You More than Anything in the World (Arissa)

Jessica collapsed onto her seat, exclaiming, “It’s all Ms. Larson’s fault! If she hadn’t joined the company, we wouldn’t have met with this misfortune.”

The other employees in the design department had already submitted themselves to their fates.

Once Carter left the office, he immediately got into his car and drove off to a certain neighborhood. It was the one in which Tiffany stayed.

Carter parked his car. He sat inside, but the road was quiet outside. It was hard to tell if he was waiting for someone or if he had merely driven here by coincidence on a joyride.

Carter remained in this position for nearly half the night. When he finally caught sight of a woman walking towards the entrance, Carter immediately leaped into action. He got out of the car and dashed straight towards her.

The woman was none other than Tiffany, carrying a rubbish bag and dressed casually in a t-shirt and flip-flops. She waved to the security guard on duty as she walked past him. However, she had only taken a few steps when she encountered the sight of Carter racing towards her. Tiffany stopped short in her tracks.

She froze for a moment. Then she quickly recovered her wits and strode off hastily in the other direction.

Carter quickened his pace and caught up with her. Fearing that she’d slip off, he grabbed hold of her arm.

“Wait, Tiffany! I have something to ask you,” Carter had long since abandoned every thought of preserving his cool image in his great urgency.

This exchange had roused the security guard’s suspicions. He ran out from his post and eyed Carter with distaste, saying, “Ms. Winters, do you need my assistance?”

Carter broke in. “She’s my friend.”

Tiffany glared at Carter. However, she was unwilling to escalate the matter further. Tiffany thus replied the security guard, saying, “I’m fine, Mr. Langston. He’s my friend.”

The security guard fixed his gaze on Carter as he said, “That’s fine, Ms. Winters. Just give me a yell anytime you need my help.”

Tiffany nodded.

After the security guard had returned to his post, Tiffany said scornfully, “Mr. Scott, you’re indeed a jinx. Even the security guard thinks that you’re a bad seed.”

Carter looked thunderous.

“Tiffany, I didn’t come here to be insulted. I came to explain the matter regarding Amelia.” Carter decided to get directly to the point.

“Carter, can’t you get it through your head that Amelia’s already married? Is there any use for you clinging onto her like this? If you still hadn’t managed to succeed all those years ago, what makes you think you’d have a better chance now?” Tiffany tried to wrench her arm from his grip, but Carter held fast. “Carter, what on earth are you trying to do? I live here. What will my neighbors think when they see you clinging onto me like this?”

Tiffany decidedly did not want to be associated with Carter. He was handsome and eligible, and much like Oscar, turned heads wherever he went. It was impossible for anyone not to notice him. Tiffany was terrified that her neighbors would mistake him for her boyfriend or one of her suitors.

“You have two choices. Either you get into my car of your own accord, or I carry you into it. Either way, you’re getting on. Take your pick,” Carter said firmly.

Tiffany glowered at him.

of her exactly. It couldn’t be out of any genuine desire to rekindle their old

I don’t want to get into any trouble because of you. You’re a brilliant man, but you’re also very much a jinx. Nothing good will come out of meeting you.” It was impossible for Tiffany’s perception of Carter to get

I

with me then.” Tiffany

corner. Tiffany stood with her arms akimbo and

was Amelia’s debt paid by Oscar four

years ago. Where were you then? Amelia called you countless times trying to borrow money to pay her debt, but you turned off your phone and vanished into thin air

It was a dark chapter in his past that he’d fervently hoped would never see the

good reason, but the fact remained that he had deserted her in

sorry,” Carter mumbled in a

my arms. The doctor said that if she experienced another one of such shocks, she might really have a miscarriage. No one knows more

fists,

in the future for all the hurt I’ve

nothing else to

asked, “How has Amelia

her best life. Women don’t need much; a man’s love is more than enough for us. Amelia has all she wants. I beg you, Mr. Scott, to

the side. How can you say that Amelia is happy? Don’t you claim to be Amelia’s

hasn’t asked to divorce her,

you say that?”

have

a series of rather unfair agreements, stating that even if Oscar cheated on her and had another child outside of wedlock, Amelia remained powerless to say no. She

marriage held together by some sort of contract?” Carter suddenly

startled. How did

of contract?” She asked crossly,

and position, along

something and told you about it, would you be able to change

know if she was happy. I couldn’t help disappearing all those years ago. Now that

Amelia were to divorce Oscar, she wouldn’t choose to go with you either,” Tiffany

“Why not?”

you didn’t return her affections. Now, she’s married to someone else and is pregnant with his

as if struck by

Did Amelia like me previously?

liked me?” Carter stammered

him curiously. “Is it that much of a surprise

like me before?” Carter

a crush on you, rather. I thought an intelligent guy like

would not have been able to tell just how great an effect this news