Page 4 of His Scarlette Obsession
And the wolf of this month’s cautionary tale?
Lykan Qahiri.
CEO. Investor. Entrepreneur.
Predator.
I’ve never met him. He doesn’t even technically work for us. But his holding company owns a scary amount of real estate in the city, even the very building our office is in. I’ve only seen him once, and even that was just a glimpse from across the lobby.
Tall. Dark. And terrifyingly composed.
I remember thinking he didn’t look like a businessman. More like a sculptor’s fever dream of one. Every inch polished, pressed, and powerful. The memory still makes my face flush hot – how utterly I’d stared while he crossed the lobby like he owned it. Which, technically, he did.
He walked like he knew no one would dare stop him. And from what I’ve heard, no one ever has.
But for all his power and all the wolfish whispers trailing behind his name, he’s nothing like—
Oh no.
I warn myselfnotto go to forbidden territory, but it’s too late. My brain is already halfway there, tripping over itself like it always does, every time I’m justaboutto think of him.
I haven’t even allowed his name to resurface in my mind, but oh, my heart...
It used to leap for joy at the thought of him, but ever since I prayed about him to God?
My eyes slowly close, and the picture of him immediately forms in my mind.
Vaughn.
My heart squeezes...and keeps squeezing as memories start trickling in.
Vaughn, with his messy hair and worn-out elbow-patched tweed jackets. Vaughn, who smiles like he knows how ridiculous he looks in his reading glasses but wears them anyway. Vaughn, who listens when I rant about data reporting errors and never makes me feel small for caring too much.
Vaughn, who I’ve been half in love with since I was sixteen and spending summers with Grandma Jackie in Chisa, following him around the bakery like a puppy while he fixed her ancient desktop computer.
Vaughn, who—
Just stop it, Scar. Stop it.
Because my heart can’t take anymore squeezing.
You prayed about this, remember?
So just chill and wait for His sign.
‘Kay?
I force my attention back on this month’s newsletter.
Focus, Scar.
If there’s one man I should be thinking of right now, it’s the kind who makes Forbes headlines for breakfast, and as much as I’mtempted to describe him as the big, bad corporate wolf that he truly is—
You can be honest without being mean, you know?
Doesn’t matter if the other person deserves it.
My whole life, people have always said I’mnice.
