Page 48 of Everything I Need

“Scarlett, I know you. You’re just afraid to admit it now. But at least Addy and I have planted the seed in your head. So if you didn’t already know it, at least you're thinking about it.”

Except, I did already know it.

My phone buzzes, and of course my sisters being sisters, grab it thinking it is Preston professing his undying love for me. Unfortunately, it was Niles. Again.

Niles:Scarlett, your office is ready for you. $15,000 a year raise.

“What is this, Scarlett? Are you going back to Boston?” Addy says angrily.

“I don’t know. Niles has been texting me non-stop since the charity dinner. He keeps adding zeros to my salary and talking about promotions. If, and that is abigif, I go back, things will be on my terms. He will be allowing me to work virtually, and I will be starting a branch in this area. I’m not going back to Boston.”

And not giving up Preston. Shit. Maybe my sisters are right. I need to just admit my feelings to him.

“What about working for yourself? Preston was bragging about the work you did for him, and Mom was just saying how excited you were about an old client wanting to work with you?” Lacey says.

I did say that. I do have that. I don’t know why I’m entertaining Niles' offer other than financial security. I’d be salaried. I wouldn’t have to worry about all the ins and outs of starting my own business. But is working for that pig really what I want? Because even if I start my own branch, he’s still in charge.

“I know. It is just a lot to think about. But I’m leaning to my own business, or at least making going back to Niles to happen on my terms.” I say unclear on my decision.

“What happened in Boston, Scarlett?” Lacey looks really concerned. I’d briefly told them a shortened version, but I know Addy has heard about his comments at the charity dinner from Preston and I guess I do owe them an explanation.

“Niles decided the first promotion I was up for, that if I wanted it, I could have it. As long as I followed his lead and went to bed him like he wanted me to. I said no, obviously. He’s my boss and I want to be promoted for my work, not who I’m sleeping with. Niles didn’t like my decision. So, I was passed over. Then passed over again, and again. I finally couldn’t take it. None of those guys he was promoting were sleeping with him. None of them got the ultimatum, but there they were being promoted with less time, and less quality work than me. So, I snapped. I called Niles on it and walked out.”

Addy looks shocked, “Um, you want to tell us all this after admitting you’re actually considering going back to work for him? He should be getting into a lot of trouble for making that a stipulation!”

“Yeah, Scarlett. You should seek an attorney for workplace harassment.” Lacey looks a lot more serious.

“I don’t want to cause any trouble really. I just want to be able to open a practice here and get my clients. I really want to work with more small businesses. It is way more fulfilling to help Preston get his practice up and running than it is to help big corporations that don’t even need the marketing really.” Well. I guess that’s my answer.

I’ve been going back and forth in my head for a while. I know I’ll have to take some of the big corporations on as clients so I can help the small businesses with less money get started. But I can pick and choose if I’m working for myself. I wouldn’t have to work with companies who I didn’t believe in, or whose values were vastly different from mine.

As always, Lacey is on the same page as me. “Sounds like you’ve already made up your mind then. Can I text Niles back and tell him to screw off? I’d really like to yell at someone.”

“Um, absolutely not!” That would be terrible.

“Oooh, let’s go to one of those rage rooms!” Addy changes the topic and we fall into a fit of laughter imagining our sweet little Addy in a rage room.

At some point my sisters and I had all gotten close and were holding hands, eating cookie dough during our conversation. I realize in that moment, that I finally have a man who doesn’t make me choose between him or my sisters. He doesn’t make me feel bad for wanting to help Lacey, because he was just as close to his brother. I also realize that I’m not giving this up. And that means turning down Niles once and for all. I need to go to Boston and have a meeting with him. I am getting what I want, and I was using our past to get it. Screw Niles.

“Alright, Lacey, we have my life sorted out, now you’re up.” I face Addy whose face turns serious, and we both give Lacey a little squeeze as her tears start to fill her eyes.

“Oh, guys. I don’t even know where to start. It’s never been great with Michael since we got married, but I got pregnant with Oliver and then when things got really bad with him, I wasn’t sharing my time with Oliver. Of course, Michael never really had any interest in spending time with Oliver, but if I left him you know he’d fight for it just because he wouldn’t want me to have full custody.” She swipes a tear off her cheek.

“That asshole. He has never once shown an interest in poor Olly.” Addy gets fired up about Oliver and Michael.

“Right. So anyways about three months ago he started acting really strange. Picking fights more. Blaming everything on me and Oliver that was going wrong in his life. I ignored it and kept going, shielding Oliver from his hatred as best I could, and gathering evidence I would need to ensure full custody when I left. I’d already made that decision, and seeing Scarlett leave a toxic situation and thrive, really pushed me to start finding a lawyer.” She’s so strong.

“Okay, but you said he has a girlfriend?” I cannot believe that scumbag. Lacey was the best thing to ever happen to him and instead of accepting her help he just treats her like a dog.

“I’m getting there. Ok, so a month ago, I get this message asking if Michael is my husband. I investigate and see photos of this woman and Michael all over her social media. Trips together, that match up with work trips, or guys nights so I respond and tell her yes he is my husband. She then has the nerve to tell me to leave her man alone and let him be.” She laughs quietly to herself at the ridiculousness of it all.

“Her man? Was she serious?” Addy yells.

“One hundred percent. She goes on to tell me to finally grant him the divorce and let him sign rights over to Oliver. They needed a clean slate to be together and raise their baby.”

“Woah! She is pregnant and said Michael wants to sign over his rights?” I’m no lawyer but that isn’t going to go over well in the divorce with the judge, especially in a custody battle.

“She did. Spelled it out for me, and even sent me screenshots of texts between them blaming me for why they can’t be together and start over. Like I even knew.”

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