A Beginning
(A/N: I've read a lot of Fan fics, but this is the first one I've written. I know it is slow moving but please bear with me through the first couple of chapters.)
I held the card out at arm's length before bringing it back and slipping it under the microscope again.
"Like that newscast…" I thought. "I've got to get the wings just right…" I detailed another wing and began to color it crimson…
"Breakfast is served Miss." The voice made me jump. "Begging your pardon." My tall formally dressed butler said turning to leave.
"No…No George, go ahead bring it in…I'm starved, really." I said my stomach growling to prove its point.
"Yes ma'am."George said and left the room. I took the card in my hands and hurriedly tucked it away in my satchel. Once the card was put away I pulled out another and began my work on a new line of cards.
"Here it is." George said entering the room with a silver platter. I quickly moved my supplies out of the way and he set it down. He bowed slightly and then left the room closing the door gently. He was always so kind to me…
***
Hello, pleased to make your acquaintance. My name is Ruby, Ruby Sirius. I have long brown hair that reaches to my waist, and is always left down; it is complimented by my dark onyx eyes, my full pink lips, my flawless skin, and my average sized body. Not too skinny not at all over weight, simply average for a woman at my height of five feet and eight inches. While my looks are average and borderline beautiful, I still have much that is considered… unique.
I am the proud owner of the Industrial Illusions Card Making Corporation (IICM Corp. as it is also referred to now). Yes, this was Maximilian Pegasus's old company. You see, in his will he left it to his remaining heirs. First, to his god-daughter, who passed it down her line, and finally to my parents (or rather father) Mr. Estes Sirius who used the corporation as a way to make a booming business out of duel monsters. During his success he met my mother, who probably married him for his money, but they both are a wonderful pair for each other. Obviously, they had me, their only daughter and the only living inheriting to the "Card Making Throne" as it is so often referred to. (I know this is positively boring information…but you need to understand my past. And I really need to get some of it off my chest before you hear my story…so just hang in there.)
As a…polar opposite of my parents I resisted the "throne" and went on to graduate college at the age of sixteen (I am rather a genius) Majoring in Art and Stratagem and minoring in various other fields. And so for my graduation present…I inherited the family business and the much despised throne. However, my parents moved away to a remote Island that they spent millions of their billions of dollars to renovate into their personal paradise…yep, that's my parents for you… So I was left to run a company, luckily I was quite smart. I saw the chaos of the factories my father had built and recreated Pegasus's idea making the company run only where I live and thriving on giving cards to companies for profit, instead of letting the companies make their own cards. As you can tell, I was not as interested in profit… most of my life I was forced to live in the richness of "higher society" being a perfect lady at all times, well mannered, disciplined, and forced to permit every young gentleman to grace my presence (that was the worst part). Then again I made a few…well one "friend."
I first met Jack Atlas in a formal gathering organized by (who else) Goodwin, the head of his big shot company. It was when I had first inherited the factory and so I was invited as a kind of introduction into the "big life." In fact, I was speaking with Goodwin when Jack and I were introduced. We really had nothing to say to each other then. It was a quick "how do you do?" on both sides before I let Goodwin continue speaking. But then as Goodwin wandered off to speak with others Jack and I were left alone. It was awkward at first, but after so long we got so sick of being silent we finally started a conversation and found out we were quite similar (and different). We got along fine as friends, so gradually I began to unwind around Jack and he began to unwind around me. Around any public we were both quite stoic, but alone with the two of us we were completely ourselves. We still had our disagreements about strategies and other etceteras, but we became as good as friends and rivals as brother and sister would be. (That's probably while I almost choked when the paparazzi and media started pegging us as a couple, after that announcement Jack and I made sure we only met when the circumstances were unknown.) Yeah, we hated the couple thing, but we liked each other's company. Even though we spend half of our time slamming each other he still offers a more stimulating conversation than anyone else I know, well Mina does too. (Almost done, hang in there!)
So that's life…and I really don't like it. In fact I'm ready to get out. I've told Jack that I want to see the world. Course he just laughs at me, but I laugh at him too.
I'm seventeen and been running this company for over a year. George, my butler, and Amy, my maid/ cook, are loyal to me and get a fair pay…my parents hired them to take care of me when I was young because they didn't want to, so Amy and George are a married couple that act, basically, like parents to me, except…I pay them. Anyway…
I want out of this high class…but I can't get out… (It's over, relax your eyes and… keep reading)
***
"Ma'am." George said walking back into the room and picking up the empty tray. "Mr. Atlas is on the phone for you."
"Thank you George." I said calmly still sketching on a card as he left the room. As soon as the door was closed I grabbed the phone and answered it. "Hello?" It was almost a question. Jack hadn't called me in months.
"Hey, Ruby it's me Jack." He said in his accented voice.
"What are you doing?" I whispered. "What if my phone is tapped I don't want paparazzi popping up at my door again, I thought I made that clear."
"You did. That's' why I had the line cleared before I called."
"By who?" I asked.
"Goodwin of course…or rather others who work for him."
"Jack, you know that means he's listening in."
"Actually he's right here." Jack said.
"What! Why did you call?" I asked a little bit of venom in my voice.
"The tournament is on right now."
"You're kidding."
"No I'm not."
"Oh, shoot…what match is it…"
"Second."
"Okay. I'll turn it on right now."
"No need, it just finished."
"Oh…right… sorry Jack I totally forgot it was today."
"It's fine what have you been doing?" My mind flickered to the card I had hidden in my satchel.
"Not much…"
"How'd the sweepstakes go?" He asked in a nonchalant manner.
The sweepstakes. It was my second year to have it. I let people from all over domino city submit card ideas; I pick the best few and award $1,000 to each winner. This year the ideas…well they were horrible.
"Horrible." I said.
"No winners?"
"Well…one." I said with a sigh.
"One? Wasn't their four last year?"
"Yeah."
"Well, anyway I have a…favor to ask of you."
"Okay…" This was a first.
"Will you come over here as soon as possible?"
"Well, I've got a few cards to finish, but I'll try."
"Fine." He said and hung up. He was acting funny, but it was probably because Goodwin was there… I hung up the phone and went straight to work. I finished in minutes.
"George!" I called down the hallway outside my office.
"Yes Miss Ruby." He said walking from around the corner.
"Would you store these in box 12ZS5 and have them put through the permanent ink before the magnetic."
"Yes ma'am." He said walking away toward and elevator that would take him a floor down to the store room. I turned to leave and saw myself in a mirror.
"Shoot." I muttered. I forgot I was in casual clothing. I ran back to my office and into an adjoining room that was my bed room. I quickly opened a closet and picked out a pair of black formal pants, a tight formal looking purple blouse, and two high-heeled back shoes. I changed and threw my blue-jeans and white t-shirt over the foot of my bed and ran back into my office. I picked up the satchel I had. It was a medium sized bag with one shoulder strap. It was a metallic silver color with gold lining on the top and an outline of a dueling card on its back. I slung it over my shoulder and quickly retraced my steps to the entrance. I opened the door and gently closed it behind me. I decided to walk and reached the companies building in half an hour. It was nice to clear my head and think about…life in general.