Page 93 of Until You (Forgive Me)

As they entered the store and began browsing the dresses. The sales assistant appeared almost instantly at their side.

“It’s fine,” Scarlett said to her. “We’re browsing. We’ll call you over as soon as we know what we want.”

The sales assistant smiled and melted back into the background, allowing Isabella to update her on the latest dramas of the past week. Scarlett’s jaw hit the floor, and Isabella watched as her friend’s face morphed from disbelief to complete outrage.

“So, what are you going to do?” Scarlett asked, holding up a floor-length gown for Isabella to see.

Isabella took the dress, holding it up in front of her.

“That is the million-pound question,” she said. “Christian has made some suggestions. He wants me to approach the board members, let them know what has happened. My father left provision for me to enter the company. I was, after all, raised to step into his shoes. But I let him down. I walked away. It’s been seven years since I last stepped through those doors. I need to stop Pierce and Edward. They’ve stolen from me... not just the money, but a chunk of my life. But in doing so, I refuse to destroy the company my father worked so hard to build.”

Scarlett’s eyes locked on Isabella’s.

“You didn’t let your father down, Izzy. He would have understood. Pierce and Edward saw a vulnerable young woman and took advantage. They need to be made to pay.”

Isabella had never seen her friend look so fierce.

“What does Christian suggest? You can’t tell me my brother doesn’t have a plan.”

Isabella rolled her eyes at her friend and smothered her giggle. “He suggested that I take over with a caretaker. He offered to be that caretaker initially.” She watched Scarlett scowl at that comment, so she continued. “I declined that as an option. He has more than enough on his plate.”

“Thank you,” Scarlett said. “Thank you for seeing what most people don’t. He has dedicated his life to The Dupree Group, sacrificed so much.” Scarlett sighed, staring down at her hands. Isabella watched as her friend’s chin trembled, wet eyes rising to meet hers. “He continues to do penance for what happened with Lily and Skylar. He continues to push himself harder and harder... It’s as if...” Scarlett stopped choking back her words.

Isabella ran a hand up and down her friend’s arm. “I know. It’s why I said no. His other option was Sebastian.”

Scarlett’s eyes clashed with Isabella’s, a flush creeping across her cheeks. “Seb?” Scarlett said, her voice a little wistful.

“Yes, Seb. Christian said he is more than capable of stepping into the CEO role in the interim until something else can be sorted out. I was worried about him abandoning Christian, but Christian said he needs to branch out on his own. It is something they have been talking about.”

Isabella watched her friend shuffle her feet and fidget as she talked about Seb.

“Spill,” she said eventually, unable to stand it any longer.

She couldn’t remember a time when she’d watched Scarlett squirm so much.

“It’s nothing,” Scarlett said, avoiding eye contact. “I agree with Christian. Sebastian would be a brilliant choice.”

Scarlett went to turn away, but Isabella caught hold of her arm.

“Did something happen between you and Sebastian?” she asked, the penny dropping.

Her friend had always had a soft spot for her older brother’s best friend, a bit like hers for Christian. It had been said but never really discussed.

She watched as Scarlett’s ears turned red. Oh, this was obviously going to be good.

Scarlett grimaced before taking a deep breath.

“Seb is the one who accompanied me to the US.”

Isabella froze. She knew her eyes must look like saucers. She knew someone had gone with Scarlett when she had left. Christian would not let her travel on her own. It had been several years ago when Scarlett had finally admitted in a late-night drunken phone call she had lost her virginity to the person who had dropped her off, but she’d remained silent on the who. She had made it sound like someone from the family’s security detail, a drunken fumble. If it was Seb, then that put a whole different spin on the event.

“You mean?” Isabella stuttered. “Oh, my... why on earth didn’t you tell me?”

Scarlett let out a large sigh. “Because I screwed it up, and instead of my teenage fantasies of us riding off into the sunset. He can barely bring himself to look at me.”

“Oh honey,” Isabella said, putting the dress down and pulling her friend into a hug.

Scarlett pulled back and wiped her eyes, giving Isabella a watery smile.

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