Page 18 of Tainted Love

I’m stuck to the spot, unable to move or think, staring at the broken man in front of me. I don’t know what I expected but I didn’t expectthis.

He turns. Eyes red, raw and fixed on mine. ‘So now you know.’

My lungs have an overwhelming need to catch air and I realise I’ve been holding my breath.

‘You should go,’ he says softly.

I just keep staring at him, images and thoughts confused in my mind.

‘It’s okay,’ he whispers.

I move my head from side to side, slowly, then faster, then violently. ‘Gregory, this, all of this, it’snotyour fault. Do you hear me? You didn’t ask for that sick bastard to be your father. You were a boy. A baby.’

‘I let him rape her, Scarlett.’

‘No!’ I go to him now and throw my arms around his neck, pulling him into me. ‘No, you didn’t.’

He wraps his firm arms around my body, holding my head to his shoulder, and rests his chin on my scalp.

‘You’re a good man, Gregory Ryans. You’re the best man. You’re kind and brave and that little boy didn’t deserve to be born into that life. Are you listening to me?’

‘I love you.’

Those three words. Through all his pain and torment, his says those three words.

‘God, Gregory, I love you, too. So much, it hurts.’

He squeezes me so tightly, I can’t breathe. I tell him so and he laughs. A short-lived break but I’ll take it.

He releases his grip and pulls back. ‘Will you stay?’ His voice is barely audible. It’s not the Gregory I know. It catches me off guard.

‘Gregory, I, this is all, we?—’

‘It’s fine. I get it.’ The expression in his tortured eyes strikes my gut with a dagger and twists.

‘Don’t do that.’ I step into him and grip the tops of his arms. ‘Don’t put walls up. I’m not walking away. I’m not afraid of what you’ve told me. It’s a lot to take in.’ I sigh, dropping my arms to my sides. ‘I just need to process everything, get my head straight before you invade it again. I’m trying to understand you and I’m grateful, so grateful, that you’ve let me in. But youhurtme, Gregory. Sending me awaybrokeme. And you did it intentionally. For good reason or not, I can’t just forget that.’

‘I get it.’

‘Do you?’

‘I do. But I’d like you to stay. Just to talk. There are two bedrooms; you could go to your own room when you’re tired.’

‘I really don’t think it’s a good idea.’ I walk towards the door, trying not to let the emotion balled up in my throat surface.

‘Scarlett, please.’ His plea makes me stop and to my horror, he’s on his knees when I turn around. Gregory Ryans, powerful CEO, the man whose presence can silence a room, the man who demands control,myGregory, is on his knees.

‘Get up. This is not you, Gregory; you don’t belong on your knees, not for anybody.’

‘You’re not anybody, Scarlett; you’re the only person who’s ever wanted to climb walls with me. You’re theonlyperson who could bring me to my knees. I’m begging you to accept me because I’m miserable without you. You can have all of me, baby. You can own me.’

‘I don’t want to own you, Gregory. I want you to be on the same page as me, part of a team that faces everything together. Not a team where one person runs when things get tough.’

‘I can’t promise I won’t fuck up. I will. But Iwantto be everything to you. I won’t ever push you away again. And I’ll talk to you. Damn it, I’mtryingto talk to you.’

‘And I’m grateful, I am, but I need to go back to my room.’

I leave him there, on his knees, an image that threatens to tear me apart all over again.