Chapter 3

"Done! I've been waiting for you to absolutely crush it!"

The next morning, I put on a full face of makeup, slipped into a fitted wine-red French trench coat, stepped into three-inch heels, and walked into The Scott Group's HR department right on time.

For seven years, I'd stuck to blacks, whites, and grays to fit Sebastian's preference for keeping a low profile.

Today, I was going back to being myself.

HR Director Amy's eyes nearly popped out of her head the moment she saw me.

"Scarlett — Miss Blake? Today you're..."

"Amy, this is my resignation letter." I slid the white envelope across the desk. My voice was clipped and final.

Amy jumped to her feet. "Resignation?! Scarlett, are you joking? You're Mr. Scott's right hand — if you leave, what will Mr. Scott—"

"I already send him by email." I brushed a curl back and gave him a slow, effortless smile. "I've given the required one month's notice, but I have seven years of unused paid time off. Once I finish the handover today, I'm done."

Amy wiped the sweat from her forehead and couldn't bring herself to take the envelope.

Less than five minutes later, the intercom from the executive office rang down to HR.

"Tell Scarlett to get her ass to my office." Sebastian's voice crackled through the speakerphone, barely containing his fury.

I walked to the CEO's office at my own pace, heels clicking, and pushed open the door.

Sebastian sat behind the massive desk, tie half-undone, eyes shot through with red. Looked like last night with Sarah had been a long one.

When I walked in, his gaze landed on my wine-red trench coat and red lips and stayed there for a full five seconds. His Adam's apple moved — he couldn't stop it.

But he covered it quickly, trading the flash of surprise for a mocking smirk.

"You dress like that to hand in a resignation? Scarlett, your little 'playing hard to get' routine is embarrassingly transparent."

He crumpled the resignation letter into a ball and tossed it cleanly into the trash.

"You blocked me last night, now you're in here with a resignation letter." He stood and walked over until he was right in front of me, staring down at me. He reached out to lift my chin with his fingers. "All because I said a few nice things about Sarah yesterday? Are you really that jealous?"

"Come over tonight." He lowered his voice, all suggestion and entitlement. "I'll make it up to you."

I turned my head away in disgust, stepping out of his reach.

"Mr. Scott, you've misread this." I took a step back, putting space between us. "This is a real resignation. You already have the handover checklist in your inbox."

Sebastian's hand froze in the air. His expression went cold.

"Scarlett, don't push your luck. Walk out of The Scott Group, and tell me — who in Washington is going to hire you?"

"That's not your concern, Mr. Scott." I held his gaze without flinching. "Please sign. I'm on a tight schedule."

Sebastian stared at me, searching my face for any trace of spite, or regret, or reluctance.

There was nothing there but impatience.

He let out a short, cold laugh. "Fine. Great. You want to get out of here? Then go. I want to see how long you last without me."

He strode back to the desk, signed his name with a sharp stroke, and flung the documents at me.

"Go do your handover with Sarah. That ten-billion-dollar project in the south — it's hers now."

I caught the papers without flinching.

"No problem."