Page 46 of His Cruel Billionaire Scorecard

Scarlett sat up and crossed her arms. “Well, it seemed like you were getting a bit too cozy. Just watch yourself, Luisa,” she retorted.

Marcus raised an eyebrow; his amusement was evident. “Cozy? Scarlett? Luisa and I were merely exchanging pleasantries. I assure you, there’s nothing more to it, Luisa, please get her snacks, if she’s hungry, she becomes unbearable,” he explained, his tone tinged with sarcasm.

Luisa, caught in the middle of their banter, couldn’t help but chuckle softly, appreciating Marcus’s light-hearted response.

“Fine, believe what you want,” she muttered, turning away in a huff, and dismissing them with a wave of her hand.

Marcus shook his head, still smiling. “You always have a way of making things interesting, Scarlett,” he commented.

A few minutes later, Scarlett applied a layer of sunscreen and felt sleepy. The fragrance of the lotion mingled with the salty sea air, giving her a subtle tropical allure. Her eyelids fluttered closed as she succumbed to the embrace of a midday nap.

Occasional laughter and the distant sound of splashing water drifted from the nearby shore, indicating the presence of other beachgoers. She wished it was a private island instead of this place, but they offered great massages; how could she resist coming here? She drifted into sleep till she heard her name being called from afar.

“Scarlett, Scarlett?”

Irritated at her interrupted nap. “Yes?”

“Remember that huge deal I told you about?”

“Mr. Winston, right?”

Marcus knew she was shallow and pigheaded, but she knew her way around the business. Her parents were rich lawyers but also investors and taught her the tricks of the trade. He met her closing a business deal on behalf of her father’s company at a party; he was a VIP guest and had just had the chance to witness her speak spectacularly; he’d been impressed by her with her long legs and scheming eyes. Sure, she was unbearable now and then, but that also appealed to him, and the love life was a fiery, selfish romance.

“We have to be at dinner with mister Winston some days from now, how about everything we’ve discussed? And–”

“Hey, hey,” Scarlet interrupted, sitting up immediately.

“I told you this already, don’t bother checking in with me; all I need to do is to be happy and be perfect, right? Does The old man bag just need a happy couple? I’m the perfect actress.

I think I’m the best out there, I dare say,“ she said with a smile and put on her beach glasses.

“You wanna leave the sun now, dear?”

“I wanna tan some more.”

Marcus was under an umbrella, reading the Times magazine, but he had folded it, regarding her with a pretty serious look.

“Scarlett honey, listen. This is something that could make or break my career, my biggest rival, your ex-boyfriend,” he said with emphasis on an ex-boyfriend, causing Scarlett to frown.

“He’s going to be there and as far as I know, he’s also bringing someone.”

“What?”

Scarlett frowned; she couldn’t think or picture Roman with anyone, and the thought of him having someone to date sent a familiar steak of anger up her chest, reminding her that she wasn’t still over him.

“I can’t picture him with a woman. It probably has to be set up.”

“How sure are you about that?”

“Don’t do that. I’m only saying that because I know him. He’s practically a loner. It took him so long to open up to me, he never spoke of him getting some girlfriend I’ve never heard of in just three days.”

She huffed and rested against the chair. Roman always had a way of riling her up.

Marcus studied her for a moment.

“I don’t know about that,” Marcus began, “I hear this woman works with him; maybe it’s an office romance kind of thing. And what’s more? She’s pretty too.”

“What?”

---