TOBY.
My father's win was very anticlimactic for me. From seating on the couch with Ruby expecting the best, which was him losing to his major opponent who I felt was in it for the people and not for the power and influence. Who could tell with these politicians? They all looked genuine from the outside looking in. Now we just had to wait and see whether my father would surprise me.
Another thing that scared me about the passing of the elections was what it meant for Ruby and I's relationship. There had always been an understanding that after the elections we would go our separate ways. There was a time I was looking forward to it but so much had changed since then. I couldn't keep lying to myself, I had to admit that I had fallen in love with Ruby. Now the question was if my feelings were reciprocated.
I had to believe they were because I couldn't imagine a world where she and Jeremy were not a part of my life. I dismiss her recent harsh behaviour toward me as fear. She knew we were breaking up after the elections so she chose to disguise her emotions for me as irritation and dislike. All those feelings she had for me over the years couldn't disappear just like that. I hardly believed myself but there were moments I saw a glimpse of the old Ruby through little cracks she had in her high walls. Whatever the case may be I was determined to fight for my little family. Ruby and I weren't getting a divorce unless she told me that was what she wanted. In that case, I would have no choice but to back down, you couldn't force love.
Ruby, Jeremy and I stood behind my father as he took his oath to us with my mother beside me. We have always been a public family because of my father's business successes and the level of wealth attributed to our family name but standing up there felt different. We were entering a higher sphere of public influence and scrutiny. The higher the pedestal the greater the fall. I wish I could feel detached from the whole process but I'd be proud of the successes of his administration and feel responsible for every shortcoming and downfall. I just knew that I would be the greatest critic of a government led by my father both in public and in private. I wondered what that would do to our already strained relationship.
After the ceremony, a small luncheon was held in the state house, my parent's new abode. A throng of dignitaries, politicians and top businessmen were in attendance. The press was notably absent for this leg of events. I noticed that Ruby kept to herself for most of the night.
"You both will be moving into the mansion tomorrow," my mum casually said later that evening when we went to wish her a good night before heading home.
"We are fine at the apartment," Ruby said.
"I wasn't asking, I was telling," my mother said directly.
"Thanks, mum," I said, knowing that the decision had already been made. Ruby didn't look happy about it and she couldn't muster up another word. I wasn't happy to be moving back to my childhood home either.
Before the sun rose, the first batch of maids sent to help us move arrived, waking us up. There wasn't much packing to be done, apart from our clothes which were quite a lot, we didn't need to carry anything else. Our apartment was big in terms of normal standards but compared to the mansion. I didn't miss the mansion, I didn't miss that feeling of never being alone, to have maids around all the damn time.
Ruby and I haven't gotten around to discussing the elephant in the room since the elections. We've both skirted around the divorce issue but I was going to tell her my intentions at the first chance I got.
Jeremy was excited by the activities that had been going on around him all morning. Once he woke up, there was no putting him back to sleep. He went from room to room carried by different maids as they all packed with a speed and urgency that made it seem like there was a war at our doorstep. We were all packed up and loaded in the car before noon. Less than two seconds into the ride Jeremy was fast asleep, the stress of the morning must have finally gotten to him
Yasmin had been blowing up my phone all morning and I had been steadily ignoring it. Each time my phone rang and I silenced it, Ruby gave me a look.
"What?" I said in a question to her piercing gaze.
"Pick up your call," she said.
"Fine," I said and picked the call up on impulse.
"Hello," I said.
"So you finally pick up," Yasmine's voice came from over the over.
"What do you want?" I asked her.
"I want you to finalise your freaking divorce, that was the deal." I watched Ruby see if she was listening in on the conversation but her face didn't give anything away.
"I'm tired of you ordering me around," I said.
"What the hell are you saying? We both want the same thing," she stuttered.
"Really, well it doesn't feel like that. It feels like you're forcing all your needs and wants down my throat. Every time I fail to comply, you threaten me and I'm tired of it," I said exactly what I was feeling, surprising even me. The shock of all I said must have made her mute. The line went dead after a few seconds of silence.
"Ruby," I started but we had arrived at the mansion. Before I could say anything else Ruby had exited the car through the other door with a sleeping Jeremy in my hand. I sat in the car for a few seconds stunned by everything that was happening before following them.
I made my way to my old room only to find it empty. I was on my way to find a maid to explain where my bags were kept when it occurred to me that I would probably be in the master's bedroom. I was right, I found my things arranged in the biggest room in the mansion. It was surreal, this used to be my father's old room and for most of my life, I wasn't allowed in here.
I looked around and then flopped down on the California king bed spreading my arms out wide and ruffling the sheets before getting up to get ready for brunch. I had said something to a few of the staff to make the meal as perfect as possible. Today was the day I confessed my feelings to Ruby. Hopefully, it would go well and whatever came after we'd handle it together.