Chapter 4. UNEXPECTED INVITATION.
The next morning, Ruth sat in her sunlit breakfast nook, stirring her coffee as the city buzz below. She wore a soft linen robe, the scent of jasmine still lingering from the night cream. Her phone vibrated gently the marble table top.
A message:
It was a message from Hayden Cole.
"Good morning, Miss Ruth. The teens were nuzzling your visit. They do love it if you dropped by one of our sessions sometime. No pressure, just thought I did pass on the invite- Hayden.
She read it many times. He found her email, not her number. He had kept it professional, respectful- yet the message felt personal. Ruth wondered how he got her email, she was full of surprises. Even though she was seeing the message but she was shot of words. She typed back quickly, her fingers light against the screen.
" Thank you, Hayden. That sounds wonderful. Let me know the next session date- I do love to visit
"Hayden.
" Next Saturday, 3pm at Harmony Center. We have music and mentoring with the high schoolers, you do more than welcome".
She smiled to herself. Then got up, energy returning to her steps. Getting the message from Hayden was more than everything to her, she has thought of him throughout days, and hoped to see him someday. Surprisingly, she got his message from him. That gave enough strength.
That afternoon, she met her father in his office. The walls were lined with mahogany shelves and antique books that no one read.
" you were a hit last night", he said not looking up from his tablet", I have set up a lunch for you and Winston's son on Thursday".
"I have plans Saturday", she replied instead.
Maxwell raised a brow." What kind of plans"?
I'm visiting a community mentorship program music for the inner- city teens".
He looked at her sharply."That's not a good use of your time".
"It's my time to use," she said evenly.
The father wondered what his daughter was going to do at the community program. The father felt it was a waste of time going there. He had preferred her going to a better invite. The billionaire's daughter has found a man that is dear to him and she is not ready to let go.
He starred at her for a long moment, then waved his hand in dismissal.
" just don't forget who you are"
She stood, calm but resolute.
" That's exactly why I'm going there".
As she left the room, she didn't look back. A turnaround has taken place in Ruth's life as she has. found a young man who has won her heart. She will surely not look back until she gets what she is looking for. This wasn't just a curiosity anymore. Something about Hayden- and everything about him and his program made her feel like a person, not like a brand was starting to shift things inside her. And something told her- Saturday might be the start of everything changing. Ruth couldn't wait for Saturday to come around, she waited patiently till Saturday comes. She couldn't wait to see Hayden again.
Ruth dream was becoming real, she is gradually coming close to find a man whose value is different from other class of men she had met. This isn't funny. Lines have fallen on pleasant places and she has found a beautiful heritage.
After the busy day, Ruth got home pretty late. Her father wanted to speak with her. Her father stood before her with a drink from the decanter.
"Ruth kelvin, the name carries such much weight. You can't afford to appear naive or distracted by pet projects".
She stood firm and strong. " I am not doing it for appearances. I'm doing it because it matters ".
He studied her, glass in hand.
" you're starting to sound like your late mother".
Ruth's mother was a woman who had strong convictions on whatever she wanted to do, she was a woman of sympathy and empathy. Ruth actually took from her mother. Her mother preferred values, virtues, characters more than riches, fame and wealth. Ruth mother was the backbone and pillar to her husband shortly after she died.
Ruth's heart caught, for a second. She didn't fully know her mother before she died. To be compared to her now felt like both a warming and a blessing.
" Then I'll take that as a compliment", she said, voice soft but period.
As she left the room, the tension clung to her like static. But underneath it, she felt something else- a flicker of defiance of independence taking root. She also felt like her father was not going to support her dream man. She sensed that her father may not like Hayden if she presents him. This gave Ruth a deep thought.
The rest of the week passed slowly, meeting, fittings, social lunches filed her calendar, but her mind stayed fixed on Saturday. During the week, she got another invite from a friend, she declined from the invitation because Saturday is taken. She found herself researching Harmony Center in her spare moments, learning more about the work Hayden and his team were doing. She found a video online- a local news clip from two months ago. Hayden stood beside a student named Malik, who did written a rap about overcoming addiction in his family. The boy performed with raw honesty and when he finished, Hayden hugged him like a brother.
Hayden was doing well in his music, he was beginning to raise younger ones who love and had passion for music. The teen were doing well, their music life was changing. They were also becoming dynamic like Hayden. Ruth wiped a tear from her cheek. This wasn't just charity, it was transformation.
On Friday night, she sat at her dressing table choosing what to wear. Not for style or press- just comfort but Something honest. She settled a simple way navy blouse, jean and sneakers. It was like the first outfit she had chosen just for herself In months.
As she folded the blouse over the arm, she whispered to her reflections: "Let's see what the real world looks like". The dressing was just perfect for the occasion, she needed to look smart. It was a meeting with the teen. She looks forward being there the next day. She loves the transformation that is taking place among the teen. She can't wait to be part of it.
Ruth had seen that Hayden is genuine and all that he does.
She said to herself", Definitely I will be there tomorrow".