Page 12 of Contract Of Shame

No spark. She felt nothing compared to the way Richard made her feel.

“Don’t go hogging my employees.”

Scarlet watched the two men embrace and leave to go into his office.

“He’s so lovely.” Opal sighed.

“Tony is a lot older than you,” Scarlet said.

“He’s like my school-girl crush. You know how loads of other girls fall in love with movie stars, but eventually grow out of it? Well, Tony is mine.”

“You managed to say all that without taking a breath,” Scarlet said with a laugh.

“What can I say? I’m young and in love.”

Scarlet smiled and enjoyed Opal’s company until her driver picked her up and took her home.

Before long the end of the day came and went. Scarlet didn’t bother to wish Richard a good night. He’d made it clear he would pick her up later that night once Harry was picked up from day-care and she’d talked to him about staying with friends.

Harry was tired and having a coughing fit when she collected him from the day-care centre.

She phoned John Barnes, Harry’s doctor, to make sure her son would be fine.

“Administer the inhaler, and if he doesn’t settle in the next thirty minutes bring him in.”

Scarlet did what the doctor requested and breathed a sigh of relief when after ten minutes Harry settled down. She didn’t see the need to take him to the hospital, and so she talked to him about spending some time with friends. Packing up their belongings for a week didn’t take long, and by the time Richard knocked on her door at seven, she and Harry were waiting.

“Are you ready?” he asked.

She nodded and gathered up Harry and his car seat.

“Don’t worry about the car seat. I’ve got one installed.”

Scarlet stopped and stared at him. Why would he go to so much trouble for a boy he wanted nothing to do with? Shrugging her shoulders she accepted his help into the car.

Harry sat between them. Richard continued to shock her when he reached out and began playing a game with her son.

She watched amazed at the transformation in the man who’d hurt her with a contract.

“Where do your friends live?”

“Just on the outskirts of the city in the country.” She held her son’s hand and waited. The journey didn’t last long, and Lily was opening the door to a beautiful country-style house.

“This must be the little guy? Hiya, I’m Lily. How are you doing, Scarlet? It’s been so long since I’ve seen you.” Scarlet shook the other woman’s hand and followed her inside. “The men will talk for a little bit. Let’s go, and have some tea and biscuits.”

Scarlet liked this woman already. With Harry on her hip she followed Lily through to the kitchen. The house was modest and not anything like Scarlet had imagined Richard’s friends to own.

“So you work for Richard? I mean officially now?” asked Lily.

“Yes. I’ve been his secretary I think for one year now, but before then I just helped whoever needed an extra pair of hands,” Scarlet said. Harry went up on one of the chairs near the counter.

“You’re very talkative.”

Scarlet glanced at her baby and then at the woman. She was doing the right thing.

****

“What did you do?” Wayne asked the moment the door closed.

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