It was early in the afternoon of the next day when a messenger arrived with two large brown envelopes marked with a one and a two. I assumed the order I opened them in mattered and opened the one marked with a one. It was a letter from Scarlet.
"Gwyn, the other envelope contains bearer bonds for our new company. I thought about keeping them so your husband couldn't find them, but I know how hard it is for you to trust now. I'm sure learning he wants us to be friends only made that harder, so I've sent them to you. I've arranged a video call with six key funding partners with conservative backgrounds. I will send someone to the meeting, a hired third party, no link to us. They'll present evidence of his fast and lose management style and of him using the company as his own personal dating app. The rest will be up to you Gwyn, but I have faith in you."
I lit the letter on fire and tucked the bonds in my bag. It hurt me a little she had sent them, but not for what she had done, but in acknowledgment of what I had done. She had always been good to me. Stood up for me when my own husband wouldn't. Took me out when I was feeling down. Most importantly stood by my decisions instead of demanding I obey hers. How could I not trust her completely and yet I had made her feel like I doubted her. Worse that doubt was rooted in him and it made me furious. My phone buzzed as I finished reading the letter, "8:00, good luck," Scarlet had everything set up and I had a lot to do before tonight.
I ran from one appointment to another making arrangements on the fly. Hair, tailored suit, copies of presentation notes, and even spy ware scan for my laptop to make sure my dear husband wasn't keeping an eye on my virtual footprint. The level of controlling and manipulative I had learned he was left me unsettled. I went to Scarlet's place it was almost six, but I needed to thank her in person and give her the bonds.
"I appreciate the gesture, but I trust you and I would die if Richard got his hand on them. It might have been different if I learned Richard asked you to be my friend and all that other stuff, but I didn't you told me. You have always showed me way more care than my husband so how could I doubt that?"
"O.k. I'll keep them but be careful he's already messaged me three times trying to figure out what you're up to. I told him I'd give you back for dinner I needed to decompress. I think he bought it. Who knows though. Have a good dinner then a great meeting and tomorrow well see a lawyer."
With that I was off and by the time Richard returned home for dinner I was getting dressed and dinner was on the table. I usually prepared everything myself, but I had brought in help to give me time to get ready for the meeting. We ate in silence. He didn't even comment on my outfit which was an elegant sky-blue skirt suit. A huge departure from my usual attire, but I already knew he'd never notice. I hated to admit it, but I was a little sad to be right. He was still chewing his last bite when he pecked me on the cheek and was gone again. Off to enjoy whatever life my servitude afforded him. The meeting came before I knew it, but it went smoothly. Nobody was ready to cut ties with Richard yet. Not until they knew I could deliver. However, they each gave me one million dollars to get my infrastructure in place and prove I could handle their needs.
With an overwhelming since of satisfaction I went to sleep early that night, but my euphoria didn't last long. Richard stumbled into the room in the early morning the stench of alcohol so strong in made my stomach wretch when he opened the door. He was mumbling, "Stupid girl why let me buy you so many drinks if you weren't interested. At least I've got my Gwyn."
Before I could even take in his slurred words he was on top of me kissing, he me with force and nothing else. Like an angry child who just managed to snatch back a toy he had outgrown but wanted to make sure no one else got to enjoy. I pushed him off me, "Ugh, you stink. Go sleep in the guest room. How could you assault your own wife? I have things to do in the morning."
He looked confused and hurt, but he stumbled out of the room without a word. I rose before him the next morning and left immediately. Usually, I would make breakfast and keep it warm till he got up and only head out after he left for the day. Today however I was going to prepare my company. With in three months, I would destroy my husband's company and create a firm foundation for me to start my new life.
I met Scarlet, had breakfast, and went to a law firm that would be able to handle all of our needs. The divorce first and legal counsel for the company later on. Then we went to our bank and initiated the wires from our partners, so we had operational funds to start building our company. We rented two floors of a high rise with a line of sight on Richard's offices and started reaching out to talent under valued at Richard's company. It was 9:00p.m. and my phone was blowing up with messages from Richard.
"I had a rough night. Let's have a night out."
"I was thinking dinner then drinks with the whole crew."
"We could just do us if you prefer."
"Maybe low key at home. Cuddle, watch a movie?"
"Or maybe you're already cooking? If so sorry to bother you with all these ideas."
"Fuck, I had a shitty day and you're not even home and you're totally blowing me off. WTF Gwyn?"
"Sorry I'm sure whatever you're doing is important. You're always there for me just today was really hard. Let me know everything's ok when you get this ok."
His messages became more desperate, and I couldn't help but smile as I read them. I was eating tacos on Scarlet's couch. I told her I didn't want to go back to Richard's house ever again. She had quickly offered me her place as long as I needed it.
"He's being so clingy. If I didn't know his true motives it would be a little endearing."
Scarlet chuckle, "I hope you're smart enough to see it for what it is by now Rey, pathetic and controlling."
"Yup," I agreed, a happiness I couldn't control drenching my tone. I was sure he had started to notice his people were fleeing. Taking accounts and contacts with them. He didn't handle failure or hardship well. He didn't have enough practice with them I suppose. We finished the night with small talk about our plans for the company and or time as friends. We climbed into bed that night fully worn out. So much so that it didn't occur to me to wonder why she had climbed into bed with me instead of offering to crash on the couch like she had in the past.
I woke the next day nestled into Scarlet's shoulder my arms draped over her waist and one of my legs wrapped around one of hers. I flushed in embarrassment, but the warmth and comfort made it impossible for me to draw away from her. I sighed lightly and the sense of comfort and familiarity of the situation.
"O, you're awake," Scarlet said in response to my sigh and I went from embarrassed to mortified. I braced for her to shove me away, but instead she stroked my hair, "Rey, you've been through so much. I wish I had been a better friend," her guilt hit me like a sledgehammer to the chest.
"Scarlet, you know you don't get best friend by default. You've always held me up and the secrets you kept were ones I made it impossible to reveal," I wanted to say something anything to make her understand she was everything I wanted her to be and more. I was in awe of how effortlessly she worried about me. How she always considered me, defended me, and paved the way for me to do what I wanted how I wanted it done. In truth, I seen no world where the word friend was enough to describe everything this woman had done for me or everything this woman had been to me, "Scarlet, are we friends?" I couldn't help but ask as my emotions overcame my reason. As I did my arms griped to her hip and pulled us closer together.
"Of course, Rey, you'll always be my best friend."
"I see," I responded trying to hide the hurt and sadness in my voice and failing miserably.
"What's wrong Rey? Do you not want to be my friend anymore. I can give you the company and I'll still help you with Richard. Don't force yourself it will break my heart," Scarlet responded, the hurt in her tone now mirroring my own. I couldn't let her believe that. I hated myself for making her doubt our connection.
"Force myself," I scoffed, "Don't be ridiculous, Scarlet. If it hadn't been for you, I would have heard that horrible conversation and fell apart. I don't know what would have happened, but I would have never recovered. I just thought maybe we were, you know... um, more. That's all," I admitted and then instantly wished I had been born mute.
"I see. Rey, you just left Richard. You're hurt and vulnerable. I would never take advantage of you like that, Rey."
"Then why did you start calling me Rey all the time? Why have you not pushed me away? Why are you always more considerate of me then you are for your own needs? Why everything, just Why, Scarlet. If you don't love me, then why go to such lengths?"
"Rey, my sweet radiant Rey. Those are two very different things. I've loved you sense that cocktail party for the acquisition of that little tech start up. You remember? I had gotten drunk after another terrible attempt at finding love. I tried yet again to tell you your husband was a piece of shit, but this time instead of scolding me for bad mouthing your husband you said," she began and paused for a moment and in that moment, I couldn't help but take over the story.
"It hurts me to see to people I love fighting. Please for me don't hate him too much ok. Then I laid your head in my lap and stroked your hair for the rest of the party. We got weird looks from a couple of the vps, but not even Richard said anything to us about it."
"Yup that was it I was done Rey. I knew the reason I couldn't find anyone I loved was because I had found her long ago. So, I stopped dating and focused on your happiness. So, if you ask if we're friends the answer is yes. If you ask if I love you the answer is very much so. If you ask me out no matter how much it will hurt me and even though it could damage our friendship, the answer is no. Not now any ways I'm sorry friendship is all I can offer you for now," She explained still stroking my hair. my fingers dug into her hip, and I began to cry. We stayed like that for an hour. Then Scarlet left for the day.