<i>(</i><i>Virginia’s </i><i>POV</i><i>) </i>
More Rewards
The next morning, I’m standing in the marble lobby of Cross Industries at exactly nine AM, wearing my most professional outfit and practicing my most concerned expression in the reflection of the elevator doors.
Dorian Cross has offices on the forty–second floor, ording <i>to </i>thepany directory. Getting past security was easier than I expected–a tearful story about being Scarlett’s concerned friend, worried about her getting involved with the wrong sort of man, was enough to get me a visitor’s badge and an escort to the executive level.
“Mr. Cross is in meetings all morning,” his assistant–a severe–looking woman with silver hair and sharp sses–tells me without looking up from herputer. “If you’d like <i>to </i>make an appointment-<b>” </b>
“It’s urgent,” I interrupt, letting just the right amount of desperation creep into my voice. “Please. It’s about Scarlett Stone. She’s in real danger, and he’s the only one who can help
her.”
That gets her attention. She looks up, studying my face with calcting eyes.
“What kind of danger?” <fnfc8e> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n FιndNovel</fnfc8e>
“The kind that could destroy her life. And his reputation.”
Five minutester, I’m sitting across from Dorian Cross himself in an office that screams money and <i>power</i>. Floor–to–ceiling windows offer a breathtaking view of the city, and everything <i>from </i>the mahogany desk to the leather chairs speaks of sess earned and
maintained.
He’s even more intimidating in person than in his photos. Tall, broad–shouldered, with the kind of presence thatmands attention. But there’s also something gentle about his expression when he looks at me, concerned and ready to listen.
No wonder Scarlett chose him. He’s everything she always wanted Jasper to be.
“Miss Stone, is it?” His voice is deep, professional. “My assistant said you have concerns about Scarlett Stone.”
“I do.” I sp my hands in myp, the picture of worried sincerity. “I’ve known Scarlett for years, Mr. Cross. I watched her marriage to Jasper ke fall apart, and I’m afraid… I’m afraid she’s going to do the same thing to you.”
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His expression doesn’t change, but I catch the slight tightening around his eyes. “What exactly are you suggesting?”
“Scarlett has a pattern,” I say carefully. “She presents herself as this sweet, innocent woman who’s been wronged by the world. But the truth is, she’s incredibly maniptive. She creates drama, manufactures crises, and then ys the victim when people react to her behavior.”
“That’s quite an usation.”
“It’s the truth.” I lean forward, injecting urgency into my voice. “Do <i>you </i>know why her marriage really ended, Mr. Cross?”
“I know enough.”
“Do you? Because Scarlett would have you believe that Jasper abandoned her, that he chose another woman over his pregnant wife. But that’s not what happened at all.”
I can see I have his attention now. His posture has shifted, be more alert.
“What really happened,” I continue, “is that Scarlett became insanely jealous of Jasper’s friendship with me. Not because there was anything romantic between us–there wasn’t–but because she couldn’t stand sharing his attention with anyone.”
“Miss Stone-”
“Please, let me finish. This is important.” I take a shaky breath, like this is difficult for me to say. “The night she left, I had a severe panic attack. Life–threatening. Jasper had promised to take Scarlett to see some meteor shower, but when I called for help, he made the reasonable choice <i>to </i>save my life first.”
Dorian’s expression is carefully neutral, but I can see he’s listening.
“Scarlett threw a tantrum,” I continue. “Got out of the car on the highway and refused to get back in. Jasper begged her to be reasonable, but she wouldn’t listen. She was so angry about not getting her way that she was willing to put herself and her unborn child at risk just to make a point.”
“That sounds like aplicated situation-”
“It gets worse. After Jasper left to get me medical help–after choosing to save my life over indulging her tantrum–Scarlett decided to punish him. She filed for divorce without even trying to work things out. She cut off all contact, took his child away from him, and disappeared.”
I pause, letting that sink in.
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“For four years, Mr. Cross, Jasper has been searching for his wife and child. Do you know what that kind of loss does to a man? Do you know what it’s like to wonder every day whether your child is alive, whether they’re safe, whether they even know you exist?”
Something flickers across Dorian’s features. Doubt, maybe. Or concern.
“And now,” I press on, “Scarlett waltzes back into town with her sessful business and her new life, and what does she do? She parades her rtionship with you in front of her devastated ex–husband like it’s some kind of victory.”
“Miss Stone, I think you should stop-”
“She’s using you.” The wordse out sharp, desperate. “She’s using your feelings for her, your sess, your reputation, to make herself look good and make Jasper suffer. That’s who Scarlett Stone really is–a woman who destroys the people who love her and then moves on
to the next victim.”
The silence that follows is deafening. Dorian stares at me for a long moment, his dark eyes unreadable.
Then he stands.
“Miss Stone, I’m going to ask you to leave my office.”
“But I’m trying to help-”
“No,” he says firmly, moving around the desk toward me. “You’re trying to sabotage a good woman’s reputation with lies and maniption. And I won’t sit here and listen to it.”
My heart pounds as he towers over me. This wasn’t supposed to happen. He was supposed to listen, supposed to doubt, supposed to see the truth about what Scarlett really is.
“They’re <i>not </i>lies-”
“They are.” His voice is cold now, all warmth gone. “Every word out of your mouth has been calcted <i>to </i>paint Scarlett as some kind of viin, when the truth is obvious to anyone who knows her.”
“You don’t understand-”
“I understand perfectly.” He crosses to his office door, opening it wide. “You’re a jealous, bitter woman who can’t stand seeing someone else find happiness. And you’re willing to spread poison to try to destroy that happiness.”
The usation hits like a p. “That’s not-”
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“Scarlett is one of the strongest, most genuine people I’ve ever met. She’s built a life for herself and her daughter through sheer determination and hard work. She’s kind, generous, andpletely devoted to that little girl.” His eyes sh with protective anger. “And if you think I’m going to let you tear her down with your toxic lies, you’re even more delusional than I thought.”
I stand on shaking legs, my carefully constructed story crumbling <i>around </i>me.
“Mr. Cross, please. If you’ll just listen-”
“I’m done listening. Security!”
Within seconds, two uniformed guards appear in the doorway.
“Escort Miss Stone out of the building,” Dorian says without taking his eyes off me. “And make sure she understands she’s not wee back.”
“Sir-<b>” </b>
“Now.”
As the security guards approach me, I make onest desperate attempt.
“Ask her if they’re legally divorced!” I call out as they take my arms. “Ask her if Jasper knows about his child!”
But Dorian has already turned away, dismissing me aspletely as if I don’t exist.
The elevator ride down feels endless. By the time the guards deposit me on the sidewalk outside Cross Industries, my cheeks are burning with humiliation and my hands are shaking with rage.
He didn’t listen, wouldn’t even consider that I might be telling the truth.
Just like everyone else, he’spletely under Scarlett’s spell.
Not for the first time, I wonder what kind of medicine she feeds them. This level of devotion is beyond infuriating.
It’s sickening.
”
Violet Moon
#Vote#!
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