Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 97364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
“I love this café,” she says as we look over the menu that we both have memorized because we come to this same place every day.
Sadly, Harold still hasn’t shown his cheating face here since the day I ate lunch in this same booth with Theo.
“How well did you know Theodore Reed?”
Nellie’s eyebrows knit together. I shouldn’t be asking her this, but lately so many things cause her to give me this exact look. It’s like she’s searching for something that’s right there yet just out of reach.
“Nice boy. I think Nolie has known him for a long time. But … troubled. I wouldn’t get too close to him if I were you.”
I frown.
She fiddles with her mammoth diamond ring, concentrating on something just over my shoulder for a few seconds before her face lights up. “Oscar!”
“God no,” I mutter as my chin drops to my chest, eyes pinched shut.
“What an unexpected surprise.” Oscar’s voice confirms I’m in Hell.
Looking up, I pin him with my best evil glare. “Is it really?”
He ignores me and sits down next to Nellie, resting his arm on the top of the booth behind them. Her porcelain skin looks like molten glass.
“Nellie, you look lovely as always.”
Internally I cringe at the eyes on our table. People know who Nellie Moore is, and while they may be used to seeing whoring Harold, Nellie cozied up to a tall stranger will make the gossip headlines.
After we order, it’s like I’m not here. They laugh and flirt and touch each other while my job slips away. I’ve lost all control over the situation.
“I need to use the ladies’ room if you’ll excuse me.” Nellie smiles.
The whole table jerks, rattling glasses and silverware at the same time Oscar grunts, his eyes the size of saucers. Nellie bites her lip. Why the bloody hell is she biting her lip? That’s when I notice her arm close to his body, and while I can’t see past her elbow, there is no doubt that her hand is on his knob.
“Let her out! She needs to go to the loo.”
They both look at me like I’m crazy for announcing it to the whole restaurant.
Oscar clears his throat. “Of course.”
Nellie wets her lips as she stands, shoving her chest into him as if she’s trying to squeeze past him but there’s plenty of room to get by, no need to squeeze. Why is she squeezing?
“I won’t be long.” She winks. “Unless …” She nips off to the loo like I have never seen her walk before.
Oscar’s gaze follows her tight-skirt-covered arse the whole way.
“Stop it!” I whisper.
His eyes snap to mine as he takes his seat.
“You need to leave, now!”
He smirks. “Told you she has a fire in her belly.”
“The only fire there is going to be is me getting fired. So, please, go.”
On a long sigh, he nods. “You used to be more fun, Ruby.”
“Yeah, well, you used to have scruples.”
He drops his napkin on the table along with some money. “True. But one day I realized how much more fun I could have without them.” Pressing a kiss to the top of my head, he whispers, “Later, Ruby.”
I nod, keeping my eyes trained out the window to the car park. It would be my luck that of all the days, this would be the one Harold would decide to return to the café. After a few minutes, I relax and finish my salad that I was too nauseated to eat with the PDA going on between Nellie and Oscar.
The waitress clears the table, and I check my watch. Nellie has been in the loo a long time. Physically she’s good, but I worry about her making some mental mistake. Maybe’s she’s stuck with no toilet paper.
Sliding my handbag over my shoulder, I make my way to the back of the café. As I start to push open the door to the loo, someone opens it from the inside.
“Oh, Nellie, I was checking to see—”
She has lip gloss smeared all over her face. Her hands work to tuck her blouse back into her skirt that’s completely twisted around.
“Are you O—”
Fuck. Me. Sideways.
My name is Scarlet Stone and very few things in life shock me.
“Enjoy the rest of your afternoon, ladies.”
My jaw plummets to the ground as Oscar walks out like the fucking cat who’s got the cream.
“Lunch was especially good today.” Nellie smiles like she has no idea that I feel as discombobulated as she looks right now.
I cup a hand over my mouth to keep from screaming or crying or … something as I nod slowly.
*
The door to my flat creaks on its hinges as my anger sends it flying into the wall. “You wanker! I can’t believe what a complete fuckwit you are!”
Oscar eyes me over the top of his reading spectacles, wetting his thumb then turning the page to his book. “I had a lovely day, Ruby. Thanks for asking. How was yours?”