DANGEROUS SIBLINGS (complete)

CHAPTER 9

They held hands in the car as Harvey escorted her to the airport. This time he was remaining behind and he was going to miss her so much. They arrived at the airport and they sat in the car for a while.

'You must take care of yourself for me while you are there,' Harvey said concerned as he kissed her palm.

'I will do that always. As for you don't get married while i am gone,' she joked with him and he smiled at her.

'I will never marry anyone that isn't you, i give you my word,' he said looking deep into her soul and she believed it.

'I will hold onto your words then. Its time for me to go inside,' she said.

'I will send you in,' he said and Ruby leaned in for a kiss. He was taken back since they were at the airport.

'I love you,' she said as she palmed his cheek and he leaned in.

'I love you too.'

Later Harvey took her bag and escorted her inside to where the Vice Chancellor was waiting for her.

'Good evening, ma'am,' Ruby said as she stopped in front of her.

'Good evening Ruby and Harvey,' she said smiling at the two of them.

'How are you ma'am?' Harvey asked.

'I am fine and you my dear,' Clara, the Vice Chancellor answered.

'I am okay. Please, take care of my sister for me,' Harvey pleaded and Clara smiled at him.

'I will do so and make sure she returns in one piece,' Clara assured the overprotective brother.

'Thank you, i will leave her in your care then,' Harvey politely said relieved and Clara was amazed and touched by the love that ran deep between these two siblings.

'Its time we check in. I will see you in the line,' Clara said and left the siblings alone.

Ruby hugged Harvey tightly afraid of letting go.

'Don't make our parents worry while i am gone,' Ruby said.

'I won't. Now go,' he said reluctantly and she gave him a kiss on the forehead.

Ruby followed Clara for her check in.

Harvey watched her back as she left and he knew that she was really leaving. He didn't want to part with her, they have been together for years and it was hard to be apart.

Harvey left the airport and drove to meet his friends for a drink. He found them in their favorite club already in a booth.

'You don't look so well. Did you send her off well?' Owen asked him as he joined them.

'Yes, she is gone,' he replied sadly.

'It's going to be one long weekend for you but you should get used to it. You can't be together always,' Brian said and Harvey hissed. He didn't even want to think of it.

'I am already going crazy, i don't think i can go home tonight. Every single part of the house reminds me of her,' Harvey said as he gulped down the glass of whisky.

'You can come and stay at my place,' Brian volunteered.

'You aren't going to molest me right?' Harvey asked jokingly and they all laughed.

'I wouldn't want Ruby to skin me alive and i have one man in my heart and that isn't you,' Harvey got rejected flatly and he laughed again.

'Speaking of Jack, have you spoken to him yet?' Harvey asked.

'He is still ignoring me,' Brian answered.

'You can approach Nancy, she can be of great help. She is good at reading people,' Harvey advised and Brian looked at him with hope.

'What do you mean by that?' Owen asked him.

Harvey explained what Nancy did for him and they all understood.

'I will go even to hell if she can help me with getting Jack,' Brian said shining.

'We can all go for an outing once Ruby returns and you can see Jack. There is no way he won't join his friends,' Harvey suggested and Brian smiled.

'That's a good idea. I will have to see my babe and tell her,' Owen said happily.

'You better make this work man. I will owe you a huge one,' Brian said.

'I will make sure to collect the favor,' Harvey smiled at his friend forgetting the pain he was in.

It was good being with his friends like this, knowing that they were together in both good and bad times.

Ruby stretched herself on the bed, she was tired after the flight. She just had a few hours before dawn and then she had to start preparing for the day once more. She couldn't call Harvey or her friends, she didn't want to have few hours to sleep when she was already short of time. She closed her eyes and went to sleep.

When she woke up, she took her shower and put on some formal wear. The whole day was filled with so many speeches but hers was supposed to be conveyed in the evening so she was safe. She joined Clara and the others where they had their breakfast and get to know each other.

After breakfast Clara joined the rest of the students, and other distinguished guests that had been invited to the summit in the hall. She sat there as she listened to the speakers. All her life she had always wanted to become someone who would provide great assistance to the family business and change the peoples lives for the better. She never thought when she was still a child that one day she will have such an opportunity like this. She was born and raised in an environment that didn't allow dreaming for more. Her mother worked so hard so that they could have food on their table. All she wanted back then was to be someone who will be able to take good care of herself and mother. That changed however when her mother met Henry and got married. She received a family that loved her even though there were some obstacles and difficulties like Helen.

When her time arrived, Ruby walked up to the podium where she stood and let it sink that every pair of eyes in the hall were staring at her, waiting for her to make her speech. She smiled at the audience and cleared her throat. She was after all still a leader and she wasn't going to show some weakness.

"It is my greatest pleasure to be standing right in front of you. I greet you all," she said as she looked at the audience.

She was a bit nervous since it was her first time addressing such a huge crowd but she gained her ground remembering her goal and dream.

'This is my first time attending such a summit like this and i am honored to be here. My names are Ruby Moon and i am a senior student at Hillcrest University and the current student council president, so i will thank the hosts on behalf of my institution as well as my country."

The crowd applauded for her and she began her speech. She had used some principles by Napoleon Hill, Jack Canfield, Sun Tzu and other famous inspirational leaders. She had made her speech short and straight to point. Her whole speech was more focused on encouraging youths to be persevere in order to get what they want in life. They shouldn't lose focus or give up especially when they find that ultimate goal they want to achieve. Failure wasn't an option but one should see it as a lesson and a stepping stone that will lead one to success once you give up because of one failure then you will never be able to stand up again.

"I hope that we will get to meet again and share our experiences next time. Thank you once again," she said and gave a bow to the crowd.

She had finished her speech and she had done it so well since she was seeing the crowd on their feet and applauding for her. Her family will be proud of her, she didn't embarrass them after all. She walked with confidence back to her table where Clara hugged her tightly and smiled at her.

'You did great up there, Ruby. I am very proud of you,' she said as she parted from her.

'Thank you. I was quite nervous,' she said as she sat down in her chair.

'I am very sure that you just made a name for yourself now and goodness surely follow you,' Clara told her as she joined her.

'I really hope so,' she said and looked back to the front.

"That was a great speech from Ms. Moon, let's give her another round of applause," the M.C said and another round was given to her.

Later that night she returned to her suite where she spent a few hours video chatting with Harvey, she had not spoken to him the whole day and she really missed him so much. She knew with this whole arranged marriage thing that had come up, things were surely going to be different but she was holding onto that glimmer of hope and hoping that all will be well with her despite other people's opinions.

The next day she had breakfast with Clara and the rest of the guests that were staying at the hotel she was staying. She had an afternoon flight which left her morning schedule empty. She decided to go around to purchase a few things before returning back home.

She found Clara talking to some fellow professors in the lounge and she approached her.

'Ma'am, i will be leaving for a while but i will be back before we leave for the airport,' she informed her.

'It's okay, just make sure that you are not late,' she told her.

Ruby bided farewell to Clara and her colleagues and left the lounge. When she reached outside she found a taxi and instructed the taxi driver to take her to the shopping mall. The mall was full of many fascinating shops and boutiques she couldn't help herself. She entered one jewelry shop where she bought a couple of diamond bracelets for her mother and Helen, even though they weren't on good terms with Helen, she just wanted to buy her something.

To be honest she didn't know what to choose for Harvey, he had given her a necklace she wore all the time and she wanted him to have something that ties him to her, something that can be seen as her mark on him. She went through some bracelets in this other shop and she found the perfect couple bracelets. They weren't that fancy but they were simple and they took her breath away. She chose two of the bracelets and looked at the man who was selling them.

'Can i have an engraving on these two?' she asked him.

'Yes, i can help you with that,' the man replied.

'How long does it take because i don't have a lot of time?' she asked.

'I will be done in thirty minutes. Just write down what you want me to engrave and then after thirty minutes you may come to collect,' he told her.

'That will be nice,' she said as she took the pen and paper that had been passed on to her.

She pondered for a while and then it came to her. There is this nickname she used to call Harvey back then when they were kids. It was more of a code for them and no one knew about it. As much as she loved him, she didn't want to get caught yet.

She smiled and began to write the name down on the paper and she gave it to the man.

'Its a unique name, i like it,' he man said as he read the name she had written down.

'Thank you,' she said and took out her bank card and gave it to the man.

'I trust that you will surely come back. How about you pay for everything when you return?'

'Can i do that?'

'Yes, i will get down to this now. See you in half an hour,' the man said and gave him one of her bright smiles.

She put back her bank card in her wallet and walked out of the shop.

Ruby was almost done with her shopping and she just needed to pick a few things for her friends. She spent the next thirty minutes, battling whether to get the emerald green purse or the fiery red one. In the end she just ended up purchasing the both of them. She would take one and give the other one to Nancy, she would kill her if she didn't buy her one when she return with hers.

After her shopping she returned back to the jewelry store and she found that the man had finished engraving her bracelets. He gave her the total bill which she paid fully with her card. She couldn't stop admiring the bracelets that were now in her possession.

'Thank you very much,' she said fully pleased.

'I am honored that you find our services satisfactory. Please, take this as a gift,' he said and he took out a key chain.

She took it warmly, there was something bright and warm about the key chain.

'I love it, did you design the cat yourself?' she asked admiring the cat pendant on the key chain.

'Yes, i did,' the man replied.

'You are really a talented man. I will come back for more when i return to this country again,' she said.

'It will be my pleasure,' the man said.

'I am Ruby Moon,' she told the man her name.

'I was wondering where i saw your face and now i know. I saw you on TV last night. That was a great speech you made last night. I am sure that your parents are proud of you,' the man praised her and she couldn't help herself but blush at those remarks.

'Thank you very much. I will take my leave now,' she said putting her boxes in her gift bags.

'Have a safe journey back home. Here is my card, if you ever need anything please call me,' the man said handing over his contact details card.

Ruby took it and looked at the name on the card and smiled. She had heard of that name before, she had even bought a couple of jewelry made by a designer with that name but she wasn't going to ask him. She had no time to engage in a long conversation especially when she had a flight to catch.

'I will make sure to contact you,' she said and took her leave.

She was so happy that she had met someone so popular in just a simple store. She found a taxi and it took her back to the hotel. She still had an hour to spare before she go to the airport. She used that time to take a shower, change into fresh clothes and packed her gifts into her bags. She put the engraved bracelet on her wrist. She didn't want it to be awkward when she gives it to Harvey later when she returns back home.

Time really flew that fast, in another hour they were seated in the plane and ready for takeoff. The journey was tiring but helpful. She had learnt a lot from the summit and she was going to apply everything she had learnt for the betterment of her institution and her family.

Harvey was anxious since Ruby was returning back home. He had missed her so much but at the same time he just prayed that she won't be mad when she returned. Things had escalated between him and Janet. He didn't tell this to Ruby when she video called him last night. He knew her very well and he didn't want to attract any of her wraths. It had been very peaceful these past few years and he just wanted it to remain like that.

'You seem as if something is on your mind. Is everything okay?' Janet asked him and he snapped back to reality.

He looked at the girl who was about to ruin the good that he has in his life and he pasted a fake smile on his face.

'No, everything isn't okay. I have been meaning to ask you since yesterday about something,' he said looking at her and he watched as she put down the glass wine she had back at the table.

'Go ahead and ask,' she said.

'Are you happy with this arrangement?' he asked her, meaning the one between her and him.

'I don't know what to think of it yet but it's not that bad,' she replied.

'Don't you have someone that you love and want to be with?' he asked her.

'Not really, i have never thought about that. I guess i live to follow my parents dream,' Janet answered as if it was normal.

He couldn't believe how silly this girl, how could she give him such an answer? Didn't she respect her life enough that she was willing to do whatever her parents put on her.

'I see.'

'Why do you ask so?' Janet asked.

'I am not okay with any of this at all. Unlike you, i have a woman that i love so dearly that i will go to the end of the world for her. I am willing to do anything for her and if she knows that i have been meeting you like this then there will be hell to pay,' he told her the the truth while sipping his wine.

'I had no idea. Is it that serious? Even if it is, i doubt if your parents will agree to that. They have already arranged for us to marry after all.'

'I know they did that but that won't change the way i feel or think about her. I have loved only one woman in my entire life and that is her alone. If i can't marry her or be with her, i won't be with anyone else. So i am telling you honestly about how i feel and i hope that you won't take it to heart. It will be wise for you to find someone you love and someone who will love you back in return,' he told her and saw the hurt look in her eyes.

'I never thought i would hear this from you especially after everything we went through. We played together for crying out loud. Why are you doing this to me?' she asked her face full of fury.

'I know that i am hurting you by saying all these but it's better that i be honest with you now than to play with you and cause you a lot of pain in the future,' he said.

'Is it Ruby?' Janet asked and he was caught off guard.

He didn't know what to say at all. He loved Ruby but to let outsiders know about the way he feels for his sister then he would be doomed.

'Yes, it's her,' he didn't deny her.

'But she is your sister. How can you indulge yourself in such a dangerous relationship?'

'It might be for you but for me it's everything. To me she is like a mother i lost at a very young age, a sister i never had and a lover. She means the world to me and i will go to any length just to be with her. Because you were once a friend of mine, i am telling you this. I can't be with you and i hope that you will respect this decision of mine. If it's possible, i would appreciate it if you cancel the engagement. I wouldn't want this to be a hustle,' he said looking at her.

'You are just confused!'

'I am not a child Janet!'

Janet took a deep breath and she looked at him with hate in her eyes. At this point he didn't care whether she would erupt like a volcano to tell his parents, it was time for him to come clean to his parents anyway. He wasn't going to sneak around anymore. He wanted to date her publicly and show her to the world that she was his.

'I think i will take my leave,' Janet said as she stood up.

He didn't stand up with her, he had nothing to apologize for. He never made a promise to her so he wasn't the one to blame for her grievances. He just hoped that she will think like an adult and cancel the whole thing before it gets messy.

He checked his watch and realized that it was nearly time for Ruby's flight to arrive. Since Janet was gone, he would drive at a safe speed limit to the airport and pick his girlfriend. He couldn't wait to see her and confess all of his sins. It was better to confess them first than for her to find out from another person.

Harvey paid for the bill and left the restaurant. He opened the door to his black Corvette and settled himself in the driver's seat. He inserted his key, switched on the ignition and drove away. He couldn't wait to see that beautiful, gorgeous and scary face of hers.