Page 71 of Worth the Scandal
And we need to play the long game.
So, I text Caleb.
You’re right. About Asher. I shouldn’t have defended him. Let’s talk more soon—maybe we can set the record straight.
He replies within seconds.
Anytime. Whatever you need xo
The trap is set.
I walk into the big house to find Dad and Shell chatting over a coffee, a breakfast array of pastries—Shell no doubt picked up on the way here and her laptop.
“What have I told you about eating healthier old man?” I jive Dad, picking up a scone and tearing off a bite sized piece.
“The pastries are my stress management, you know how I get so close to the start of a season. I need to be in tip top shape.” he takes a bite of something chocolate filled and gives me a little wink.
“Alright but when you’re carb loaded and popping prescriptions for high everything, I’m not blaming Shell” she points at me and tisks.
“The boss man gets what the boss man wants, especially with the bonuses I’m on and the cheeky trip to Sydney with his hot shot daughter might I add.” She flashes her teeth at me and then gives me a knowing look, like she needs an update on whatever the hell is going on around here.
Quite frankly I do too, because Caleb can’t get away with this, but I don’t want to rock the boat so close to dad’s big game.
Shell follows me down the hall to the front door. She double checks that we are out of dad’s hearing range and lowers her voice.
“Okay fill me in then, what’s going on?” she says grabbing my arm with the full concern now of a mother hen.
“Well, I know in my bones, which have never let me down before that Caleb drugged Asher.” I lean forward as the words leave my train of thought and make it into reality for the first time, my eyes widen for added dramatic effect. It does sound a little too crazy.
Shell studies me “You better get some form of proof, but I don’t doubt it for a second, he’s hated Asher since before the crash, you know hot new property comes in hired to do your position surely that’s got to threaten a guy like Caleb, right?”
I nod matching her energy, we have both gone all Nancy Drew “exactly my thoughts, so I’m going to pretend Asher, and I are toast and give old lover boy exactly what he wants,”
I straighten out my plaid dress and fake tighten an invisible tie “Me.”
Her eyes widen now, and her lips turn up in a cheeky sultry smile “girl I know you know what you’re doing, but just be safe. If he can do that who knows what else he’s hiding. He’s a real wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
“Don’t worry about me, it’s him who should be worried.” I leave her with a wink and a shake of my booty as I take off out the door, ready for phase one of the plan to bring down Caleb’s lie.
Chapter Thirty Three - Scarlett
Really, he’s made this too easy for me. After his eye fucking and desperate attempt to cut Asher’s grass the other night, I know Caleb is itching to get some alone time with me. And clearly he has some sort of fantasy for what that entails. My body repulses in a shiver at the thought knowing what I know now. Before all of this and before Asher, Caleb could’ve been the type of guy a girl like me falls for. Now I’d rather sit on top of a cactus.
I’m wearing a very short 60s style plaid dress with a cute white blouse underneath, my hair frames my face in big lush blowed out curls. I look hot, I’d invite me in if I was a 6 foot tall full blooded male who’s had a crush on me since the first grade. And on that note of confidence I ring the door bell to Caleb Farah’s house.
Caleb grins as he swings the door open, shirtless, and smug like he’s already won. I fake a smile, keeping it light. Flirty. Casual. The exact kind of girl he thinks he deserves.
“Didn’t think I’d hear from you so soon after the other night,” he says, stepping aside to let me in. “Guess golden boy isn’t all that golden, no surprise there.”
I shrug. “Things change, and you know my loyalty is always to my oldest friend.” I poke his chest playfully to really amp up the tension. His eyes dart to my finger and follow along thelength of my arm to my collarbone. God has he always been this desperate or am I only just noticing how much he irks me now.
He raises an eyebrow. “That so?”
I give him a long, slow once-over—the kind of look that makes men think they are in control. I love being a woman. “Thought maybe you were right about him, anyway I don’t want to talk about him, I want to forget him Cal.”
That hooks him. He leans against the kitchen bench top with that overconfident smirk that used to pass for charm in primary school. “Yeah? What finally broke the spell?”
I wave a hand, brushing past the question. Is he catching onto my act. “I’d rather not talk about it, let’s talk about us instead.”
