said I had to win the Gladiolus's heart. How will I do that?" I further inquired.
"You just have to perform a ceremony perfectly. If you could do that, everyone would love and respect both the king and the queen. And if you mess up, Vexon will be humiliated too. Keep in mind," she warned me.
"But, what's the ceremony about��"
Her phone rang before I could even complete my question. Vanera looked at the caller ID. "Goodnight, dear," with that, she went towards her balcony.
I couldn't even know anything about that ceremony she was talking about! God!
As I was walking through the hallway, all of a sudden, my shoulder hit someone's shoulder. I hissed before looking at the person.
It was Kace. He eyed me to head to toe before clearing his throat. Damn! I felt so weird because I was still in my shorts. I wasn't uncomfortable until Kace eyed me like that. It was unexpected.
"Ruby, hey. I'm actually sorry for whatever Newana said earlier. She is always like this. Just don't take it negatively. Avoid it." His eyes roamed everywhere but me when he was speaking because he was embarrassed for checking me out.
"It's okay," I mumbled quickly and ran towards the bedroom. Closing the door, I heaved a sigh in relief.
That was humiliating.
"Did you fucking go outside like that?" Vexon's angry voice made me flinch.
I looked at him. He was already throwing daggers at me, after looking at my appearance, as he was standing near the balcony door.
I averted my gaze and gulped.
