"Belated happy birthday Jerome", Mateo said as he tried his luck to see if his theory was credible.
"Huh. What? How did you know yesterday was my birthday, vice leader."
The flustered Jerome asked, barely managing to keep his voice down so as not to attract the leader's attention.
"Lucky guess, anyway we'll talk later, for now let's focus on Ruby."
"Okay vice leader." Jerome communicated his acceptance, and with that everyone's attention was back on Ruby.
Though not everyone's mind was on what she was saying, with 3 out of the 5 male members ogling her and Mateo's mind on the validity of his new theory, when it was time to announce the new locations for the underground fights, gambling and other related activities, everyone's ears perked up.
*****
The Red Line Gang
One of the most subtle things with the most influence in everyday life is the red line, with its many uses.
Used to indicate a positive result when testing for some illnesses like malaria, used to show a cut off point or deadline in some academy related areas.
Used on some traffic signs to serve as a warning among others, these were some of the reasons why Ruby decided on such a unique name for the gang she founded.
She was banking on the name to deliver a message as subtly as possible– Do not cross the Red Line.
In the beginning it was tough, a small time gang led by a female.
But what's the point of having a billionaire father who runs his own gang if not to protect you?
The moment her father decided to list the Red Line Gang as a branch of his own, all opps became fam as she started drowning in gifts from those who wanted to use her as a bridge to her father.
This freedom allowed her to form and operate her gang however she wished without fear of being targeted, an opportunity which she used to her full advantage.
First, the core of the gang included herself and 10 others, dubbed Knights of the round table.
Second, every member of the core had to be an avid anime fan, a condition she put in place so that the group would have something to discuss every time they met.
Her knights of the round table were divided into 5 males and 5 females and were each given a codename beginning with the letter J, which also served as their rank in the gang.
Jacob – Janet
Jerome – Jenny
Jin – Jill
John – Josephine
Jude – Jules
This essentially turned her club from a typical one to an unconventional hangout club, with the non- core members being guards and grunts from her father's gang, his way of apologising for her cooped up childhood.
*****
With the quarterly meeting over, Mateo was looking to quickly escape when a firm feminine arm locked itself around his waist.
"Let's walk", Ruby said as she led the way out of the meeting room into her personal one.
Not needing to turn around to know the suggestive actions of his friends, Mateo let himself be dragged by Ruby, already preparing his routine set of excuses for her advances.
*Ding*
The elevator marked their arrival back to the surface and not long after they were inside a plush bedroom with mangas and comics stacked to one side of the room, with makeup and perfume filling the other.
"Say Mateo I just bought this expensive wine, if you're willing we could try it out."
Ruby suggested as she made her way to the fridge, the trench coat she was wearing slipping off her body with every step to reveal the work of art highlighted by a latex bodysuit she wore.
"Uh, no thank you. I'm going back home right after here and I wouldn't want to smell like alcohol at 9 am." Mateo passed up her offer as he did his best to focus on the other things in the room.
"Hmm, wise choice." After pouring herself half a glass she modelled back to Mateo, every step in the heels she wore causing a chemical reaction in her guest's body.
"So, Mateo. Word on the street is that you've found yourself a pretty toy, Amber if I'm not wrong."
Finding the reaction she was looking for, she continued, "Amber, she's young too. 18, nice hair, hardworking. Are these some of the features you look for in a girl, is this the reason why you keep rejecting my advances? Because I'm 27?"
Despite seeing the apparent pain in her eyes, Mateo knew it was all a trick and so he didn't feel guilty as a bit of his anger slipped out as he asked,
"Why were you spying on me again? I thought I asked you to stop monitoring my every move."
"Well I don't see why I should do as you ask when you don't even answer a few questions of mine. To me that sounds like a fair trade, no?"
Ruby tilted her head to the right a bit paired with her elevated mounds due to how she was laying down on the bed, Mateo wondered how he had been able to resist the seductress so far.
Considering her offer, he allowed her to ask the questions she wanted in exchange for her to stop spying on him and those associated with his personal life.
"Hmm. Okay, first question. Why do you reject my advances? Is it because I'm older? Or because you like cute little girls and I'm too headstrong for you?"
Taking a moment to compose his statement well, he started by saying,
"Woah woah, Ruby. Please phrase your questions well. Anyone who just heard you might think I'm a pedophile. And no I don't reject you because you're older than me, or too headstrong for me or even because your dad is a Mafia boss.
Heck at a point in time I used to dig older women."
Impatient, she asked, "Then why?"
"Hmm, how should I put it. Well the thing is Ruby, you're an addict. A nymphomaniac. Literally the only reason you started showing interest in me and promoted me to vice leader so quickly was because of the time you walked in on me showering after a match in the underground club."
Confused, she asked what was wrong with that to which he answered,
"Nothing really. To be honest I've enjoyed my fair share of women but it gets to a point that you start looking for a genuine relationship with the person you're seeing.
And even though we both like anime and manga and stuff, I just don't see myself building a relationship with with you."
"Why, is it something I did wrong or…"
"Oh no it's not you, it's me. I'm a bit complicated for my own good at times. Plus I quite enjoy our friendship." Mateo brushed her hair to take his focus away from her head resting on his lap.
"Fuck you. I don't need that silly ass excuse, I'm a grown ass woman, not a child." Ruby muttered softly, even though the excuse did help her a bit. "So, do you love this girl, Amber?"
Somewhat expecting this he answered, "Hmm, well I believe I do but just in case it doesn't, I know I'll always have you."
"Eww, that's offensive, I am no one's backup plan. I was hoping for the relationship to fail but now I'm praying for it's success, so I can finally move on."
"Oh really, I half expected you to tie me down against my will and have your way with me. Knowing who your dad is, there's no way I'll fight back and risk hurting you."
"Tsk. Don't tempt me. Besides I'd like to preserve what little dignity I have left in your eyes."
Relieved, he made a move to get up only for Ruby's voice to cut his plans short.
"Please, let's stay like this for a while. Just allow my heart to be at ease for 30 minutes."
"As you wish your majesty."
With that the room entered a state of peaceful silence reminiscent to that shared by lovers as Ruby made a quiet apology in her heart.
'I'm sorry my niece, for stealing your boyfriend for a short while, but I saw him first.'