Chapter 122 A choice.
CHAPTER 122
A choice.
SCARLETT – POINT OF VIEW
My body goes completely still, stopping mid-motion. A sudden cold floods my chest. My mouth opens, and no words come out. My breathing slows. What the hell? I must be stuck in a dream. This cannot be real. He cannot be here. He cannot be here. I have to be stuck in a nightmare, or a dream.
Roman is beside me, and Percy is in front of me.
“Who the fuck are you?” Roman does not beat around the bush. “What did you just call her?” He demands, stepping forward, shoulders squared, hands clenched in fists.
My heart skips a beat, and I crash back to earth. Percy called me Rosalina. He knew me as Rosalina. He knew me. He knew everything about me, and Roman knows nothing.
Talk about being stuck between a bullet and a heartbreak.
I grab on to Roman’s arm, “This is … this is Percy. Percy Carmichael. He is … he is an old friend.”
“A compressed version of what we were,” Percy chuckles, stepping forward, only to be blocked by Roman, who barks, “Why don’t you take a step back, stranger?”
Oh, hell.
I try to pull Roman back, but he does not budge, standing there firmly. Thankfully, our friends noticed the exchange and are now walking to her. Rue, Russell, and Rick are also moving closer, staring at Percy as if he were a pebble under their shoe.
Addie, ever perceptive Addie pulls me away from Roman smoothly and asks, “Who’s your friend?”
“I’m Percy Carmichael,” he pauses, looks at me, and shivers crawl down my spine. “An old friend.”
“Really? Scarlett’s old friend? How come she has never mentioned you?” Elena stares at him with a tilt of her head.
Percy looks at me again, “Scarlett,” he begins, and it feels like he is testing the name out on his tongue. He does not know Scarlett. He knows Rosalina.
“We lost contact a while back, and I hope to rekindle what we once had.” He has always been shamelessly blunt, but this is not the time for it. Roman is about to burst a brain vessel.
I slip away from Addie and take his hand. He glares at me, then loses the frown, and seems to calm down a little. I would like to say it has to do with my presence, but it has more to do with ownership. He wraps his arm around my hip firmly and crowds me with his presence. Percy watches us and just smiles.
“What did you once have, Mr Carmichael?” Damian asks calmly.
Percy looks at me again, “She … she was everything to me.”
The air thins, and my chest caves in.
Oh, fuck.
“And, you were foolish enough to let her go.” Roman scoffs, holding me firmer as if he believes I will run away. Maybe I should. The air seems to thicken.
“As you can see, Scarlett is engaged and getting married soon. I hope you are not here to cause any problem.” Eve teases.
Percy does not laugh, and neither does he look at me. He looks behind me, at Roman, or … Rick? Then, he chuckles softly. “A lot has obviously changed since we stopped talking. We have faded out of each other’s lives, and I just want to rebuild our friendship.”
“She has enough friends,” Roman interjects coldly.
“That is her decision to make, not yours, Sterling,” Percy informs him sharply.
Roman is about to rebut when I cut in, “Excuse us one second.”
I pull his hand and lead him out the side door. We don’t stop walking until we are on the balcony. My whole body is trembling, and I don’t know what to say. I desperately hope he has forgotten that Percy called me Rosalina. This is a huge mess, and my head is spinning.
I let go of him, pull myself together and turn around.
He cups my cheeks and kisses me hard. I melt against him, unable to hold back my desire. He presses my body against his and slides his tongue into my mouth. I thread my hands through his hair and push my boobs into his chest. He pushes me against the railing and kisses me senseless. Then, I realise what he is doing, and pull away immediately.
“I make you feel that way. Me, Scarlett.” He glares at me, panting. The fear in his eyes makes my heart stop.
“Roman,” I whisper, but he cuts me off.
“You’re not leaving me, Scarlett. I will not let you. I will chain you to me if I have to. You belong to me. You are mine, not his, not anybody’s, mine.” He declares, and I nod, “I know, I know, I am not leaving you. I can never do that, baby.”
I place my hand on his chest and kiss him softly.
“I need you to trust me. I need you to believe in me. Percy was my ex-boyfriend, but I am not that person again. I am Scarlett. I will be your wife. I won’t ever hurt you, not that way, so please trust me enough to make my decision. We are just friends now, that is all we will ever be, I promise you.” I avow, caressing his cheeks softly.
He shakes his head, “He does not want to be your friend.”
“Well, too bad. I’m not single. I’m engaged. Now, let’s go back there and be on our best behaviour. Be the businessman you are, and stop freaking out.” I say sternly.
He nods, and we walk back in. He does not let go of my hand.
Everyone is laughing when we get there.
“Percy is a professor, one with a lot of stories and experiences,” Eve tells us.
I nod slowly and try to find a ring on his hand, but I find none.
“I’m not married, Scarlett.” He calls me out on it immediately.
My cheeks burn, but I play it cool, “Okay.”
“Why are you here, Mr Carmichael? I know the pictures are good, but there’s no way you’re here for just that.” Eve asks him.
I hold my breath.
“I am a visiting professor at Columbia University. I will be here for the next month, and I hope to make the best out of my time here.” His gaze does not leave me as he speaks. “So, tell me, Scarlett, would I be overstepping if I ask to take you out on a date? We can talk about the past and the present.”
“She’s busy.” Roman almost barks.
I glare at him, “I’m not. I’m available.”
“Yes, we are.” Addie nods, and I fake a smile.
Percy is my past, and Roman is my present. I don’t know where my future lies, and for the first time, I have a choice.