Chapter 104
In the Lounge
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We turn our attention to the lounge.
Ruby settled into the seat with practiced grace, her smile soft and motherly.
“I know I’m putting you in a tough spot here, Alice, but we do need your help.”
Alice didn’t answer.
Ruby kept going, her tone low and gentle.
“Sandy’s still young. She wanted to show off the computer skills she picked up. Kids will be kids, you know.”
She glanced at Eric, trying to keep her voice steady.
“Eric, she’s your sister. She just wanted to show you what she could do and you’d maybe give her a spot at the company. It’s just some attention she wanted. She meant no harm at all.”
Alice gave a faint smile, but her tone held no warmth.
“You can’t exactly check what people are really feeling or thinking, can you? I don’t think that kind of technology’s been invented.”
Ruby’s expression froze for a second.
“Alice, I know this is going to put you in a tough-”
“It does not,” Alice interrupted.
Her voice stayed calm and serious.
“I just think it’s a shame.”
She let out a quiet breath.
“My whole team ran themselves ragged today for a non–issue.”
Ruby jumped in fast. “I’ll make sure they’re paid for their work.”
Alice turned her head slightly, voice lined with sarcasm.
“I don’t think they need your money, Ms. Randall. They’re my team.”
Ruby paused. She finallyrstood what Alice was after.
She wanted full control of the IT Department. And she wasn’t going to share it.
That part, Ruby could live with.
“It was just suggestion. Of course, you’d be in charge of the follow–through.”
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104 In the Lounge
Alice gave a low chuckle. “Right. And finance? They just going to hand over the funds?”
Ruby’s face stiffened,
The finance department.
That was hers–her people, her control. Her moneybags.
Eric’s voice broke in, cold and clean. “They won’t.”
Ruby’s hands curled in her lap.
If she let the finance team open that door, she’d never be able to close it again.
Alice didn’t press for an answer. Instead, she waited and let silence fill in the void.
She knew Ruby needed time to swallow the loss.
This was only the beginning.
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Forty minutes went by since the beginning of the conversation.
Ruby walked out with Sandy close behind.
Her face had gone pale, but her posture stayed calm.
Sandy looked ready to explode.
Her fists were clenched, and her whole body was tight. But Ruby’s grip on her arm didn’t let her lose control.
“Mom!”
They turned the corner, and Sandy nearly cracked.
“Half the power in finance, marketing, and HR–you gave it up!”
She pressed her hands to her face. “They’re trying to take everything you have!”
Ruby leaned against the wall, her limbs numb and ice–cold.
Sandy kept sobbing beside her.
“It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t tried to mess with Alice, she wouldn’t have had the chance to turn the tables like this.
“Mom, just yell at me. Hit me if you want. This is all my fault, and you paid the price . ”
Ruby stood silent for a long moment:
Her voice came low and tired.
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104 In the Lounge
“And what good would that do? Just don’t stir up trouble again.” Sandy wiped her tears and nodded fast.
“I won’t. I swear. If I ever feel like getting even, I’ll talk to you first.”
Ruby clenched her jaw and pressed harder into the wall for support.
“You won’t need to. Someone else will take care of her.
Sandy blinked, confused. “Mom… you’re not doing it yourself, are you?”
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Ruby shook her head. “No. I just remembered–Yvette Martinez is back in the country. That girl always had a thing for Eric.”
Sandy paused to think, then her eyes lit up.
“I’ll call her right now. I’ll invite her over for dinner.”
That brought a flicker of relief to Ruby’s face.
“Sandy, you’re finally learning.”
Tears still rolled down Sandy’s cheeks.
“Mom, I’ll do better. I promise I won’t let you down again.”
“That change you’re showing?” Ruby said quietly, “Giving up three departments feels worth it.”
“Mom …”
Ruby straightened her back and pulled herself together.
“Alright. Enough crying. What we lost today, I’ll get back twofold at least.”
Sandy nodded hard.
“I believe in you, Mom.”
They headed back to the office just as a message came in from the police.
Since the tech team reported no actual loss, Sandy would only get a verbal warning.
Ruby had her secretary personally see the officers out–making sure everything looked proper on the surface.
Over in the tech department, Alice was at her desk playing solitaire when the news dropped.
She barely reacted, but her team had plenty to say.
“Man, if it weren’t for that bonus, nobody would’ve kept quiet.”
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10.42 Sat ,
104 In the Lounge
“Money really shuts people up. Ms. Linda moves fast.”
“Right? Some people are just born at the top.”
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“I sold out for a paycheck and a lunch box.”
Someone leaned in toward Alice.
“Ms. Spencer, you’re not mad?”
Alice looked up and smiled.
“Honestly, if Sandy tries this every week, I’d be more than happy to deal with her.”
“Huh? Why?”
Alice grinned. “I get to sit back, watch her wreck herself, and walk away with extra cash? Sounds like a win to me.”
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