Page 22

Scarlett

My world had come to a crashing halt. I had no idea what to do. I’d spent most of the week in bed, called in sick to work, and had barely gotten up to eat. I was gutted and literally felt as if I were going to die.

I opened my eyes, glanced around my messy bedroom, looking at all the dirty clothes that lay in piles on the floor.

My stomach hurt from not eating, but at the same time, the thought of food made me sick.

I rolled over, facing the window, catching my reflection.

I was a disaster, and I really needed to get up and take a shower.

Digging deep within myself, I slipped from my bed and headed into my ensuite, starting the shower. I shed my robe and climbed in, welcoming the warmth of the water over my aching body.

I took my time drying and styling my hair and putting on makeup, then got dressed. I made my way out into my apartment, grabbed my keys, and made my way into the office.

The receptionist greeted me as I walked in, but I said nothing. I’d come here to do one thing and one thing only: confront Carol. I marched down the hall toward her office and barged through her closed door.

She lifted her head from her computer at the intrusion, a look of irritation on her face.

“Scarlett! Don’t you know how to knock?”

“Cut the crap. Of course, I know how to knock,” I barked.

I slammed her office door shut behind me, making my way to the edge of her desk.

“Don’t you dare take that tone with me!” she yelled.

Someone needed to take a tone with her after what she’d just done to me. I hovered over her. I was done with her attitude and being held under her thumb.

“How dare you!” I yelled.

“How dare I what?”

“The article!” I screamed, anger coursing through me.

“Oh, that.” She laughed. “Scarlett, don’t get your panties in a twist.”

I frowned as I looked down at her. My panties in a twist? Did she just say those words as she laughed at me? Why would she find any of this funny?

“Scarlett, I simply polished the article you turned in.”

“Polished it? You changed every single word of it.”

Carol sat there, looking up at me, her hands under her chin.

“What I did was write a better article, one that has gotten more attention than you’d have ever gotten with the piece you wrote. You are welcome,” she said, picking up her pencil, making some notes in her notebook.

“I can’t believe you would actually do that!”

Carol shook her head. “Why can’t you believe it? I wasn’t printing the garbage you gave. I told you I wanted real and raw. I wanted the truth. You failed.”

Anger flooded me. “I didn’t fail, I just didn’t give you what you wanted.”

“Precisely. You didn’t turn in what I asked for, therefore, you failed. Just like I knew you would.”

“What is that supposed to mean? Like you knew I would?” I asked, shocked she’d say something like that.

“Scarlett, I wanted to test you, because I didn’t think you’d have the balls to write what I wanted. I was right.”

“There was nothing wrong with the piece I wrote.”

“Scarlett, there were so many things wrong with it. It was lacking, it was weak. It’s almost as if he were an old family friend or something and you didn’t dare want to cross a line.”

I bit my lip as anger flooded my body. She had no right to do what she’d done. She certainly had no right to put my name on the article she’d written.

“Oh, and as for the position with the Ice Insiders , we’ve given it to Luke.”

I could feel the tears burning in my eyes as I looked at her. “Well, congratulations to Luke,” I said, swallowing every emotion I was feeling.

My mind spun as I stood there looking at that smug smile that sat on her face. A smile I wanted to smack right into next week.

“Now, about your next assignment…”

Carol continued talking but I heard nothing as I stood there, trying to get a grasp on myself and how I felt.

“Well, what are your thoughts?” She questioned me, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“Honestly, I really don’t think this is the place for me anymore.”

“What do you mean?” Carol asked, looking at me as if I’d just announced something she hadn’t been expecting.

“Consider this my last week.”

“You’re giving me one week’s notice?” Carol asked, straightening up in her seat.

“No, today is my last day. I’m done.”

Carol looked at me and chuckled. “Ah, so quit when things get tough. Exactly what I thought. You really don’t have the guts to be a reporter with us.”

“I guess I don’t,” I said, turning and walking over to her door, ripping it open.

“Actually, Carol, I have the guts, but what I don’t have the guts for is working for a person or company who is okay with potentially harming people’s careers and personal lives intentionally for their own personal gain. ”

“We’d never,” Carol said, looking shocked at my accusation.

“Funny, because you did just that. Now I am going to clean out my desk.”

I could feel the box I was carrying slip out of my arm as I struggled to get my keys from my purse. I lifted a knee to stop the box from falling as my keys got stuck in the handle of my bag.

“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath.

“Here, let me help,” I heard someone say and turned to see Mrs. Fletcher coming over to me.

She took the box from my hands while I untangled my keys from my bag and slid the key into the lock.

“Thanks,” I mumbled, taking the box from her as I stepped into the apartment.

“Will you be coming up to see Mia tonight?” she questioned, poking her head into my unit.

Levi was supposed to travel this weekend, and it had become a common practice that I’d pop up and Mrs. Fletcher and I would take Mia over to the park for a couple of hours.

“No, I’m afraid not. Levi and I are no longer together,” I answered.

“Oh dear, that would explain his mood as of late. I’m sorry to hear that. You two made a good couple. I was hoping we’d have heard wedding bells soon.”

I nodded. That was what I’d thought to, but the universe had other plans.

“Thanks. I take it you’re staying with Mia tonight while Levi travels.”

“Yes, are you going to the game?”

I shook my head. “No, I’m afraid not. I quit my job today, hence the box of things.”

Mrs. Fletcher stepped inside and looked at me. “Dear, is everything alright?”

“I’m moving back home with my parents for a while until I can get back on my feet. Once I’m away from here, away from Levi, everything will be okay.”

“Oh, well, I’ll be sad to see you go.” She said, opening her arms for a hug.

I stepped into her arms and hugged her back. “Thanks, I’ll miss you as well. I don’t want you to be late.” I said, glancing at the clock.

“Oh dear, you’re right.”

She hugged me goodbye, and then I shut and locked the door behind her and looked around. I loved this apartment, and I really loved this city, but I couldn’t stay here. I couldn’t pick up my life and move on, especially if I was living in the same building as the man who owned my heart.