Page 107 of Mr. Red

When I arrive to work the next day, there’s another dozen roses waiting for me on my desk. I pick up the card.

We should talk.

Please call me.

Matt

“I already tried to call you!” I tell the roses.

I roll the card up into a ball and throw it out again. I put the roses at the front away from me. Coming into work to something from Matt is nice, but it’s bringing up regret and hurt. He could’ve called and fixed this situation any time in these last months. I’m angry he could up and leave me without another thought. I miss and love him still, but it doesn’t change that he abandoned me over something we could’ve fixed together.

I should call him just to tell him to go fly a kite. I thinkme not calling him is sending more of a message. If he wanted to call me, he should’ve done it awhile ago when we were apart. He needs to suffer, just as much as I have.

If he wants me back, he’ll have to do better than that.

Chapter 60

Matt

No response from Scarlett. It’s time to take it up a notch. I wasn’t expecting her to forgive me soon; it’s Scarlett we’re talking about, here. I’m in this for the long run. I know Scarlett will need some time before forgiving me.

This time, I pick up roses myself. I grab her favorite drink—a vanilla latte—from her favorite coffee shop, then I wait for her to come in to work. It’s the first time I’ll see her in months. I need to talk to her. I need to see her. I need to explain why I reacted so awful.

She arrives before eleven. I was thirty minutes early, and the front desk person let me wait in her office. I’m leaning against her desk with my legs crossed over at the ankle, awaiting her arrival.

I watch her through the open door, greeting everyone in a cheerful spirit. She walks in wearing black slacks and a gym polo; the normal uniform everyone seems to wear. Then she notices me waiting in her office.

She freezes. “You’re here?” She looks confused.

“Hey sweetheart.”

“How did you get in here?” she asks, looking around with wide eyes.

Something glimmers below her collarbone, catching my eye. It’s the necklace I got her. She still loves me. I have a chance to get her back.

I smirk. “I needed to talk to you. The front desk associate let me in.”

There was a moment there I thought she was happy to see me. After a few blinks and straightened posture, she pulls out of the shock from my presence. Now she’s mad.

“They shouldn’t have.” She walks past me, indifferent.

I turn towards her. “I’ve missed you. I was an idiot. I’d like to take you out to dinner to explain.”

“Dinner?” She raises her eyebrow. “You wouldn’t even talk to me, but now, because it’s convenient for you, you want to have a chat? How aboutfuck off?”

“Scarlett, I know I didn’t leave on the best terms. I wanted you to come with me. If you’d let me explain, I won’t leave you ever again.”

She scoffs. “Like I can believe you now. I’m going to pass. Letting you into my heart was a mistake. I won’t be making it again.”

“Please. Let me explain.”

“No thanks.” She walks off.

I’m not going to push her. She doesn’t know I have an office down the street from her now. I’m planning on dropping in daily. I know I can win her trust back.

I’m not going anywhere.

Chapter 61