k, she waited, her mind pinging and spinning.
“Russo Industries, Dolph Russo’s office,” his secretary answered. A new secretary by the unfamiliar sound of her voice, and the fact that she was still there at nearly ten o’clock at night. Dolph went through secretaries like water. “How may I help you?”
“This is Rubi Russo, Dolph’s unfortunate offspring. Put him on the line, please. ”
“I’m sorry, Ms. Russo, he’s on a conference call. I can-”
“You can,” she said, squeezing her eyes shut to hold her temper and the burgeoning hurt, “tell the self-centered bastard to put the conference call on hold and talk to his daughter. This is an emergency. ”
“Uh…please hold, Ms. Russo. ”
The deeper the news sank, the angrier she grew.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Russo,” the secretary came back on the line. “He isn’t able to speak with you right now. ”
That fucker. “Did you tell him it was an emergency?”
“Yes, ma’am, I-”
“Tell him I’m in the hospital, dying. ” Rubi was done. So fucking done with this man. She didn’t need this shit in her life. “Go on. Tell him. ”
“Uh…hold on, please. ”
She wished she was holding a regular phone. One she could slam down to disconnect. That was one major drawback to cell phones.
The line picked up again with a hesitant, “Ms. Russo? I’m so sorry. Is there something I can do for you? Your father can’t come to the phone. ”
Her anger intensified until she couldn’t speak.
“Ms. Russo?”
She scraped in air. “Yes,” she rasped. “You can quit before he ruins your existence. ”
Rubi stabbed the End button and stood there, one hand gripping the railing, one her phone. And for the millionth time in her life, a sense of complete, primal betrayal filled her.
“Hey. ” Wes’s soft voice behind her made her squeeze her eyes closed.
“Sorry about that. ” She turned but couldn’t meet his eyes. Instead she focused on the supple muscle of his pecs. “I have to go. ”
“Where?”
“I have to straighten this out with Dolph. ” She started past Wes toward the table. “I’m sorry,” she said again to everyone. “I didn’t mean to ruin dinner. ”
Rubi picked up her purse. “Come on, Rodie. ”
Rodie climbed to his feet where he lay beside Wes’s chair and trotted to her.
“Where are you going?” Lexi asked.
“His office. He can’t ignore me if I yank that phone from his hand and brain him with it. ”“I’ll drive you. ” Wes grabbed his T-shirt off the table.
“No. ” No no no. He’d already witnessed enough of her bad side. A bad side he now knew was multifaceted. “Thank you, but no. That kind of exposure would tarnish all your shine. ”
“You’re not driving this angry. ” Wes’s statement was final, forceful. The demand rankled, and she shot him a glare. “I’ll drive you,” he repeated with a look so serious she knew she’d have a battle on her hands to get out of there alone. And she just didn’t have the energy. She needed to save it all for Dolph.
“Take my car,” Lexi told Wes. “Keys are on the kitchen counter. And grab something of mine from the dresser in the bedroom. Leave Rodie. He’ll be fine here. ”
“You know I appreciate you guys, but this is my mess-”