𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙰𝚛𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝

Play with open cards

I mean I once opened up to Scarlett already, for rather being the casual kind of lover and that, she took well.

A deep sigh leaves my lips as I feel like this is the only right thing to do right now. Admit everything. What could go wrong?

"Can we sit?" I ask quietly and gesture towards the couch where Scar and I take our seats.

She takes my hands into hers, tracing her thumb along my knuckles soothingly. I sigh.

"Y/n/n, how can I help? What can I do?" The blonde inquires with tons of care in her tone.

"Well, I don't know where to start." I begin and look down at our hands. "As you know, Sarah is my manager and best friend." I pause.

Scarlett hums, looking attentively at me as she patiently waits. "We've known since college and all and I couldn't imagine anyone better to manage my music business. I'm very grateful for Sarah and it turned out that her and I used to..." I trail off for a moment and my eyes meet Scarlett's yet again.

Hers are filled with curiosity and care. Well, her slightly raised eyebrow shows me that she's also a little concerned about what's to come. I decide to not make her wait longer.

"Sarah and I used to start satisfying other needs than just the business related ones." I ramble, uncertain if Scarlett would get it.

Her expression tells me she does. The curiosity fades from her eyes and turns to what has got to be discomfort. "You're sleeping with your manager, is that what you're saying Y/n?"

I nod, "yes." My gaze drifts off, finding our hands again. Well, my hands since Scarlett has withdrawn hers. "No. I mean, we didn't sleep with each other. It was rather based on... jobs?" I add quietly as I don't dare to look up just yet. Too afraid to face the discomfort or even pain in her eyes.

Scarlett clears her throat gently. "To be fair, this isn't something I can judge." She pauses and puts her index finger beneath my chin, tilting my head up slowly to face her.

As my eyes meet hers again, I swallow dryly as I now face pure disappointment. "But what I can judge amd definitely do judge, is that you haven't told me the moment we got into this arrangement Y/n." Scarlett sternly adds and I am left understanding her. I nod.

"I understand you." I whisper and close my eyes as I'm still forced to look at her, which u can't bring myself to. Too ashamed.

I only hear a deep sigh coming from Scarlett's lips. Reopening my eyes, I notice that she has been standing up and paces the living room.

She seems to be having something else on her mind. I may have known her for little, but I can tell that her pacing is something she does when processing in her mind. I shake my head and stand up, walking up to Scarlett.

"What do you want me to tell you?" I ask firmly, while our eyes meet at which a shiver runs down my spine.

Scarlett looks up at me in surprise, but it switches into another questioning frown. "Why, Y/n? Why didn't you tell me? All along I have been believing you'd play with open cards. Which I, by the way, always did."

I nod in understanding and bite my tongue as to not back down and fix the trust I just had broken. "And I appreciate that you have been honest and open all along. It made me realize that I can't keep denying the things Sarah and I used to do." I take a deep breath and reface Scarlett, who's attentively watching.

"I didn't tell you, because at first I thought you were just a business arrangement. The more I have gotten into this whole arrangement, the harder it has gotten to just tell you. I felt and feel ashamed or embarrassed and I know that I broke your trust and you're disappointed with every right, Scarlett. Also I'm aware that I should've just told you, even before signing those contracts. I apologize sincerely."

And with that, there hovers some uncomfortable silence above the both of us. My silence is filled with shame and regret, while hers is filled with probably processing how to continue with the arrangement.

Only after a nerve wracking while, Scarlett speaks up again. Her voice sounding hurt and disappointed. "Did you... Have you been doing it while we were married, Y/n?"

I inhale deeply, well aware that this will probably hurt her even more now. My inhale makes Scarlett look straight at me as tears apparently threaten to dwell in her eyes.

"We tried." I mutter and clench my jaw as to stay in line and be honest for once. "Sarah and I tried, the day of the release party." I swallow dryly and let the breath I held slip out. "You almost came in on us and so nothing happened." I add, rather in a quick apology as if that was some. I know this isn't one.

Scarlett only nods, frowning in pure disappointment and even more hurt.

"On another day," I continue hesitantly, "she kissed me. It was meant to be a goodbye thing now that Sarah is about to be with Sammy."

I rub my forehead and frown in displeasure as I remember this awkward kiss. "This was pretty much when her and I saw that there's nothing more for us to be than... well, than just shaving satisfied each other's needs."

My gaze shifts down to the ground and I only hear footsteps fading. I let out another long breath, I didn't know I was holding.

Just as I'm certain about this being the end of the arrangement, of us, which I never wanted to end like this, I hear Scarlett reapproaching.

It's only then that I look up again, afraid of the expression I'm meeting as I do.

Scarlett's forehead is still in a frown and she looks still very much disappointed, for which I definitely can't and won't blame her.

"Thank you." She says in a low and quiet voice and leaves me frown in pure confusion.

"Thank you for your honesty, now at least." Scarlett adds and I notice her jaw is clenched.

"Don't. I should've been all along and I haven't. Shame on me for breaking the trust you had built-up. I don't even ask for forgiveness here, but please hear and acknowledge my apology for not being honest and being such a coward." I speak quietly but with sincerity audible.

Scarlett sighs deeply and crosses her arms over her chest, "I heard it." She only says.

I try and give her a small but grateful smile, at which she only nods in acknowledgement.

"We should get ready for the interview, no?" Scarlett asks dryly and I just am able to nod.

Without knowing what will happen after the Entertainment Tonight interview and without knowing how this interview will turn out, I get ready for the worst case scenario to picture.

I'm about to believe that this is the end of the arrangement, the friendship we created.

_
A/n
It's out! Finally. Or not finally? You have been very brave Y/n, I hope it will pay off.