Marley sighed. “Jacqueline claimed I violated the NDA because a celebrity photographer in a Tesla followed me and Nikhil to my plastic surgeon’s office and took pictures of him kissing me.”
Ruby’s eyes went wide. “Your plastic surgeonkissedyou?”
Marley cringed. “Ew. No. Nikhil kissed me.”
That did not make Ruby’s eyes go back to normal. “Marley, tell me everything. Celebrity clients are kissing you in public now?”
Marley sighed. “Okay. So can I assume you didn’t see the celebrity gossip featuring me and Nik Sharma from yesterday?” Marley had checked, and the piece had finally been taken down. A little too late, though.
Ruby made a face. “I only read UK gossip.”
Of course she did. Marley told Ruby everything. Well, almost everything, at least. She told her about her past with Nikhil, about prom, and about catching feelings when they were living together. She skipped some stuff… like their King Street hotel antics. But this was the most Marley had told anyone about how she felt about someone in… well, actually, the most she’d ever talked to someone about a relationship. Even Shayne.
Ruby, understandably, was surprised at it all. The normally cool and collected Marley had fallen so hard for someone thatshe was practically sobbing over a man. “This stupid surgery has made me emotional,” Marley said, blowing snot from her nose. Which startled McQueen awake. He glared at Marley for daring to interrupt his sleep.
“Is it the surgery, or is it the relationship?”
Marley waved her hand. “Thesurgery. I don’t get emotional over relationships. But I just had healthy boobs removed and lost my job, so I think I’m entitled to be in my feels.” Maybe she shouldn’t be unloading this on Ruby of all people. This was probably triggering for her.
Ruby nodded. “Not arguing that. Be in your feels. I know I was after my mastectomy. I don’t really follow a ton of Hollywood gossip—unless Harry Styles is involved—but didn’t I hear that Nik was dating Serena Vox?”
“Yes, but not really.”
“That makes no sense.”
“Show business makes no sense.” Marley sighed. “Serena claimed they were in a relationship, but it was for publicity. And now the world thinks I broke up Serena and Nikhil and that he bought me boobs. She looks like a woman scorned. And he looks like a player.”
Ruby shook her head. “Honestly, Marley, you’re the least likely person who I imagined could fall into a Hollywood scandal.”
Marley narrowed her eyes at Ruby. Why was everyone so surprised at this happening, or at how Marley was reacting? Once again, Marley was starting to wonder if she was maybe a little too private.
“I do think it’s completebollocksJacqueline would let you go for this,” Ruby continued. “You were violated; you didn’t break the NDA.”
“Just say ‘bullshit,’ Ruby. We’re not in jolly old England. They can technically let me go for anything, as long as they pay me enough severance, and as long as it’s not discrimination of a protected class. Dating a superstar’s pretend boyfriend is not a protected class.” Marley still couldn’t believe this was her life now. Another tear started running down her face. She ignored it.
Ruby shook her head. “After everything you did for the store. Customerscame inbecause of you! You managed to satisfy people like Angel Durand!” She winced. “Customers are going to be upset.”
“I’m sure Tova will be thrilled to take them.”
“Of that I have no doubt,” Ruby sighed. “We all give our heart and soul for that store. We bend over backward to please the clients and management, and at the end of the day, this shows that they don’t really care for us nearly as much as we care for them. All they care about are profits. Bottom line.” She exhaled. “I’m glad I’m leaving Reid’s. There is no reason to show loyalty to anyone.”
“So, you really are leaving? I hope not because of me…”
Ruby shook her head. “Not just because of you, but yeah, I bought a plane ticket a few days ago. One-way… Toronto to London. I’m moving in January. After the Christmas rush at Reid’s.”
It made sense to wait until after the holidays—sales associates made huge commissions during the holiday season. And Ruby had always loved Christmas. Ruby had moved around a lot since her mother died. Vancouver, Ottawa, Montreal. But this was the first time she’d talked about leaving the country.
“Seriously?”
Ruby nodded. “Seriously. You know it was Mom’s and mydream to move there. I’m young, I’m single. It’s time to make that dream happen. There’s nothing for me here… except you. But now you’re untethered, too. You should come with me.”
Marley exhaled. Maryam Aunty and Ruby used to talk about one day leaving Canada to open an inn or a tea house in England. They used to watch real estate shows from the UK and daydream about buying a cottage there. Now Ruby was making it happen. It was tempting to go with her since Maryam Aunty couldn’t. Marley could just leave everything and start over. But… that wastheirdream, not Marley’s. Marley’s dream had always been the same—being a personal shopper at Reid’s.
“Maybe,” Marley said. “I need to think about what I want to do next.”
“You can do whatever you want. Other stores, like Holt Renfrew or even Saks, would jump to hire you. Or you could freelance. I’m sure that having a movie star boyfriend would open enough doors for you to have a bustling personal stylist business. You could work with Shayne and style photo shoots. You could even style Nik. If you guys manage to work it out.”
Marley cringed. She wasn’t sure she was cut out for the freelance life. She’d have to be… exposed, public… for that. And she definitely couldn’t style Nikhil… even if they managed to stay friends. Dress him? Pick out clothes so the rest of the world could see the Nikhil that she saw—the incredible, kind, sexy person that she couldn’t have? It was impossible. “I told you, he’s not my boyfriend. I can’t be with a movie star, Ruby. There is no privacy. Always living in a fishbowl. Not to mention he lives in LA. He’s only here for his movie.”
