Page 75 of Devoured By You

“I remember you from the cruise.” Scarlett appeared to have lost all her swagger. She was pale behind her professional makeup, and her hand trembled the tiniest bit as she shook mine. “I’m so sorry to intrude, but when I heard Mr. Kingcaid had returned home, I had to come. I won’t take up much of his time.”

Yep. Definitely swagger-less. A near-death experience had the power to change everyone, I guessed.

“He’s in his study. If you’ll follow me.”

Scarlett took two steps, which her bodyguards and assistants mirrored. She stopped, turning to them. “I don’t need shadowing. I’m perfectly safe here. You will wait for my return.”

A small smile touched my lips. There’s the Scarlett I remember from my brief encounters.

I led her to Blay’s office, knocking once before entering. He’d moved from behind his desk, positioning his wheelchair in front of the sofa lining one wall of his study.

“I’ll leave you to it,” I said, backing out.

“No, stay.” Blay gestured to the couch. “Please sit, Miss Rose. It’s nice of you to come.”

“It’s Scarlett.” She blushed a little, adding much-needed color to her pale complexion. “Thank you for seeing me.”

Blay leaned forward in his chair. “How are you doing?”

She startled, as if the question had surprised her. Or maybe it was the soft tone he’d used. Either way, her eyes widened. “Me? I’m fine. It’s you I’m concerned about.” She shook her head. “I am so very sorry. This is all my fault.”

“Nonsense,” Blay said.

I wouldn’t have been so generous. She might not have pulled the trigger, but she was the one who’d cut off her ex, setting in motion a chain of events that had ended with two people losing their lives and Blay losing his leg. Not to mention the reputational damage to his business, a worry he’d chosen to share with me. My face hardened. Scarlett side-eyed me, paling further.

“No. I have some culpability here. I should have known Jeremy wouldn’t just accept me cutting him off like that. And while there is no way I could have known the lengths he’d go to, and the horrific outcomes of his actions, I have to shoulder part of the blame.”

“Correct,” I muttered.

She half smiled at me, then returned her attention to Blay.

“I’ve learned a rather harsh lesson in humility, Mr. Kingcaid. I used my fame and fortune as a stick with which to beat people, behaving in a manner diametrically opposed to the way I was raised. In other words, I was a complete bitch most of the time.” She smiled again, tucking her chin to her chest. “It’s true what they say. Power corrupts. Except you seem to have escaped its clutches. From now on, I shall try to follow your example, and act with far more class than I have in the past.”

She fiddled with the strap on her handbag, running her thumb and forefinger over the soft leather.

“None of us know the ripple effect of things we say or do, Miss Rose. We can only try to do our best. Please try not to let what happened overly burden you. I don’t hold you in any way accountable. You were a victim of what happened just as much as I was.”

Blay’s compassion was far more generous than she deserved. If the roles had been reversed and she’d lost her leg, I doubted she’d be nearly as understanding. In fact, she’d probably have sued him through every court in the land.

“You’re too kind.”

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

She rose to her feet, sliding the strap of her handbag over her shoulder. “If there is anything I can do, please call me.” She handed him a business card. He took it, setting it on the edge of his desk.

I got up, too. “I’ll show you out.”

“Thanks for coming,” Blay said, his lips forming a smile for her he rarely had for me these days.

A twinge of jealousy pinched my insides. “Please follow me, Miss Rose.”

I ushered her to the door, glancing back at Blay as we walked through it. His head was turned toward the window, a pensive expression on his face. I closed the door with a quiet click, a hollow feeling in my stomach.

After Scarlett left, I returned to Blay’s office. I didn’t knock this time. He was in the same position in which I’d left him, his eyes locked on the window, frowning.

“That’s a turn-up for the books, huh?” I kept my voice jolly, perching on the edge of his desk.

He looked at me, his eyes glassy. “Huh?”