Chapter 16 Stand Her Up


    Charles''s POV:


    I stood in front of the elevator for a long time. I could still feel the warmth of Scarlett''s mouth against


    my lips. Kissing her for real felt better than I had imagined.


    I stared nkly at the closed elevator doors and reyed what just happened in my mind over and


    over.


    I was not a man of strong desires. Although I had been with Rita for so many years, I had never felt


    the urge to touch her. But it was different with Scarlett.


    I really could not exin it.


    When she pped me after I kissed her, I did not even feel it. The pain only registered to me when


    she started crying. It broke my heart into splinters.


    "Charles?" Rita called from behind me. I turned and saw her standing there.


    I averted my gaze. I did not want her to suspect anything, and my face would give me away for


    sure. "Let''s go back to the apartment."


    I walked into the living room with Rita following me closely. "I''m so happy that you''re finally getting


    divorced, Charles. Now my wish will finally be fulfilled before I die."


    "Stop cursing yourself, Rita," I backfired without looking at her. I felt annoyed. Why did she always


    have to talk about death?


    "Have you spoken with my doctor? You should know the state of my health better than anyone."


    After she said that, she began to sob.


    In the past, whenever Rita spoke in a weak voice and then started weeping, I immediately took pity


    on her and felt extremelypelled to protect her. But one day, I did not know exactly when, I


    realized that I was getting a little tired of all of it^^the tears, the self-pity, and the sadness. They all


    just became too much to take. Whenever I had to deal with Rita, my mind automatically flew off to


    Scarlett, and I was not even sorry.


    "You''re fine. Don''t worry too much. The stress will just get you down." I restrained myself and tried


    tofort Rita with all the patience I could muster.


    "Charles, am I starting to trouble you too much?" Rita looked at me nervously.


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    "No." I walked to the sofa and sat down. I massaged my forehead so that I would not have to look


    her in the eyes.


    "So you and Scarlett will really file for divorce today?" Rita walked to me and asked cautiously.


    "Yes."


    "May Ie with you?"


    "Fine."


    Rita, who had been obedient and considerate, was suddenly turning into a paranoid, nitpicking


    girlfriend. I could not help frowning.


    Ten minutester, Rita waited at the gate of themunity while I went to the basement to get the


    car. As soon as I got in the car, I called my assistant. "Gather all the senior executives. I want to


    meet with them in ten minutes."


    "Is there a problem, Mr. Moore?"


    Judging from my tone, my assistant probably thought that there was some kind of big incident that


    needed handling. Instead of answering her, I hung up the phone.


    Scarlett''s POV:


    At the entrance of thew office, I paced back and forth with our marriage certificate in my hand. I


    nced at my watch from time to time, waiting anxiously for Charles to show up.


    I only had half an hour before my show began. If Charles stood me up, then the divorce would be


    postponed again.


    "What happened? Why is Charles not here yet?" After waiting for what felt like forever, I decided to


    call his assistant to ask what was taking so long.


    "I''m sorry, Mrs. Moore. Mr. Moore just called an urgent meeting. I don''t think he can spare some


    time to see you today." Charles''s assistant spoke in a low voice, and I could hear some chatter in


    the background. She probably answered the phone in the middle of the urgent meeting she said


    Charles suddenly convened.


    I hung up the phone and stared at the bustling city scene in front of thew office. I heaved a sigh


    and shook my head.


    I had no idea how much more dys I could take. I just wanted it all to end.


    I looked at my watch again. I only had fifteen minutes before I had to be at the studio for my show.


    I stared at our marriage certificate and grunted. Then, I left thew office and hailed a taxi to work.


    Fifteen minutes should be more than enough time to get me to the station before my program


    started.


    After I entered the studio, I put all my personal worries aside and focused on my job. Per usual,


    Abner and the director praised me many times for a job well done. They said that I was not only


    excellent at what I do but also had an impressive work ethic.


    After a whole afternoon''s work, I was finally able to clock out and go home. It had been sunny all


    afternoon, but now all of a sudden, it was raining heavily. Little bean-sized raindrops fell down


    violently, pummeling the pavement and releasing the day''s warmth into the night air.


    I did not bring an umbre with me, so I just stood at the gate of the TV station and waited for the


    rain to stop. A few momentster, I glimpsed a pair of shiny ck shoes beside me, and the dim


    nearby light was blocked by something big and ck. It was Abner and his umbre.


    "Come on. I''ll give you a ride home." He smiled down at me and offered to drive me home.


    Ever since I joined the TV station as a program host, Abner had been nice to me. He always went


    out of his way to chat me up and ask about my experience so far on the job. I did not know whether


    or not it was just coincidence or something, but I always seemed to run into him. At the gate, in the


    studio, during lunchtime, you name it. But I did not mind. I feltfortable around him, and he


    made me feel like an important part of the team.


    "No, it''s okay. I''m just waiting for a taxi," I refused politely.


    "A taxi in this rain? You''re going to be here until morning. Come on. Your ce is on the way


    anyway. I just want to make sure you get home safely." As he spoke, he pulled me to his car,


    completely ignoring my refusal.


    He kept his umbre above me the entire time, and by the time we were inside his car, he was


    soaking wet on one side.


    I tried to pull him under his own umbre, but before I could seed, I was already on his


    passenger seat and he was on the driver''s seat.


    I took out a tissue from my bag and offered it to Abner to wipe his face, but he declined and insisted


    that he was okay. I wanted to help him wipe his face and his arm, but I dismissed the intention.


    There were just the two of us in the car now. I could not risk the gesture being misinterpreted by


    anyone who could have spotted us.


    I did not want to send Abner the wrong message either.


    Soon, Abner gunned the engine and drove out of the gates. Then, he started conversing with me


    about my daily life. He seemed worried that I might grow bored of the city and fly back to France.


    When we passed a supermarket, my phone rang. It was Christine.


    Abner stopped talking and signaled me to answer the phone.


    I nodded sheepishly at him and picked up. "Hello, dear. Are you home yet? Can youe over for


    dinner tonight? I made your favorite apple pie." "Oh, Grandma, that''s very nice of you, but I already


    had dinner." Two days ago, Charles and I almost made Michael faint with anger. I was not exactly in


    a hurry to see him again. Thest thing I wanted to do now was upset him. I thought I had already


    done enough when I boldly asked him for Charles andl''s marriage certificate.


    "But I already sent the car to your ce to pick you up," Christine said in a begging tone, which


    virtually made me feel guiltier than I already was. "How could I ever say no to you, Grandma? Okay,


    I''ming over. Wait for me." I had considered making up a more convincing excuse, but in the


    end, I just gave up and said yes.


    Soon, Abner and I were in front of my house. Charles''s car was also there, which struck a nerve in


    me.


    After standing me up at thew firm today, he had the nerve to show up now. What an inconsiderate


    jerk.


    After thanking Abner, I tried to open my door, but it did not budge. I looked over at Abner in


    confusion.


    He looked like he wanted to say something but did not know how to put it into words. I just stared at


    him and waited for him to speak up. Finally, he met my gaze and said nervously, "Scarlett, there''s


    something that I''d like to ask you. Since I first saw you at the office, I''ve found you amazing and


    cool, and I was wondering..." "Bang, bang, bang!"


    Before Abner could get to his question, we were interrupted by three loud raps on the passenger -


    side window. Abner and I looked up at the same time to see who was knocking.


    Charles was standing outside in the rain with a ck umbre. There was enough light for me to


    see the menacing look in his eyes that sent a chill down my spine.


    With a click, the passenger-side door opened, and Charles grabbed my wrist and yanked me out.


    He dragged me out with so much force that I missed a step and he caught me in his arms.


    It all happened in the blink of an eye.


    Next thing I knew, Abner was getting out of the car and into the pouring rain. As Charles towed me


    away, I heard Abner scream, ''Will you go out with me, Scarlett?"


    I turned around and stared at him with wide eyes.


    Did he just ask me out?


    "I like you! Let''s go out!" Abner seemed to be concerned that I did not hear him through the heavy


    rain. He rushed over to me and took my hand in his. "I just want to make sure that you heard me.


    May I take you out on a date some time?"