The Workaholic's Wife

48. In One Small Moment

Scarlet

After finishing all the work of the day, I took a long, relaxing shower and made my way to the bed. The room felt lonely without Evan. Even though he was more often busy in his work, his presence in the room was enough to keep me occupied but now that he was gone for three days, I couldn't help but miss him.

I was busy thinking about him when my phone started ringing. His name popped on the screen and a huge smile appeared on my lips. Answering the call, I listened to his voice silently as he said, "Hi."

"Hi," I replied. "How are you?"

"Fine. How's everyone there?" He asked further.

"Everyone is alright. Are you alone right now?" I asked, pulling the blanket close to me.

"No, I am with a girl I met during the conference." He said, mischief clear in his voice.

"Really?" I raised my eyebrow, as if he could see me. "You, Evan Parker, met a girl while working?"

"Why? Is it that unbelievable?" He chuckled from the other side.

"Yep," I nodded.

"Okay, then forget about the girl. Tell me, what are you doing?" He asked.

"Lying on the bed." I replied, grinning wide.

"And what are you wearing?" He asked and I blushed. I was wearing my navy blue satin shorts and a white crop top, my hair wet from the shower I took.

"Are you flirting with me?" I asked.

"Maybe. Isn't that how boys flirted in highschool?" He asked and I giggled.

"What if I tell you I am wearing nothing?" I replied, feeling bold all of sudden.

He stayed silent for a minute, after which his deep voice echoed through the phone. "Then I'll have to book an early flight."

The temperature of my cheeks rose up and I bit my lips. I wanted him here with me, to kiss me and to feel his hands all over me. That one night with him had made me craving him non-stop, to have him take me to the height of ecstasy.

"Go, sleep." I said, controlling the smile on my lips.

"I don't want to." He replied. "Come here. Gabe will arrange your flight."

"Evan. Go sleep now and let me sleep as well." I ignored his tempting offer.

"Fine. But first, tell me what are you wearing?" He asked and I rolled my eyes.

"But why?" I asked.

"So that I can imagine you lying next to me." He whispered and a shy smile appeared on my lips.

"Navy blue satin shorts and a white crop top." I answered in a muffled voice.

"Sounds sexy," he replied in an unusually deep voice that caused some tingling in the pit of my belly and I blushed red like a tomato. Before he could embarass me anymore, I cut the call and took some deep breaths to calm me.

Great. Now I need a cold shower.

..........

Today was the second day without Evan in the city. Cara and I had made a plan to visit the nearby park today. We ditched Evan's driver because if we took him, he would follow us like a tail the whole time as per his boss' order.

The weather was perfect for a stroll today, not too warm, not too cold. Cara and I, both were dressed in matching sundresses, our hair tied in French braids. We were looking very similar, the only difference was her blonde hair unlike my light brown one.

After taking a brief walk, we seated ourselves on the wooden benches surrounding the track and observed the people around us. There were people of all ages in the park, busy enjoying in the open just like us. "Are you missing Daddy?" Cara's voice reached me.

"Yes, I am. Are you?" I asked. She bobbed her head up and down, her mouth set in a pout.

"How's playschool going?" I asked her. This was her last month in playschool and then she was going to be transferred into kindergarten. Cara was a bright kid for her age and I am sure she would be a good student.

"Great. But I don't like Dylan." She pouted sadly.

"Who is Dylan?" I asked.

"He is in my class. I hate him because he tugs my pigtails." She replied in a grieved voice, staring at the ground.

"Does he? I'll ask your teacher to talk to him. I am sure he would listen." I said and patted her shoulder.

"He won't listen. He is really stubborn." Cara added.

"Cara, we shouldn't think the worse of someone. I am sure he is a nice kid who can be difficult sometimes." I reasoned.

"Maybe." She shrugged.

We were busy in our talk when a vendor selling ice-cream strolled his cart past us. "Ice cream." Cara exclaimed in excitement.

"Come on, let's buy some." I said and together, we walked towards the icecream cart that he had stopped in a corner. "Which one do you want to buy?" I asked Cara.

She stared at the huge list of ice-creams in confusion. It took her two minutes to figure out which one she wanted. She asked the old man for a Cornetto and then asked me to buy another one for Geena, her babysitter. Although it would probably melt by the time we reach home, I let her but one.

Together, we made our way out of the park. Our sandals clicked against the footpath as we treaded forwards. Cara was licking her icecream while her other hand tightly secured around the one she bought for Geena.

We had just reached the end of this road when my phone started ringing. I asked Cara to wait for a moment on my side while I answer to the phone. It was Liam calling, most probably to talk something about the bakery.

"Yes?" I answered the call.

"Scarlet, is there any order by Heather Scone?" He asked.

"Yeah, she had ordered for a two-pound cake and she needed it delivered by 4pm." I told him and gave a glance to Cara who was silently standing beside me.

"But you didn't tell me. Neither is there any pending order written in the list." He said in a tense voice.

"Shit. I was feeling a little lightheaded today. I must have forgotten about it. I'm so sorry Liam." I slapped my forehead. It had never happened before; we have never forgotten to deliver an order on time. It was because all my thoughts were converged on Evan this morning.

"It's okay. What should we do now?" He asked.

"Don't worry. I'll call her and personally apologize." I replied.

"Okay, I'll try to find a solution for her." He said and cut the call. I took a long sigh and rubbed my temples that had started to pain a little. Such irresponsible actions weren't good for the reputation of my bakery.

"Cara, let's go and..." I angled my neck to look at her but she wasn't standing beside me.

Panic filled me and I looked around myself, only to find her kneeling in the middle of the road, petting a cat.

"Cara," I ran towards her and hearing my voice, the cat suddenly ran away. She stood upright nervously to look towards me and at the exact moment, a car took a turn from the road to our left towards this one. The full speed of the car froze Cara in her place and my brain numbed in fear. Adrenaline pumped in my veins and I rushed towards her in full speed but I was too far and too late. The front of the car collided with Cara and her loud scream filled with fright pierced through my eardrum.

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