Scarlett sat in the back of the town car and had insisted that Rhett sit up front. First of all, she had a strange aversion to sitting in cabs with people, especially when said person was Rhett Butler and she knew that he would tease her the whole way to the office because all she was going to do was look in the mirror "beautifying" herself because she didn't spend thirty minutes putting on her make-up this morning and didn't sufficiently bedizen her features… But most importantly, she knew that if Rhett sat up front he would more than likely foot the bill for the ride. And that was always beneficial to her. Saving a buck always put a smile on her face…

As it turned out, Rhett called a town car, which was also to Scarlett's advantage because they were so much cleaner than city cabs were. Rhett was sort of—how do you say—snobby concerning things like that.

They arrived at the office building shortly and Scarlett exited the cab while still fixing her face. She hadn't yet finished applying her lip gloss. She subtly glanced over the edge of her tiny hand mirror as Rhett paid the driver, glad that her absorption in taking care of her make-up had served more than one purpose. She looked at her face one more time and saw how nice she looked, before smiling and gently patting her full purse.

Rhett walked back over to her, his Ray Bans over his eyes now. She was glad of this because she could tell by his smug smirk that his eyes were probably sparkling with that insolent humor she hated so much. " 'Pride does not wish to owe and vanity does not wish to…pay'." His smile widened in view of her shock and he even laughed when her surprise turned into anger. He walked towards the building and through the revolving doors.

I hope they fire him for walking into the building in nothing but workout clothes, she thought as she started off behind him. She watched him walk, seeing how his calf muscles stretched and eased with every step. Her eyes traveled up quickly past his hindquarters (so as not to get distracted) and to his broad back. His workout shirt was light and it easily defined his taunt and toned back. His shoulder blades stuck out so far with muscles, there was a large dip in his shirt. She allowed her eyes to travel a little farther to the area she had refused to observe before turning away in annoyance…

Oh, he won't get scolded. If anything they will probably change the dress code and allow for a "casual…workout Saturdays or something, she thought bitterly as she reanalyzed her observations. Especially if it's Richard who catches him. Maybe a security guard will kick him out of the building for being out of dress code. She smirked at the thought. However, any hopes of security catching him were dashed when she saw that the security guard was, in fact, a woman. She eyed Rhett appreciatively; Scarlett rolled her eyes.

Rhett stopped at the receptionist's desk, asking for the permission to go to the offices upstairs. The receptionist, Scarlett knew well. She was a slick piece of work and her name was Belle Watling. She had heard that Rhett and Belle's relationship went beyond the office and as she watched them communicate she had no doubt that this had to be true. The woman was practically drooling…

"Hello, Belle. You look gorgeous this afternoon." Rhett grinned slowly, showing all of his perfectly white teeth. Belle leaned over the counter towards him, eyeing him appreciatively. She purposefully situated herself in order to give Rhett—and everyone else—a broad view of her very ample chest. Scarlett's chest burned with a sudden strange hate as she looked between them and could clearly see the mutual attraction.

"Rhett Butler…" Belle purred. "I love the new look. It's very…appealing." She whispered the last word. Rhett's grin widened dangerously at her admission.

"Can you open the doors for us?" Rhett asked, smirking at her and he gestured unassumingly at the doors.

Belle took a deep breath before shrugging her shoulders. "That all depends. You don't have your ID on you…" Belle reached over the counter and patted the front of his shorts, around his pockets. She got dangerously close to Rhett's…personals…"But perhaps I could overlook that. You could do me a few favors…" Belle simpered.

Scarlett couldn't take it anymore. She yanked her ID from her purse and slammed it on the counter, causing Belle to jump. She looked at Scarlett with surprise. "Here is my ID. He can be my visitor if need be and," Scarlett leaned towards the counter menacingly, "No favors will be necessary." Belle took the card and scanned it before handing it back to Scarlett. Scarlett's blood boiled over as she watched Rhett wave at the still taken aback Belle. As they walked towards the elevators, Rhett started to laugh.

"What on earth are you laughing about?" He better be laughing at himself for making a fool of himself back there…

"If you wanted to place your stamp of ownership on me so firmly, Scarlett, you didn't have to scare the daylights out of Belle to do it. She is a good girl…she is just having a little fun." He smirked.

Scarlett whipped around on him. "First of all, you are far from being my property. As if I would even want you. And if you did belong to me, I would do some major renovations…starting with cutting off a certain part of your anatomy. It would save time and make you less…obscene." Rhett's face screwed up in mock agony at the thought. "Secondly, how on earth can you say that that woman is a good girl when she was practically drooling all over you and laying all of her assets on the counter in front of the whole world. It was disgusting…" Scarlett sashayed away towards the elevator. Rhett's laughter followed after her. She pushed the button for "Up" and stood there waiting with an air of quiet indignation.

Suddenly, she was brought up close to someone's torso, arms wrapped around her waist playfully. Rhett whispered conspiringly into her ear, "If I didn't know that you were so in love with Ashley, I would dare to think you were in love with me. Don't worry your little head anymore about it, my darling. Next time I will show everyone just who I belong to." The hairs on the back of Scarlett's neck stood on edge at the pleasurable sensation of his breath in her ear. And her heart jumped violently in her chest at the feel of his strong body against her and his warm arms around her waist. But at his words she abruptly ripped herself from his embrace and turned around to look at him with passionate outrage.

"Don't you ever touch me again! And I am most assuredly not in love with a skunk like you, Rhett Butler…" She straightened her shirt and just then the elevator's doors opened. She looked up at him and his eyes were sparkling with humor. But there was something else there…eagerness? Well perhaps he was just planning his next joke. The asshole…

She turned from his amused face and walked in, pressing the button for the desired floor. Rhett entered too. His amusement permeated the air and Scarlett silently pleaded for someone else to enter the elevator to spare her the additional torment she was sure to receive at his hand. Her hopes were shattered as the mechanical doors slowly closed.

They stood there for a moment in silence. Scarlett glanced over at Rhett. He was indeed still smiling and to Scarlett's continued vexation, Rhett did speak. His tone was quiet, but the bass of his voice reverberated throughout the tiny enclosure. "My, what a passion you are in! And as you know it's quite becoming…all too often I see just how far I have to go to see that fire light up those valley green eyes of yours."

The doors to the elevator opened and Scarlett walked out, trying to stay mad at him. But he had said she was becoming, and it was so terribly hard for her to cling to her resentment towards him when he said nice things about the way she looked, especially when she knew that he was right.

She started towards her cubicle, but Rhett caught her arm. "Where are you going?" he said smiling, knowing that all was forgiven. Oh, if I could just hold it against him a little longer…she thought, hating that he knew he had gotten away with his earlier transgression.

"To my cubicle." She made a face at him that clearly said "duh". Sure, she had known when they first got here that she wouldn't be going to her cubicle today. But she didn't want to give into Rhett so easily after all of his annoying antics by continuing dutifully towards his office after they exited the elevator.

"Your cubicle isn't going to do you any good today. You are coming with me to my office." Scarlett rolled her eyes at him but turned and led the way to his office. She had been in the office many times: working on stories and researching ideas and planning layouts. It was fashioned like one of those offices that you see on TV. Everything was designed specifically for it. Everything was in its place. Good God, she thought as she scanned his office, he is so metro…

"Wait out here a moment," he said as he headed to his private bathroom. "I am going to change really quickly before they kick me out for ignoring dress code." He smirked. He reached the door to the bathroom and turned to face her. "Would you like the door opened or closed?" His eyes sparkled wickedly.

Scarlett placed her hands on her hips trying to act confident even as her face heated at his comment. "What do you think?" she said hatefully.

"Ah…opened then." He walked into the bathroom and she could see him pulling off his shirt. He won't…she said, as she stared at his lean sinews. She saw him reach for his waistband and she stepped forward and said hastily, "Great Balls of Fire, Rhett! Close the damn door!"

He turned towards her and she caught sight of his beautifully sculpted chest and stomach. Wow…she thought, before turning away. Rhett laughed as he closed the door.

Scarlett stomped her foot roughly against the plush, carpeted floor. Good God, what was wrong with her today? I mean, she had always noticed Rhett was damn good looking, but why was it that she was all of the sudden reacting to it? Twice! Twice today he had caught her staring at him. And that's only the times she got caught. And then, what was the deal with the sleazy receptionist downstairs? Why the hell should she care if Rhett slept around with that woman and more than likely got an STD? Fire burned in her again at the thought of him and that Watling creature and she quickly struggled to put it out of her mind.

I mean, yeah sure. There have been a few times when I might have made it a little obvious that I found him attractive, and there had been plenty of times, when my endorphins were running high from chocolate or whatever, that I was kind of… She sighed heavily and leaned her head back to look at the ceiling. That nasty smirk of his popped into her head, and she clenched her fists. She was going to do whatever it took not to see that arrogant look on his face again. This was one woman that wasn't going to be one of his conquests…

She looked out in front of her again and observed the office she had been in a million times. It was so…classic. Plush beige carpets covered the falls and cherry wood paneling meshed beautifully with the cream-colored furniture. It didn't match the man in the bathroom at all. She walked over to the solid desk and stepped behind it. Sitting down in his seat, she decided that while she waited (cause it could be a while…he might get distracted if he passes in front of a mirror…) she would check her email. Perhaps she should double check her flight as well and check to make sure that she had officially submitted her reservation at the hotel in Atlanta.

Her father had offered for her to stay with them. In fact, he had begged. It was no secret that Scarlett was the favorite daughter of her Irish immigrant father. And she adored him as well. However, he had told her that her brothers would be there for the week. Fall Break. She had stopped short at the information and told her father that she appreciated it but she had spent 11 years of her life in the same house as Gerry, Landon and Houston and she had no desire to spend even another day under the same roof with them. She loved her brothers. She definitely loved them better than her sisters…but they were devils. They figured out new and exciting ways to torment her every day. Kind of like the man behind that door, she thought as she looked at the bathroom door.

So she reserved a suite at The Mansion on Peachtree. As one of the most popular hotels in Atlanta, she had always wanted to stay there but had never had a reason to. She had really wanted the "Presidential Suite" which included a luxury spa bathtub…heaven. But it had been reserved just before she had gotten the chance to reserve it for herself. She silently hoped that whoever reserved it before her drowned in that tub…

Well, it was damn expensive anyway. Whoever got it before me must be loaded…she thought as she started up the computer. The desktop popped up and Scarlett was stunned at what she saw. The desktop background was of Rhett and two tiny girls. One looked about two years old and the other looked to be about four years old. The oldest was wrapped around his leg and the youngest was propped up on his shoulder and he had his face buried in her belly, acting as if he were eating it. The two girls had beautiful black hair and looked a lot like Rhett…

Rhett exited the bathroom, once again his immaculate self. He had smoothed his hair out and Scarlett wanted to slap herself when felt something akin to regret at the loss of the bedhead...

"Who are they?" she blurted out curiously, pointing at the computer screen. Rhett walked over to her and started laughing at the picture on his desktop.

"Ah…those two little rascals are my nieces. Abby and Grace. They are my brother's daughters." Scarlett stood up and Rhett sat down in the chair, observing the picture with a grin. "My brother and I aren't on the best of terms but that doesn't keep his girls from adoring me. Apparently even the young females can't keep away from me." He smirked.

Scarlett rolled her eyes. "As if. And I suppose you just love them…"

Rhett swiveled the chair around to face her. "As a matter of fact, I do. I love children." His face was as serious as she had ever seen it and she knew he was telling the truth.

"Close your mouth, Scarlett. It's unbecoming to act shocked when someone reveals the contents of their soul to you."

"But, I would have never…you really like children? You, of all people?" Disbelief still clouded her features.

"Yes." He replied. "I might in fact be a reprobate of the worst kind, but deep inside this black, cold heart lies a secret passion for children and family." His voice was dripping with sarcasm and his words were mocking. She knew that he was probably teasing her now for her curiosity.

"Now I know you are lying. You would never want children or a family." Scarlett turned from him and walked around the desk, sitting in one of the chairs designated for visitors.

"You wound me, Scarlett. Yes, indeed, I am a monster of selfishness. However, I have always wanted children. Comparably, they are the only pure and innocent creatures on the planet."

Scarlett mocked him. "Oh, and all these years I have known you I suppose that you were just kidding around when you went around vowing that you would never marry." She rolled her eyes.

"Yes, I did say that. And I still mean it. I don't plan on marrying, if I don't have to. That is, unless I find someone worth marrying."

Scarlett looked at him, befuddled. "What?" He was making no sense.

Rhett sighed mockingly, and placed his loosely folded fingers on the top of his desk. "I don't plan on marrying if I don't have to. If I find someone decent, I suppose I could bring myself to stick around, at least for a little while." Scarlett threw him a look of absolute consternation and he grinned wickedly. "However, if ever a woman of rare value and unique breed were to come around and I found I couldn't live without her, I suppose I would have to marry her. You see, when I find something I want, I am hard-pressed to ever let it go. And when I find something I can't live without," his look seemed to intensify, "I will always want that something to belong solely and completely to me." His eyes lost their intensity and sparkled with self-mockery. "It's the monster of selfishness in me."

Scarlett looked at him, a little confused. She had never seen him speak of something so passionately, and yet she had still yet to realize whether he was teasing her or not. Perhaps he was telling the truth, and if that were so, then he had yet to find that woman of "rare value" with whom to share his life. Something inside of Scarlett stirred at this thought, in that she herself was not considered of "rare value" to Rhett. That much was obvious, or else he would have already tried to claim her for his own. An equal feeling of embarrassment and consternation filled her chest at the thought that she wasn't considered the "most" or the "best" to someone. It was rare that happened. But another thought overtook her mind, wiping all other considerations on the subject from her head. Suppose that Rhett did, in fact, one day find this "unique breed"…suppose he found it in some girl around the office, around the city…

A faceless, nameless woman, one who was unique and beautiful, entered Scarlett's mind's eye. The idea of Rhett pledging his love to this unknown woman filled her with a sudden and violent jealousy that she couldn't explain…

Just then, there was a knock at Rhett's office door. Rhett called for the person to enter and Richard walked into the room. Richard Howard, the editor of the paper, was an extraordinary man. He was, indeed, one of the sweetest men in the world and one of the easiest people to get along with. He was still a young man, probably about 40 or 45, but his hair was already fully gray. He had become editor about two years ago, and he had immediately promoted Scarlett from intern to writer. He was understanding and a boss that a worker wanted to do well for. He was a relaxed boss and he and Scarlett had a good relationship. She imagined she would even consider him a friend. And he was easy to talk to and dedicated, which was why he was at the office on Saturday. Scarlett rarely, if ever, went in on Saturdays. But every time she had, Richard was there.

"Hello, Scarlett. Rhett." Richard shifted slightly when Rhett threw him one of his most irresistible grins.

"Richard, good to see you." Rhett said.

"Hello, Richard." Scarlett said.

Richard forced his eyes away from Rhett and in an attempt to act professional, asked Scarlett, "You are needing next week off, correct?"

Scarlett nodded and threw him her sweetest smile. Even though he wasn't into her, or any other girl for that matter, she knew from experience that she could work wonders on any man, hetero or not. "Yes, if that is still alright. I know that it's all very short notice and I only let you know yesterday, but the wedding is rather sudden too."

It worked. Richard smiled. "Of course, Scarlett. I already have an intern working on the story I assigned you. They were delighted to have the opportunity."

"Well, I am glad that my time off can do some good somewhere." She batted her eyelashes.

"You are very considerate, Scarlett. Thank you. Just come back ready to write. I am ready to put you back to work when you return…"

"Yes, of course." Scarlett said demurely.

Richard turned to Rhett again, and Scarlett smiled at the effort he seemed to put into not ogling him. "And you are off as well, Rhett." Richard said. Scarlett inwardly balked at the fact that she had been questioned about her time off and Richard had just given Rhett his time off. How typical. If only he liked women then it would be so much easier to…wait. What? Time off? Scarlett looked at Rhett curiously.

"That's wonderful, Richard." Rhett said, looking at Scarlett out of the corner of his eye before turning around in his chair and standing up from the desk. "If you would excuse me for a moment Richard, I have something for you before you go. It will only take a moment."

Rhett exited the office and Richard immediately sat down in the chair next to Scarlett's as if he were exhausted. "Good heavens, " he effeminately waved his hand in front of his face, fanning himself, "that man is something else." Richard looked at her, wanting confirmation.

"Mmhm," Scarlett said weakly, trying to hide her irritation. Then she asked, "Rhett has days off soon?"

"Yes, next week. Just like you…he told me this morning. I had a message on my phone this morning. He—" Richard's eyes opened wide, as if in realization of something. Scarlett looked at him curiously. "I knew it! I knew it! Everyone in the office did too, but I knew it first." He bounced as he pointed at himself.

"What—"

"Oh my God, I am so jealous! You are fired, you hear me! Fired!" He laughed joyfully as he playfully hit her arm. "You are going to have to tell me everything. Especially about the" he looked around theatrically before putting a curved fingers to his cheek and whispering, "S-E-X…"

Scarlett looked at Richard, irritated confusion on her features. "What do you mean, tell you about the S-E-X?"

Richard balked exaggeratedly and threw up his hands. "Oh come on, Scarlett honey! You and Rhett Butler have had something going on for a very long time. The way he looks at you and the way you avoid looking at him…it's so obvious! And then you both ask for the same week off? At the same time? Do you think I am an idiot?" He pointed at himself, his pinky curled around his other fingers.

Scarlett started to protest, but Richard continued. "It explains so much and clears up so many suspicions I have had! I mean, did you know that Rhett has had ten job offers from other more prominent companies across the world? Ten! Everyone wants him…I don't blame them. And yet he stayed here?! I mean, we are talking major promotions. He makes really good money here, but…I know that the most recent offer was a job that would have paid in the millions! Millions! And he has been staying here?! Granted, he has yet to make a decision on that job… But I bet any amount of money that he won't take it. Just like with the others. And now I know why he has refused all of the job offers…" He paused with a sigh of disappointment. "I was hoping it was because he wanted to stay close to me…"

Scarlett was still taking in all the information and was about to speak when Rhett walked back in the office. Richard jumped from his seat and again assumed his professional stance. Rhett towered above him, as he did most people, and he handed him the papers. Richard thanked him and turned to take his leave as Rhett headed for his desk. Rhett was still turned from both Scarlett and Richard and as Richard left the room, he turned to Scarlett and started desperately gesturing for her to write things down and be ready to tell him everything. Scarlett watched him walk away before standing up from her chair and taking the two steps to the door before slamming it.

"Why do you have next week off? Where are you going? Why didn't you tell me? I needed your help! You are supposed to be working on this for me, and you have yet to show me one thing that you have found and…and I was really counting on you and you—" Rhett walked back around his desk and placed his finger against her rapidly moving lips. Scarlett's eyes opened wide at the feel of his warm and surprisingly rough finger against her soft, sensitive skin. Her heart skipped hazardously and she had a sudden unexplainable desire to pucker her lips against the finger that held her mouth hostage.

"Scarlett, I assumed that I would be of better use to you if I were with you." Rhett explained, before removing his finger.

At first, Scarlett was still confused. But as her mind adjusted to what Rhett had just told her, she was suddenly, recklessly happy. Oh, how nice he could be sometimes! And here she had thought that he was leaving all of this to her and he was really going to come to Atlanta with her. As she looked at him, she remembered how smart he was and how strong and able. How wonderful it would be to have him with her, to help her! With Rhett, she knew without a doubt that she could accomplish what she needed to.

She recklessly squealed and threw her arms around him. But she had been in his arms for no more than half a second when she thought of something else. She pulled back and looked him squarely in the eye and said as a mother would to a disobedient child. "You better not be up to something. Because if you embarrass me, I will kill you, Rhett Butler. You have to keep a low profile. I don't want any of my friends or family to know who you are or that you are in Atlanta or that you know me or…anything! Do you understand?" That would be just what she needed.

Rhett's arms were wrapped firmly around her waist, she realized when she felt him squeeze her tightly against him. He laughed merrily at her words. "Don't look so determined, Scarlett. I will keep a low profile." His eyes sparkled happily. "I have always wanted to go to Atlanta. Such an exciting city. And I have been in need of a vacation. My intentions are purely innocent…mostly." His grin widened.

Scarlett snorted. "So says the fox to the lamb…" She pulled out of his arms, disconcerted by the strange warmth in her belly at being so close to him. "When are you leaving?" She went to pick up her purse.

"Tomorrow morning. 7:15."

Scarlett turned and looked at him, a little surprised. "That's when I am leaving too."

Rhett's eyes widened with unrealistic shock. "What a coincidence!"

Scarlett rolled her eyes. He had obviously done…something and booked the same plane as she was on. She looked at his mischievous face and wondered how he was always able to perform wonders like he could. Her happiness in his coming with her enveloped her again and she smiled at him enthusiastically. He laughed at her smile and she wondered if it revealed how triumphant she felt.

We are going to stop all of this. Rhett can do anything…We will stop this! She thought with an absolute certainty. So happy and giddy was she, she walked over to him and kissed him carelessly on the cheek. He looked shocked for a moment and his eyes went quickly to her face, before he suddenly laughed.

"Now, what did you find?" she said happily.

Rhett sat down at his desk and pulled up a website. It was the orphanage's website. Scarlett leaned over Rhett's shoulder, peering at the screen. She couldn't help but notice that he smelled really, really good. She breathed him in deeply and leaned in closer. She let out a deep breath close to his ear and she heard him suck in a sharp breath. He went to some strange, random page on the website.

"You see," he said, "this isn't technically an orphanage, in the traditional sense. It isn't run within the government. It's privately run; therefore family members or loved ones have to send the children to the orphanage, relinquishing their rights to the child. That or private institutions send foster children from within their systems to them. Such as Christian foster groups, etc."

Scarlett nodded. "So, how does all of this relate to Melanie?"

Rhett shrugged. "Don't know yet. The records are going to be nearly impossible to get into. But…" he smirked, swiveling around, coming within inches of her face. She leaned back slightly. "I have friends in high places." He suddenly scratched his chin. "Or should I say low places…"

Scarlett remembered the "friend" he had mentioned earlier at her apartment and straightened. "Well, aren't we lucky?" She said sarcastically before folding her arms. She didn't know why she was so bothered by this woman that she was sure he knew.

Rhett looked at her and suddenly burst into laughter. Scarlett stared at him as he laughed, then suddenly snapped, "What?!"

"You are like one of those old married women you see walking down the street, who hits her husband every time he looks at another female." He wiped his eyes and looked up at her, his eyes sparkling. "Don't be ashamed, darling. I am just as jealous over you." He laughed again, sarcasm dripping from his words.

Scarlett started to roll her eyes but remembered with sudden clarity what Richard had just said moments before and that Rhett often concealed truths about himself within barbs and cynicisms. She looked at him curiously, and he gradually stopped laughing. Only the barest of smiles rested on his full lips when she spoke. "Richard just told me you have had ten job offers in the past year, but that you haven't taken any of them. Why?"

Rhett's smile faltered before it stretched across his handsome face again. "Richard could be in big trouble for disclosing personal information like that. I could report him. But to answer your question, I suppose…" he shrugged. "I suppose I am waiting for bigger and better things." He grinned, but his eyes were guarded.

"Indeed," she said, unbelieving.

Suddenly his eyes were alert and amused, as if he had understood her game and her meaning. "Ahh…" he said. "You are actually conceited enough to think that there is something holding me here?"

She balked. "No…I…" Good God, he is never going to let me live this down if I don't figure out an explanation. "I was just curious and-"

"You think that it was you that I am staying here for. Come now, admit it." Scarlett stuttered for a moment and Rhett spoke again. "I hate to ruin your fanciful ideas of my secret love for you, Ms. O'Hara. But my reasons for staying on here at the paper are strictly business reasons." Rhett stood from his seat; Scarlett peered up at him now, her head tilted back awkwardly due to his close proximity. "But because I don't wish to completely bruise your vanity, I will say this. Staying on definitely has its perks. I get to watch that beautiful body of yours sashay across the office in those almost indecently short-skirts everyday. And I think to myself when I see that…'This is why you are staying on, Rhett'. I live for seeing those hips move in that unconscious walk that belongs solely to you. It makes me think of naughty things…"

Her brows went swiftly together in a scowl and she swiftly turned on one heel and grabbed her purse before heading for the door. Rhett's laughter followed her. "Don't be upset, Scarlett. I speak only the truth…" She opened the door to the office and went to slam it but her purse got caught between the door and the jam. She jerked it and jerked it and finally, after a few rips, it tore loose and she effectively slammed the door. She walked away trying not to focus on Rhett's laughter still ringing through the firmly shut door…

…and trying not to think about how his words had affected her.