"Won't your boss get angry with youfor suddenly taking off?" God, I hated how emotional I was gettingtoday. But, then again, if what happened today wa...n't an excuse to crythen what was?Kriss gave me a smile and a reassuring squeeze on my shoulder. "I'mtaking care of an emergency at home and besides, more than a few peopleowe me some favours. Don't worry, we'll be OK for awhile, I promise."she said with a smile that didn't quite override the worry in her eyes.I nodded and hopped off the. They all blended together into one faceless blur. Months ago I had stopped even that. I just wanted something different.I returned to reading. I would be taking a University art class beginning in the fall and had picked up the course textbook. Granted, it didn't cover my two major interests, Sapphic and African art, but there was an interesting chapter on modernism that was already making me think about a couple of possible new pieces. I continued to be aware of my surroundings though. That. .wild horses couldn't have kept me away." I'm pleased to hear it," she said, smiling. "Jane's waiting in the nextoffice, so we need to get you ready." Ready?" I said."Yes. Please focus on my brooch and everything will become clear."Puzzled but happy to do anything to finally meet Jane, I did as sheasked.Gazing into the depths of the ruby, I had the uneasy feeling the ruby wasgazing back into mine. And then it suddenly seemed like I was falling,tumbling down, deep down into the Ruby as. There were two Secretaries with parallel desks their backs to the wall they were my eyes and ears for the rest of the departments. When anyone wished to see me they ran the gauntlet. The Receptionist would announce them and they were screened by my Secretaries Sally and April who buzzed them in. There was still one more door to pass through which brought you to My Private Secretaries, Ash and Ember. They decided if I really needed to see that person or not. My girls as I called them had a.