Intertwined

Chapter Eleven

Ruby sat at her dining room table trying to make sense of the position she was in. Her little game backfired. Now she was home alone and her kids were gone playing house with Jerrod and Scarlet. She don't know why she wanted him so bad. She wasn't in the habit of chasing men. She was always the woman men chased. She was in a good position. Jerrod was paying her bills. She had a nice apartment and car. She could focus on building the life she wanted since Jerrod was determined to stay apart. 

It hurt. The pain is what kept her trying to sabotage Jerrod. How was it he got to move on and be happy and she got stuck picking up the pieces. She reflected on her conversation with Bryce. Everything was hers and in her name. So what was Jerrod's angle. Spending all this money upgrading her life but wanted nothing to do with her. He just wanted her to raise his kids in luxury so he felt less guilty about leaving them for some woman he met just a few months before.

It was time to boss up. If she couldn't put her family back together she wasn't going to be the only one upset and miserable. She sent Jerrod a text asking if he could help her get some stuff for school. She was waiting on her GED results but knew she passed. She would be starting college in the spring. She wanted to start a YouTube channel and maybe even write a book. It was time for her to live her best life. She might even start singing again. She sent him a list of items she thought she would need and he said he would see what she could do.

Ruby called Bryce. He answered on the first ring. "Hey Ruby. What's up?" he asked sounding a bit confused. "I was calling to ask for a couple favors." She didn't hide the fact that she wanted something. "Anything in my power consider it done." I know that you are making some political moves. I also know that often times there are parties associated with these things. If ever entertainment is needed please keep in mind that I am a single mom who could use some extra money and I can sing my butt off." She had given up on singing to be a wife and mother. It was time to get back to who she was before her marriage to Jerrod took everything away. "Also I want to do something in my community some kind of outreach for victims of domestic violence. I don't know a lot about outreach and stuff like that but I would appreciate if you could mentor me and help me find my way." She wasn't trying to steal Scarlet's shine but she was definitely trying to use what she knew to raise up from a nobody to a person to know. A person making moves. A person who name means something to people who mean something to strangers. It was her time.

"I can definitely help with the singing. We actually have an event this Saturday. We have a live band but I think adding a singer can definitely bring some flavor to the event. My campaign manager thinks just the band is best to keep things from getting too "ghetto". At the end of the day, shit I'm ghetto. The people I grind for the most are ghetto and I aint ashamed of that. That's the problem with too many people, they think they have to be less black . I can connect you with some great people in outreach as well. I actually work with a few right now." Ruby wanted that one on one mentoring she knew established people wouldn't be able to give her. She wanted someone to hold her hand and walk her to where she needed to go. "To be honest I'd rather if you could help me. I'm still battling insecurities and I'm not comfortable with my educational level and certain aspects of my life I need someone helping me that I feel comfortable and safe with. I'm in a really sensitive place right now." There was so much even Bryce probably didn't know. She knew he was a real down to earth soul and he wouldn't judge her or be condescending to her.

"Well I have a very busy week. If you have Sunday's free we can try to squeeze in a weekly meeting session to work on whatever you want to work on." Ruby smiled. With Bryce's help she was about to glow all the way up. A courier knocked at the door as she was brainstorming on a piece of paper. He handed her an envelope and left. She opened the envelope absent mindlessly continuing  to write out the onslaught of ideas in her head. She didn't want to interrupt her mental flow. She grabbed the the note and card out of the envelope.

I will always do my best to support and uplift your dreams. Things may have changed but you still deserve the best that life has to offer and I will always do whatever I can to help you have that. Jerrod signed his name followed by a smiley face. There was a chase card inside with a sticker on it with instructions on how to activate the card. Ruby activated the card and created an online account. The balance on the card was $10,000. That was more than enough to support the dream. She couldn't help but wonder where he was getting all this money from. She hoped he wasn't into shady business that would come back to bite them all in the ass some day. She also didn't have anyone else helping her financially and public assistance gave you the bare minimum.

She pulled out her laptop and went on a complete shopping spree. She knew exactly what she needed for what she wanted to do. With the money Jerrod gave her she was able to set a good foundation with more than enough to spare. She messaged Jerrod thanking him. She got dressed and went on a little shopping spree for a professional wardrobe. She came home showered and got fresh to death. She left the ingredients for dinner out for the nanny and headed out the door. It was just after lunch but she decided she would swing by Bryce's office to thank him in person with some fresh baked cookies and a big warm smile.

His office barely looked like an office. I was the ground level of a brownstone. Ruby was prepared to see Carmine but seeing her pumped a fresh dose of anger into her system. She smiled through her feelings. "Good afternoon. I am here to see Mr. Allen." Ruby looked into his office through the glass wall. The shades were pulled back. She waved and smiled. "Do you have an appointment?" Carmine asked. Ruby knew she knew good and damn well she didn't have an appointment. "No I don't. I just need but a few moments." Bryce was already coming to the door. "Mr. Allen is very busy today. I can schedule you in at his next available opening." She type away at the computer looking pretty proficient at her job. "Don't bother Carmine. I'll squeeze her in now." Bryce ushered Ruby into his office. Ruby could feel Carmines eyes burning a hole into her barely covered back.

"Thanks Bryce. Sorry to just show up I am just in such a great place mentally after our call I wanted to thank you in person with some fresh baked cookies. Pecan oatmeal raisin. If I recall those are your favorites." She smiled showing all her straight white teeth and deep set dimples. She sat the basket on his desk as she sat in the seat across from his desk. "I'm actually glad you're here. I spoke with the band and they would like to try to rehearse with you a couple times before Saturday. I guess so y'all can get a feel for each other. I recommend getting some business cards as well. Take it as a networking opportunity." Bryce asked for her email address and emailed her the contact info for the band. They compared their schedules and agreed to meet at 7 p.m. Sunday. It would be a working dinner. Ruby wanted to have the basics ready to roll already so that he knew she was serious.

They talked a little more casually before his next meeting arrived. He walked her to the door and gave her a hug. Ruby smiled at Carmine on her way out. She was absolutely seething with anger. That was her own demons haunting her. Ruby and Bryce had kept it strictly professional. What Ruby was drumming up was worth more than pissing off Carmine.