Free Vengeful Love by Laura Carter Page B

Heath
    Senior Associate
    Saunders, Taylor and Chamberlain LLP
    I hit the Send icon before it dawns on me how outrageously flirtatious my email is. It doesn’t even sound like me. It’s confident and brash. I could kick myself.
    To: Heath, Scarlett
    From: Ryans, Gregory
    Sent: Monday 12 Oct 2015 23.12
    Subject: Re: Slave Driving CEOs
    In that case, the least I can do is have Jackson waiting for you outside to take you home when you finish.
    Gregory Ryans
    CEO Eclectic Technologies
    To: Ryans, Gregory
    From: Heath, Scarlett
    Sent: Monday 12 Oct 2015 23.13
    Subject: Re: Slave Driving CEOs
    Gregory,
    Please do not trouble Jackson but thank you for the offer.
    Scarlett Heath
    Senior Associate
    Saunders, Taylor and Chamberlain LLP
    To: Heath, Scarlett
    From: Ryans, Gregory
    Sent: Monday 12 Oct 2015 23.14
    Subject: Re: Slave Driving CEOs
    Jackson will be outside from midnight. Please see my previous email.
    Gregory Ryans
    CEO Eclectic Technologies
    When I step out of the office into the cool night air, Jackson gets out of the Mercedes to greet me.
    “Good evening, Miss Heath.”
    “Call me Scarlett, please. I’m sorry to drag you out at this time of night, Jackson, I didn’t—”
    “I work for Mr. Ryans any time of day, it’s no trouble.”
    I smile with genuine gratitude. The thought of putting any more time than necessary between my bed and me is less than appealing. I sit into the back of the Mercedes and Jackson locks me in. I lean my head back to rest against the black leather seat and inhale the lingering scent of Gregory. God, even that makes me want him. My eyes close and his sexy half smile fills my mind.
    “Scarlett. Scarlett.” Jackson rocks my shoulders gently, waking me up.
    I thank Jackson and make my way to the house, rubbing my tired eyes. Sandy’s still up watching television in the lounge.
    “What’s wrong?” I ask instinctively, dreading the response.
    “It’s okay, don’t panic. He’s been very unsettled today but the doctor called again and gave him something to help him sleep.”
    With a sigh, I slump onto the sofa next to Sandy, who wraps her arm around me. My heart rate returns to manageable as I lean into her shoulder.
    “Are you okay?” I ask.
    “Of course,” she whispers as she pulls me more tightly into her side. “I know you don’t want to talk about it, neither do I, but the doctor left some brochures today. Some of the places look very nice, like posh hotels.”
    She leans toward the coffee table to retrieve the brochures and I slip out of her embrace, instantly missing the sweet smell of pastry on her wool cardigan.
    “Can we talk about this tomorrow?”
    Sandy nods. I kiss her on the cheek and wish her goodnight then shuffle along the floor and up the stairs where I collapse onto my bed.
    Flushing hot then shivering cold, I toss and turn all night.

Chapter Eight
    It’s a thoroughly miserable Friday morning. I fight with my umbrella in the wind and rain—the worst of all weather combinations. The bottom of my knee-length dress is a darker shade of red than the rest when I eventually arrive into the muggy air of the tube platform. The damp grey mac that I thought was waterproof is clinging to my arms.
    The signal on my Blackberry drifts in and out as the tube moves between over and under land but I have reception for long enough to find that my three o’clock meeting at Eclectic Technologies has been moved to ten this morning.
    “Great! That’s just great!” I say, unintentionally loud. I slam my Blackberry first into its case then into my bag.
    With the exception of the woman sitting opposite me who rolls her eyes and tuts, no one else seems to notice my tantrum. The man sitting in the seat to my left still snores with his mouth wide open. The woman to my right is lost in her novel. The girl standing in the middle of the aisle continues to tap her foot and chew her gum in time to the sound bellowing out of her earmuff-size headphones.
    “Scarlett!” Jack yells before