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“Who?”
“Ruby.”
“Grey, love. She calls you uncle, but you don’t consider her family, and she knows it. You want her at this meeting. You are going to ask her.”
They ate dinner and were still sitting around waiting for Dane, his wife, and Gerald to respond to their texts when Ruby glided by wearing a cocktail dress and her hair up in a bunch of braids. Her makeup was perfect.
“Good evening. I have no doubt that you already know I have a part in thePatchwork Pixie, so you won’t be seeing me much for the next few weeks. I will try and be quiet as I come and go, but if it becomes annoying, I can go. I have been offered other places to stay. Or there are hotels.”
James frowned. “So, you are working three jobs?”
“Two, technically. The chocolate concierge is something that Mark decided was a good idea, so I am going to be handing out boxed chocolates at a gallery tonight. Yay. My life is so glamorous.”
Grey forced a smile. “Well, at least you get paid.”
She laughed. “That would be new. I haven’t been paid since I started at the chocolate shop. I had to get a part-time job just to afford to work there and buy lunch.” She grinned. “Right. Well, I am out of here. Uncle Leon, dinner smelled great.” She waved, and her heels clacked as she left the house.
Grey frowned. “What does she mean that she didn’t get paid?”
“Check payroll. I did this afternoon. She’s never gotten direct deposit. It has always been deposited to Dane’s account. He’s been stealing from her every time she worked there, and she knew it. Their accounts were only three digits apart, and I am guessing he knew it.”
The car outside started up, and little Ruby was on her way to the next job.
Chapter Six
Ruby tried to stay friendly and businesslike, but she was surrounded by statues of dark Elite and Elite omegas as well as other statuary, but nothing caught her imagination more than the onyx and marble statue of a couple embracing.
When the artist arrived with his mate and their third, she blinked. Dark Elite out in public. That never happened. And their mate was tall and glorious. The woman saw the chocolate table and came over.
“This looks amazing. Oh, this one has chili. Can I try one?” The woman looked at her and then paused. “You look familiar.”
Ruby smiled. “You look familiar. I am seeing you everywhere in this room.” She put a chili chocolate on a small napkin and extended her hands to the other woman, and then... they touched. “Oh, shit.”
The energy wrapped around her and pulled out her natural shape. Ruby focused on keeping her dress intact, and the woman stared at her. “I didn’t mean to do that.”
There was a group of people gathering, and Mr. Kensington came out of the crowd and put his suit jacket around her shoulders as he took on his dark Elite form.
She whispered, “Why are you here?”
“I thought you might need me.”
The woman said, “There is a private room here if you want to chat for a bit.”
Her slightly smaller mate grinned and said, “I will man the chocolate table.”
The woman grinned. “Excellent. The chili one rocked. Can I get the liquid caramel one next?”
Mr. Kensington walked with her, following the artist who was being celebrated. He opened the green room door, and his heavy, gravelly voice said, “In here, Marshall.”
The artist smiled. “I am sorry that my mate outed you. It is her skill. One of many.”
“I was fine until direct contact.”
He laughed. “That is how she got me, too.”
She smiled. “I am Ruby.”
“I am Achilles. She is Keres, and our third is Dante.”
