2. Scarlett
He was ridiculously hot, like a walking, talking magazine cover, which just made him even more annoying. Great hair, too. Dark and worn a little longer than you’d expect. When you paired that with the stubble on his chiseled jawline, you’d think he’d look unkempt. But of course, he didn’t. Then there were the bedroom eyes. Deep brown and mesmerizing. Were those long lashes really necessary, though? Asshole.
And what was with that fucking aftershave? It wouldn’t surprise me if it cost more than I made in a year, but, Jesus, it made me want to…Pushing my hair behind my shoulder, I straightened. “The only way we could possibly get on the same page, Mr. Rivers, is if you withdraw the development application.”
“Well, that’s not going to happen.”
“Then I’ll see you in court.”
“Are you seriously going to drag us all down this road?”
“Of course. It’s my job. The organizations I represent are very passionate and committed to this cause. We have no intention of backing down.”
“All of this, just for some frogs?”
“Yes.”
“Frogs don’t make the world go round.”
“And money does?”
“Of course it does.”
I drew in a deep, steadying breath. “These frogs aren’t just ‘some frogs’, Mr. Rivers. They’re a critically endangered species, teetering on the brink of extinction.” My voice took on an edge as the words tumbled out, fueled by a simmering frustration. “The Pine Barrens treefrog population has been decimated by habitat loss and environmental degradation. If this development goes through, it could be the final nail in their coffin.” I leveled my gaze at him, eyes blazing with determination. “As an environmental lawyer, it’s my sworn duty to protect vulnerable species and ecosystems from reckless destruction. I won’t stand idly by while their very existence is threatened by corporate greed and short-sightedness.”
“You point to corporate greed and short- sightedness, but perhaps it’s you that’s failing to see the big picture.”
I waved my hand at him. “Oh, go ahead and enlighten me!”
“The economic impact of this development far outweighs the environmental concerns,” he stated coolly. “Our projections show a multi-million-dollar boost to the local economy and hundreds of new jobs created.”
“And what about the long-term costs of destroying an entire species’ habitat?” I countered. “You can’t put a price tag on biodiversity.”
He shrugged. “Unfortunately, sacrifices have to be made for progress. This is the natural order of things - species go extinct all the time.”
His eyes were cold, like he didn’t even see the frogs, just dollar signs floating in front of him. It was infuriating. He was so calm, talking about “sacrifices” for “progress” like it was all just some kind of math problem. I wanted to scream at him, “These aren’t just numbers, these are living things!” But that wouldn’t get me anywhere. So, I just said, “I guess we’re at a standstill then.”
“It seems we are. I guess I’ll see you in court.” He flipped the folder shut on the words and got to his feet.
I stood up, too, and held out my hand for him to shake. I wasn’t sure why, even as I felt the warmth of his hand in mine, I wanted to pull back. As he brushed past me on his way out, I caught a whiff of his cologne and quickly turned my head to avoid breathing it in.
The moment I heard him saying goodbye to Alice, our receptionist, I left the conference room, heading straight for my partner’s office.
“Cassidy!” I knocked sharply and pushed the door open. She was already looking up from her computer, a small frown creasing her forehead. Her long blonde hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail, like always. She was always so perfectly calm and in control, like she one hundred percent had her shit together. Which sometimes made me feel like a reckless hurricane who had blown into her perfectly ordered world. But we’d worked together for seven years now, and she was still with me, so I guess I wasn’t so bad.
Her eyes widened as she took me in. “Jeez, you look like you’re about to set someone on fire. How’d the meeting go?”
I dropped into the chair across from her desk, raking my fingers through my hair. “Fucking terrible. That arrogant prick makes my blood boil.” I launched into a rant, my words tumbling out in a torrent. “He acted like the survival of an entire species was some trivial inconvenience getting in the way of his profits! Can you believe he tried to justify driving those treefrogs into extinction by saying, ‘sacrifices have to be made for progress’? As if basic human decency and environmental protection are outdated concepts holding us back!”
“Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you get this riled up before. Are you going to be able to handle this?”
I forced out a breath, trying to calm myself down. There was definitely something about Rhett Rivers that got under my skin. Those cold, indifferent eyes, that infuriatingly smug smile…and the fact that he was utterly gorgeous. It was like the whole package was designed for peak irritation. But this was just another case. I had to stay objective, couldn’t let my personal feelings cloud my judgment, right? “Yep. I’ll be fine. Even if that jerk really makes me want to punch something.” I straightened in the chair, squaring my shoulders. “We’re absolutely moving forward with filing for an injunction to halt construction until this goes to court. Those treefrogs don’t have any other champions - we have to be their voice.”
Cassidy smiled. “That’s the fiery environmental crusader I know and admire. Just try not to spontaneously combust before then, okay?”
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t fight my own grin. “I’ll do my best. Though no promises if I have to be in the same room as Rhett Rivers again anytime soon.”
“I’d be dead surprised if he’s not present during the case, so I’ll make sure I bring a fire extinguisher with me.”
That made me laugh. “Thanks.”
Cassidy’s smile faded as she studied me. “You look a little bit shit, though. You should probably give yourself the afternoon off.”
I couldn’t hide the grimace. “No point.”
“Oh, that’s right. Dinner with your parents.”
“Yeah. And Tyler, to meet his new girlfriend.”
With a frown, Cassidy said, “You know, maybe it would be a good idea to postpone that.”
“No can do. That’s my family, even if I’d rather have a root canal than go through this.”
“I get it. Maybe you should at least take an hour to decompress.”
I sighed. “Okay, fine. I’ll try.” I knew Cassidy was right to suggest it. My nerves were shot, and I needed some time to get my shit together before facing my family. It was impossible to overstate how much I was not looking forward to it.
Isat parked in front of my parents’ two-story suburban home in Goldsborough, North Carolina. Warm red bricks accented by white trim and a neatly manicured lawn. Anxiety thrummed through me, making my fingers tingle and my chest tighten. “Just breathe.” Taking my own advice, I dragged in three deep breaths. Pretending I felt calmer, I grabbed the apple pie I’d made from the passenger seat and forced myself out of the car and up the drive.
I pressed the bell, willing my heart to stop pounding in my ears. It was just a family dinner, for Christ’s sake. Tyler answered, his eyes barely meeting mine before he turned and retreated inside without a word. I followed, making my way to the kitchen where Mom was stirring a pot at the stove.
“You’re late again, Scarlett,” Mom admonished without looking up, even though I was actually a few minutes early. I set the pie on the counter, biting my lip to stop myself from replying. Keeping the peace was always easier than igniting one of her lectures.
Mom, a little heavyset, with faded blond hair and pale blue eyes, moved around the kitchen like a whirlwind, her every action efficient and practiced.
“Can I help?”
“You can grab the plates.”
“Sure.” I laid them out on the counter, making sure to put Mom’s special plate - the one that was half the size of a normal dinner plate - out first. I knew she’d add just a few bites of protein and a sprinkling of greens. She’d been trying to shed those extra pounds for as long as I could remember, always with a dollop of shame from Dad for her ‘lack of willpower.’
As someone who was never going to be rail thin myself, I’d always found the cycle depressing.
“So Misty isn’t here yet?”
It was a big night for the Wrights. The first time we’d met my brother’s girlfriend and Mom was going all out, by the looks of the kitchen.
“No, Tyler said she’s held up with work,” she replied, a slight edge to her tone.
I pursed my lips, letting out a small “Oh.” Misty being late didn’t seem to be a problem.
Maybe there was something in my tone, because Mom shot me a look, a little defensive. “She works for Councilor Smyth. It’s important work.”
I smothered an eye roll. Of course - Misty’s “important” job assisting that arrogant windbag Smyth was a big fucking deal. The man oozed self-importance like a pumped-up blowfish, and I wouldn’t work for him for a million dollars a year. But hey, that’s just me.
As though she could read my mind, Mom went back to stirring the pot, letting a tense silence fill the kitchen. Just as I was thinking I should go and find Dad, the doorbell rang.
Well, you’d think the First Lady herself was at the door. Mom hastily turned off the stove and whipped off her apron, smoothing her blouse as she turned to me. “Okay?”
“Yeah, Mom, you look great.”
I trailed behind as she scurried to the front door, trying to tidy herself even more before answering. Dad was already there - tall and thin, his balding head and sharp blue eyes giving him an austere look, as always. Tyler stood with him, hands shoved in his pockets, his lanky frame and thin brown hair making him look like a younger, paler version of Dad. They both had the same slightly arrogant expressions they always wore, as if the world revolved around them.
Tyler reached for the handle, pausing to glance back at us. Mom gave a tiny nod, and he pulled the door open. “Misty! Come on in.”
As Tyler made the introductions, I took a moment to check her out. Straight up, I could tell she was the embodiment of everything Mom and Dad valued: polished, composed, flawlessly put together. Her strawberry blonde hair, pulled back in a tight bun, framed a face that was all sculpted cheekbones and perfectly applied makeup. A navy-blue dress, tailored to flatter her trim figure, completed her look. The only thing missing was a designer label on the bakery box she held. Her smile, directed at Mom and Dad, was polite and practiced, her eyes gliding over me for a beat before moving on. Jesus Christ, if I’d been in charge of picking a girlfriend for Tyler, she’d have been the ideal candidate. First impressions counted for a lot in our family. I could tell from my mom and dad’s expressions that Misty had nailed this one. “Thank you for having me.”
“We’re so glad you could make it,” Mom gushed, nervously smoothing down her blouse again. Yep, like I said. Nailed it. “Come, let’s get you seated for dinner.”
Dad led everyone through to the dining room. There was so much food laid out, it was hard to believe this was just the nibbles. Crackers, three different types of cheese, homemade dips. Oh god, Crostini. My weakness.
As we all sat down, Dad said, “Champagne, Misty?”
“Yes, thank you, Gregory. That would be lovely.”
In typical Dad fashion, he didn’t offer one to me or Mom. “I’ll have one too, thanks, Dad. What about you, Mom?”
“Oh, um, yes. Yes, actually, I wouldn’t mind a drop. Thank you. Gregory.”
Of course, this was where Dad would normally get his back up, but he didn’t dare in front of Misty. “Of course.”
Dad sorted the champagne and sat down. Then…no one moved. All that food sitting there, and no one was going to eat it? I reached for a Crostini and not a word of a lie, Misty drew in a sharp breath. It was enough to make me hesitate for a moment, then I thought, fuck it. I was starving. And say what you want about my mom, she sure could cook. “Mmm, so good. Mom, I need this recipe!”
It was like my words galvanized everyone into action. Tyler and Dad piled their plates, Mom and Misty put a few crackers and some celery sticks on theirs.
“So, Misty...” Dad began once we’d all taken a few bites. “Tyler tells us you work for Councilor Smyth?”
And so began the most monotonous evening of my life. All through the pumpkin soup for entrée, pot roast with mashed potatoes and glazed carrots for main, the conversation went like it did every other family gathering. It was all about Tyler. And now Misty. I may as well have been invisible. Right down to when it was time for dessert.
Tyler turned to Misty with an overly enthusiastic grin. “Oh, babe, didn’t you bring something for dessert?”
“Yes, I did!”
“She insisted we try this special pie she gets,” Tyler said with a casual shrug, like it was no big deal. “I did say that Scarlett would probably make one, but you know, it’s good to try something new every now and then and she should go ahead.”
“Well, that’s very thoughtful of you, Misty.” God, could Mom gush anymore? “Scarlett, how about you help me?”
“Sure.” In the kitchen, I grabbed Misty’s pie from the fridge. As Mom fussed with plates and forks, I lifted the lid. It was... a grocery store pie that wouldn’t have cost more than $4.99.
Mom hadn’t given up on her gush yet, though. “So thoughtful and kind of Misty. I never expected that. Isn’t she great? Such a perfect match for Ty. It’s so good to see him finally settling down.”
“Yeah.” I cut into the pie, the flaky crust crumbling under the knife’s pressure like the cheap pile of shit it was. Following Mom back into the dining room, I placed the pie in the middle of the table and started serving. As I did so, Tyler caught my eye. His lips curved in a faint smirk, then he glanced at Misty, and she smiled at him. If there had been any doubt that he had engineered this whole thing, it died right there. And Misty knew. She really was his perfect match.
“Misty, you’re right. This really is the best pie.”
“Oh, Gregory, you’re too kind.”
I picked up my fork, tears stinging my eyes. So stupid to let this stuff get to me, after all these years.