Page 14 of Coming Home

“I saw the way he was looking at you all night, and I saw the way you were looking at him. I am pretty good at reading people, Scarlett, and the two of you had serious chemistry—just be careful.”

“Don’t worry, I can look after myself. I have done my research on him, and he has a different woman nearly every week. I really don’t think that I would be suitable for him, I am sure he prefers supermodels, of which I am not. Besides, I need to get my life in order first before I even think about dating anyone.” I take a sip of my coffee, feeling defeated.

“You know I like a different woman nearly every week, and I like to think I am a decent guy. While I am not ready to settle down yet, I know I would if the right woman came along.”

“Yeah, I am sure your bed posts are full of notches, so much so you need another bed!” I laugh at him, trying again to steer the conversation away from me. Stephen plates up our breakfast, and we sit together, laughing and talking about business and what my future may hold as we delve into the pancakes. We talk together so easily that time flies and it is already 2pm. Both of us are still wrapped up in our robes and slippers. I can’t remember the last time I had a pajama day; it feels so good and relaxing.

My phone rings, interrupting our chatter. It’s Katie “Hey, how did the gala go last night? I have been dying to ask you all morning. Why didn’t you call me and give me the gossip!” I laugh.

“Sorry, I got caught up chatting to Stephen this morning.” Stephen jumps up from the kitchen and gives me a little wave as I walk back to my room and proceed to tell her all about the evening.

“Well, after all that formal socializing last night, how do you feel about going out dancing tonight? I just got off the phone with Tony, and he and Tom want to take us out on the town!” she says with an excited giggle.

I haven't been out dancing in a long time. I really haven’t felt like dancing in any capacity since the incident. But the past few weeks have been good for me. “Why don’t you all come over here, and we can have a few drinks and get ready together? That way, we can get a car to drop us off so we can all enjoy a drink while we are out?” Uncle Ray has eased up on my security, so I feel like now is the perfect time to spread my wings a little more.

“Yes! I will call Tony and let him know and we will see you in a few hours!” She is so excited that she hung up before I could reply. I hurry into my bathroom and jump in the shower so I can be at least a little presentable for when my friends arrive. I put on some jeans and a t-shirt, then head back downstairs where I see Aunt Emily and Uncle Ray in the family room. “I hope you don’t mind but I invited Katie, Tony, and Tom over for a few hours so we can get ready together before we go out dancing tonight?”

“Oh, that is perfectly fine, dear, your friends are welcome here at any time,” Aunt Emily gushes. “Help yourself to the bar or kitchen for anything you need. Ray and I are heading out for dinner tonight as well, so we won’t be here, so no need to worry about us.” Aunt Emily drags Uncle Ray upstairs, so they can get ready for their evening, and I snuggle onto the couch to watch some TV and get a bit of me time before they arrive. Yep, the old Scarlett is starting to emerge, and I am ready for whatever life is going to throw at me. Bring it on.

18

Scarlett

When my friends arrive in the early evening, they enter through the double front doors and look around the house with their mouths open, gaping at the luxury of it all. The house is adorned with flowers left over from the gala last night. It makes the house look like a magical garden, and the aroma is out of this world.

“Oh my god, Scarlett, all these flowers are amazing, can I live here too?” Tony says with a cheeky glint in his eyes and smirk on his face. I love his friendly banter. He has been the same since the first day I met him, and it is a big part of how we connected and became so close so fast. Tom hits him playfully. They are a cute couple, and although I haven’t spent too much time with Tom, I can see they are in love. It is Tom's first time here, so I give him a quick tour downstairs before Katie heads straight for the bar.

“Let’s get some drinks!” she sings as I help her find a bottle of champagne and we make a toast. “To good friends, good dancing, and maybe some debauchery,” Katie says, making us laugh.

I take a sip and sigh. Yep, I love my new life.

We take our champagne upstairs and start to get ready. We are all excited, but I am also a bit nervous. Is it possible to lose your rhythm if you haven’t danced for over a year? I mean, I danced at the gala last night, but a waltz is very different to the kind of dancing that takes place at a club.

Katie and I are both single and totally up for dancing the night away and meeting some dashing Princes—although I can only think of one dashing Prince I really want to see. I have told both Katie and Tony all about running into Shaun at the Business Summit and begin to fill them in about seeing him last night.

“OMG, he was here as well!” Katie screams so loud that I wonder if the neighbors heard.

“Oh, that is so romantic that you keep crossing paths. You are totally into him, aren’t you, Scar?” Tony teases me. I blush, which makes them all laugh, and soon the conversation goes back to fashion, makeup, and shoes.

Katie helps me get ready. She is very fashion oriented, so I let her take the lead. She is truly like the sister I never had, and I am so glad I have her. I have no idea what to wear, but she brought a few dresses from her wardrobe for me to try on, and I found a sexy little black dress in her collection that hugs me in all the right places. I leave my hair out and finish my look off with some sexy patent Louboutin black high heels. I go a little heavier with my makeup; I feel daring and sexy, and I want the outside to reflect how I feel on the inside.

I feel good, I feel normal. Like a normal young woman hanging out with her friends and ready for a fun night. I survey myself in the mirror, and I am a little taken aback by my reflection. I look sexy. The sexiest I have looked in a long time. After a few glasses of champagne, I have let down my walls, and I am ready to dance the night away.

We make our way downstairs to leave. “Scarlett, we need to totally have a party in this house one night. It would be insane.” Tom is still gawking at the place and nearly trips down the stairs, too busy looking at the magnificent chandelier and not watching where he is walking. We grab our coats and head outside where there is a car and driver waiting to take us anywhere we want to go.

Uncle Ray didn’t mention for me to take security, but I have a feeling one or two guys may follow us, from a distance at least. He has eased up, but not completely let go of me yet. It is getting a little annoying, and I hope we can ease up on it soon, since there is no real threat to me here.

We reach the club, and it is busy. The line is out the door and snaking around the corner, so I know that it is a popular place. Club Nitro. Katie says it is the best club in town, but I didn’t ask too much about it. Our driver opens the car door, and we pile out onto the sidewalk. Before we go to wait in the line, our driver speaks to the bouncers, and they let us right in. I feel like a celebrity or something, everyone is looking at us to see who we are. Katie giggles, and Tom and Tony act like movie stars; it is hilarious. I hate the attention, so I speed off with my head down. I am already halfway inside the door before the others join me. If only everyone knew that we are just normal people–no one special. It is important to me to have a sense of modesty and humility. While I know that my family are wealthy beyond measure, it is important to me to stay grounded and just be me.

We walk into the club, and I immediately feel the music through the floor. The base is thrumming through my body, and I want to dance. I grab Katie, and we hit the dance floor, Tony and Tom right behind us. I dance and dance, the music guiding my every move. All four of us are laughing and dancing together; it is more fun than I have had in a long time. The boys are getting into it and soon are off on their own, having eyes only for each other, loving their time together.

Katie and I continue to dance and as the night wears on, the dance floor gets really crowded. Next to us, a group of guys start dancing a bit too close to me. I don’t panic as I know they are harmless, but I am not keen to be around them. They look too drunk, their eyes are bloodshot, and their dance moves a little off balance. They really aren’t my type, and I feel like now is a good time to rest and grab a drink. But before I can shimmy away, one of the guys grabs me and starts twirling me around. Normally, I wouldn’t mind too much, but he is really rough and uncoordinated, so my body is being flung all over the place, and I am nervous I am going to trip and land in a heap on the dance floor.

Katie is watching and trying to get closer to me so she can intervene, but there are too many people between us. The way he is throwing me around, it is only going to be a matter of minutes before I twist my ankle or he throws me onto the floor, neither option one I want to consider.

Just as I am trying to plan my escape route, he pulls me toward him and starts grinding against me. I can feel his hard length against my hips, and it is the least attractive dancing I have ever encountered. He is sweaty and disgusting, and I want to get away. I try to push him off me, and I wonder for not the first time tonight where the security guys are? The one time I actually need them, and they are nowhere to be found.

I am now past the point of frustration, and I am getting a little scared. He is holding my wrist so tight; I am sure I will have bruises; he just won’t let me go. I stop dancing, trying in vain to pull my hand away from him. Katie has been eaten up by the crowd, and I can’t see her anymore, although I know that she won’t be far away. The downside of being short is when big guys are around me, I can’t see anyone or anything beyond them.

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