‘I need you to sign some documents in wet ink, all three of you,’ I say, glancing over my shoulder to acknowledge Williams. ‘Do you have five minutes? It won’t take more than that.’
Gregory grips his chin between his index finger and thumb and then pulls his right hand back through his hair, all the while staring at me like I have ten heads.
‘Yes, we have time,’ Lawrence says.
He starts to walk and I follow him back down the corridor they emerged from just minutes ago. As we turn the corner, out of the view of reception and preying eyes, Lawrence clears his throat. ‘I’m very sorry about your father, Scarlett.’
Neither he nor I expect a response and I don’t offer one. Instead, I keep my focus on the documents in my hands.
‘Just in here,’ Lawrence says, gesturing for me to walk ahead of him into the boardroom.
The light flickers to life as we’re joined by Gregory and Williams. Lawrence and Williams walk to the far end of the rectangular room and Gregory stands next to me at the head of the oval table. I allow myself a split-second glance at him and instantly chastise myself for meeting his eye.
‘I have three documents,’ I say to the room. ‘I need you all to sign a copy of this one.’
I push the document to the end of the table for Lawrence and Williams to sign.
‘These two are just for you,’ I say to Gregory, refusing to move my attention from a particular grain in the wooden table.
Gregory makes no movement to sign anything. I can feel his gaze burning into me and strings being pulled taut in the depth of my abdomen. Please, just sign.
‘Do you need a pen?’ I ask, eventually turning to face him, holding a pen out for him to take.
My heart rate doubles. I can feel moisture forming on my palms and sickness rising in my throat. Those lips I’ve kissed. That brooding frown. Stick with it, Scarlett; you can do this.
I shake the pen twice, encouraging him to take it.
Eventually, he grabs it, his fingertips grazing mine.
He bends towards the table, leaning on his left hand. I watch the movement of his shoulder beneath his blazer as the nib of the pen almost reaches the paper, before he stops. Sighing, he turns to me.
‘Is this really how you want things to be?’
How I want things to be? Yes, Gregory, I wanted to meet you and get sucked into some dark, twisted game, then fall madly in love with you so there was no hope in hell of me ever walking away. Then I wanted to find out that me being in love with you would lead to my dad’s murder and that I’d be forced to hate you when all I want to do is jump into your arms and feel the touch of your lips on mine.
Holy shit.
I’m in love with him.
‘Is that supposed to be a joke?’ I snap, glaring back at him, adrenalin rushing to my head.
He holds his position for an excruciatingly long second or two, neither of us willing to blink. Then with the speed and determination of a raging bull, he signs his name on all three documents. Finished, he throws the pen down and makes to leave the room. Gripping the door handle so tight that the whites of his knuckles show, he pauses. I hold my breath, expectant. But then he leaves, slamming the door behind him. As I stare after him, the image of his cigarette-burned wrist consumes my mind.
I don’t want to hurt him. He’s breaking my heart and I still can’t stand the thought that I might be just another person in his life causing him pain.
Williams walks to my end of the large table, sliding signed documents towards me.
‘I’m sorry about your father, Scarlett. We all are. What happened was unfair and should never have happened.’
I open my mouth, then close it without making a sound.
Williams shakes his head. ‘It wasn’t his fault and no matter how much you hate him or think you hate him, you can’t make him loathe himself any more than he already does.’
‘Wasn’t his fault? He’s the reason everything happened. He got me involved in this whole fucked-up mess. Everything is his fault!’
Williams appears uncommonly severe. ‘You know, Scarlett, you were only supposed to be his lawyer. You played a part in changing that.’
‘You’re all so quick to jump to his defence, aren’t you?’ I snarl.
