Chapter 25
Rex
Charlie told me that he was picking up his sister and bringing her up to the city so she could move in. I wanted to go, but the way he was acting told me that it wasn’t a good idea. He needed to ask her some questions he said and I had an idea that I didn’t want to be there for that. I wanted to see Sherry, badly, but not bad enough for our secret to somehow get out. I didn’t think I could be around her and not look at her as if I wanted to eat her whole. I know that I often felt that way when she was around and I didn’t need the test.
I was home when Charlie got there from his trip and he was I his head. I could tell he had something on his mind, but again I wasn’t brave enough to ask what.
“Still alone huh?”
“Yeah, why?”
“I don’t know. It has just been a while since I have seen you with a girl. Are you saving yourself for someone important?”
“No. What’s up man?”
“Not much Charlie. I just got back in from doing the shoot for the advertising billboard that we were talking about the other day. It looks good and I think the finished product is going to be even better.”
“Who did you use?”
“Star and Angel. They are the most photogenic.”
“What about Ruby? She is looking fine as hell lately and that red hair really makes her stand out. Isn’t that what you were looking for?”
“It was, but I let her go. She wasn’t doing well with the club and the rest of the girls, so I figured it was best if we just let her go.”
He smacked his forehead with his palm. “I just told you that we didn’t want her to get the idea of suing us, so you refused her and then you fired her? Are you serious right now?”
“It’s not like that. She wasn’t even that mad. I got her a gig at another club and she is going to do fine. It doesn’t have to be the doom and gloom in your head you know. It can be a good thing and I am going to make sure that it is a good thing. She was a problem starter.”
“So that is why you got rid of her?”
“It wasn’t just that, but yeah mainly.”
“Because she talked to me about you?”
I gritted my teeth and I could tell that my temper was about to come out. I had seen it many times before but I don’t remember the last time it was directed at Charlie. Why the hell was I so mad? Was it because I knew that it was all Ruby’s fault for making this tension between us? I didn’t like it and the last thing that I needed was for him to start in on me again. I wanted this over.
“I can’t have people working for me that are going to divulge information to others so easily.”
“She works for me too, so it is not like she was telling our trade secrets to some outsider. She was mad because she cared about you and you kicked her to the curb.”
“Yeah, but I hired her and I was the one that gave her a chance when she first started. She blew it opening her mouth and now she can work somewhere else. It is best for all involved.”
My tone was vehement and even I could tell that there was something more going on here. Why had I gotten rid of her like that? Even with my explanation out in the open, it felt like there was something missing in my very own reasoning.
“What if she sues us?”
“She isn’t going to. Okay. Just don’t worry about it. I handled it.”
I wanted to drop it and I didn’t have anything more to say about it. I had made it clear what a boneheaded move it was, but I don’t think that it was going to make it any better.
“Good because when it comes back to bite us in the ass, you are going to be the one who is handling it as well. I am not getting into this with you and I know that you will take care of it.”
“Look, things are getting weird lately Charlie. Let’s just take the night off and go out. Let the club run itself. We pay enough people to do it for us, don’t you think?”
“I do and you know what, that sounds like a good idea. I just dropped Sherry off and the last thing I want to do is go back to the club tonight after that.”
“She got to you huh?”
“Did she say something to you?”
“Likened me to a pimp when I took her home a week ago.”
Charlie chuckled. “Yeah that sounds like her.”
“How does she like her new place?”
“Good I guess. I didn’t stay too long. She asked about you though.”
“Did she?”
I tried to temper the look on my face. I knew that it was filled with want and hope because I was hoping that I was going to hear from her soon. “Yeah.”
I waited for more, but he said nothing else. I was just left there to guess what it was that she had asked about me. It became clear that Charlie wasn’t going to tell me.