Chapter 67 *
Scarlett’s POV
I woke up to my phone exploding.
Not literally. But close enough.
Notifications everywhere. I turned it off. Tossed it on the nightstand.
Went downstairs for breakfast.
Damon was already at the table. Reading something on his iPad. His expression was dark.
"Morning," I said.
He looked up. His jaw was tight.
"Have you seen the news?"
"I've seen enough."
He turned the iPad around. Showed me the screen.
BREAKING: FBI May Investigate Romano Family's Alleged SAT Score Manipulation
Oh. That's new.
"The College Board formed an investigation committee," Damon said. His voice was calm. Too calm. "Someone filed an anonymous report claiming the Romano family used organized crime connections to manipulate the testing system."
I sat down. Poured myself some coffee.
"Of course they did."
"Your father made another statement."
He pulled up a video. Hit play.
Sal's face filled the screen. Standing outside Romano headquarters. Surrounded by reporters.
"I want to make this absolutely clear." His voice was loud. Authoritative. "Scarlett Romano has been removed from the family. Any allegations regarding her actions have nothing to do with the Romano family."
The reporters shouted questions.
"Did she cheat on her SAT?"
"Did you help her?"
"Is the FBI investigating you?"
Sal held up his hand. "The Romano family maintains its integrity. We have no comment on Scarlett's personal choices."
The video ended.
I took a sip of coffee.
"He's throwing you to the wolves," Damon said quietly.
"I know."
"Doesn't that bother you?"
I looked at him. His eyes were angry.
"It would bother me if I still considered him family," I said. "But I don't. So it doesn't."
He studied my face for a long moment.
"You're too calm about this."
"Would you prefer I cry?"
"I'd prefer you show some emotion."
I shrugged. "I'm showing emotion. I'm hungry. That's an emotion."
I reached for a piece of toast. Started buttering it.
Damon's mouth curved. "You're impossible."
"Thank you."
Maria brought out scrambled eggs. Set them in front of me.
"Eat, Mrs. Wolfe. You need your strength."
"Thanks, Maria."
Damon was still watching me. His expression had changed. Less anger. More worry.
"I don't like this," he said finally.
"Don't like what?"
"You being home alone. With this circus going on."
"I'll be fine." I bit into my toast. "I can handle myself."
"I know you can. But you shouldn't have to."
He stood up. Pulled out his phone.
"Maria?"
She appeared immediately. "Yes, Mr. Wolfe?"
"Help Scarlett pack a bag. She's coming to the office with me today."
I blinked. "What?"
He looked at me. His expression was gentle. But his tone was final.
"You're coming with me today. No arguments."
I opened my mouth. Closed it.
Looked at Maria. She was already nodding. Moving toward the stairs.
"Okay," I said.
What else could I say?
Twenty minutes later, I was standing by the front door.
Maria appeared with a bag. Not a purse. Not a small tote.
A giant duffel bag. Like she was packing for a month-long expedition.
"Maria." I stared at the bag. "What is that?"
"Essentials."
"Essentials for what? Surviving a nuclear winter?"
She ignored me. Started listing items.
"Water bottles. Three kinds of fruit. Crackers. Nuts. A blanket. Wet wipes. Hand sanitizer. Tissues. A thermos of soup—"
"Maria. I'm going to an office building. Not climbing Everest."
"You're pregnant. You need to be prepared."
"Prepared for what? An emergency snack situation?"
"Exactly."
I looked at Damon. He was trying not to smile.
"Don't look at me," he said. "Maria's in charge of your wellbeing."
"This is excessive."
"It's necessary," Maria said firmly. She zipped up the bag. "Now. Do you need anything else? A sweater? Extra socks?"
"I'm good."
"Are you sure? The office might be cold."
"I'll survive."
She handed the bag to Damon. It looked heavy. Really heavy.
I reached for it. "I can carry—"
"Don't lift that." Damon's voice cut through. Sharp. Final. "I've got it."
"It's just a bag."
"Scarlett."
That tone again. The one that meant the discussion was over.
I held up my hands. "Fine."
He picked up the bag. Didn't even grunt. Like it weighed nothing.
Are we going to the office or preparing for the apocalypse?
I followed him to the car. Slid into the back seat.
Arthur was already waiting. "Good morning, Mrs. Wolfe."
"Morning, Arthur."
Damon loaded the massive duffel bag into the trunk.
I watched through the rear window.
Five pounds is "heavy"? Should I mention I can carry a rocket launcher with one hand?
The parking garage at Wolfe Corporation was empty. Early morning. Most employees weren't here yet.
Good.
Last time I was here, I'd pretended to be household staff. Told the front desk I was delivering lunch.
If people saw me now, arriving with Damon...
My cover would be completely blown.
"Should I go in through the loading dock or something?" I asked.
Damon looked at me. "Why would you do that?"
"Last time I was here, I said I was staff. Remember?"
"So?"
"So if people see us together—"
"They'll see my wife. Coming to work with me."
He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"But—"
"Scarlett." He grabbed the duffel bag from the trunk. "You're overthinking this."
"I just don't want to cause problems."
"You won't."
He started walking. I followed.
We headed toward the building. But not the main entrance.
A side door. Unmarked. Looked like it led to a maintenance area.
Damon swiped a card. The door clicked open.
Inside was an elevator. Small. Elegant. Completely private.
"Executive elevator," Damon said. "Goes straight to the top floor."
"Oh."
We stepped inside. The doors closed.
Okay. So I worried for nothing.
The elevator was silent. Fast. Within seconds, we were at the top floor.
The doors opened directly into a hallway. No employees.
He opened them. Gestured for me to go first.
"Make yourself comfortable," he said. He set the duffel bag on the couch. "I have a meeting in twenty minutes. I'll be back around noon."
"Okay."
"If you need anything, press zero on the phone. That's my secretary."
"Got it."
He walked over. Tilted my chin up with one finger.
"You'll be okay?"
"I'll be fine."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
He kissed my forehead. Then left.
I stood there for a second. Alone in this giant office.
Okay. Two hours. What am I supposed to do for two hours?
I pulled out my phone. Started scrolling through news articles.
The cheating scandal was still trending. Still exploding.
But I felt... nothing.
Just hungry.
I walked over to the duffel bag. Unzipped it.
Found the crackers. Started eating.
A knock on the door.
"Come in," I called.
A woman stepped inside. Early thirties. Professional suit. Bright smile.
"Hi! I'm Jessica. Mr. Wolfe's secretary."
"Oh. Hi."
She was carrying a tray. Tea. Cookies. Little sandwiches.
"I thought you might want something to eat," she said. Set the tray on the coffee table. "Mr. Wolfe mentioned you'd be here for a few hours."
"Thanks."
She smiled. But her eyes were curious. Really curious.
Looking at me like I was some kind of puzzle she needed to solve.
"Can I get you anything else? Water? Coffee?"
"I'm good."
"If you change your mind, just call."
"I will. Thanks."
She left. But not before giving me one more long look.
I could practically see the gears turning in her head.
Who is this girl? Why is she in the CEO's office? Why did he bring her to work?
I went back to my phone. Tried to ignore it.
Ten minutes later, another knock.
"Come in."
Jessica again. This time with a plate of fruit.
"I forgot to bring these earlier," she said. "Fresh strawberries. Blueberries. Some melon."
"Oh. Thank you."
She set it down. Lingered.
"So... have you been working here long?"
Here we go.