**Chapter 8**
The collaboration with Scott’s company unfolded seamlessly, like a well-rehearsed dance. Each step taken was deliberate, every meeting productive, and the atmosphere buzzed with a sense of accomplishment.
As the three-month mark approached, anticipation built for the celebration party Thomas Scott had planned. He spared no expense, reserving an entire spa resort for all of us to revel in our success.
That fateful evening, as I settled into my room, a soft knock echoed against my door, drawing my attention. When I opened it, there stood Thomas, clad only in a bathrobe that hung loosely around his frame. His demeanor was casual, yet there was an unmistakable tension in the air. “What, not gonna invite me in?” he murmured, a playful glint in his eyes. “If someone sees us, you know how people will talk.”
I remained steadfast, blocking the entrance with a smirk playing on my lips. “Mr. Scott, your late-night visit in a bathrobe is bound to stir up gossip, whether you step inside or not. It might be best if you stayed out.”
In a surprising twist, he ducked under my arm and slipped past me, catching me completely off guard. With a swift motion, he settled himself on my bed, crossing his legs with an air of triumph. “You should probably close the door. Unless you want everyone to see?” he quipped, a mischievous smile lighting up his face.
I shut the door, retreating to the chair by the window, arms crossed defensively as I scrutinized him like a wary opponent. The moment the door clicked shut, I noticed a flicker of disappointment wash over Thomas’s features.
“Mr. Scott, remember, you’re the client, and I’m just an employee on the vendor side. If there’s business to discuss, that’s a conversation for my boss. Right now, I’m off the clock.” My voice held a firm edge, but inside, I felt a swirl of conflicting emotions.
His expression shifted, the light in his eyes dimming as if my words had extinguished a flame. He opened his mouth to speak, hesitated, then tried again. “I heard the rumor mill at your office has been working overtime about us.”
I donned a practiced, professional smile, exhaling a ring of smoke as I tried to maintain my composure. “Don’t blame me, Mr. Scott. I’m not the one spreading it. It’s merely office gossip. I’ll have a word with my colleagues about it.”
“And if you could stop specifically requesting me for projects, the rumors would probably die down on their own.” His gaze bore into me, his tone suddenly serious.
“Why do you call them rumors?” he pressed, his eyes searching mine for answers.
I found myself momentarily speechless as he stepped closer, placing his hands on my shoulders, grounding me in the moment.
His voice was tinged with earnestness, almost pleading. “I’m saying they’re not rumors. They’re facts.”
His words, combined with the intensity of his gaze, sent a chill racing down my spine. He brushed his thumb along my cheek, turning my face toward his, and I felt the world around us fade away.
“Riley, do you have any idea how miserable I’ve been since you left? For two long years, you’ve occupied my thoughts every single moment.”
His confession struck a chord deep within me, memories flooding back. “You ran away that day, and it was only then that I realized I can’t live without you. I tried reaching out, but you never replied. You even blocked me.”
“I know you hate me, and I understand why. It was my fault. I failed you. Please, just give me one more chance. Let me make it up to you.”
His eyes were filled with a glimmer of hope, a flicker of vulnerability that was almost heartbreaking. But I remained unmoved, my expression cold and indifferent.
As I watched him, a haze began to form in his eyes, a single tear escaping to trace a path down his cheek and landing on my collar.
When the silence stretched between us, he began to unravel, his voice trembling. “Riley, I never thought it would come to this. Do you truly feel nothing for me anymore?”
“You said you would never leave me!” The floodgates of emotion burst open, and I felt a rush of anger and hurt.
His vulnerability was palpable, and while a crying man is often a sight that stirs compassion, in that moment, I felt nothing.
“Let go.”
“No!” he roared, desperation lacing his voice as he grasped my hand, pressing it against his chest.
“You promised. Have you forgotten everything?”
In a swift motion, I yanked my arm away, my patience wearing thin. “Get out on your own. Don’t make me throw you out.”
I thought I had made my stance clear, hoping he would have the dignity to leave without further confrontation. But he clung to me, refusing to release his grip.
“Riley, do you really not love me anymore?”
Frustration bubbled over, and I grabbed him, flinging open the door, ready to push him out.
But the sight that greeted me was utterly unexpected—my colleagues, along with my boss, were standing right outside, ready to head to the hot springs.
An awkward silence descended upon the hallway, broken only by Thomas’s sobs as he clung to my arm.
Everyone exchanged stunned glances, my boss’s eyes widening in shock as he forced a strained laugh, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He had never pried into my relationship with Thomas, but it was clear to anyone observing that Thomas treated me differently. My boss had even casually suggested that I consider my options before it was too late.
“Ahem, Riley, how about you do me a favor? Whatever it is, just talk it out with Mr. Scott.”
I hadn’t intended to take my frustration out on him, but my tone was sharp. “Boss, there’s nothing for Thomas Scott and me to discuss!”
“Yes, there is!” Thomas interjected, his voice rising in pitch. “Riley, after you left, I cut off all contact with Peyton Kennedy! I blocked her, deleted everything! Let’s get remarried! Just give me a chance, please!”
He was unraveling before my eyes, a complete spectacle of emotion, crying and shouting with no semblance of dignity.
My boss looked as if he had been struck by lightning, his mouth opening and closing in disbelief, unable to form a coherent response.
Finally, I managed to pry Thomas’s hands from my arm, speaking clearly, enunciating each word with precision. “The hotel’s security camera has a perfect view of this spot. If I call the cops and report you for sexual harassment, they won’t dismiss it as a domestic dispute, because we’ve been divorced for over two years! Thomas!”
“Stop showing up and disgusting me. I truly hate you.”
With that, I slammed the door in his face, the sound echoing in the silence that followed. I could hear him sobbing outside for what felt like an eternity before it finally faded into quiet.
The following morning, I packed my belongings and left the resort at first light.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Thomas shouting and crying, chasing after my car, desperation etched on his face. “Riley, how am I supposed to live without you!”
And just like that, he was gone from my life for good.
As I drove away, a sense of liberation washed over me. I was stepping into my own brilliant future, leaving the shadows of the past behind.
Conclusion
In the aftermath of that tumultuous night, Riley emerged from the chaos unscathed yet profoundly changed. The weight of Thomas’s desperate pleas and the echoes of their shared history lingered in her mind, but she had finally taken a stand for herself. The emotional turmoil that had once shackled her was now a distant memory, replaced by a newfound sense of empowerment. As she drove away from the resort, the crimson moon hung low in the sky, casting a warm glow that symbolized the dawn of her new beginning. Each mile she put between herself and the past was a testament to her resilience and determination to forge her own path, unencumbered by the shadows that had once defined her.
Yet, as the horizon stretched out before her, Riley couldn’t shake the bittersweet taste of loss that accompanied her liberation. The image of Thomas, broken and vulnerable, played like a haunting melody in her heart, a reminder of the love they once shared and the promises that had unraveled. But she understood now that true freedom came from within, and she was ready to embrace the uncertainty of the future. With each passing moment, she felt the chains of her past fall away, allowing her to step into a world filled with possibilities. The journey ahead was hers alone, and beneath the crimson moon, she felt the first stirrings of hope, ready to rise beyond the sleeping horizon.
