Chapter 7
The office is dark and eerily quiet when I arrive, the sound of each movement magnified by the empty space.
On Friday evening, I received notification that I was granted access to a VDR – virtual data room – containing information and documents about Sea People International Inc.
Now my emails tell me that hundreds of documents have been deposited in the VDR for me to review.
For once, I’m grateful for the laborious task of sifting through a mountain of due diligence.
Eclectic Technologies instructed me only to look at the absolute must-read documents but given the timeframe to complete this deal, that will still mean working flat out to prepare for a meeting with Gregory, Williams and Lawrence by midweek.
I won’t have time to torture myself with thoughts of hospices or the reality of how sick my dad is.
My ability to concentrate is almost non-existent and I try in vain to plough through the mass of documents. Throwing away the possibility of sleeping pills now seems like an idiotic move.
I rest my head on my hand and wince when I touch the cut on my temple, bringing the memories of just how irresponsible and selfish I was flooding back.
By the time Margaret makes it into the office, I’ve barely made a dent in the goal I set myself for this morning.
‘Scarlett! Hi!’
‘Hi, Margaret, have you had a nice weekend?’ I ask, unable to muster anything resembling chirpy in my voice.
‘Yes, thank you. If you don’t mind me asking, is everything okay? You don’t look yourself.’ It’s probably safe to assume she’s referring to my puffy eyes, resting on top of two big, black rings of tiredness and decorated with a deep, red cut.
‘Just a big weekend.’
‘Can I get you anything? Latte?’
‘That would be great, thank you.’
Not even caffeine can improve the appearance of my tired eyes but it does at least give me enough of a kick to read the next few documents at an improved pace. The office starts to fill with stories of the weekend.
‘Guess what?’ Amanda yells as she bursts through my door, making me jump in my seat. ‘Gosh, you don’t look well. Are you okay?’ she asks, lowering her decibel level to just above normal.
‘Just tired.’
‘Sooooo?’
‘I can’t guess,’ I mutter. ‘Please tell me.’
‘Fine. Guess who has a date on Wednesday?’
I gasp. ‘You?’
‘Meeee. Guess who with?’
‘I have no idea. Who?’
‘Someone’s in a grouch today,’ she says in disgust. ‘Only with Edward!’
‘Edward. Edward who?’
‘Edward Williams,’ she sings again.
‘Williams! What?’ I realise too late to prevent myself that I’m snarling at her and up out of my seat. ‘You can’t, Amanda. I told you, he’s a client. For God’s sake, why can’t you ever listen to anything I say?’
I’m annoyed and tired but most of all, surprising even to me, I’m jealous. I’m jealous that Amanda can get any man she likes just as easy as she can say hello. It doesn’t matter how wealthy or attractive or smart they are, she can have them.
‘You can’t do this, Amanda, please. What if it goes wrong?’
‘It won’t,’ she snaps. ‘You could just try being happy for me instead of miserable and overly sensible. Jesus, Scarlett, you’re such a goody-goody. What the hell’s gotten into you today?’
I sit back into my chair with a sigh. ‘Sorry, I’m just busy and this isn’t really a conversation for the office.’
‘Fine. Well, you would’ve known before now if you hadn’t ignored my calls and texts all weekend,’ she huffs like a petulant child and sits onto my windowsill, taking the weight off her Prada heels.
‘Sorry, I hadn’t realised. I just, I didn’t look at my phone and…’ Before I can stop them, tears are filling my eyes. ‘I’m sorry, it’s none of my business who you date. It’s just been a long weekend.’
Amanda closes my office door then sits on the edge of my desk. ‘Is your dad okay?’
I shake my head.
She leans down to my chair and hugs me until my shoulders stop chugging with each breath. Then she pulls away from me and strokes damp strands of hair from my cheeks.
‘How did you get that?’
‘It’s nothing,’ I say, pulling my face away from her and shielding my marked temple with my hand. ‘This is ridiculous, I’m a mess, I’m sorry.’
‘Stop apologising. You apologise far too much. Why don’t you go home and be with your dad? Nothing here can be that urgent and if anyone argues, send them to me.’ She throws her hands on her hips and purses her lips.
‘No, I have too much to do. Plus, it’s about the only place I can be to take my mind off it all. It might be the only thing I have left soon.’
Her soft smile is doused in heartbreaking sympathy.
‘You know, if you need anything, anything at all.’
‘I know.’
As the day goes on, I wake up and seem to be getting through my work at a much quicker rate. Thankfully, Jack’s away for the day.
Margaret forces me to eat a hot meal before she heads home at five-thirty, leaving a bag of snacks on my desk. I lose myself in my work and remember how much I love it, how big the Eclectic Technologies deal could be for me.
To: Heath, Scarlett
From: Ryans, Gregory
Sent: Monday 13 Oct 2025 21.46
Subject: Meeting
Good evening Scarlett,
I hope you enjoyed the rest of your weekend. How are you progressing with your due diligence? When will you be in a position to set a time for our meeting to discuss your findings?
Regards,
Gregory Ryans
CEO Eclectic Technologies
I stare at the email, scrutinising every character, as if it’s a crime scene and I’m an investigator searching for clues.
The fact that I’m delighted to hear from Gregory adds to my terror that he might know just how much I enjoyed Friday.
My fingertips move to my cheek, remembering the feel of his hot breath on my flesh.
My tongue strokes my top lip and my back arches away from my chair as I recall the way he drove me to touch myself, the image of him naked, crawling over me, sating my hunger for him.
Christ! Our relationship has to be strictly business.
This deal means too much to the firm, to me.
And more than anything, doing well at work means too much to my dad: that look in his eyes, his pride.
Falling for Gregory is not something I can afford to do.
My first response is an email thanking him for dinner. I delete it. I shouldn’t draw attention to our time outside work. My second response stays on the computer screen long enough for me to read it eighteen times. Then delete it.
More than an hour later, I reply.
To: Ryans, Gregory
From: Heath, Scarlett
Sent: Monday 13 Oct 2025 22.53
Subject: Re: Meeting
Gregory,
Thank you for your email. I hope to be in a position to have a meeting with the Board on Friday. Please let me know the most convenient time for you.
Best regards,
Scarlett Heath
Senior Associate
Saunders, Taylor and Chamberlain LLP
To: Heath, Scarlett
From: Ryans, Gregory
Sent: Monday 13 Oct 2025 23.07
Subject: Re: Meeting
Are you still at work?
Gregory Ryans
CEO Eclectic Technologies
To: Ryans, Gregory
From: Heath, Scarlett
Sent: Monday 13 Oct 2025 23.08
Subject: Re: Meeting
I should be in the office for the next hour or so, please feel free to call if you have any queries.
Scarlett Heath
Senior Associate
Saunders, Taylor and Chamberlain LLP
To: Heath, Scarlett
From: Ryans, Gregory
Sent: Monday 13 Oct 2025 23.10
Subject: Re: Meeting
I hope you are not working late on my account.
Gregory Ryans
CEO Eclectic Technologies
To: Ryans, Gregory
From: Heath, Scarlett
Sent: Monday 13 Oct 2025 23.11
Subject: Slave-Driving CEOs
With your tight schedule, Mr Ryans, you leave me very few alternatives.
Scarlett Heath
Senior Associate
Saunders, Taylor and Chamberlain LLP
I hit the Send icon before it dawns on me how outrageously flirtatious my email is. It doesn’t even sound like me. It’s confident and brash. I could kick myself.
To: Heath, Scarlett
From: Ryans, Gregory
Sent: Monday 13 Oct 2025 23.12
Subject: Re: Slave-Driving CEOs
In that case, the least I can do is have Jackson waiting for you outside to take you home when you finish.
Gregory Ryans
CEO Eclectic Technologies
To: Ryans, Gregory
From: Heath, Scarlett
Sent: Monday 13 Oct 2025 23.13
Subject: Re: Slave Driving CEOs
Gregory,
Please do not trouble Jackson but thank you for the offer.
Scarlett Heath
Senior Associate
Saunders, Taylor and Chamberlain LLP
To: Heath, Scarlett
From: Ryans, Gregory
Sent: Monday 13 Oct 2025 23.14
Subject: Re: Slave Driving CEOs
Jackson will be outside from midnight. Please see my previous email.
Gregory Ryans
CEO Eclectic Technologies
When I step out of the office into the cool night air, Jackson gets out of the Mercedes to greet me.
‘Good evening, Miss Heath.’
‘Call me Scarlett, please. I’m sorry to drag you out at this time of night, Jackson; I didn’t?—’
‘I work for Mr Ryans any time of day; it’s no trouble.’
I smile with genuine gratitude. The thought of putting any more time than necessary between my bed and me is less than appealing.
I sit into the back of the Mercedes and Jackson locks me in.
I lean my head back to rest against the leather seat and inhale the lingering scent of Gregory.
God, even that makes me want him. My eyes close and his sexy half-smile fills my mind.
‘Scarlett. Scarlett.’ Jackson rocks my shoulders gently, waking me up.
I thank Jackson and make my way to the house, rubbing my dry eyes. Sandy’s still up watching television in the lounge.
‘What’s wrong?’ I ask instinctively, dreading the response.
‘It’s okay, don’t panic. He’s been very unsettled today but the doctor called again and gave him something to help him sleep.’
With a sigh, I slump onto the sofa next to Sandy, who wraps her arm around me. My heart rate returns to manageable as I lean into her shoulder.
‘Are you okay?’ I ask.
‘Absolutely,’ she whispers as she pulls me more tightly into her side. ‘I know you don’t want to talk about it, neither do I, but the doctor left some brochures today. Some of the places look very nice, like posh hotels.’
She leans towards the coffee table to retrieve the brochures and I slip out of her embrace, instantly missing the sweet smell of pastry on her wool cardigan.
‘Can we talk about this tomorrow?’
Sandy nods.
I kiss her on the cheek and wish her goodnight then shuffle along the floor and up the stairs where I collapse onto my bed.
Flushing hot then shivering cold, I toss and turn all night.