Free In A Wild Moment (Billionaire In Love 1) by Ava May

In a Wild Moment
     
    Chapter 1
    It had been a mixed couple of weeks for Scarlett Parker. The rays of the sun shone into her apartment and danced across the lounge, creating streaks of light and shadow that summed up the contrast in her life. She looked in the mirror and slid her hands along the curves of her body, patting out the slight creases that remained in the black dress, wondering if she should take it off and iron it, then glancing at the clock and realizing that she was already late. Scarlett sighed as she looked at herself in the mirror. Life was funny in the way it worked out and it was strange to see her reflection looking back at her when she wasn't really sure if she even knew herself.
    She slipped on her shoes, picked up her keys, and walked out of the door. Just before she did so, she looked a picture of her and Lisa.
    “I really miss you, Sis,” she said, and a silent tear swelled in her eye. Scarlett blinked it back before it began to sting.
    The day was warm, and in the distance she could hear the neighbors' kids playing, laughing with glee. Life was so innocent and perfect for them, Scarlett thought, and felt sad that it could not go back to that way for her. Just as she got into her car, her phone vibrated. Her breath caught in her throat, but when she looked at it she sighed with relief. It wasn't Matt calling; it was just her parents.
    “Are you on your way, dear?” her mother asked.
    “Yeah, I'm sorry I'm late. I'm just leaving now,” Scarlett said as she clipped the seat belt around her.
    “Could you pick us up some cranberry sauce on the way? I thought I had more than I did. Sometimes I think I'm losing my mind. Must be my age,” her mother said with a soft chuckle.
    “Of course. Any particular brand?”
    “Any old thing will do. See you soon,” her mother said, then ended the call. Scarlett tossed the phone into the passenger seat and eased the car out of the driveway, then drove through the city, stopping by at the store on the way. As she walked through the aisles, she resisted the temptation to buy anything else, but at the last minute remembered what Lisa's favorite brand of cranberry sauce was, then she saw a bag of M&M's. She giggled as she thought about how Lisa would rant about how popular the peanut ones were when the chocolate ones were better, so she picked up a packet and munched on them in the car. As she felt the soft shell crunch in between her teeth, she smiled. It was only a few years ago that her mother would have scolded her for eating candy before her dinner. It was one of the small joys of adulthood in which Scarlett reveled.
    Then the phone rang and her mood darkened. It was him again. She thought about letting it run through to her voice mail but she knew that it would only make him call again. And again. And again . So reluctantly, she picked up the phone.
    “What?” she asked curtly.
    “I just wanted to check if you were okay. You know, since it's—” Matt started.
    “I'm fine, and even if I wasn't, I don't need you to check up on me. It's not your job anymore.”
    “But I still care about you. I want to make sure you're okay.”
    “The only thing that's making me not okay is still talking to you. It's over, Matt. And nothing's going to change.”
    “Please, Scarlett. I can change. Whatever our problems were, we can work through them. I just know that we're perfect for each other, if you'd only give us a chance.”
    “We had a chance, Matt. We had loads of chances. Just let it go. This whining isn't doing you any favors. I'm not in the mood to talk about this right now anyway. I have more important things to think about today.”
    “Can I call you later? Just to make sure that you're okay.”
    “No. Matt. Leave. Me. ALONE!” she said, and slammed the phone down on the seat, where it bounced a little. The anger rose within her and she crumpled the bag of M&M's in a tight fist, feeling them crack under her force. He wasn't going to make her miserable.