Page 94 of Almost Paradise

Chapter 54

Drake

I snap the lid shut of the little black box holding the diamond necklace I got Nia for her birthday. Nia, who happens to be in the building on this Friday afternoon. She took today off and brought Carter over for a visit. She’s introducing our son to her former co-workers. The last birthday we had, we had to celebrate the day separately, but the next weekend, we flew down to the Bahamas for three amazing days. We’re going back there in a couple of weeks for spring break, but this time we’re staying at a home I had built there three years ago. I don’t know why I did it back then, but I just had the urge. Thankfully, I never took Scarlett there. I didn’t even tell her about it.

Just as I’m putting the box inside my jacket pocket to keep my nosy wife from finding it, Esther sticks her head inside my office.

“Drake,” she says. She looks around, nervously. “Sir, you have a visitor.”

The last time I had an unannounced visitor, it was Nia’s father.

“Is it Mr. Nash?”

Before Esther can answer, my door is pushed open and Scarlett walks in.

I take a deep breath and look to the ceiling. I would have preferred Mr. Nash. With his daughter and grandson in the building, I’m guaranteed he’d be civil. I can’t say the same about Scarlett. She’s called a few times, but I haven’t answered. I have sent one text telling her to stop calling me.

“I’m so sorry,” Esther says. “Ms. Foley, I asked you to wait.”

“It’s okay.” Esther nods but purses her lips in disapproval as she walks out, leaving me alone with Scarlett for the first time in months. There’s a part of me that feels guilty for leading her on, but the happily married family man is annoyed that she’s here to taint my day and the upcoming weekend.

I’m not going to keep this visit secret from Nia, and I hope this doesn’t upset her or ruin our plans. I need to get a handle on this. I look down as I gather my thoughts and notice she’s still wearing the engagement ring I got her.

“Scarlett, what is this about?” I ask. “I have a meeting, and then I’m leaving for the weekend.” Not to mention I don’t want my wife to come in here and see this. Even though I won’t keep it from her, I’d rather tell her about it after the fact.

“Home to your wife?” I can hear the derision in her voice. She walks to my desk and picks up the framed photograph I have of the three of us. Nia took it on her phone a few days ago and surprised me by framing it. It’s of us sitting on a bench at the park grinning at the camera.

“Put that down,” I tell her. She does, but she puts it face down. I cross the room and put it back in the right position.

“I thought this would have blown over by now. I’m willing to forgive you, but you have to get a quickie divorce. If you want to be a parent to the boy, I won’t stop you, but I expect our kids to take precedence.”

I stare into her face, unsure that I’ve heard her correctly. “Scarlett, I’m not even going to dignify that nonsense you just spewed with a response. Have you had a break with reality? You’re delusional if you think any of that is going to happen.”

Her pale cheeks turn pink and her lips form a straight line. “Do you love her?” she asks.

“More than anything,” I admit. Her cheeks go from pink to red. All I can think about is how I don’t have time for this shit. I broke up with her. People end engagements every day, and what I don’t need is her in my space right now, but since she’s here, I can use this time to set her straight. “I love my son too.”

“Did you ever love me?” she asks, her eyes brimming with tears.

“No,” I state bluntly. She gasps and her head rolls back as if struck. “I don’t mean to hurt you, but no. I could never love any woman other than my wife. I want you to move on and find someone who will—”

“Do not condescend to me. You’ve made a fool out of me, and I curse the day I ever laid eyes on you.”

I eye her left hand again. She sees me this time and holds her hand up. I expect her to pull the ring off and throw it at me, but she doesn’t. She leaves it on.

“Give me back the ring,” I calmly tell her. I don’t want the damn thing. In fact, I’ll give it to Esther, and she can pawn it for all I care. What I don’t want is Scarlett walking around with an engagement ring that I gave her when we’re no longer engaged. And I don’t need my wife to see it either. Of all the damn days Scarlett could have barged her way in here she had to choose this one.

“No,” she says. “I will not. Just because you broke your promise doesn’t mean I’m taking this off. This meant something to me. I still love you.” I sigh and open my mouth to tell her to shut up, but my office door flies open and Bertram and another member of my security team walk in.

Bertram crosses the room like a man with a mission. “Mrs. Paradise is down the hall,” he whispers. He’s a big man and when he gets nervous or excited, his face turns so red it clashes with his orange hair.

“Scarlett, please don’t—” My words are cut off, and I don’t get to tell her to stop making a fool of herself because my wife walks into my office. Even Esther follows behind her as if she’s worried that things will escalate.

“No! Just shut up. You can’t do this.” Scarlett yells as she looks around the room. She tries to grab my arms, but I move out of her way. That doesn’t deter her. She moves quickly and grabs the collar of my suit jacket.

“Get your damn hands off my husband,” Nia says right before she pushes Scarlett away. She shoves her so hard, Scarlett stumbles and collides with Bertram.

“Bertram, escort that whore out of the building,” Scarlett commands. In the time we were together, she’s never ordered my staff around. Bertram doesn’t make a single move. He looks at me and waits for my command, but Nia speaks first.

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