Chapter 59 She slept with Dante.
CHAPTER 59
She slept with Dante.
SCARLETT – POINT OF VIEW
His tone hits hard, and no matter how much I’d braced myself, it still hurt, but he doesn’t have to know that, so I smile and say, “Alright, sugar. It is my job after all.”
It only makes him angrier. He squints his eyes at me, his lips in a straight line, and jaws clenched.
“Let’s go get ready.” Eve comes to the rescue. She grabs my hand and leads me back upstairs. I roll my eyes, annoyed as we walk into my bedroom. Elena is behind us and very confused.
“What was that? Why did you call him sugar? Are you flirting with him?” She asks, brows furrowed, looking so confounded.
“She’s not flirting with him. She’s just treating him like a client.” Eve chuckles and walks to my bedroom.
I flop on the bed and nod, “Yeah, that.”
“Well, don’t do it again. Roman looked ready to combust.” She scolds with a smile.
I scoff and get comfortable on the bed, “I’m not responsible for his feelings. You told me to wear my big girl panties and do my job, which is what I’m doing, so let’s find me a dress, give me a rundown so I can do my job perfectly.”
“This way will piss him off.” She chuckles and joins Eve.
“Still none of my business.” I roll my eyes.
“Are you okay, though? Did you cry this morning? Your eyes are swollen, and your face is rosy.” Eve whispers kindly.
I sit up instantly, jump off the bed and rush to the mirror. My eyes do look swollen.
“I had a dream about my parents, that’s all. We don’t have to talk about it. Tell me about this brunch, who might be there and what they want.” I murmur, my cheeks flushing as I change the subject. I don’t want to talk about my parents.
“You’ve met Harold Whitman. I doubt he’d be there, though. Dr Marjorie Cole, the deputy secretary of the Department of Energy, you’ve met her, she’s wonderful. Her husband, David Cole, is a Chef, and you’d be eating at his restaurant. Then, there’s Rachel Okoye, the Director of Infrastructure and Oversight, FERC. She’s polite, but stern, and will scrutinise your relationship.” She articulates calmly, showing pictures of the agents.
“Daniel Price, a senior compliance officer and Aisha Reynolds, the environmental impact lead, also from the EPA. You don’t have to read up on all the functions, but just get an idea of what it is all about. Roman holds the money, DOE and FERC hold the approval, and EPA holds the brakes.” She explains calmly, and I nod.
“Can we focus on the dress? We need to blow them away.” Eve steers the conversation around.
“We need something chic,” Elena nods.
“Not quite, we need something elegant.” I shake my head.
“How about this?” Eve pulls out an expensive backless dress.
Backless. Roman will have to touch me a lot today, mostly on my lower back. A backless dress will make me feel worse.
“Nope. Let’s find something else, something modest, and maybe a scarf.” I suggest massaging my temple.
“Since when do you do modest? This dress is perfect. I’ll work on your hair now, and everything will be top-notch.” Elena chuckles, scouting through my shelf of shoes.
Eve gives me a knowing look and whispers, “Do not dim your light for him.”
I don’t bother explaining because she won’t understand. I have to stand beside Roman for hours and play a part while he touches me as if he owns me. I don’t particularly look forward to that anymore. He’s going to find ways to punish me, and I’m not gonna like it at all.
I sit and let Elena get started on my hair.
“Let’s revamp your curls.” She decides, and I settle in.
Memories flash through me of my mother, her accent. She did everything she could to hold on to the accent. Whenever Dad travelled, we would only speak Spanish. She told me to never forget our home, and now, I can’t remember the last time I spoke my mother’s tongue. Shame fills me, but I push it away. I have no time for shame. Changes have to be made.
“You have black hair?” Elena freezes in shock, staring at my hair.
“What?” I frown, stunned.
“Your hair isn’t auburn, but black. I thought you had auburn hair. Did you dye your hair?” She stares at me in the mirror, and my pulse throbs loudly.
“Yeah, she did. Have you never dyed your hair?” Eve chuckles, lightening the mood.
“Yeah, yeah, in college. I just never noticed.” She whispers and continues.
Eve and I look at each other, but say nothing. I have my father’s black and thick hair, and I have my mother’s eyes. I don’t know whose freckles I have, though, maybe just mine.
We spend the next hour dolling me up. She styles my hair in a messy bun, which is ironic because each strand is perfectly arranged. Soft strands fall over my face. She keeps my makeup light, making my freckles and green eyes pop more. The dress looks perfect on me, almost glued to my body. It shows my toned back and hugs my ass. I go with simple black Zara heels with bows. My jewellery is also simple: a pendant necklace and drop earrings. I make sure to wear my engagement rings, even though I hate them.
“Get down here, Scarlett!” Roman roars from downstairs, and a shiver crawls down my spine.
“Who lets the dog out?” Eve chuckles, smiling at me.
I return her smile, even though I feel so empty.
“Ready for the pictures?” Elena walks back in, holding a jotter full of the information I need to know.
“What pictures?” I take the jotter from her and put it in my mui mui bag.
“Some loved-up pictures with Roman. I’ll be quick.” Eve assures me, smiling pitifully.
Nausea rolls through me, but I nod and walk downstairs.
My pulse throbs at the back of my throat with every quiet step I take. My hands are trembling.
The men are not in the living room, but we hear the voices from the patio, so we head there.
“You’re right, you know, Caleb, she truly is a fucking bitch. I am amazed by her nonchalance, her fucking smile when she made me lose so much money. One fifty million. My team is working overtime right now. She knew what Dante did, and yet, she danced to his tune. He probably slept with her. I’m sure she put out so easily. A Patek will buy him her panties. An Aston Martin will buy him her cu –”
I gasp softly at his cold, cruel words.
My cheeks flush, and my eyes widen.
“What the fuck, Roman!” Eve seethes.
Blood rushes to my head, and my eyes sting.
Love, indeed, couldn’t survive monsters.