Burn Me Once Burn With Me (Ruby Grayson) novel Chapter 24

The next afternoon.

Ruby held Mira in her arms as she made her way to the district office, heading straight for the janitorial supervisor's room.

She'd barely pushed open the finance office door when the supervisor—a broad-shouldered woman in her forties—waved her in.

"Ah, Ruby, just in time. The higher-ups have reviewed the issue with your pay being docked—Fiona took it upon herself, and it wasn't authorized. Here's the official notice revoking the penalty. Take a look, and if everything's correct, sign at the bottom."

"Since the disciplinary action's been overturned, your withheld wages will be returned with your next paycheck. Nothing to worry about."

"Oh, and about your complaint to the police regarding your reputation—we've reported up the chain. Turns out it was Fiona slandering you. You're in the clear. Keep up the good work. You're young—you've got a bright future ahead of you…"

The supervisor's lips curled into a smirk as she delivered this last line.

A bright future? For a single mother working as a cleaner her whole life—what, was she supposed to believe Ruby would suddenly rise above it all and become the wife of Quinsborough's richest man? The rest of them had permanent positions, after all, while Ruby was just a temp on contract—easy to crush any time they wanted.

"Alright, once you've signed, you can go. And please, close the door on your way out—we don't need all the heat escaping. This weather's enough to freeze your bones."

She got up, filled a mug with steaming water from the thermos, brewed a cup of tea, and took a long, satisfied sip—her posture radiating lazy self-satisfaction.

Ruby kept her head down. Her hands, raw and red from early mornings spent sweeping in the cold, ached and tingled with pain.

The others in the office stole looks at her, whispering behind their hands.

"Ruby's really made a name for herself this time—had Lady Marjorie come down personally to defend her."

"Well, it helps when you've got Quinsborough's wealthiest family in your corner—Cassian's grandmother, no less. No wonder she looks so pleased with herself."

"Didn't they say Ruby cleared her name and got Fiona fired?"

"Hah, what do you know? Fiona had powerful connections. You really think a lowly cleaner like Ruby could get her thrown out?"

"So who was backing Fiona, then?"

"Who knows? I heard it was someone important. Didn't you see how smug Fiona was all month? Must have come into a windfall."

"Ruby's just being naïve. Mark my words—her luck's about to run out. She thinks she's only made one enemy here in South Lane?"

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