“Oh, you didn’t have to bring that down. I’d have come and gotten it,” the woman protested.
“It’s okay, um . . . I’m sorry. I don’t think I’ve been told your name,” Aileen said to her.
“Ruby.”
“Ah, Ruby. I was coming down anyway, Ruby.”
“You hardly ate anything. Was it not good?” Ruby asked, looking over the tray with a frown.
“It was just fine. I just didn’t have an appetite, not for chicken I guess.”
“I’m sorry. We’d have made you anything else you wanted. We still can.”
“No. I don’t think anything would have tasted good. I seemed to have still had a bit of the stomach trouble I had before. It’s passed now, but I think I’d just like a quick sandwich.”
“Sure. What kind?”
“PB&J?”
The woman laughed and nodded. “What flavor jelly?”
“Oh. Yes, what flavor, Ruby? Strawberry would be fantastic.”
“Come on,” Ruby said, laughing.
Aileen followed her to the kitchen and sat at the counter while the woman made her a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and sat it in front of her, along with a big glass of cold milk. Finally, something that tasted delicious. Aileen savored every bite.
“It’s really quiet here tonight. Are you here alone?”
“Mostly. Mr. Seputre called while you were eating earlier and said he wouldn’t be back until tomorrow afternoon. The rest of the staff has gone home, except for myself and the guards.”
“Guards?”
“Yes, there are guards on staff when Mr. Seputre is away, but you are here.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. He hired them this morning, after you got back from your trip, so it’s new to both of us.”
Aileen contemplated this, unsure of what it meant. Why did he feel she needed to be guarded? Who was he having her guarded from? He’d said nothing of there being any danger to her in this equation. The thought that she might have something to worry about was a bit unsettling.
“Weird. Maybe just an abundance of caution.”
“Sure. You know how protective men can be. He probably just wants to make sure his new bride is well taken care of whenever he’s away.”
“Could be,” Aileen said, but she knew that wasn’t the answer. “Hey, I don’t mean to sound like a pig, but do you have any ice cream?”
Ruby smiled and motioned for her to follow. Aileen stood and walked around the counter toward a room that stood to one side of the kitchen. Ruby opened the doors and walked into an enormous walk in pantry, stopping at a smaller metal door and opening it. She waved Aileen inside of the walk in freezer and pointed her to a shelf.
“Oh, my God!” Aileen exclaimed, feeling like a little girl in an ice cream parlor.
The shelf contained tubs of just about any kind of ice cream anyone could possibly want. She looked at it, trying to decide which one or ones she wanted.
“Why is there so much?”
“I’m surprised you don’t already know. It’s Yakov’s weakness. He can’t resist ice cream. This is his personal stash, but I’m sure he won’t care that you ate some of it.”
“I hope not, because there is no way I’m walking out of here without some of the pistachio and triple chocolate chunk.”
Ruby nodded and retrieved the two tubs, carrying them back out to the kitchen behind Aileen where she made up a bowl for her.
“You should have some too,” Aileen told her.
“Oh, no. I shouldn’t.”
“Why not? It’s just us girls and some lurkers.”
Ruby smiled and pulled another bowl from the cabinet. They sat side by side, happily eating their treats. This might be the closest thing to friendship Aileen found while fulfilling her obligations to Yakov. Obviously, it couldn’t continue once she was done here, but there was no reason she couldn’t have at least one person here that she found likable and called at least a casual friend.
“Do you enjoy working here, Ruby?” she asked.
“Yes. I’ve not been here too long, but he is good to us. He pays us well and treats us fairly.”
“You don’t have to mince words with me, Ruby.”
“I’m not. He’s not a terrible boss.”
“But he’s not a great boss, either.”
“He can be demanding and particular, but most men are, aren’t they? I’ve had far worse bosses than one who just isn’t all that personable, you know?”
“Yes, I know,” Aileen responded.
Ruby immediately looked alarmed. “I didn’t mean that he was a bad boss.”
“Relax. It’s just us girls. I know how he is. You’re not telling me any secrets.”
Ruby smiled meekly and took a bit of her ice cream, looking like a little girl sharing her diary with a friend. Aileen had to admit that it felt good to have a confidant, even if she couldn’t be completely honest with her.
“This Kevin fellow that is his competition for leader. What do you think of him?” Aileen asked her.
“Oh, he’s a piece of work. I mean, he’s pretty. Don’t get me wrong. I know that is a strange word to use for a man. Pretty, but he looks like he was designed in some sort of lab where they only used the most perfect gene pool available.”