Chapter 24
She opens the office with a smile on her face, a smile that slips when she sees me at her door, melting away to nothing. Her lips are painted red again, and I know that there’s a pair of garter belts hidden beneath her skirt.
She recovers quickly, her lips spreading into a reluctant, sneer of a smile. ‘Can I help you?’
I push my way into her office, a devilish smirk on my lips.
‘You know who I am don’t you?’ I say, hopping up to sit on the edge of her desk.
She closes her office door, silent, her face void of that sour leer.
‘No? Will this jog your memory?’ I hold my phone up, the video of Tristan and me playing, my moans stroking the jealousy I can see in her eyes.
She wants to be me in this video. She wants it so bad that she would ruin a man’s life in spite to try and obtain it.
Pathetic.
‘What do you want.’ She sneers, her true colours shining through her facade of professor.
I smile. ‘You’re currently writing a novel right? I read about it in the school newspaper - sounds like boring stuff to me but then again, I’m not an academic.’ I run my fingers over the edge of the desk, something dangerous playing in the undertone of my words.
She stays silent, sensing the danger.
I carry on. ‘You see, you could ruin Tristan’s life, exposing us as you threatened. But then what would I have to lose? I don’t care about my degree. Now you, on the other hand, have quite a bit to lose.’ I cross one leg over the other. ‘I’m sure Underwood Publishing would have a lot to say about you filming revenge porn don’t you think so? It’s not good for book sales you see.’ It only took Ruby a second to find out that little miss garter-belts has been signed on to wright a non-fiction book at underwood publishing, easier still to use it against her.
Her eyes widen, and it makes a dark, hidden part of me smile, teeth glinting. She opens her mouth to say something, but I click my tongue, doing my best impression of Tristan. ‘No. I want to know exactly why you did what you did.’
Her jaw clenches and it only makes me smile. ‘I wanted him.’
I raise a brow. ‘It’s that simple?’
‘Yes.’ She spits. ‘I wanted him, and he didn’t want me and to top it off he chooses some snot-nosed fucking student instead.’ Her eyes are blazing. ’Tristan is very well known in our circles. He’s the professor that no one can obtain and I just … thought I could have him. And then he doesn’t show me a lick of interest, too busy slobbering over you. I wanted to make him see his mistake.’ She takes a breath. ‘Are you going to tell him?’
’No need. You already did.’ I jump off the seat and show her my phone, my finger clicking send on the voice recording before she can even blink. ‘Now you even blink in his direction and I will go straight to your publisher, and we’ll see how fast I can ruin your life.’
With my hand on the door, I look into her eyes - the jealousy still simmering in her hateful depths - and say, ‘Oh, and those photos? They’re currently being deleted from every device you have by a friend of mine. Good luck with your book.’
I slam the door behind me and without a second thought I half-walk, half-jog to Tristan’s office, begging whatever entity rules this earth that he’ll be there.
Taking a breath, I knock and wait.
And wait.
And wait.
I knock one more time but still, his door remains shut.
With a dejected sigh, I turn but as I do, the door opens.
Tristan looks … well he looks like shit, still sexy as hell, but he’s sporting the I haven’t slept look. His hair is messy as if he’s tossed and turned all night searching for dreams that won’t come. And his clothes? They look like they could do with a good ironing.
’Tristan.’ I breathe.
His eyes shutter. ‘What do you want.’
He hasn’t seen my message.
‘Can I come in?’ I say, hope lacing my words.
He seems to war with himself, his eyes narrowed in distrust. It makes everything inside me ache to see that expression, to know I’m the cause.
‘Please, I just … just please.’ I beg moving closer toward him.
He moves aside, his arm inviting me in and I almost weep at the sight.
We both sit, him at his chair, me on the ones before it.
‘Have you got your phone?’
He shakes his head. ‘I think I left it at home.’
I nod and get out mine. Placing it on his desk I click play and wait.
When the recording finishes, his face is blank, a face carved into stone.
I lick my lips, more nervous in the silence between us and then a rambled string of words falls out of me. ‘I panicked I didn’t want you to lose something you love just for some girl you met a few months ago It just … it didn’t seem right, but I also knew you’d do it.’ I curse, taking a deep breath. ‘I’m making a mess of this I know, but I … I love you Tristan, but If living without you meant that you could be happy? Then I’d do it.’
Tristan stands and walks to where I’m sitting before falling onto his knees. His hands clutch my face, tears I didn’t know were falling pool in his palms. ‘You thought that my job, my job, was more important than you?’
I nod, my voice stuck in my throat.
’Scarlett.’ He whispers, and then he’s kissing me and I’m laughing and crying and apologising against his lips.
He pulls back slightly, his lips hovering above mine. ‘I understand why you did what you did but never do that again. You hear me?’
I nod, laughing in my relief.
He carries on. ‘I love you Scarlett, and that comes before any career, you come before anything. My happiness cannot exist without you.’
‘Right back at you.’ I grin.
He pulls me close, wrapping me in his arms, squeezing until all I know is him.