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On her way back to the sanctuary, she ordered a pizza for her and Samantha. Nervous energy filled her belly, and she worried she wouldn’t be able to enjoy the pie with her niece. She didn’t attend events. Didn’t put herself out there for fear of people’s reaction to her. College had been her first foray into society since the accident and, well, it as much as it didn’t suck, she also learned people didn’t have the best of intention. Once she returned home, Scarlett stayed out of the public arena. Her office and her apartment on the sanctuary grounds were her safe spots.

Thinking back on it, her self-imposed isolation didn't start after the lion attack, it was before. Her parents always treated Maisie better than Scarlett. She figured it had to do with Maisie being older. No matter what she did, no matter how hard she worked, her sister always had their full attention. Had her parents still been alive, she would have confronted them to understand their logic. As it stood, she either needed to accept it finally or continue to wallow in her self-recrimination.

“You’re thinking too hard,” Kenny said.

“How do you know?” She cut her gaze toward him.

“You tense up, more specifically, your face.” He peered at her. “You also squeeze your hands together. I’ve never seen whiter knuckles in my life.”

She sighed and flexed her hands. “I’m worried.”

“About?”

“Everything.” She turned in her seat. “Do I dwell too much on my past?”

“If you ask me,” Edward said, sitting forward. “I think people make you dwell on it and you’re also too self-conscious.”

“Oh really?” She gave Edward her attention.

He nodded. “Yes. Look at you.”

“Edward...” Kenny snapped.

“No, I’m being truthful here. I’m not being mean. Scarlett hides. She stays in that damn office of hers while everything happens around her. She’s like... What are those things called...” He snapped his fingers. “A satellite! That’s it. She’s a satellite. She hangs around the peripheral watching her life and those around her go by, content to not participate.”

“You’ve got a big mouth,” Scarlett said, but also agreed with Edward.

"Sorry." Edward shrugged. "I call them as I see them."

“Don’t be. You’re right.” She frowned. When Edward put it like that, it made sense. She did peer into her life from the fringes. She’d done it for so long, it became a habit.

Kenny relaxed beside her. “I hate agreeing with the guy, but it’s true.”

“Nothing like being ganged up on.” She chuckled. “It’s conditioning. I should have stopped allowing myself to hide a long time ago. Unfortunately, I went with it.”

“But, you’re evil intimidating too,” Edward whispered. “It’s why I couldn’t talk to you. You scared the shit out of me.”

She laughed again. “I wear my disgust on my sleeve, I guess. I hate myself for being weak and I hate everyone else for making me feel insignificant.”

They pulled up to the compound and the nervous energy increased. Kenny dropped her off at the main building where her apartment was located before leaving once more. She thought he’d have at least given her a clue what he’d be buying her to wear, instead, he said nothing. She entered the building and headed up to her space, needing just a minute to gather her tattered wits.

“Samantha said you’d be entertaining her tonight.” Maisie came out of the alcove near the stairs. “Are you sure that’s something you want to do?”

Scarlett stared at her sister. “What do you mean?”

Her sister nonchalantly lifted her shoulder. "Well, I wouldn't want to put too much pressure on you. I know you have other things to do."

“I don’t mind. She is my niece after all.” She continued to the stairs.

“You should know, she’ll be taking over my duties soon. Giving tours and such.” Maisie fiddled with one of her earrings. “I’m too old for it now. She’ll be the star of the sanctuary.”

“Sure, Maisie.”

Scarlett took to the stairs only to have her sister grab her arm. “You should understand your position here is expendable. I’m allowing you to stay here.”

Scarlett laughed. “The will and trust allow me to stay here and run the day to day operations.”