“It’s in the past,” I say, fighting to keep the emotion from my voice, because some wounds never really heal. Not entirely, anyway. Not when you’ve lost everything. “I only mention it because it was Ashley who gave me the nickname Hartless.”
Chapter Fifteen
Scarlett
Nick Hart might actually be a better human than me.
Now there’s a phrase I never thought I’d utter—let alone believe—but it doesn’t make the words any less true. Because if my treacherous ex had done me dirty like that, there’s no way I’d have quietly walked away and let that shit go.
Then again, I don’t have a multibillion-dollar company to consider, so maybe that’s the difference between Nick and me. Either way, I don’t think I’ll ever look at him the same again. Where before I saw only cool calculation and infuriating arrogance, now I see a man who’s had his heart shattered, who’s suffered the worst kind of betrayal, and who’s moving on the only way he knows how, by throwing himself into his work.
Oh, he can say it’s all in the past, and maybe he even believes it, but you only have to look into his dark, somber eyes to know that betrayal still cuts deep.
But that doesn’t mean I can’t call him out when he’s being a jerk.
For his own good, of course.
“There will always be trash humans in the world. It sounds like your ex was one of them,” I say, choosing my words carefully. Nick’s made himself vulnerable, revealing a side I doubt many have seen. “But just because shecalledyou Hartless doesn’t mean you have tobeheartless.”
“Thanks for that PSA.” The ghost of a smile tugs at his lips. “I can assure you my goal in life is not to be a grade-A prick, but I didn’t get where I’m at by letting people walk all over me, either.”
One of his brows shoots up and, I swear to God, it’s like he’s looking right into my soul.
“What?” I ask, even though I already know where this is going.
“The first day we met,” he says, turning his mug so the handle is parallel to the table’s edge. “You let some prick from Finance bully you out of your seat. Why?”
He saw that? God, he must think I’m so pathetic. A literal human doormat.
“It was no big deal.” I shrug. “I wasn’t going to make a scene in front of all those people. Not over a chair.”
“But it wasn’t just about the chair.” He leans back, studying me. “It was about respect.”
I sigh and clasp my hands in my lap. “Yeah, well, when you’re at the bottom of the org chart, it’s a little tough to command respect.”
He stares at me but says nothing, letting his eyes do all the talking.
And right now, they’re calling bullshit.
Fine. Whatever. He shared a bit of his story, the least I can do is return the favor.
“I’ve never been good at asserting myself,” I admit. “I grew up in a small town in north Texas, the kind of place where everyone knows everyone and the values are traditional. Girls are raised to be nice. To not make waves, even when they should.” That’s how I was raised, anyway. “It was…stifling.”
“Christ, it sounds like you were raised in a time warp.”
“That’s one way of looking at it.” I smile, but it’s bittersweet. “Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t all bad. My cousin Hannah thrived and she’ll no doubt carry on those traditional family values when she marries, but, much to my mother’s chagrin, I didn’t quite fit the mold for a proper young lady. Hell, half the time it’s her voice I hear in my head, telling me how to behave and think and act. Moving to Austin was the best thing that ever happened to me.” I brush a crumb off the table. “But as it turns out, you can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t take the country values out of the girl.”
“Could’ve fooled me. You weren’t exactly placating during our first exchange.” He chuckles and the sound reverberates between us, low and deep. “I believe the word you used was narcissist.”
Heat floods my cheeks. “Not my finest moment. I…snapped.”
“I tend to have that effect on people.”
“You really do.” A laugh spills from my lips and before I know it, my shoulders are shaking with the force of it and tears are streaming down my cheeks. “I’m sorry, I—”
“Don’t apologize.” He shrugs and I swipe away the tears, praying my mascara isn’t running. “Your behavior tells people how they can treat you. If you let them get away with pushing you around, they’ll keep doing it. You’re a smart woman, Scarlett, and you have a lot to offer Triada. Don’t waste your talent because you’re afraid of hurting someone else’s fragile ego.”
“Easy for you to say. You’re the boss. And a guy working in a male-dominated field. And I’ll bet no one’s ever told you to ‘act pretty.’”
