Miss Josefina: Nobody's Princess
Chapter 69

Ruby fidgeted in Billy's office, feeling the weight of his hopeful gaze boring into her.

"Ruby, I know you have a knack for fashion design. With our sales soaring, you should really whip up some new designs."

Designing clothes was no easy task, and Ruby knew she was in over her head. She bit her lip and looked up with a forced smile. "Dad, I've just been in a bit of a funk lately. It's throwing off my creative groove. Give me some time to bounce back, and I'll get those sketches to you."

Billy whipped out his smartphone and transferred $15,000 to her. "Go treat yourself to some comfort food, maybe a new outfit. Ruby, the company's riding on your talents. And mark my words, I'll carve out a share for you in the business. If your brother can't cut it, you'll take the reins."

Ruby completely fell for those words.

She feared that Josefina might come at her for plagiarism. She had two more of Josefina's sketches, but she was afraid of revealing them. Now, it seemed she had no choice.

"Dad, I'll get to drawing as soon as I get home and show you what I've got," Ruby promised sweetly.

Billy beamed. "That's my girl. I'm looking forward to it."

As soon as Ruby left Billy's office, she snapped a selfie and posted it to her Instagram story, which was only visible to her old high school friends. [Checking out Dad's company. He's talking about handing over the reins to me someday.]

Ruby was content and left with a spring in her step.

Back at her company, Josefina found the office deserted, save for Alex, a male colleague earnestly engrossed in his designs. She approached him and peered at his work. "A diagonal shoulder would give the dress more oomph than a straight-across neckline."

Startled by her voice, Alex jumped. "Hi," he muttered, his eyes wide with apprehension.

Josefina chuckled. "I'm not some bogeyman. Why are you so scared?"

Alex shook his head. "You're drop-dead gorgeous, the prettiest girl I've ever laid eyes on."

Her smile deepened. "Afraid of me?"

"It's not you I fear-it's Jaxon..."

Jaxon had made it clear that anyone cozying up to the new head honcho would be packing their bags. Fresh out of college, Alex was desperate to keep his job.

"I'm the real shot-caller of this company, not some manager who thinks he can overrule me," Josefina said, pointing at Alex's draft. "Carry on with your drawing and show me when it's done."

She retreated to her office to review years' worth of company files, uninterrupted until three o'clock. There was still no sign of Jaxon and the others.

Dialing Jaxon's number, she was greeted with his groggy voice. "Who's this?" His tone was sour as if she'd woken him from a nap.

A chill spread in her eyes. "Jaxon, one hour of unexplained absence-there goes your monthly attendance bonus. If you and the team aren't back in ten minutes, consider yourselves fired." Ten minutes? Cursing under his breath, Jaxon rallied the troops back to the office.

At nine minutes and fifty seconds, Jaxon and the six staffers burst in, disheveled, sweaty, looking like they'd just finished a marathon.

Jaxon's own hair was a mess as he stormed toward Josefina with indignant authority. "Ms. Josefina, what's the big idea? You may be the CEO, but you can't just bully us long-timers like this. Back when we were breaking our backs for this company, you were still off in la-la land learning the ropes!"