Chapter 38
THIRTY-EIGHT
I enjoy the tour of the building. Jack has given his employees every comfort in the massive metal and glass building.
As I enter his office suite, I’m impressed with the layout.
Julia, his secretary, sits out in front of two closed office doors and an open door to a conference room.
Bronze metal plates tell me that one office belongs to Jack and the other to Ruby.
I walk right up to the desk. “I’m Mrs. Hunter.
Can you please tell Jack that I’m here?”
She doesn’t acknowledge my request but picks up the phone, presses a button and avoids my gaze.
“Mrs. Hunter is here.” Julia replaces the receiver and moves her attention back to her computer screen.
How rude. A door opens and Ruby smiles at me. “How did you enjoy your tour?” She waves me inside her office. “Come in and take a seat. Can I get you anything? Coffee, water?”
I ignore the seat she is trying to make me sit in and look at her. “No, thanks. I did enjoy the tour. The building is very impressive.” I glance over one shoulder. “Jack is expecting me for lunch; maybe I should wait outside?”
“Lunch?” Ruby scans her tablet. “He hasn’t made any plans for lunch today.
Maybe you were mistaken? He is very busy with clients all day.
Most times he just orders in sandwiches and eats them between appointments.
I believe I mentioned on Saturday that taking the weekend off would mean he’d have double work on Monday? ”
I recall no such thing. “Well, perhaps I’ve been mistaken. Can you point the way to the bathroom please?”
She gives me directions and I slip out into the hallway.
I use the facilities but while I’m there I send a text to Jack informing him that I’m waiting in Ruby’s office to go to lunch.
Maybe he made the booking himself and forgot to tell Ruby?
He doesn’t reply but I guess if he’s in a meeting he wouldn’t be looking at his phone.
I head back to Ruby’s office and knock on the door and then enter.
“I’ll wait here and try to catch Jack between his meetings. ”
“I’m afraid you may have a long wait.” Ruby scrolls through files on her tablet. “We’ve been flat out all day.” She leans back in her chair and stares at me. “It’s like this most times.”
I feel I need to say something. “Has Jack mentioned searching for a new house? We were thinking something more modern and overlooking the beach. He was going to contact the local Realtors to see what’s available. It will be very exciting looking at new homes, don’t you agree?”
“Really? How strange.” Ruby gives me an incredulous look.
“Only just this morning he approved the renovations on the house. Why would he bother if he’d decided to move?
Unless he wants to modernize it for you.
You enjoy interior design, I believe?” She taps her nails on the desktop and chews on her bottom lip.
I look at her. “Yes, it was an option we discussed.”
“I honestly can’t imagine Jack wanting to leave Beauford Manor. It’s a status symbol around these parts. Moving to a different estate would make people believe his business is failing.” She clears her throat. “I’ll ask him about it. He usually values my advice.”
Her advice about what? I know Ruby is indispensable to Jack.
She runs his day so he doesn’t have to think about it but it’s our decision if we move or not.
Is she implying that she would advise him not to move?
Or have I got it all wrong? I push my mind back to what Jack said to me.
He did mention moving, didn’t he, or has my desire to leave Beauford Manor twisted my memory?
I give myself a mental shake. Maybe Ruby is gaslighting me.
I’m new in her world and she hasn’t quite worked me out yet.
“Do you really believe that? I’m sure there are other huge estates more suitable to our needs. ”
“This company is what I guess you’d call from old money.
It has generations of Hunters behind it and carries a reputation of trust.” Ruby gives me a withering look.
“Our clients expect certain standards. Moving is change and they don’t like change.
Personally, I’d advise him not to move, for the sake of the company.
” She looks at me, and her eyebrows raise.
“Are you sure he mentioned purchasing another estate? Maybe you should ask him to clarify the situation?” She shakes her head slowly and looks at me as if I’m in need of guidance.
“I imagine everything is overwhelming for you and it’s easy to misinterpret Jack’s intentions.
He did mention the tour but if there’d been a lunch date, he’d have asked me to make the reservation and I’m afraid he didn’t.
I’m sure he’ll explain when you see him. ”
I suddenly feel very young, like a kid in the principal’s office.
I guess she means well but I’m not Laura and forgetful isn’t in my vocabulary.
I know darn well that Jack asked me to go to lunch with him after I finished my tour.
It was his suggestion, not mine. Has he really forgotten?
I guess I’ll find out soon enough. I cross my legs and lean back in my chair.
“I’m sorry to interrupt your work. Don’t worry about me, I’ll just wait until Jack’s meeting is over and then I’ll have a few words with him before I go home. ”
She looks away and I glance at my watch. It’s almost one. I soon hear voices in the foyer and Jack pokes his head around the door. I’m so glad to see him, I jump to my feet. “There you are. Ruby has been keeping me company.”
“We can walk to the bistro from here.” Jack flashes me a white smile and holds out his hand. He glances at Ruby. “I’ll be back in time for my two-thirty.”
“I don’t have lunch with Mrs. Hunter on your schedule.” Ruby sends him a disapproving glare. “I have already ordered you sandwiches.”
“I’m sure you’ll enjoy them.” Jack grins at her and tugs me toward the door.
In the elevator I turn to him. “She doesn’t seem too happy that you’re escaping for lunch. Does she schedule your bathroom breaks as well?”
“Just about.” He leads the way out of the building and we walk along a busy street until we come to a bistro.
“I would have mentioned it to her but she would find a reason for me to stay in the office.” He sighs and pulls open the door.
“I understand why she needs to be kept informed of my movements; she likes to fit as much into one day as possible.”
I can see Ruby is indispensable to him and the running of the office.
I push her to the back of my mind and walk through the door.
The moment we step inside, a waiter comes forward and takes us to a table.
It’s obvious that Jack is a regular customer.
I inhale and my stomach rumbles in anticipation.
The bistro has the wonderful aroma of fresh coffee laced with the mingled sensory delights of foreign spices and baking.
I glance around at the cozy tables, each with a pristine white tablecloth.
A low mumble of conversation winds its way around us along with the clink of polished silver tableware.
I glance at the menu and my heart misses a beat at the prices.
I could feed myself for a week for the price of lunch here.
“Is there a problem?” Jack’s eyes narrow. “If there’s nothing you like, I can ask the chef to prepare something else.”
I smile at him. “It all looks wonderful. What do you recommend?”
“A favorite for me is the lobster salad roll with coleslaw and hand-cut fries. It goes well with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc.” Jack’s gaze moves over my face. “You look so beautiful. I can’t believe you wanted someone like me.”
I laugh. “You say the nicest things. I’ll have the lobster as well.”
“Did you enjoy the tour?” Jack orders and then swings his gaze back to me. “Did Tom answer all your questions?”
I lean back in my chair, wishing I could tell him everything I’ve discovered but I hold my tongue. “He was very informative.” It wasn’t a lie. “There’s so much about you I don’t know. You’ve all been together since college. It was inevitable that the conversation ended up with Laura’s accident.”
“Really?” Jack raises one eyebrow, breadstick in one hand. “What did he say?”
I lean forward and rest my hands on the silky clean tablecloth. “He didn’t actually say much, I asked him questions. Do you recall where he was that night?”
“The accident again?” Jack lets out a long sigh. “You need to drop this madness now, Willow. This obsessive behavior isn’t healthy.”
I cover his hand and look deep into his eyes. “I’m not Laura and I’m not crazy. Indulge me. Please, Jack. Put my mind at rest. Try and remember.”
“It’s been a long time, Willow, but when the weather changed, I went to speak to the captain; it was too noisy to use the phone.
As I went into the wheelhouse, I saw Laura looking at the stars.
Ruby and Tom were on deck.” He drops the breadstick onto a side plate and narrows his gaze.
“Two of the crew were preparing for rough seas when I went back inside. I told all this to the police when they questioned us. Later, Ruby and the other women went to their cabins, everyone had been drinking. The men, including Tom, sat around drinking whisky and talking about old times.” He frowns at me.
“You’re not suggesting Tom had something to do with her death, are you? ”
I meet his gaze. “I’m not sure. I’ve been thinking about it and he had a motive as she’d told you about his affair with Ruby.”
“If Tom had tried to toss Laura overboard, he’d have gotten hurt. She could fight like a wild cat and he didn’t have a mark on him.” He sighs. “Can we drop this and enjoy our time together?”
I squeeze his hand. “Sure, I’m sorry.”
My conversation with Ruby springs to mind. “Ruby mentioned you plan to go ahead with the renovations. Is there any point to that if we plan to move?”
“That was last Friday.” Jack frowns. “I haven’t signed anything yet. I’ll call the supervisor when I get back to the office and cancel them. It slipped my mind this morning.”
Last Friday? Didn’t Ruby tell me he’d given the go-ahead this morning or had I misheard?
Perhaps I need to stop obsessing over Laura’s death and get my head on straight.
I glance at my phone. As I’m suddenly becoming so forgetful, I’ll make notes on my calendar and then I’ll know for sure if I’m falling down a rabbit hole—or being pushed.
Our meal arrives and we eat slowly. I enjoy every morsel and when Jack recommends the raspberry sorbet for dessert, I accept.
I look at him across the table. “Now you have me to make sure your suits are dry-cleaned and you’re dressed for every occasion, why does Ruby need to live with us?
Surely as she doesn’t need to be on hand twenty-four/seven, she’d enjoy a place of her own.
Maybe now she’s not working weekends, she might be able to find herself a husband.
It’s like slave labor expecting her to work the hours she does.
You only really need her to organize your work day and make reservations for you, don’t you? ”
“You’re not jealous of her, are you? Because there’s absolutely no need for you to be jealous of Ruby.
I have never had any feelings for her whatsoever.
Laura always believed there was something more between us and I’m not sure if I could cope with that again.
” He runs a hand down his face. “I met Ruby when we were helping in an office of a candidate during an election. You know the way most students do. She impressed me how well organized she was, so when I started working in the company, I asked her if she would be interested in becoming my personal assistant. She’s been with me ever since, and I’ve never had a problem with her. ”
I laugh and squeeze his hand. “Jealous of Ruby? Heavens, no. I’m sure if there was anything between you, it would have developed by now or if you’d had a relationship, I doubt you’d still be working together.
I just find her a little defensive is all.
I mean, before we left for lunch, the look she gave you for not informing her you’d be out almost turned me to stone. ”
“Yeah, she can be a little intense sometimes.” Jack sips his wine and sighs.
“I usually just go with the flow to keep her in a good mood. You’re right, she does need a man in her life.
As far as I’m aware there hasn’t been anyone since her breakup with Tom.
” He stares into space and then smiles. “I have apartment buildings. I could offer her one rent free as part of her employment contract. Her contract comes up for renewal the end of this month.”
I blink. “So, her living with us is in her contract? Whose idea was that?”
“She practically writes her own contract. I approve it and then it goes to the lawyers.” Jack’s blue eyes scan my face as if trying to read my motive. “Why?”
I shrug. “We need our time together, the kids need their dad and Ruby needs a life. I figure it’s time to cut the cord, Jack.”
“What exactly do you mean?” Jack turns his glass around in his long, manicured fingers.
I smile. “Bring in an assistant PA, to ease her workload. I know Ruby is very protective of you.” I laugh to make light of the uncomfortable situation.
“She wanted to send me home today and insisted I’d made a mistake about our lunch date.
I’m your wife. If I decide to wait to speak to you between meetings, that’s my business not hers.
Same with your secretary. She guards you like a pit bull. ”
“That’s so funny.” Jack laughs so loud diners on other tables glare at him.
“I guess it’s because you look so young.
They can’t believe I’m married to you. I’ll have a word with them.
” He shakes his head. “In corporate business, sometimes it’s good to have a couple of pit bulls guarding the CEO’s office.
I often have people trying to speak to me but, you, my love, I’ll always have time for.
However, please, if I’m in with a client, unless the house is on fire or the kids are in danger, wait until after the meeting. ”
I grin. “I understand, but you will consider giving Ruby some slack? I figure she’s earned it after all these years.”
“I will but getting her to accept is another matter.” He chuckles. “I guess if she refuses, I can fire her? The problem with that is I might come to work the next day and find my building razed to the ground.”
I look at him as he waves for the check and I’m not sure if he’s joking.