Again and Again (3 page)

3

Scarlet

Monnique kept to herself most of the time. When Olga made her lunch, she didn’t eat it. She was quiet, soft spoken. The flare and fire in her step was gone. The light was absent in her eyes. A life without Cortland was hitting her hard.

I knocked on her door when she didn’t come out all day. “Monnique?”

“It’s open.”

I stepped inside and looked at the bed. She wasn’t lying down or sitting on the mattress. Instead, she was sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall. It was dark in the
room, all the curtains were drawn shut. “Everything okay?”

She shrugged. “No. Yes. I don’t know.”

I gave her a sympathetic look then sat beside her on the floor. The darkness made me feel unreal. The room was spotless. Monnique was always a neat freak, but I suspected she cleaned because she wanted to occupy her mind.

“How’s the job hunt going?” I asked. I couldn’t think of anything else to say.

“I have a few interviews lined up.”

“That’s good,” I said with an excited voice. “What
departments?”

“Labor and delivery and emergency medicine.”

“Those both sound great.”

“Yeah,” she said lifelessly.

For the week she’s been here, she hadn’t been eating or moving. She was a sloth. “Looked for an apartment?”

“Not really,” she said. “But I’ll leave if
you don’t want me here. Janice said I could squeeze in with them if I needed to, even though I’m not Ryan’s favorite person at the moment…”

“No,” I said quickly. “That’s not what I meant. I was just trying to make conversation.”

“Oh. So…how’s the pregnancy?”

“It’s okay. Nothing too extreme has happened. I’m a little hungrier than usual.”

Monnique smirked. “Is that possible?” she teased.

“Well, it is. When Sean and I went out to dinner the other night, I ate my entire plate then ate his leftovers. He looked at me like I was crazy.”

“No. He was probably impressed.”

I smiled. “He says he likes my belly.”

“That’s sweet,” she said. “A real man will make you feel attractive even when you look like hell. Cortland used to be the same way…”

He was always a toug
h topic.

“Does he…have feelings for this girl?”

“He says they are just friends.” I didn’t look at her face because the pain was too hard to stare at.

“Do you think that’s true?”

“If I had to pinpoint a single trait about Cortland it would be his honesty. He never lies.”

“No, he doesn’t…” She hugged her waist. “I’m sorry about the way I treated you, Scarlet. I shouldn’t have thrown away your friends
hip. I guess…I was just jealous. Ever since Cortland and I got together, he always speaks of you so highly. As soon as he has a problem, he turns to you. When he told me about your intimacy, it just made me explode. It confirmed something I always suspected. And the truth didn’t make me feel better…not that it justifies what I did.”

“I understand, Monnique.”

“You do?” she asked. “Because it seems like you’re still upset with me.”

“I’ve forgiven you for what you said and did to me. I know you were just upset. But…I’m still resentful for what you did to Cortland. That wasn’t an issue worth ending a relationship. You should have stayed and worked it out. You didn’t see him fall apart in my eyes. He’s my best friend, and I don’t like it when anyone hurts him, even if she’s a good friend.”

Monnique took a deep breath and blinked her eyes quickly. “I completely understand. And I know everyone else feels the same way.”

I didn’t want her to feel like we were ganging up on her, but I couldn’t deny
it.

“But I’m here now. And I’ll work my ass off to get him back.”

I wasn’t sure if that effort would be futile.

“What has Cortland told you?”

“The same thing he told you. He loves you but he can’t just forget what happened. Three months is a long time. He’s finally accepted a life without you in it. Then you just barge into his life unexpectedly.”

She nodded. “There’s something I want to ask you, friend to friend.”

I had no idea what she would ask me, and I was nervous to hear her speak.

“Please tell Cortland to take me back.” She pleaded with her eyes. “He’ll listen to you, Scarlet. You’re my biggest hope.”

I couldn’t look at her. That was something I couldn’t do. “Cortland has to make this decision on his own. I won’t manipulate him. And I wouldn’t do it anyway, Monnique. Unfortunately, I’m on his side. I don’t think he should just take you back after what you did.”

She turned her face away so I wouldn’t see her tears.

“I’m sorry, Monnique. I know you love him, but…you can’t just make everything right that quickly.”

“I’m a very patient woman.”

I rested my hand on my stomach, the stance I usually took when I sat down.

“Do you think I have a chance, if I work hard?”

“I can’t answer that,” I said honestly. “You know Cortland in a way I’ll never understand. If you know he loves you, then of course you do. But it shouldn’t matter anyway. If he’s what you want, you have to try. I can’t guarantee it will go anywhere.”

She nodded her head.

We sat in silence for several minutes. I couldn’t think of anything else to say, so I decided to give her some space. “You know where to find me.” I walked out and shut the door without looking back at her.

I went into my office and worked for a few hours. When I realized Sean was on his way home, I went downstairs and waited for him. He usually came home the same time every
day. If he was going to be late, he always called me.

I was eating a cup of chocolate pudding like a fatass when there was a knock on the door. It obviously wasn’t Sean. Why would he knock on his own door? Olga was gone for the day so I was alone at the house. Sean encouraged
me to never open the door when I was alone, but I decided to take a peek anyway.

It was Diane.
Of course it was.

I hoped she was here to apologize, but judging by the pissed look on her face, that was a firm no. I took a deep breath then opened the door. I waited for her to speak
first so I knew how to handle her.

“I need to speak to my son.”

It’s nice to see you too.
“He’s not home.”

“Then where is he?” She put her hands on her hips and gave me a shitty attitude.

“Work.”
Obviously.

“He should be home by now.”

And how would you know?
“You’re welcome to wait for him inside. Or you could just call.”
Please just call.

“He won’t take any of my calls—because of you.”

Don’t hit your mother-in-law. Don’t do it.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” I felt like a customer service representative dealing with a crazy customer. “Is there something I can help you with?”

“Yes.” She pulled a check out of her pocket. “Why did my husband write this check for five million dollars on your wedding day?”

Five million dollars? What the hell did he buy?
“Andrew’s private affairs are none of my concern. I can guarantee Sean doesn’t know anything either.”

“Then why is it written to Sarah Sisco?”

What? Did I hear her right?
“Could you say that name again?”

“S-A-R-A-H S-I-S-C-O.” She was being purposely condescending but I was too stunned to care. “Is this a relative of yours? Why is my husband giving our livelihood to your relatives? Was the wedding we paid for not enough?

My head was spinning. Why did Andrew write my mother a check? More importantly, why didn’t Sean tell me about it? Why did it happen on my wedding day? What did that mean? Did she show up after all? God, I was so sick I thought I would throw up.

“Well?” Diane said impatiently. “Are you listening to me?”

The anger shot through me. I couldn’t believe Sean humiliated me like that. He must have paid my mom to keep her out of my way. The fire burned inside me. I ignored Diane and grabbed the keys to my BMW. “Shut the hell up and get out of my way.” I slammed the door and marched passed her like she meant less than dirt.

“I’m talking to you!”

I peeled out of the driveway and sped down the road. I was so angry, my hands were shaking. I gripped the steering will until my knuckles hurt. When I imagined Sean’s face, the adrenaline coursed through me. I wanted to rip his throat out.

After I arrived at the building, I took the elevator to his floor. The doors opened and I marched down the hallway. People greeted me and smiled. I ignored them, a pissed look on my face.

I stormed into Sean’s office but he wasn’t there. Then I approached Mark, his assistant. “Where is he?”

“Uhh…” He cowered at the angry look on my face. “He’s in a meeting right now.”

“Where?”

“He can’t be disturbed—”

“Where!”

He pointed at the office across the hall. The walls were made of glass so it was seen from the outside. Men sat around a table wearing suits. They were probably talking about figures and money.

“But he can’t bothered,” Mark said. “This meeting is very important.”

I ignored him then approached the glass. I took my phone and sent him a message.
Get out here now.

Sean pulled out his phone and discreetly glanced at it.
His eyes widened then he looked at me. Then he stood up and fixed his tie while he excused himself. Mike looked at him with a confused expression.

Sean came out and shut the door behind him. “Baby, are you okay?”

I shook my head, so angry that I didn’t know what to do with myself. “How dare you give money to my mother!”

Every
one turned their head as I raised my voice. Sean’s eyes widened.

“How could you do this to me? After everything she did to me, how
dare you ask your parents to give her money? God, I’m so fucking humiliated! I’m so angry I could slap you right now.”

“Baby—”

“Don’t baby me!”

He flinched. “Let’s go into my office and talk about this.”

Mike opened the door. “Dude, what the hell are you doing?”

“I have to take care of something,” Sean said. “Finish the meeting without me.”

“What?” he snapped. “You’re the other CEO of this company. We need both signatures, dude.”

“Just figure it out,” Sean snapped.

Pragmatism settled on my shoulders. I was livid with Sean and wanted to rip his head off but it could wait. “Finish your meeting. Hopefully, I’ll still be around when you’re done.” That was such a cold thing to say, but it slipped out.

Sean’s eyes turned to a color I’ve never seen before. “Let me explain myself. Wait in my office. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

I crossed my arms over my chest and refused to look at him.

“Promise me you’ll wait.” I could see the fear in his eyes. He was afraid I would pack my shit and leave him. He knew what he did was bad, bad enough to break my trust and our marriage
. “Promise me.”

“I promise. And good thing my promises actually mean something.” I walked off then slammed the door of his office. I sat down on the sofa and waited for him to finish his meeting.

An hour later, he came inside the office and locked the door behind him. I thought I would calm down after waiting so long, but I was more upset than I was before. I glared at him with hatred.

“Let me defend myself,” he said firmly.

“You lied to me! How could you do this to me? Now your parents know where I come from? You had them give her money? Sean, do you have any idea how mortifying that is?”

“I know. I get it. But let me explain.”

“God, I want to hit you!” I’ve never been this mad before. I wasn’t sure if the pregnancy hormones were the culprit.

“You can hit me when I’m done,” he said. “She showed up to the wedding and I couldn’t get rid of her. I didn’t know what else to do, but letting you see her wasn’t an option. It was your wedding day, the greatest day of your life. There was no way I was going to let your mom ruin that.”

“So you give her money?” I asked incredulously. “There were a million other things you could do. You didn’t have to ask my fucking in-laws to buy her off.” I gripped my head so I wouldn’t slap him.

“I couldn’t call the cops because she wasn’t violating any laws. And she refused to leave. There was no way I could hide her from you. When we got into the limo, I knew she would do something to you.”

“And that would have been better than asking your parents for money! God, no wonder why Diane hates me. I really am an embarrassment.”

“Don’t say that,” he snapped.

“It’s true! And you didn’t even give me the courtesy of the truth. What about all those vows you said? Did you mean any of them? Does lying not bother you?”