Page 102 of Scarlett and the Big Bad Billionaire
A PART OF ME
Scarlett
There was a knock at the door to my suite.
I stopped folding clothes and turned to glare at it. “Go away, Gray. I don’t feel like talking—orposing nude.”
“It’s Vivi, dear.”
Fantastic. I was just thinking I could use a little more humiliation tonight.
I rushed to the door and opened it. “Sorry about that. I thought you were… you know.”
She rolled her chair into my room. “I know.”
Peeking into the hallway and checking one direction then the other, I drew back into the room and shut the door.
“Is… everyone gone?” I asked.
“If you mean is Gray gone, yes, he is. Everyone’s left. The party’s over… in every sense of the word I suppose. Why did you two pretend to be engaged?”
Going to sit on my bed, I faced her. “I’m sorry. It just sort of happened. Gray pretended we were engaged when my old fiancé showed up. He was trying to help me get rid of him, and it worked, but then you overheard.”
I threw my hands out to the side then let them flop to my lap.
“You were so happy, and it seemed to make you feel more energized. We were both worried about you possibly having a relapse of your condition if we told you it wasn’t real. And then you planned this amazing night, and we didn’t know how to get out of it.”
“And is that what you wanted?” she asked. “To get out of it?”
“Of course,” I blurted, but then I got quiet. Now that it was over, I didn’t feel relieved. I felt sort of the opposite.
“I’m not sure,” I admitted. “I’ve spent so much of my life focusing on what Ineededto do and should do and what other people wanted me to do, I think I’ve kind of lost touch with what I want.”
She nodded. “Well then, you know what your next step is. You need tofigure outwhat you want.”
I reached for her hand, and she gave it to me. For a few minutes we just sat with clasped hands in the quiet room.
“I have to go home,” I said. “I can’t think clearly when I’m this close to Gray.”
Her hand squeezed mine. “You know, thatcouldbe an indicator of what you really want.”
“It could also mean that my girl parts have been doing all my thinking for me, and I need to let my brain have a turn. Sorry—that may have been TMI. Sometimes I forget I’m talking to my grandmother.”
She let out a loud guffaw. “You don’t get tobea grandmother unless your ‘girl parts’ have seen a little action. It may have been a while, but I do know what you’re talking about. I’ll just say one more thing about it—while you’re letting your brain mull it over, don’t forget to let your heart have a say.”
“I really love you, you know that?”
She nodded, her misty eyes matching mine. “I know. I love you, too. I always have.”
I swiped at an escaped tear on my cheek. “I’m sorry to be leaving before the auction, but I just can’t be around him right now, you know?”
She patted my other hand. “I know. And you’ve already done more to help me than I ever could have expected. You’ve been the answer to my prayers, and this time with you has been more precious than I could ever express. I’m sure Gray will handle the auction just fine on his own. Will you promise to come back and visit me soon? No matter what you decide about him?”
“I will. I promise. I’m going to miss you so much.” I leaned forward and hugged her, breathing in her soft, powdery scent.
She patted my back. “I’ll miss you, too, honey.”
When the embrace ended, Vivi reached into the leather pocket hanging from the side of her wheelchair and pulled out an envelope.
