After She Left

TEN

"It's OK if you fall down and lose your spark. Just make sure that when you get back up, you rise as the whole damn fire."

-Colette Werden

I looked at Blake with my brow raised, turning my head to do the same to Luke and Andre. What they were telling me simply wasn't processing in my brain. It was completely and utterly unnecessary, at least in my opinion.

"So.." I dragged out, breaking the silence and the guys seemed to relax, "you're telling me you're forcing Lil to move in with us?"

Drake nodded: "technically we're not forcing anything, it's simply a fact. She knows where you're located, also the names of us all and the back entrance."

I c****d my head: "And whose fault would that be?"

"Okay," he sighed, "fair enough. But it doesn't change anything. It is what it is. Either she dies or stays - your choice. We can't risk putting you in danger."

"That's not a choice, Blakey. She stays until I figure a way out for her."

Immediately a plan of breaking her out was slowly made inside my brain.

"Don't even plan anything stupid like you did just a day ago, Gold. If she leaves, she will die, don't make me kill anyone else," Blake said, leaving the room.

"Drama queen!" I shouted after him.

I knew he was just doing his job, but it didn't change the fact that I couldn't quite understand it. If they were as good as the world and themselves claimed to be, a girl out there couldn't possibly do me any harm. Not to mention, it was Lilly we were talking about.

"I'll be at my room most likely jacking off in case you need me," Luke said as he walked out of the room.

"Charming," I laughed. As if it wasn't obvious already.

Andre stood a few meters from me, his back resting against the wall, arms crossed.

"Feeling any better?" he asked, looking me up and down.

I knew it was about my breakdown last night. Didn't take that much to figure out I wasn't the most emotionally stable person in the place.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. It still got to me and there was nothing I could do about it.

"Yes, it's fine," I said, smiling, "I'm fine."

He gave me a half-smile that indicated he wasn't buying it what so ever.

"I'm proud of you, to be honest," he said, sparking interest in me.

"For?" I furrowed my brows as he sat down next to me.

"Well, for starters, you haven't punched anyone yet," he said and I laughed, "she and the rest of us put you through hell. I can't even begin to imagine how it must have felt to be in your position."

I nodded, agreeing with him. I was partly proud and mad at myself for keeping my feelings in the lane. As much as they all hurt me I could still never put them through something even remotely close to what I had to go through purely because they mattered to me.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you when you needed us. I know out of all the people in the house you trusted me the most."

I put my hand on his, smiling: "I get it. They're you're family. I'd never put another person over my family."

"Still doesn't change that it was incredibly wrong to hide it from you. I love the gang, but even I know Eden did the worst possible thing. And so does everyone else in the gang."

I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat at the mention of her.

"Hey, none of you could have expected there would be feelings involved. It was meant to be an easy mission. I guess it proves to all of us we can't really plan such things in life," I tried to comfort him, catching myself attempting to understand Eden.

"She wants you back, doesn't she?" he asked, shaking his head.

My eyes widened and mouth parted in shock: "how did you know?"

He smiled sadly: "Ruby, we both know there's never been a second ever since you met that she didn't want you. However, you would have never stuck up for her after it all unless she finally admitted it out loud to you."

I rolled my eyes, smiling: "come on, I'm not that bad, Andre."

He nodded: "you're not. But she broke your heart and you wouldn't let it go just like that which means she did something."

I once again ran my fingers through my hair. Trying to ignore what Eden said seemed to work better than facing it. As much as I wanted it to be over and as much as I said it was - I knew it didn't work that way.

"What's the plan?" Andre asked, softly nudging my shoulder with his which made me snap out of my thoughts.

I shrugged weakly, saying the words quietly: "don't have one."

It wasn't that easy to admit, but I really had no idea what I was going to do.

"Nope," Andre said.

I laughed, turning my head to look at him: "nope?"

"Yes, I said it," he smiled, "I know your plan is avoiding it, also fixing whatever it is you're doing with Hanna and, may I say, - without even fixing it, because you've gone into complete denial."

I stared at him, my mouth slightly open as I processed his words. Obviously, he knew me more than I preferred to be known.

He turned his head, grinning: "but guess what?"

I laughed, already knowing where this is going: "you already have a plan?"

He nodded: "I couldn't fix it before, made the wrong choices. But this time I want to be better and help you before the hell breaks loose, because, let's be honest, we all know it'll eventually happen."

I sighed: "whatever plan you have, please enlighten me."

"Okay, so.." he got up, holding his hand out for me.

When I got up he placed a hand around my shoulders, leading us to the door: "how do you feel about barbeque?"

.

.

.

It was now 1 p.m. And I had finally come to "The Gold's" main building to overlook what was going on in the company.

When I arrived there were plenty of workers waiting to welcome me. I smiled at all of them, trying to be as polite, friendly and un-awkward as possible, which turned out to be harder than originally expected given how I was actually feeling inside. The last thing I wanted was to be social.

A guy in his twenties walked up to me, holding out a hand which I took.

"Welcome, miss Gold," he shook my hand.

"Call me Ruby, we'll have to spend some time together anyways," I interrupted, smiling, as I let go of his hand.

"Sure, Ruby. I'm Austin, the one in charge of this building," he smiled back, unfazed, "shall I show you around?"

I took a good look at him, making sure to not seem like I was checking him out. The guy was a charmer for sure. His golden hair, mixed with hazel eyes and captivating smile made him intimidating yet friendly-looking. I knew he had to be good at his work just by looking at his appearance.

"No need, let's just go straight to your office," I said, already walking towards the elevator.

His eyebrows shot up in shock, yet he didn't ask any questions, understanding what I was stating: "you know your way around. I guess you caught me by surprise."

I pressed the elevator button, smiling at him: "having parents who run the most known company in the US does take its toll on our time at home. You could say this place was my playground."

He chuckled: "tell me about it."

We walked in the elevator: "you're one of the kids too, huh?"

He looked at me for a split second, quickly adverting his eyes: "you could say so."

I looked at him questioningly. Keeps to himself, huh. This made me even more curious about him. Normally I'd be expected to do full-on research on the leader of the company, but I was never a fan of it - I thought it's better to make your opinions by getting to know the person instead of their past.

The elevator signaled, opening the doors to the main office floor, revealing Miranda - the secretary. "Mira!" I grinned, running up to her.

"Ru, dear! I'm so glad to see you," she said, getting up and wrapping her hands around me.

"How are the kids?" I asked, letting go of her.

"Oh, you know, as always. Rachel's about to start her master's degree and Rico is still messing around with the cars," she frowned.

Miranda was already in her 60's. She was basically like my grandmother that I never had since my dad was an orphan from the age of 20 and my mom only had her dad, who died of cancer not so long ago. When I was little she would be the one making me cakes for birthdays or picking me up from school and so on. My parents were trying to convince her to just leave the job already and travel around since she was guaranteed to have the support of my parents as she made the company what it was now. But she always shrugged, saying she can't really leave, the company wouldn't be able to function without her. And we all knew it was the truth.

"Rico and his thirst for adrenaline never get old, huh," I smiled, "I'm sure he'll stop racing eventually."

"So I hope," she nodded, looking at Austin, "you kids should go get the work done. I'll prepare a coffee for Ausy and hot cocoa for you dear, like the old times."

"I can help you, Mira," I said, but she waved me off, walking away.

I turned to Austin who was smiling at me amusingly: "so you're here to steal Mira's love from me?"

I laughed, walking to the office which was a few steps from Miranda's table: "I'm sure you can handle it, Ausy."