Miss Josefina: Nobody's Princess

Josie shook her head with a mixture of frustration and resolve, her patience with Ruby thoroughly exhausted. "Ruby, if you've got the energy to hop around me, then hustle up and pay back what you owe. If you don't, I'll have the courts force your hand. I wonder how your dear Xavier will look at you then." With a decisive click, Josie ended the call and promptly blocked Ruby's number.

On the other end, Ruby paced back and forth like a caged animal, her mind racing with anxiety.

Ten million bucks. How on earth was she going to cover that debt?

Clutching her phone like a lifeline, Ruby dialed Xavier's number once more. Xavier, the man she had looked down on, was now out of her reach, and it galled her. The catch she'd worked so hard to reel in was slipping away, and she wasn't ready to let go without a fight.

Ruby bombarded Xavier with messages, her tone a mix of desperation and false humility, all in a bid to win him back.

Lauren watched Ruby's frantic antics with a growing sense of concern. "Ruby, honey, take a breather. Have some chicken soup, and catch some Z's. Don't worry, I'll get your dad to cover for you. There's no way our family can't come up with a measly ten million. I could just tear that bitch apart. How could she ask for so much?"

Lauren pulled out her phone and called Billy. "Billy, get that ten million to Josefina, pronto. Ruby's a mess over this. Money talks, so let's settle this and keep Josefina from dragging our girl through the mud." Billy's response was a blend of anger and exasperation. "Lauren, do you think we're made of money? That we've got a money tree in the backyard? Ten million dollars isn't chump change. Ever since our long- lost daughter waltzed back into our lives, it's been nothing but trouble. I can't just conjure up ten million bucks. If you've got it, then by all means, settle her debt."

words hung up in the air, and Ruby, who had overheard everything, felt

could they not have evem

expression crumpled, and she turned to Lauren with a mix of guilt and self-pity. "Mom, it's all my fault. I just wanted to make you proud, to help out the family. I never meant for any of this to happen. Maybe you should just send me back to the

her arms around Ruby, whispering words of comfort. "Don't you worry, Ruby. I'll take

looked up, her eyes wide with a mixture of

treasures.

after a storm, her

patted Ruby's hand, her eyes full of affection. "Now, you sit tight. I'm going to see Josefina. You stay here and wait for the

later, she

let me go with you," Ruby said, rising

girl will just get you riled up again. Leave it to me, and wait

reluctant nod, Ruby settled back

car and directed the driver to

chapters of novels early and