Page 2 of Under A Sicilian Sky
The limo had blacked-out windows, so at least Ruby could stare out at the passing, snow-covered, urban landscape without the fear of being spotted. The stunning architecture of New York’s Museum Mile never ceased to bring a smile – even under today’s dark cloud, she found the corners of her mouth turning upwards. The Met rose from the pavement like a giant stone sculpture, glowing in the winter sun and despite the chill in the air, crowds gathered on the steps like pilgrims waiting to worship. She often visited there to gaze upon the artworks, but in more recent years her disguises had required more thinking.
She pulled out her phone and logged into her social media accounts. She didn’t even need to search her name. There, right before her eyes, were screenshots of her supposed posts. The comments underneath were almost as vile as the ones made in her name. People were calling her all the names under the sun and saying things like, ‘It doesn’t surprise me at all, you can tell by looking at her that she’s a bigot,’ and, ‘I won’t be watching any more of her movies, if she even has a career left.’ That was what hurt the most. They were playing judge, jury and executioner when they didn’t know the truth. There was a hashtag being used that simply said, #cancelrubylocke, and memes of her face with offensive graffiti on. Did these people realise what hypocrites they were being?
Her stomach roiled.
When she spotted the comment that suggested she should end her own life, she promptly deactivated her accounts, feeling that it had to be done for her own mental health. Then she dialled Tyler’s number, maybe he could reassure her? Tyler was an all-round action hero, both on screen and off. Well known for his starring role in the World War Two dramaHeroes of Rapido River, her fiancé was a heart-throb and a philanthropist to boot. His off-screen charity work made him the man that every magazine wanted on their cover. He could’ve had any woman in Hollywood, but he chose New York-based, Yorkshire lass, Ruby, and she still had moments where she couldn’t understand why.
‘Hey, my gorgeous Valentine, I was gonna call you. How are you doing? Are you okay? Not the best Valentine’s Day you could’ve wished for, huh?’ Concern laced his voice and her eyes welled once more.
‘Oh Ty, I honestly can’t believe this is happening. Who would do something like this to me? And why?’ she sobbed. Paranoia had taken root in her mind and she suspected everyone; well, notquiteeveryone.
‘I can’t even begin to imagine, baby. It’s just so… cruel.’
‘I know. But what makes it worse is people don’t seem to be giving me a chance to speak. They just presume that what’s on social media is fact. I would never make such horrible comments about anyone.’
He fell silent and she sniffed, hoping he’d say he was coming over. They hadn’t formally made plans for Valentine’s Day due to their busy schedules, but she had hoped he would sneak into town to see her, and now that he had she hoped that, in light of the day’s events, he would have made lovely plans to help cheer her up.
When he didn’t speak, she took a deep breath. ‘Are you… are you free this evening?’
‘I’m, um…’ He sounded distracted. ‘What? Sorry, I was just checking my other… Sure, sure, baby. Of course. Want to come by my hotel? I’m in suite 450 at the Plaza, just off Central Park.’
‘Wow, a suite at the Plaza?’
‘Only the best for the Hero of Rapido River.’ He laughed but the noise lacked humour. In fact, he sounded disinterested.
‘Okay. I’ll be right there. I just need to call home to shower first. Freshen up. I look a sight just now.’ She laughed as she imagined the black circles of mascara around her eyes, a residue of her tears. ‘I could give Bei Bei the panda a run for her money.’
‘Hey, you’ll always be my beautifulbay bay.’ Tyler chuckled. ‘See you soon,’ he said in a sexy whisper and then the line went dead.
Ruby glanced at the blank screen with a smile at his joke, before slipping the phone back into her designer bag.
As the limo drew closer to the Upper East Side apartment block that Ruby called home most of the year, she could see a crowd had gathered close to the entrance. People were jeering at police officers who were trying to clear the rowdy throng.
She pressed the button to bring down the privacy screen. ‘Good grief, Philippe. I wonder what that’s all about,’ she said when the back of the driver’s head came into view.’ Philippe, with his greying hair, square jawline and traditional good looks, was the type you’d often see in front of the camera, and at one time he’d been a stunt double. A back injury had put paid to his career, however, and now he was a chauffeur to the stars.
He cleared his throat. ‘Erm… I think perhaps I’ll take you to another location, Mademoiselle. This is not feasible for you just at this moment,’ Philippe replied as he made eye contact in the rear-view mirror. He had lived in the USA for many years, but his French accent remained quite strong.
She laughed. ‘Why ever n—’ The first placard came into view and her blood ran cold.
GO BACK TO BRITAIN! EVIL BITCH!
There was a badly scrawled drawing of a red-haired woman with a giant cross drawn through it; the type of cross you got onFamily Fortuneswhen you gave a ridiculous answer. She, on this occasion,wasthe ridiculous answer. And the question wasWhich English actress’s career has been ruined today?
She swallowed hard. ‘Erm… yes… yes I see what you mean, Philippe. C-could you take me to the Plaza off Central Park? It’s where my fiancé is staying. But… could you phone Valerie and make sure there’s security there first please?’ she asked in a small voice.
He nodded and his eyes took on an expression of sadness. ‘Absolument, Mademoiselle. Je suis désolé.’
‘Merci, Philippe,’ she replied and hit the button for the privacy screen once again.
People had always been so wonderful. So warm and welcoming. She had never felt out of place in the vast ocean that was America… until now. Her thoroughly English accent had endeared her to people, and she’d made some incredible connections since her first US role as a nanny in a kid’s movie. Since then, her career had blossomed, with many serious, acclaimed parts in the most amazing screen productions. There had never been an iota of bad press about her. Her relationship with Tyler had only helped to secure her place in the hearts of movie-watchers globally, and they were now known as one of the hottest celebrity couples out there. His proposal had come very early on in their relationship and had been a shock, to say the least. It was done publicly, on a TV chat show no less, and although she wasn’t sure at the time that she actuallylovedhim she seemed to be swept up in the glamour and drama of it all. And, of course, she wasn’t going to turn him down, not when they were surrounded by a live studio audience. Since then, she’d just got used to being with him. It was easy, comfortable. She’d learned not to be jealous. He was incredibly popular and often came home smelling of perfume, or with smudges of lipstick on his cheek from fans. Par for the course, she’d always told herself.
Although regular, normal dates weren’t always possible, they managed to attend plenty of red-carpet events, always instigated by Tyler of course, and he would always walk ahead of her, to protect her, he said. Cameras would flash and he would often shield her from the lenses, choosing to thrust himself forward to, ‘guard you from unwanted publicity,baby’. She had found it a little strange to begin with, but as time wore on, she accepted it as just being his chivalrous way. And she got plenty of publicity of her own, anyway.
Now though, it amazed her how quickly people could fall from favour; how fickle stardom was. She’d always known that it was never aguaranteed for lifesituation, but this whole debacle reiterated that fact. The events of the previous twenty-four hours had floored her. From going to bed with a smile on her face as fans online gushed over recent speculation that she should be nominated for an Oscar for her latest film, to waking up to find that she hadallegedlyspouted off on social media about opinions she had never once even thought, let alone mentioned out loud. The things that were said in those posts made her feel physically sick. It was no wonder people were angry.
She had a massive struggle ahead to prove her innocence. She’d been hacked and it had been done deliberately to damage her career.
But the big question was, by whom?
