It could've been a lot worse, and I know it.
But even so.
This is the last fucking straw, and I wait until I'm out of Nic's apartment before sending Scarlett a text.
You're fired.
Scarlett
I'm terrified when I see the two-word text message Slater has sent. I've clearly pushed him to his limits, but...things haven't obviously ended up the way Zee predicted.
He's supposed to do something dastardly and deliciously wrong, like maybe fuck me in Nic's powder room or pleasure me with his fingers while we're having dinner with the others.
But instead, I only end up giving him a very reasonable excuse to have me fired.
Does this mean I've failed?
Does this mean I'm not the girl for him?
"Scar?" A worried-looking Mary comes out of my uncle's apartment. "Nic wants to talk to you—-"
"Can you tell him you couldn't find me," I beg, "and that you think I've probably left?"
"He'll know I'm lying, trust me."
"Then...tell him you couldn't stop me then. He knows I can be really stubborn when I want to."
The older girl frowns. "I suppose I can do that, but..."
"Slater fired me," I blurt out.
Mary stares at me in shock. "He what?"
"He fired me," I repeat miserably.
The other girl winces. "I did warn you, didn't I? He's an exceptionally serious man—-"
"I know, I know, but this is different, and I...I need to go after him."
"At this time of the night?"
I decide to take a leap of faith and blurt out the truth in one go. "I'm in love with him, Mary, and I...I plan to make one last attempt to seduce the truth out of him."
Mary looks at me like she's just realized I'm from outer space.
"I really think he's in love with me, too," I say fiercely, "and I think, if I go to him tonight, I'll be able to prove that. But it has to be tonight—-"
Mary looks torn between shaking her head and giving me a shake. "If you say you're in love with him, fine. But don't you think you need to think this through—-"
"Please, Mary. Please. I just know in my guts that this is what I have to do. I don't care if I end up looking like a fool after this. I just need to do everything I can, and I..." I look at her helplessly. "You must understand, right? You must..."
Because even though we've never talked about it, we both know she's in the same boat as I am, and when the other girl winces, I know I've successfully made my point.
"I'll text you his address," Mary says finally, and I let out a happy squeal as I give her a quick hug.
"I knew I could count on you!"
"Just promise me one thing," she says firmly. "If you ever need anything, for any reason, tell me. Okay?"
"It's sweet of you to worry—-"
"I mean it, Scar."
"Fine, fine," I pretend to say airily. "You have my word." And while I do mean it, I know in my heart that her words are an unnecessary precaution.
Slater and I are meant to be together.
Once I make him realize and accept this, it will be happily ever after for us.
Right?
Slater
When I receive a call from the concierge, I'm almost tempted to ask if he's joking.
How the fuck does Scarlett know where I live?
"Do I send her up, sir?"
No.
Send her away.
Get rid of her.
Those are the things I know I should say, but instead I hear myself say the opposite, and moments later, I hear the private lift to my apartment chime out a melody.
The doors open, and Scarlett comes out, her cheeks flushed, and an uncertain look on her face.
"Why are you here, Ms. Duke?"
"To make a confession."
I bite back a curse. Even her voice, tremulous and husky, is now an unbearable temptation, and I shove my hands deep into my pockets before I end up hauling her close to do the unthinkable.
"I'm not interested—-"
"I'm in love with you."
The words, even when uttered in a breathless, anxious rush, are still enough to make my whole body turn rigid.
"I've been in love with you from—-"
"Bullshit."
Her strawberry-red lips part in shock. "Excuse me?"
My lip curls. "I know for a fact that you don't find older guys attractive—-"
The sound of her shaken gasp cuts me off.
"How do you know that? Who told you that?"
"Then it's true, isn't it?" I snarl. "So whatever game it is you're playing—-"
"Okay, fine, I admit it!" Scarlett's cheeks are flushed with guilt and discomfort. "I did say those words, and I did mean them before...but—-"
"Go home, Ms. Duke," I say coldly.
But Scarlett only goes on talking.
"You, I fell in love with, and I actually think it's because of your age and maturity that I fell in love with you."
"There's nothing you can say—-" I break off when I notice the way her eyes suddenly start to sparkle.
What the fuck?