Short, blonde hair falling to the side, she rakes her eyes down my body. Her forced smile transforms into a bitter smirk, and her sweet, honey tone has a bite.
“You’re Scarlett. Yes?”
It isn’t a question, more like a challenge, as if she’s daring me to admit my name. I see no reason not to, but I’m more interested in why.
“Why? Do I know you?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest. Marie stares curiously between the two of us, wide brown eyes as lost as mine.
Glancing around, she tracks the other students, eyes watchful for anyone getting too close, before arrogantly saying, “No. But I believe you know my husband. You’re fucking him, after all.”
Marie’s gasp is strong enough for the two of us. I look around, hoping that no one heard. Fortunately for me, the quad has emptied out. Students are too concerned with getting to class on time to focus on us.
Glaring at Mrs. Ellis from the corner of my eye, I speak to Marie, persuading her to go on to class without me.
“I’ll be fine,” I reassure, eyeing Beth with a smirk on my lips.
“Yes. Scarlett will be fine. You can go.” After a bit of convincing, Marie heads to class, her gaze occasionally swiveling back to us until she disappears into the D Hall.
“You know, it wasn’t hard to find you. Seeing as my husband is so careless with his shit, looking up your information and class schedule was so simple.”
“What do you want?” I ask, folding my arms across my chest.
Beth’s stare dips, eyeing me critically. “How long have you been fucking him?”
Slowly, a smile creeps along my lips. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She could be fishing and know absolutely nothing at all. It doesn’t explain how she knew my name or what I looked like, but until she gives me some answers, she isn’t getting shit from me.
“Oh, I think you do,” she chirps, rifling through her oversized, blue leather Gucci tote. Out comes a folded piece of paper, or two, actually. She extends them toward me without a hint of hesitation.
It’s then that my gut begins to fall. A woman without fear is a woman that should be feared, and Beth Ellis is not afraid.
Taking the edge of the paper, I stare into her eyes, trying to read anything in those maniacal gems. Without meaning to, I hold my breath, unfurling the corners, slowly watching a black and gray image appear.
It’s me. That’s easy to see, my naked body on display while Theodore fucks me from below. The look on his face is pure ecstasy, though it’s a little hard to tell due to the motion.He really was fucking me hard.
The next photo is clearer. It’s me on all fours, my mouth full of Theodore’s thumb while his other hand holds my throat. There’s a smile on his lips as he presses his teeth to my cheek. It’s feral and dripping with passion, something she’ll never be able to experience again.
Instead of being disturbed, I just want to know, “Where did you get these?”
“That’s the least of your concerns. What you should be worried about is me and what I could ruin with these,” she says, snatching the images out of my hand.
My finger stings with pain when she rips them from me, creating a clean slice down the center of my skin.
Beth walks closer to me, eliminating the gap between our bodies. I look around, hoping to see someone around while also praying nobody spots our exchange.
She’s right on me now, her chest firmly pressed against mine as she glares down at me from three inches above. I don’t cower, back away, or look down. I won’t let her intimidate me, not when I already have everything I want. She’s fighting a war that’s already been won.
“You’re going to listen to me, Scarlett,” she utters, snarling with blinding white teeth. “Whatever you think you’re doing with my husband, it’s going to end. No, scratch that, it’s already ended as far as you’re concerned. Done, finished,fucking over. So you’re going to stop seeing him, stop calling, texting, whatever it is you fucking do, and move on with your meaningless little life. I don’t give a shit if you fuck someone else’s husband, but you’re through fucking mine. Understand?”
“And if I don’t?” I hiss, glaring at her with the same fire she blows my way.
Laughing, Beth pushes back, actually shoving me this time before digging her claws into my wrist. I feel my skin break, but still, I do not wince. I do not cry. Instead, I let her tear into my skin with that same cold-hearted smile on my face.
“You will, Scarlett, because if you don’t, I will ruin you. Your opportunity of going to the University of California will be no more. I will piss on your hopes and shatter your dreams. It only takes one email for me to destroy all you’ve worked for.”
Jerking my arm out of her hold, resulting in tearing my skin open more, I finally take a step back. “What are you talking about?” She can’t revoke my admission. I’ve already been accepted. Plus, what I do in private is no one’s business but my own.
“The University of California is a very prestigious school with a reputable reputation. Their status is among the very best. They wouldn’t want a lying, conniving little whore representing them. Especially when I tell them you’re fucking the husband of one of their biggest donors.”
“You can’t do that,” I say softly. I see it now, the life I’ve worked for, gone, falling apart at the seams. All because of a woman who doesn’t even love her husband.
