Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Ruth Lessing

Ruth and Lessing took a short break from their busy schedules, thinking of her boss's wife——Rosemary Barton. She disliked Rosemary very much.She didn't know how much she didn't like her until after her first conversation with Victor Drake one morning that November. That conversation was the beginning of it all, and before that, everything she thought and felt was buried below the level of her consciousness, she didn't really know herself. She loved George Button dearly, always had.When she had first met him (she was a cool, capable girl of twenty-three), she had seen that he needed to be looked after.She took care of him.She saves him time, money, and all his troubles.She chooses friends for him, and at the same time directs him to appropriate hobbies.She discouraged him from taking risks that were not necessary in business, while encouraging him to take occasional risks that were opportune.Throughout their long relationship, George had never doubted her, seeing her as a dedicated, competent right-hand man fully under his direction.Her appearance intuitively gave him a good impression, with beautiful black hair, a suit of tailor-made, refreshing and pleasant clothes, a pair of small strings of pearls hanging lightly on the earplugs, a fair and clean face that is evenly applied, And lips with pale rose lipstick.

He felt that Ruth made people feel very right in every way. He liked her detachment from the influence of personal feelings, and her completely objective and unbiased way of dealing with people and things.He told her many personal things about him, and she listened calmly and somewhat sympathetically, and offered her pertinent comments when the time came. But she had nothing to do with his married life.She didn't appreciate his marriage, but she still tried her best to help arrange all the big and small things of the wedding, which relieved Mrs. Barton's burden a lot. After the wedding, Ruth and her boss stopped talking so much.She devoted herself entirely to business.George transferred much of his business into her hands.

In any case, her efficiency was so high that Rosemary soon discovered that Miss Lessing, George's secretary, was a rare and good helper in every way.Miss Lessing was always so smiling and courteous, and gave a very pleasant impression. George, Rosemary, and Iris called her Ruth, and she used to come to their house for lunch.She was twenty-nine now and looked exactly like she was twenty-three. Although she and George hadn't exchanged any intimate words, she knew even the slightest emotional reaction of George.She knew when his married life was triumphant at the beginning, when he turned into ecstasy, and when he turned into another state.His inattention to official details during that period was all in her expectation and she corrected it privately.

No matter how absent-minded George was, Ruth Lessing pretended not to notice.He was very grateful to her for that. It was a November morning when he was talking to her about Victor Drake. "I want you to do something unpleasant for me, Ruth, would you?" She looked at him with a questioning expression on her face.Needless to say, she was of course willing to help him, which is understandable. "Every family has a bad guy," George said. She nodded understandingly. "I'm talking about one of my wife's cousins--a total rogue, I'm afraid I'd have to say that. He's screwed over his mother, who's a natural lover, and gave away most of his stock for him. Sold out. He started out as a forgery check at Oxford—the case was covered up, but after that he started to sail about—never learned where he went.”

Ruth listened with little interest.She is very familiar with that kind of people.They grew oranges, ran chicken farms, immigrated to Australia to work as ranch laborers, and went to New Zealand to work as meat freezers and so on.They never get anything done, they never stay in one place for long, and they generally squander the money they earn.She has never been interested in such people, she prefers successful people. "He's showing up in London now, and I find he's been bugging my wife. She hasn't seen him since she was a schoolboy, but he's one of those smooth-talking rascals who keep writing to her asking for money, and I don't want to Bear with it. I have an appointment with him today at his hotel at twelve noon. I want you to help me with this. The truth is, I don't want to meet that guy. I've never met him either I don't want to see him, and I don't want Rosemary to see him. I think if a third party comes forward, it can be completely settled as a business."

"Yes, that is indeed a good idea. How is your arrangement?" "One hundred pounds in cash, plus a boat ticket to Buenos Aires. The money will be paid when he is actually on board." Ruth smiled. "Very good. You want to make sure he goes with the boat!" "I think you can understand." "It's nothing unusual," she said dryly. "Yes, there are many such examples." He hesitated. "You really don't mind helping me with this?" "Of course I don't," she said, a little smugly. "I can assure you, I'm pretty good at this sort of thing."

"You can do anything." "Have you booked the boat ticket? By the way, what's his name?" "Victor Derek. Here are the tickets. I called the shipping company yesterday to book them. The Sancrete Wave, sailing tomorrow from Dearbury." Ruth took the ticket, checked that it was correct, and put it in her handbag. "That's it. I'll take care of it. Twelve o'clock. Where's the address?" "Russett Field, Rob's Hotel." She wrote it down. "Ruth, honey, I don't know what I'd do without you—" He put his hand on her shoulder tenderly, the first time he'd done it.

"You are another me, my right and left hand." She is happy and blushes. "I've never been good at words—I can only thank you for everything—you don't know how much I depend on you in every way—" he repeated, "in every way. Most helpful girl ever!" Ruth hid her joy and shyness with a laugh, and said, "You're going to spoil me by speaking so well of me." "Oh, I mean it. You are part of the company. Life would be incredible without you, Ruth." She went out with a warm feeling that was still in her heart when she arrived at Rob's Hotel.

Ruth didn't feel at all embarrassed by the task at hand, and she was quite confident in her ability to handle such a thing.Stories of tragic fate and people could not touch her heart.She was going to treat the matter of Victor Derek as a routine matter. He was exactly as she had imagined him to be.Although perhaps more attractive than she imagined.Her assessment of his personality was spot on.Victor Derek has nothing great. "Behind the mask of kindness and kindness, there is a cold, realistic personality. What she didn't expect was: his ability to read other people's minds, and his adeptness in using emotional influence. Perhaps, she also underestimated her resistance to his attraction strength. He was charming.

He greeted her with feigned surprise. "George's emissary? Great, what a surprise!" She stated George's terms in a dry, steady voice, and Vito accepted his terms kindly. "A hundred pounds? Not bad, poor old George. I'll take sixty—but don't let him know! On condition:—'Leave lovely Cousin Rosemary alone—don't sully innocent Iris Cousin—don't make things difficult for the venerable cousin-in-law George.' All agreed! Who's going to see me off on the pier? Is it you, my dear Miss Lessing? Very well." He pinched his nose and winked sympathetically. .He had a thin, brown face, and the air of a bullfighter--intriguingly romantic!He's attractive to women, and he knows it!

"You've been with Barton for some time, haven't you, Miss Lessing?" "Six years." "He doesn't know what to do without you! Oh, yes, I know that. And I know you too well, Lessing's team." "How do you know?" Ruth asked suddenly. Vito grinned grinningly: "Rosemary told me." "Rosemary? But—" "That's nothing. I'm not going to bother Rosemary any more. She's been very nice to me—quite sympathetic. In fact, I've got a hundred pounds from her already." "you--" Ruth paused, and Vido laughed.His laugh is contagious.She found herself laughing too. "You're pretty bad, Mr. Derek." "I am a very skilled conman, and highly skilled. For example, if I send a telegram implying that I am about to kill myself, it will always be successful." "You should be ashamed of yourself." "I don't really agree with my behavior. My life is very bad, Miss Lessing. I want you to understand how bad it is." "Why?" she wondered. "I don't know. You're different. I can't play tricks on you. Your clear eyes—you won't do that to me. No, I can't beat your heart for what I deserve. Yes, because you have no sympathy." Her face stiffened. "I don't bother to sympathize with other people." "Never mind your name? Ruth is your name? Isn't it? What a great irony. A man without empathy is named Ruth (sympathy)." She said: "I disdain to sympathize with the weak!" "Who says I'm weak? No, no, then you'd be wrong, dear, wicked, maybe. But I'm going to speak for myself." Her lips are slightly turned up.The inevitable excuse. "what?" "I've had a good time." Yes, he nodded, "I've had a good time. I've seen life, Ruth. I've been in pretty much everything. I've been an actor, a waiter, an odd job I've been a tramp sailor, I've run for president in a small South American republic. I've been in prison! There are only two things I've never done, and that's regulation. Do things right for the day, or get out of debt." He laughed at her.She felt she should be disgusted.But Vito Drake's power is the power of the devil.He can make evil interesting.He was watching her with eerie insight. "You don't have to be complacent, Ruth! You're not as virtuous as you think you are! Success is your idol. You're the kind of girl who ends up marrying the boss. That's what you and George are supposed to be doing." .George shouldn't have married that little fool Rosemary. He should have married you. If he did marry you, he'd be blessed forever." "I think you're kind of insulting me." "Rosemary's a big fool, always has been. Lovely as an angel and stupid as a pig. She's the kind of woman a man falls in love with but doesn't last. But you—you're different." .My God, if a man is in love with you—he never gets tired of it." He really hit her heart, and she suddenly said sincerely: "Yes, if! But he's not in love with me!" "You say George isn't in love with you! Don't lie to yourself, Ruth. If there's anything wrong with Rosemary, George will be eager to marry you." (Yes, that's the sentence. That's how it all started.) Vito looked at her and said: "I think you know this as well as I do." (George's hand takes hers, his voice is affectionate, warm—yes, true...he throws himself into her arms, leans on her...) Vito said gently: "You should have more confidence in yourself, my dear girl, you can play with George in the palm of your hand. Rosemary is just a little fool." "It's true," thought Ruth, "if it hadn't been for Rosemary, I could have asked George to propose to me. I've been very good to him. I'll take good care of him." She felt suddenly an inexplicable rage, a rising irritation. Victor Derek watched her with satisfaction.He likes to pour some ideas into other people's minds, or, like now, point out other people's original ideas for himself to see... Yep, that's how it started - a chance meeting with a man who was going to be on the other side of the world the next day.The Ruth who went back to the office was no longer the Ruth who had left the office, although no one could see any difference in her appearance or attitude. Not long after she got back to the office, Rosemary hung up the phone. "Mr. Barton just went out to lunch. Can I help?" "Oh, Ruth, would you? That nasty Colonel Race is telegraphing that he won't be able to make it back to my dinner party. Ask George, see Who would he like to replace. We really need to find another man. There are four ladies - Iris of course, and Sandra, Farley, and - who else? I think I can't get up." "I'm number four. I think so. Thank you for having me." "Oh, yes. You see, I forgot about you." Rosemary's silvery laughter came softly.She could not see the sudden blush on Ruth's cheeks, nor her elongated eyelids. Attending Rosemary's birthday party was also Xiang Sihui - a concession made by Rosemary for George! "Oh, well, we'll have your Ruth Lessing. After all, she'll be glad to be invited, and besides, she'll be very useful. Besides, she's quite popular, too." In that moment Ruth Lessing knew she hated Rosemary Barton. She hated her for being rich and pretty and careless and brainless.Rosemary didn't have to do any routine—anything that came to her was served on a gold plate.To have a loving husband - no more work or planning - hateful, haughty, artificial, frivolous beauty... "I really hope you die." Ruth Lessing whispered into the hung up phone. She was taken aback by what she said, it didn't seem like she was talking.She was never agitated, never had a strong display of emotion, and always maintained a calm, self-controlled exterior. She said to herself, "What's wrong with me?" She hated Rosemary Barton that afternoon!A year later, she still hated Rosemary Barton. Perhaps one day she would be able to forget Rosemary Barton.But the time has not yet come. She turned her thoughts back to those eleven months ago. Sitting there looking at the phone—feeling a surge of hatred in my heart... In a pleasant, self-controlled voice, relay Rosemary's words to George.Suggested that she herself should not attend, so that there would be an equal number of men and women.George immediately vetoed her proposal! The next morning, report to George that the Sancrete wave has sailed.George breathed a sigh of relief. "Then he's gone to sea with the ship?" "Yes. I handed him the money just as the gangway was about to be put in." She hesitated, then said, "As the boat left the dock, he waved and shouted from the deck: 'Thanks to George, tell I will raise my glass to him tonight and wish him happiness like the East China Sea.'". "Shameless!" said George.He asked curiously; "What do you think of him, Ruth?" She replied in a cautious, neutral voice: "Oh—just as I expected. Typical weakling." And George didn't see anything, didn't notice anything!She felt an urge to cry out, "Why did you send me to him? Didn't you think what he might do to me? Don't you know that I've changed since yesterday? Don't you see that I Is he a dangerous person, who may do things that he doesn't even know?" But she didn't call out, and said in a business tone: "The letter about St. Paul—" She's a woman with a lot of self-control... five days later. Rosemary's birthday. A calm day at the office - visit the beauty salon - put on a new black coat and light makeup.Facing the face in the mirror that didn't quite look like her.A pale, stubborn, hateful face. Victor Drake was right.She has no mercy. Afterwards, as she gazed at the blue, convulsed face of Rosemary Barton, she felt no pity. Now, eleven months later, thinking of Rosemary Barton, she felt a sudden horror...