Chapter 25
“Take care of yourself, Lettie. I’ll head out now,” Cedric said before leaving her office.
As he stepped into the hallway, he ran into Grace. Her curvy figure caught his attention, and for a moment, he couldn’t tear his eyes away.
“Is Ms. Payne back? What did the doctor say? Was Dr. Olson there too?” Grace asked, her tone casual but curious.
The mention of Leroy’s name instantly soured Cedric’s mood.
“Why are you bringing him up? I’m the one who took Lettie to the hospital,” he snapped, walking off with a scowl.
Grace frowned. Her gut told her something had gone down at the hospital. So, when she entered Scarlett’s office, she didn’t waste any time. She plopped down in front of her and got straight to the point.
“You saw Dr. Olson at the hospital, didn’t you?”
Scarlett glanced at her briefly. “Did Cedric tell you that?” she asked, her voice calm. “It’s nothing. We just had an argument,” Scarlett added.
She wasn’t in the mood to explain further, but Grace’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
The Payne Group was at its peak, and Scarlett carried herself with the confidence of someone who had everything going for her. To her, Leroy was someone who should be chasing after her, not the other way around.
In Scarlett’s mind, she was the best thing Leroy had ever had, the most perfect woman he could hope for. No other woman could compare.
A flicker of pride crossed her face as she thought about it.
“Lettie,” Grace said suddenly, “are you really over Leroy? Because if you are, I might just go for him myself.”
Scarlett’s head snapped up. What caught her off guard wasn’t Grace’s words but the seriousness in her eyes. Grace wasn’t joking.
“Grace, do you really think Leroy is worth it?” Scarlett asked, her tone tinged with disbelief. “Is he really someone you’d want to pursue?”
She’d always assumed Grace’s comments about Leroy were playful, but now, a small pang of unease crept in.
Grace smiled and said, “Of course he is, Lettie. I’m not joking.” She ended brightly. “Think about it. He’s young and successful, saves lives for a living, and is completely devoted to you—what’s not to like? If you hadn’t married him before, I would’ve made my move ages ago. The only reason I’ve waited this long is because of you.”
Scarlett opened her mouth to respond but found herself speechless. A faint bitterness rose in her chest for reasons she couldn’t quite explain.
She remembered how Leroy had cared for her for three years. Even though it had started as a contractual relationship, his sincerity had been undeniable. He asked for nothing in return, dedicating himself fully to her needs.
A young, talented doctor like him, selflessly giving so much—how many men like that could possibly exist? Never.
Memories began to surface unbidden. She recalled the warmth of his care during her most vulnerable moments, back when she’d been confined to a wheelchair. Her legs were fine now, but the warmth he’d once brought her seemed to have disappeared.
The thought of Cedric muddled her emotions further, leaving her unsure of how she truly felt.
“Scarlett, you’ve got to help me!” Grace suddenly exclaimed, grabbing Scarlett’s arm with a pleading look.
Scarlett blinked, startled by her friend’s outburst. “Help you? How? You want me to help you chase my ex-husband?” she asked incredulously. The idea was so absurd it almost felt like a bad soap opera.
Grace, however, shook her head earnestly.
“Why not? Leroy took care of you for three years. There’s no way there wasn’t some kind of bond between you two,” she reasoned. “All I’m asking is for you to put in a good word for me. Maybe help me arrange a meeting with him. Once we’re face-to-face, everything else will fall into place.” Grace grinned mischievously and added, “Didn’t you mention some woman was hanging around him recently? I’ve got to act fast before someone else snatches him up.”