Chapter 10: New Avenues

Giselle stepped out of one of the cubicles. Ruby heaved a sigh of relief.

“Are you okay?” Giselle asked with concern. “You look peaky. Why don’t you have a sip of brandy? There’s always some in the dressing room.”

Ruby pulled herself together very quickly. “I will pass on that. I’ll be okay now,” she said firmly, before returning to the dressing room.

The audience was full of strangers, but here and there Ruby saw people who in a way, resembled some folks back in her village. This made her feel at home with the crowd. So she imagined herself back at home, on the beach, singing to the waves of the ocean.

The group sang in various cities for months on end, but Paris was their home base.

*

During the ninth month of her stay in France, Ruby met with a group of singers who were singing at a fashion launch in Paris. She was invited there as a guest by Maxim, the manager of the group, because he had been attending shows at the theatre. He attended The Angels’ shows also. He was an avid scout for new talent. He had also done research on the group, so he knew something of Ruby’s background. He loved her voice, because it was so different from what one heard on the music scene every day, so he invited only her to the event.

Maxim and the other members of his band joined Ruby at the end of the show. Maxim introduced her to the others. They were warm and friendly towards her and she felt at home with them immediately. They joked around a lot, but Ruby did not feel uncomfortable.

An hour later, Ruby was reasonably tired and she also urgently needed to go back to the apartment and check on Giselle, who was not feeling well. “Good night everyone and thanks for everything,” Ruby said.

“It was only an honour to have you,” Maxim responded.

“Listen, would you like to sing happy birthday for us tomorrow at an important birthday party?” Maxim asked. “It will be on a ship which is docked in the harbour.”

“That sounds exciting, but whose birthday is it?” Ruby asked curiously.

“I don’t think you would know him,” Maxim responded. “But speak to your manager and ask him to allow you the opportunity?” he asked.

So Ruby received the opportunity of singing happy birthday to a successful businessman whose schedule was so busy that he did not have the opportunity to celebrate his birthday with family and friends. They all lived in another country and he was often travelling. So he mostly celebrated his birthday with his colleagues and business partners who were in the area.

Louis agreed for Ruby to sing a short solo at the birthday party, but she had to be accompanied by Grant, the male lead singer of their band, so that she would not be the only member of their band there. She would need some familiar company.

At the event itself, Ruby saw many glamorous looking people. They seemed to be out of her league. Maxim soon came over to chat with her and Grant. “How do you enjoy everything so far?” he asked.

“It is really the first time that I attend such a lavish event,” Ruby commented.

Then it was time for her to sing. The happy birthday song lasted for only three minutes, but the party guests were very charmed by Ruby’s rendition of the song.

Afterwards Ruby and Grant were joined by the other band members. They all enjoyed the large variety of food and drinks. They chatted until Ruby felt sleepy. She discreetly suggested to Grant that it was time to leave.

Grant rose and announced: “We had a wonderful time tonight, but I’m afraid it’s time to leave. We have to be up early. Thanks for the party and the company.”

Ruby was happy that Grant was so firm, yet courteous. “Goodnight everyone,” she said, before Grant called a taxi.

They left the ship feeling really elated.

“So how did it go?” Giselle asked with great curiosity when Ruby returned. She was waiting up for Ruby.

“Oh, you’re really inquisitive,” Ruby said with a happy smile. “I didn’t even get close to the birthday boy.”

“But it must have been super grand,” Giselle insisted.

“It was on a big ship which was docked on the harbour. Very luxurious, but not in my league,” Ruby declared.

“Oh I wish I was there. I would have gotten really close to the rich birthday guy,” Giselle teased.

The following afternoon, Giselle and Ruby were rehearsing backstage in the theatre, when Ruby’s phone rang. She wasn’t sure about interrupting their practice session.

“Pick it up Ruby. You don’t know who it can be,” Giselle urged.

“Hello Ruby, it’s Maxim. How are you doing today?” Ruby was surprised to receive another call from Maxim.

“I’m well and yourself?” she responded.

“I’m well thanks. How would you like to go on a luxury cruise around the world?” Maxim asked straightaway.

Ruby did not understand what he was trying to say. “I don’t understand. Can you elaborate, please?”

“Won’t you come and join the band and myself for lunch tomorrow, before we leave for Italy? I have something exciting to discuss with you,” Maxim said.

“I will check with my manager and get back to you. Thanks for the invitation,” Ruby said in response.

“Thank you Ruby,” Maxim responded, before he hung up.

Ruby wondered what all this was about. Was Maxim offering her a holiday?

She approached her manager just before they went home. “I have an invitation to have lunch with the band which was performing at the fashion launch yesterday,” Ruby announced.

“Oh, you can decide for yourself whether you want to go. We don’t have anything planned for that time,” Louis said in response. “Is there a specific reason for the lunch offer though?” He enquired.

Ruby was not so sure about how she should respond. “I think they just want to thank me for singing yesterday?”

“Well, go and enjoy yourself. Just be careful that nobody exploits you and don’t go anywhere else afterwards, otherwise you will be late for afternoon practice.”

Ruby was nervous and excited at the same time. “What was the call about? You seem different after taking it,” Giselle asked when they were back in their apartment.

“These people from the other band want me to go to lunch with them tomorrow,” Ruby replied.

“So are you going? I bet they want to offer you a place in their band. Being sick caused me to be unable to go with you and meet them yesterday. So now they can’t invite me as well,” Giselle said with a sigh. "The story of my life; always getting sick at the wrong time. But don’t worry, we will get another chance to be on the same project, I’m sure. If they take you away it’s going to be so boring having to get used to someone new. I am happy to stay on with them. But a new girl each time,” Giselle commented, pretending to yawn. “We’re all gonna miss you, if those people grab you from us.”

“Well, Maxim’s exact words were: how would you like to go on a luxury cruise around the world,” Ruby responded.

“Wow! That means that they are considering you as a potential new member of their band!” Giselle exclaimed excitedly. She jumped on the couch and bounced up and down, until Ruby was more than overwhelmed with everything.

“Stop it! Stop!” Ruby laughed. We don’t know about that. It could be something entirely different.”

Giselle stopped her jumping immediately and climbed off the couch with an intrigued expression on her face. She walked up to Ruby and gave her a close up inspection. “My goodness. Do you think he’s talking about having an affair with you?”