Six weeks. Six damn weeks, and in all that time, I couldn’t get in touch with Scarlett once.

I paced in my living room, calling her again, only for the call to get cut off. I cursed, long and loud, wondering what the hell she was doing.

Is this about the argument we’d had?

Why was I even still trying to get in touch with her after that happened? It was the eye opener for me that Scarlett would never be okay with what I wanted from her, not without some form of commitment. I could have told her I wasn’t interested in any other woman at the moment, but that she expected it of me at all was what put me on edge.

I don’t do relationships. I decided that for myself way back when I was a teenager. I only deviated once, and it ended up being the worst idea of my life, so I was not going to repeat it.

Scarlett didn’t know the whole picture. I didn’t need to tell her my whole life story so she could go along with what I wanted. If she didn’t like it, there was no need to, after all. But maybe that’s what was happening. She’d thought things through and made her decision, and this was her way of letting me know.

“Dammit,” I growled. I still wanted to talk to her and clear things up between us.

But one thought kept ringing in my mind. Just what did I want from Scarlett, exactly?

A knock on my door stopped me from thinking too long about it. I sighed and pocketed my phone, then went to open the door. Abigail stood there, dressed up in a long black, sleeveless evening dress with slits up the sides and black high heels, with her hair left to fall around her bare shoulders. She had a purse thrown over her shoulder and matching silver necklace and earrings.

“You’re early,” I said, turning my back on her.

She stepped inside and closed the door behind her.

“I’m not,” she said. “You’re actually about to be late. I just thought I should remind you.”

I threw a frown at her over my shoulder, then checked the clock on my phone. When I saw the time, I sighed. She was right.

“Can’t I just turn up whenever? I didn’t ask to go to this office party.”

She hummed. “I didn’t either, you know.”

I grimaced as I fell back into the seat and looked up at her. I didn’t want to attend, but I was required to because I’d been transferred to the office. I’d rejected the idea when I’d first heard it, only to be told I didn’t have any choice.

Abigail ran a critical eye over me. “Well, you’re at least partly dressed.”

I rolled my eyes. I was properly dressed, just not quite so pristine. I had the slacks, shirt, socks, and shoes on, with the shirt half unbuttoned and untucked, and I had the tie slung over my shoulders, untied. My coat was draped on the back of the seat.

“Well, now that you know, do you mind leaving me to finish up here? I can find the office just fine on my own.”

She pursed her lips, then shrugged and turned back to the door.

“Fine, do as you want. But our guests will be expecting you to attend, so try not to disappoint them.”

I scoffed. “Like I give a fuck.”

“You might not, but our boss might,” she warned. Then she opened the door and left, leaving me alone.

I pulled out my phone and hesitated with it in my hand. But then I decided to forget about Scarlett for the night. I had to go out to the damn office party and act all professional. I put my phone back in my pocket, righted my clothes, pulled on my coat and left the apartment.

The office wasn’t far from where I lived. I caught a taxi outside the building, and in under half an hour, I was there.

Though I’d already been in Tokyo for months, I hadn't done enough mingling. I realized this when, at the party itself, I came across a lot of people that had come in from overseas posts as well, there was even one guy from a different office in Chicago, and we spent a while talking about random shit. If I’d known there were people other than Abigail I could have been hanging out with instead, I would have met them ages ago, and my useless attempt to call Scarlett would never have happened.

Don’t think about her, I commanded myself when I realized my thoughts were straying.

It wasn’t just a social function, though it was in part so everyone could meet. It was also very much part of the business because I met plenty of partners and clients associated with our company and office. It wasn’t my party, but a few times I found myself playing host. Thankfully, I didn’t run into anyone that didn’t speak English, or it could have turned out awkward.

I quickly grew bored with the atmosphere, and in no time at all I found myself alone and nursing a glass of champagne. I stood in an out of the way corner, willing everyone to ignore me. I took a sip of the bubbly drink and had to hold back a grimace. I would have preferred something stronger.

“Hey, there.”

I turned around to find Abigail standing behind me, looking bemused. She’d been trying to catch my attention for some time. I arranged my expression into something polite and straightened my back. I may not need to pretend around her, she’d seen me at less than my best plenty of times after all, but we had to keep up appearances.

“Is there something I can do for you?” I asked to be polite.

She smiled, eyes dropping to the glass I still held. “I thought we could skip the rest of this party and go out, have a little fun. I know you want to. You’ve been stuck in this corner by yourself for over half an hour.”

I arched an eyebrow. “Oh?” I couldn’t deny that leaving sounded more interesting. I hadn't realized I’d been hiding for so long. A distraction might be nice. “But I thought we were supposed to stay here until the party ended?”

Abigail was shaking her head. “We made an appearance and mingled, that was all we needed to do. We can do whatever we want now, and I thought you’d like to go out on the town.”

I smiled. “But we’ve already been out on the town, remember? You took me every time.”

Abigail had been curious about Tokyo, and because Scarlett wanted me to tell her all about the places I’d visited, I agreed to go out with Abigail when she invited me to explore with her on our free days. Just remembering made my expression sour. I couldn't control it.

She looked like she knew where my thoughts were heading, but didn't comment. Instead, she shrugged. “Maybe I want to see some more with you.”

Abigail took a step closer. She took my still half-full glass, handing it to a waiter as he passed. Then she turned and smiled up at me.

“Let’s go?” she offered, holding her hand out.

I watched her outstretched hand for a moment, then took it. She smiled before turning away and dragging me behind her as we left the party. We collected her coat on the way out, and she pulled it on while we were in the elevator. Once we were out on the streets, I hesitated when she led away from the parking lot.

“Are we not taking the car?”

She shot me a look over her shoulder. “Why on earth would we do that when it’s such a nice night?”

I sighed but didn't argue. She slowed her steps to match mine so we were walking beside each other and not just her leading me around. She tucked her arm under mine and pressed herself to my side. I didn't fight her on it.

Tokyo was different from New York in a lot of ways. It was just as beautiful as the city I hailed from, the streets still bright even as late as it was, and I could see other people walking around. There was a park not so far from our office building, and we headed there. The park had paths lined with lanterns instead of the traditional street lights I was used to.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Abigail murmured. “It kinda makes me think of home...”

I glanced down at her, then looked away. “You too, huh?”

“We haven't done this before, have we?”

I frowned, shooting her a look out the corner of my eye. “If you mean going out, we have. A few times. Don't tell me you forgot.”

She laughed, the sound light and carefree. “No, I meant just walking, with no destination in sight. There’s no rush to get anywhere, so we can go wherever we like...”

“Yeah,” I murmured, realizing she was right.

At that moment, I was probably the most relaxed I’d been these past six weeks. My shoulders were slumped without the need for keeping up appearances. The air was clean and dry, and I took a deep breath to savor it.

Even back home, I never did anything like this. There were the rare moments I did it during the daytime, but there was almost always a date I had to impress. With just Abigail and me there, it was liberating, because I knew she wouldn’t judge me the same as most women.

“We should do this more often,” I said, a small smile curving my mouth. “I can’t believe we haven’t tried this before.”

“We can do it as often as you’d like,” Abigail offered.

It took me a moment to realize we’d come to a stop, but I didn’t care. I tipped my head back and stared up at the stars, closing my eyes and taking in deep breaths, letting out all the stress.

I was letting too much get to me, and a lot of it was Scarlett’s fault. I took advantage of the moment to clear my mind, hoping it would stay clear when I went home. After a while, when I felt so relaxed I thought I might fall, I righted myself and opened my eyes.

Out of nowhere, Abigail was suddenly pressed against me. My eyebrows jumped in surprise, and my mind was almost not quick enough to get me to react when her face was suddenly close to mine. I made myself move back, my hands going to her shoulders as I gently, but very deliberately, pushed her away.

“What was that for?” my voice sounded incredulous, but she stood there smirking like I was acting like an idiot.

Which, to be fair, I was. There was only one reason why people kissed in my book, and that was exactly what she’d been trying to do.

But how else was I supposed to react? I hadn't seen any indication she wanted that kind of relationship with me. Abigail was attractive and outgoing; she was a favorite at the office. She could have just about any man she wanted, so why would she even bother with me? But the look in her eyes let me know that she most definitely wanted to take me to bed.

“You’re smart enough to guess if you haven’t clued in yet,” she told me. “You’re hot, Zach, and we’ve been working in much closer proximity since we moved to Tokyo. I’m interested in you.”

I frowned at her. She was too blasé about this. And while there were times when I found myself in the position she was taking, that didn’t mean I was okay with it. If anything, I was suddenly sympathetic to the women who had to deal with me. I liked my sex life easy, but because of how people were, that wasn’t always possible. There were women, even knowing what I was like, that thought they would be the one to make me fall. I set them straight quickly. Usually.

“Look, Abigail,” I started slowly. “Thank you for bringing me out tonight, I needed it, but—”

“But what?” she asked, tone playful but with an edge I hadn't heard before. “But your girlfriend would disapprove? You’re not together, remember? And hasn’t she been avoiding you? Maybe she’s trying to tell you she doesn't want anything to do with you.”

It was so close to what I’d been thinking it made me freeze. She took advantage of my preoccupation, stepping closer again. Her arms were around my neck before I realized she’d got so close, and I felt her breath wash over my face.

Nothing she’d said was in any way wrong. But at that moment, I couldn’t let her kiss me. My body moved instinctively, my head pulling back a little as my hands went to her shoulders, and I pushed her off me. It wasn't hard, but she still stumbled on her heels, a shocked look on her face that probably matched mine.

She looked angry. “What the hell was that for, Zach?”

I frowned, my back straightening at her tone. “I never gave you permission to kiss me, Abigail. Why shouldn't I stop you?”

She gave me an incredulous look, then dissolved into laughter. My frown dissolved into a glare.

“Oh, please. Since when have I needed permission? It’s just a kiss, for one. We’re both here, both single. What’s so wrong with getting together and having some fun?”

I grimaced because it was too close to what I’d told Scarlett. Abigail and I were alike in a lot of ways. That didn’t make the situation any better, though.

“You’re an attractive woman, Abigail, I just... can’t do this with you.”

Instead of looking angry like before, she looked curious now. She stood with her hands planted on her hips, head tilted slightly as if she were trying to psychoanalyze me. I fucking hated it. Abigail was starting to get on my nerves, but at the same time she was the only person I could talk to. Shit, I never needed someone to talk to until now. Everything was so fucking messed up. I wished I’d never taken this job in the first place.

“What does she have that I don’t?”

It was a genuine question, not just her pitching a fit.

“It’s nothing like that,” I said with a wince, even though my mind jumped to plenty of answers. “I’d just really like to talk to her before I make any assumptions when she’s already mad at me. She and I are still friends and I don’t want to lose that over something stupid.”

She pursed her lips. “So, you’re not saying no to me?” she asked, holding up a hand when I went to answer immediately. “Technically.”

I sighed. “Technically... no. I just can’t, not until I’ve spoken to Scarlett.”

For some reason, she looked pleased. Then she turned around. “Well, we can continue our walk if you’d like. I promise not to try anything again tonight.”

The way she said it made it clear that she would be trying something another night, and I winced at the thought. She shot me a coy look and a wink over her shoulder, and her hips swayed as she walked.

But I hardly paid attention. I’d hoped to relax, and I had until Abigail ruined it and now thoughts of Scarlett were flooding my mind again.

Abigail had made her interest more than clear. She was there, available and willing—convenient, just how I liked my sex life. And yet, I couldn't stop my thoughts from jumping immediately toward Scarlett.