Page 95 of Almost Paradise

“Bertram, it’s okay,” she says. She even smiles warmly at Bertram and the other security guard, but I don’t buy it. Her eyes narrow at me but only a fraction. “I’ll allow Ms. Foley to stay for a few minutes because I want to hear what she has to say, but after today, please make sure she’s not allowed back in this building.”

Nia’s eyes never leave mine when she speaks. I know she’s probably daring me to contradict her, but I never would. Not about this.

“Of course, Mrs. Paradise,” Bertram says.

“I should be Mrs. Paradise!” Scarlett screams.

No one so much as bats an eyelash at her tantrum.

“Please give us some privacy,” Nia tells Bertram.

He looks my way and I subtly shake my head at him.

“I’ll ask Rob to leave,” Bertram says, pointing at the other security guard. “But I’ll stay as I’m Mr. Paradise’s personal security.” The other man leaves the room, but I know he’s only going as far as the other side of the door. Esther follows him out, but not before she gives Scarlett a dirty look.

“You fucking bitch,” Scarlett hisses. She tries to break free from Bertram to come after Nia, but Bertram is almost seven feet tall and big. Scarlett is not going anywhere. “You and your brat stole my life.”

Nia rolls her eyes but ignores Scarlett for now. She comes to me, gets on her tippy toes, and kisses me.

“Where’s Carter?” I ask her.

“With Langley and your mom,” she says. “Your brother wanted to show him his office. And my old department had a lot of questions,” she says with a grin. “I gave the abridged version.” She stands next to me, and I wrap my arm around her waist. “What can we do for you, Scarlett?” Nia asks. She blows her breath upward as if she’s already exasperated by this scene.

“I didn’t come here to see you.” Scarlett tosses her reddish hair in dismissal.

“Then leave,” I tell her. “There’s nothing left to say.”

“Yes, goodbye. Don’t try to talk to my husband again.” I notice Nia eyeing Scarlett up and down. Scarlett holds up her left hand and shows off the ring as if it’s supposed to mean something. “Oh my God,” Nia says. “Is that what I think it is?”

Scarlett stands straighter and juts out her chin. “He put this on my finger,” she says.

“He dumped you, though, sweetie. That’s kind of pathetic. From one woman to another, it’s time to take off that ring and move on,” Nia says.

“Why don’t you go to hell?” Scarlett hisses. “You and that little bastard son of yours.”

“Say what you want about me, but don’t you ever speak about our son.” Nia pushes away from me, and before I can catch her, she grabs Scarlett’s left hand and pulls the ring off. Bertram is holding Scarlett, who is unable to pull her hand from Nia’s. “Let her go, Bertram,” Nia taunts while she slides the ring into her pocket. “Since this is the last time she’ll ever step foot in here, let’s make it worth it.”

I step between them quickly and say, “Bertram, please escort Ms. Foley out of here.”

“After everything we’ve been through, this is how you treat me?” Scarlett screams. “Over her? She’s nothing.” She tries to pull out of Bertram’s grasp but can’t. “She’s a whore who trapped you.”

Nia opens her mouth, but her ringing phone stops her. She pulls it out of her pocket. “Hold on, Daddy,” she says. She puts the phone down and turns to me. “I have to take this.” She points at the phone. “Handle that before I come back in here, or I’ll be forced to take out the trash myself.” She gestures at Scarlett. She gives me a deep kiss before starting toward the door. On her way out, she stops in front of Scarlett, holds up her left hand, and taps her wedding ring.

Scarlett tries to pull away from Bertram but has no luck. Nia walks out without another word.

“Trash? She has the audacity to call me trash. Just who the hell does she think she is? She’s—”

“She’s my wife,” I tell her, rendering her silent. “My. Wife.” I enunciate. “Bertram will see you out, and after today, you are never to step foot in this building. You are never to contact or speak to me or mywifeagain.”

“So, that’s it? She assaults me and takes the ring you put on my finger, and now you kick me out of your life as if I meant nothing to you. As if we never shared anything. All because that whore tricked you with a pregnancy. I should have done the same, I guess.” The idea of having a child with Scarlett makes my skin crawl. I will spend the rest of my life thanking a higher power that never happened. “Your father would be ashamed of you,” she throws in.

“My father’s approval does not have the appeal that it once had, Scarlett,” I say with disinterest. “Get the hell out of my office and out of my sight.”

Her eyes dart around like a maniac, and she blurts, “You weren’t ever supposed to find out about him. Your father and I—” She promptly shuts up and some of her color goes away.

“My father and you what?” I ask, taking a step closer to her. “What does my father have to do with you?” She turns her face away from me. Refusing to touch her, I look at Bertram, who gets my meaning. He turns her face to me. She’s now gone ashen.

“Nothing. Your father would be ashamed of you,” she says again. “That’s all.”

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