19| RubyGems.

Ruby.

I got off the car. The driver quickly got in her front and stopped her from getting to me.
I waved him away.

"Yes dear." I moved closer to her.
"Happy birthday! I didn't think you'd want to talk to me. I'm Nanah, I love you so much and you're my role model. Can I have a picture with you?" The girl who looked nineteen or twenty rushed on.

"Sure! Why not?" I replied as I striked a pose with her as she took selfies of us. She also gave my driver her phone as he took more pictures of us.

"Thank you so much. You're very friendly. You're also more beautiful and awesome in person. Pictures and rumors don't do you justice." Nanah said before I gave her a hug and she leaped away.
I got back into the car and the driver zoomed off.

"I am someone's role model.
Pictures and rumors don't do me justice. I am more beautiful and awesome in person."

That alone was enough to make my day, so I made those statements an affirmation as I kept repeating them while I stepped out of the car as we reached the venue. Toby and Sapphire ran to my side. I smiled, genuinely. I was actually happy, I would be lying if I said I wasn't.

"Happy birthday, sis." Sapphire squealed as she gave me a big hug and balanced a diamond filled tiara on my head.

"Oh! I'm a princess now?" I joked.

"No, you're a Queen." She replied.

I'm a queen and I'm going to act like a QUEEN.

And so, I stepped queenly into the beautiful hall full of dignitaries, families, politicians, celebrities and cameras. Thunderous clapping and whistling welcomed me.

I was ecstatic.
I was happy.

Can everyday of my life be full of joy and happiness like this?
'Nah.' My inner voice answered yet again.

~•~

"You are glowing, Ruby. I can see love and care all over you, Toby is doing such a good job." My dad said.
We were all seated around a long table and I tried to ignore my dad as he bestowed praises on Toby more and more.

"Money makes everything shine, even the dullest shit." Clara, Toby's mom shaded.
I rolled my eyes.

Yet it couldn't make your bad attitudes good, wicked hearts nice and proud selves humble.

"You have been transferred to Daniels Private university, Ruby. You can resume there whenever you want, and you can decide not to even go at all, you'd still pass." Chief Bankole Daniels said while others around the table laughed. They were all family.

Money.

"Take this. One of my Assistants drafted out something for you to say when you're called upon." Toby said as he passed a paper to me under the table. I looked at him and collected it. I didn't bother to even open it.

"... due to this, we have decided to make Mrs Ruby Daniels our newest brand ambassador!" Was the only part I heard as clapping started.
I looked up to see a man dressed in a T-shirt that said Maryline.

I struggled to keep my mouth closed.
Fuck me! The same Maryline that owns the biggest fashion house in the fashion industry?
That Maryline?

"Uhm, you're supposed to go up there to them." Sapphire said to me.

"Or they can bring it to her." Chief Daniels countered as he waved at the representatives to come down with the contract and all and they did.

"Money stops nonsense." Sapphire said again.

It also starts nonsense.

After I signed the contract and took pictures with my smiling face, a group of people climbed the steps onto the podium as I watched, wondering who the fuck these ones were.
"Hy, Mrs Ruby Daniels! We love you so much! We are representatives of your fans and we call ourselves the RubyGems. We recently hit fifty thousand followers on Instagram today, you can check us out. We defend, love and stan you all day, everyday. The RubyGems came together to get you a birthday gift too, a 4matic Benz." The lady concluded enthusiastically as she dangled the car key decorated with ribbon.

My mouth was wide opened this time.
I was speechless. I had fans? RubyGems? Fifty thousand followers on Instagram? They stan and defend me?
Slap me!

People kept clapping and cameras kept clicking.

I walked into the stage and gave each one of them a long hug. I was so dumbfounded and speechless yet blown. Was I in some sort of fairytale?
Today had got to be the best day of my entire life. I was on cloud nine.

"Thank you so much, RubyGems. I love and cherish you all. Thank you! We must have a meet and greet one of these days. I can't wait to meet every single one of you!" I said with excitement as I collected the car key.
I stepped off the podium and sat on my seat still on cloud nine.

Best birthday ever!

Or not!

"You are hyperventilating right now. You're so happy thinking you really have fans." Toby whispered to me as silently as he could, he was seated on my right with Sapphire on my left.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Don't be foolish, they are paid fans. They get paid to stan and defend you. The car they bought? They didn't buy shit, my mom did in their name. You think you actually have fans? Ruby is a foolish girl, E, I, E, I , O." Toby silently sang with mockery. My bubbles were bursted as I dropped the car keys dejectedly.

"Why... why would you guys do such a thing?" I stuttered as tears gathered at the corners of my eyes.
"This is the celebrity world! We do a lot of things than people know, Fans who doesn't even have money to fend for themselves gets a billionaire wife a Benz? Seriously? We stage fans, we pay people to be our fans, to defend us. We pay social media influencers to love us. We are celebrities, it's normal in the celebrity world. How can you not know that? Being born on April fool's day may have made you the most foolish person on earth." Toby buttressed as I just stared at nothing in particular.

"Meanwhile, it's time for the birthday girl's speech." Toby announced yet again.
I stood up, my defenses and happiness now subsided as I walked through the numerous people and camera onto the stage.

'So what if you they are paid fans? Your day was perfect before fans bullshit and gifts. Chin up, Girl! Adjust your crown and walk like you own the damn place cos it's your birthday and You're a Queen. They are all your subjects, for today!' I hyped myself up mentally as I took the stage.

I had forgotten to take the paper Toby had given me along so I proceeded to talk from my heart.
In all sincerity.

"Today has been full of surprises and joy for me. I had been gifted left and right, wished front and back. It's so overwhelming. I'm not one for so much words so I'll keep it very short. Thank you for your wishes and awesome gifts! Thank you for your presence, love and prayers. Thank you for the best birthday ever. Thank you." I concluded as I proceeded to go down the stairs amidst the thunderous claps.

And then I tripped and fell flat on my face.