After The Dark (Billionaire In Love 3) by Ava May Page B

life.”
    “Thank you, Janice, but do you mind giving me and Scarlett a private moment? I'd just like to speak to her. Unless, Scarlett, you'd like your mother to hear about the last phone call we had. How is Jack by the way?” His words had a vicious tone to them, and a dark look flickered in his eyes. At first, Matt had merely been an annoyance, but now, Scarlett was becoming scared of him. He was obsessed, and she didn't want her mother finding out the intimate details of how she slept with Jack on the boat, and how Jack had told Matt that he was going to fuck her again and again.
    Scarlett rose from her seat.
    “Matt. Please just leave me alone. I'm not in the mood for this. It's not funny any more. Just... just go and live your life. I'm not going to be a part of it.”
    “That's where you're wrong. We're destined to be together and all it takes is for you to see it. You need to see the truth, Scarlett. Nothing worth having comes easy and you're right, I'm tired too. I'm tired of fighting with you. Let's just put it to rest and go somewhere to talk, maybe to that café by the old movie house where we had our first date. You remember that, don't you? You couldn't resist having a muffin even though it was all crumbly and sticky, and I told you you looked beautiful anyway. You did look beautiful, Scarlett, and you always will. I just want another chance.”
    “You don't get it, Matt. You're not fighting with me; you're fighting against me. I don't know what version of this you have in your head,s but it's not reality. I don't even know how you knew I was here. Have you been following me?”
    “It doesn't take a lot to figure it out. Let's face it: all you do is work. You don't have any friends. Well, except for Jack.” When he spoke the other man's name, it was spat out as though the very word was poison on Matt's tongue. “That hurt me, you know. I don't know what cruel joke you were playing on me but it really hurt, Scarlett. But I'm willing to forgive you. Because that's how love works. We forgive each other. I forgive you and now you can forgive me.”
    He continued walking forward and Janice placed herself in between him and her daughter, but his gaze was solely focused on Scarlett. Then the door swung open and Steve walked out.
    “What's going on?” he asked sternly. He was a big man, and didn't appreciate his home or his family being harassed like this. He puffed out his chest and stepped out onto the porch, looking down on Matt.
    “It's okay, Dad,” Scarlett said, worried that the situation was going to explode.
    “Yes, Mr. Parker. Listen to your daughter. It's all going to be okay. All she has to do is agree to go for a coffee with me. One little coffee, that's not so much to ask, is it? Then everything will be all right and things can go back to normal.”
    “My daughter doesn't have to do anything she doesn't want to do. Now go away. I don't want you on my property. If you don't leave, I'll call the police.”
    “Well, that's not really friendly, is it? I always thought we had a good rapport. I was like the son you never had. We can go back to that. We can all be a family again.” It was clear now that Matt had gone quite mad and there was a deranged look in his eyes. Scarlett glanced at her father who walked down the porch. Her heart was filled with worry.
    “I asked you once. I'm not going to ask again. Get back in your car and leave, or the police will come and we'll slap a restraining order on you,” Steve said. Matt bristled and he shook on the spot. His arms hung rigidly by his side and his fists clenched into tight balls. Janice was still in between him and Scarlett, but Matt's eyes were solely focused on the object of his obsession. His lips quivered and snarled like a wild animal, and he continued to move forward.
    “I. Just. Want. One. Conversation.”
    Janice bravely stood in front of him but he pushed her out of the way, with more force than he perhaps realized. Janice went sprawling