Tear Away

Chapter 7

When Scarlett arrived at work on Monday morning she was still upset over her date with Mark, and it hadn't been helped by the fact that she hadn't heard from him. So the last thing she had expected was to see an email from him waiting for her in her inbox.

To: Scarlett 

Subject: Saturday

Dear Scarlett,

thank you for a lovely time on Saturday night. I hope we can do it again sometime. If you are free I'd love to take you out for coffee this week. Let me know when you are free. I tried to phone you however I seem to have lost your number, if it's not to forward of me, could I please ask for it again?

Mark

x

Scarlett sat starring at the screen in shock for a few minutes, after reading the email for the third time she finally began to believe that it was real. Her next dilemma was what to do about it.

Before Scarlett had had time to reply though Jane came running into the office. A caterer had pulled out of an event that was due to be happening that evening so it was all hands on deck to find a replacement.

It wasn't until Scarlett was about to switch off her computer for the day that she realised she hadn't replied to the email from Mark. Opening the message she hit the reply button and began to type.

To: Mark 

Subject: Re: Saturday

Mark,

Suddenly Scarlett was nervous and sweaty again and had no idea what she should say to him. She felt like she was 14 years old talking to her first boyfriend. In a way she guessed she was. She reread the email he had sent her, took a deep breath and tried again.

Mark, 

Thank you for your email, I also had a lovely time and would love to meet again. I'm free on Friday after work.

Scarlett

There, she was happy. She hit send leaned back in her chair and breathed. She hadn't realised that she had been holding her breath while typing and was now feeling slightly dizzy. She took a moment to compose herself and glanced at the office clock on the wall behind her, yep it was time to go home. As she reached to turn off her computer and switch off the silent din from the electrics a new email arrived in her inbox. She quickly opened it seeing that it was from Mark.

To: Scarlett 

Subject: Re: Saturday

Scarlett, 

I was beginning to think that you were ignoring me. Making me wait all day for a reply like that ;-) 

I'll pick you up on Friday from work. I hope that's okay?

Mark x

He sent her a kiss... she fixated on that kiss. A simple cross on the end of an email and she was sweating again. This wasn't good. She was going to have to buy a better deodorant if he was going to continue to have this effect on her.

She couldn't reply, not now. She was to panicky. She needed to relax and think about her next message carefully.

She quickly printed of the emails and switched off her computer. Picked up her bag and coat and went home.

...............................................................................................................................................................

The next few days went by in a blur of emails to Mark, and over analysing each and every one with Tom that evening. She ran to the ladies so often to phone Tom that she was sure everyone was beginning to suspect her of being ill. By the time Friday arrived she was so happy that she could barely contain her excitement.

By five o'clock on Friday Scarlett was besides herself with nerves. She had been to the bathroom four times in the last hour to fix her make up and make sure her dress was straight. When she returned to her desk for the fifth time she was surprised to see Mark waiting for her. He stood up as soon as he saw her.

"These are for you." he said presenting her with a large bouquet of flowers.  

"Wow, thank you." She stammered, feeling the familiar red glow work up her neck.

Mark laughed at her reaction. "If I didn't know better I'd guess that you've never received flowers before."

Turning her back to him to pick up her coat and bag she replied quietly, "I haven't." Facing him again she continued in a brighter voice "so, where are we going tonight?"

"Well I was thinking if it's okay with you that I'd cook..."

Scarlett smiled widely at the idea, all the while excited to see his home.

"Let's go then"

............................................................................................

Mark's home was nicer than anything Scarlett had seen before. It was a large three story Victorian building in a row of identical homes, Scarlett suspected that most of the houses on the row had been turned into flats over the years however Mark's had been restored to its former glory. Each room had high ceilings, and was almost large enough to fit Scarlett's entire flat.

"Your home is amazing, how long have you lived here?"

"Don't get too excited, it was my great grandfathers house. It's been in the family ever since."

"But you live here alone?" Scarlett couldn't help asking.

Mark almost looked embarrassed. "This way" he lead Scarlett down the hallway towards the kitchen at the back of the house. It was a cosy room with all the mod cons that you'd expect to find in a modern kitchen yet it still retained its original features, including a large arga stove.

Scarlett walked across the room to the large double doors that looked out over the garden. "It's lovely" turning around to look at Mark she was surprised to find him standing just behind her. He placed his arms around her.

"I think so" he whispered, and bent low to kiss her.

From that first kiss Scarlett was lost in a whirl wind. She spent most of her time between Mark's house and work and couldn't have been happier. She was treated like a princess, showered with flowers and gifts and even surprised with a weekend away to Paris.

To see Scarlett and Mark together you'd be asking them to find a private room together. They were the perfect couple firmly in the honeymoon phase of their relationship and neither of them had time for anyone else. Scarlett never saw Rhys,Craig or Tom for longer than it would take to pass them on the stairs to the flat and she never even thought about asking to meet Marks friends.