Lily quickly patted his back to help him catch his breath. "Assistant Carson, why are you getting so worked up? Are you feeling kind of indignant for Scarlett too?"
Aaron Carson pulled out a tissue, wiped his mouth, and mumbled, "Yeah, a little. Making people wait until they catch a cold, it really isn’t great."
As for Julian Ford, under fire for his lack of gentlemanly manners, he was still as calm as ever, looking like a total outsider.
Let alone guilty, Scarlett looked at Julian’s lofty, aloof posture, like he didn’t care at all—if anything, she was sure the next ti he got pissed off, he’d torture her again.
Not to ntion, the man’s hand under the table was still restless, obviously not done with her yet.
"Speaking of which, Assistant Carson, you haven’t answered our question from earlier."
Skyler Miller locked eyes with Aaron, enjoying the drama as she spoke up.
Aaron played dumb: "Let’s not go over stuff we’ve already said, it’s pointless."
Lily: "So, are you trying to ask Scarlett out or not?"
Aaron choked on a mouthful of beef.
He almost coughed up fire from the spice.
Scarlett reached out her free hand and patted his back, her voice soft and caring, "Assistant Carson, slow down."
Aaron’s eyes went wide: You’re trying to get killed!
Scarlett withdrew her hand, smiling as sweet as could be.
Julian glanced down and saw the curve of her lips, the bright spark in her eyes.
"Don’t I have a piece of clothing over at your place?"
Julian suddenly asked, all casual like it was nothing.
Scarlett’s smile froze for a second, but she pretended to stay calm. "Oh, that must be the shirt you left on the plane when we were abroad last ti. The flight attendant gave it to —I just forgot to return it to you."
Julian’s lips quirked upward, unreadable.
Just as Scarlett breathed a sigh of relief, that hand stroking her forearm suddenly landed on her thigh.
She’d only thrown on a thick coat over her pajamas at ho—the pajama fabric was thin, Julian’s palm scalding hot. The down jacket just barely covered his hand, and Scarlett’s skin was about to combust.
The table was small and crowded; Scarlett didn’t dare move much. Even the tiniest shift would send everyone’s eyes down to see what was up.
"I’ll go get it for you."
She shot to her feet from the chair and rushed upstairs in a panic.
Julian rubbed his fingers together and, after a mont, got up from the table as well, unhurried, and headed upstairs too.
Aaron: "..."
Skyler, Lily: "???"
Scarlett climbed the stairs, walked to the wardrobe, and had just reached in for the shirt when slender, powerful arms wrapped around her waist from behind. She was pulled back right into the familiar chill of Julian’s chest.
The apartnt was never great at blocking noise—even now, just a room away, the conversation downstairs rose and fell, every word audible.
Upstairs, Julian set Scarlett on his lap, the two pressed absurdly close together. He held her by the nape, squeezed gently, and murmured in a low voice, "Don’t want to keep going?"
Scarlett forced out two words through gritted teeth: "Get lost."
Julian’s gaze drifted elsewhere. "You sure you want to quit now?"
His touch and his restraint were perfectly asured, keeping her right on edge, breathless and unable to escape.
Scarlett’s nose was stuffy from her cold, and with Julian teasing her, her face went even redder. Her almond-shaped eyes were dark with want and edged with simring anger, an intoxicating mix.
Julian flicked his gaze up to et her inky eyes.
He pulled her head in and captured her mouth in a kiss.
Palm pressed to her, everything was tangled, sensual heat blooming between them.
When Scarlett went back downstairs, her expression said she was in a mood—maybe it was the air conditioning, but her cheeks were blushing, lips flushed and damp, hands dripping water, as if she’d just washed them.
Julian followed after, calm as can be, except for that subtle hint of satiety flickering in his eyes.
The two returned to their seats.
Julian picked up his chopsticks, dipped a slice of beef, and put it in Scarlett’s bowl.
It was so smooth and natural that the other three didn’t notice anything strange at all.
Scarlett recalled their mont upstairs—her face burned hotter, and an anger twisted tight in her chest.
If she didn’t feel bad about wasting food, she’d have really chucked that beef right at Julian’s face.
Her sleeves were rolled up to the elbows, her skin fair and delicate. Except for one small bruise along the inner arm.
Julian caught sight of it, asked,
"How’d you hurt your arm?"
His voice was clear and cool; the room went quiet as soon as he spoke, everyone turning to watch them.
Scarlett glanced at her arm, then said breezily, "Slipped in the bathroom this morning, no big deal."
Julian: "You couldn’t be more careful?"
Scarlett was in no mood for decency right now. She answered with a hint of sarcasm, "So tell , do you think it’s my own fault I fell, or was it because soone left out in the cold and I caught it?"
Julian: "If you did nothing wrong, would anyone have you waiting for nothing?"
"..."
Scarlett stayed quiet for a few seconds.
Then the corners of her lips lifted in a little smile. "You’re right, I was wrong."
Julian looked down at her from under his lashes.
Scarlett: "My mistake was being too stupid—keep believing, again and again, that if soone promises sothing, they won’t go back on it."
The hotpot stead up the room with clouds of vapor.
The air conditioning was running too.
And yet, Skyler, Lily, and Aaron all felt a sudden chill ghost over their scalps.
Aaron put down his chopsticks, ever the tactful one, "I’m full."
Lily: " too."
Skyler: "I’ve overdone it on the drinks."
The three of them got up, gathered the dishes, and Scarlett, pulling herself from the standoff with Julian, said, "Skyler, Lily, why don’t you both head ho and get so rest. I’ll tidy up here."
Then to Aaron: "Assistant Carson, you don’t need to bother either. Nor should President Ford."
The first bit was genuinely not wanting to trouble hardworking friends. But as for the second—
The intent to kick them out couldn’t be more obvious.
And as for who needed kicking out, well, anyone with half a clue could tell.
Skyler really had drunk too much—she could barely walk straight. Lily had no choice but to take her ho first.
Ten minutes later, once Aaron was sure they were gone, he snuck out too.
Now only Scarlett and Julian were left in the room.
Scarlett wordlessly cleared the little table. She’d just dumped the dishes in the sink when Julian’s calm voice sounded behind her:
"If you’re not feeling well, just rest. Don’t keep looking for sothing to do."
Scarlett turned on the faucet, letting the water drown out Julian’s voice.
So he knew she wasn’t feeling well, but had still grabbed her hand, forced her to help him, and now he’s spouting all these considerate remarks? What a joke.
Her hand had barely touched the water when she was yanked back.
Julian switched off the tap, braced his hands on the counter, caging her in. He looked down, his tone mild, "Don’t you understand what I’m telling you?"
His eyes were as fathomless as the night.
With that everlasting, unreadable calm.
"Go put on so clothes. You’re coming with to Cloud Mansion."
Julian couldn’t stand the sll in the apartnt. He glanced at the ssy table.
"I’ll get housekeeping to co over and clean tomorrow."
Scarlett kept her gaze down, hiding her feelings from him. When she looked up again, her eyes were unreadable as she said, "I can’t do that tonight."
Going to Cloud Mansion—there was only one thing he wanted there.
She rembered the night before last, and the thought put her off.
Besides, she really wasn’t feeling well right now.
"I won’t touch you for the next few days."
Julian saw her unmoving, strode straight upstairs, pulled a thick coat from her wardrobe, and helped her into it, personally.
"Co stay at my place for a few days and get so proper rest."
He lifted her arms into the sleeves, buttoned her up with silent patience, then took his own scarf and wrapped her up tightly and warm.
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