Aaron Carson’s pupils widened as he stared at Scarlett Shaw: Do you think he heard us?
Scarlett felt a pang of guilt too: Who cares? As long as we’re not embarrassed, the one who’ll be embarrassed is Julian Ford!
Aaron: ...
Whether Julian heard or not, Scarlett didn’t have the energy to dwell on it.
She’d called in sick yesterday, work had piled up, and it was late when she finally saw Aaron’s ssage saying he’d take her back to Cloud Mansion.
Now that she and Aaron were close, she didn’t stand on ceremony. Still, she was surprised, and after getting in the car, she asked, "Aren’t you supposed to drive Julian Ford today?"
"President Ford told to drive you to and from work for the next few days," Aaron replied, "He said once you get better, you can go back to your crappy apartnt. He even told to use my own car so it wouldn’t attract attention."
Scarlett’s eyes flickered. She turned to look at the night scenes flying past the window, saying nothing.
When Scarlett got back to Cloud Mansion, Julian wasn’t there. After showering, she paused in the living room, left a light on in the foyer, and returned to her room.
But the next morning, the light was still on.
Clearly, Julian Ford hadn’t co ho all night.
While brushing her teeth, Scarlett’s phone rang; it was a WhatsApp voice call from Yana Yarrow. She dried her face, slid her slender fingers to answer.
"Scarlett, did you and Julian Ford break up?"
"Hmm?"
"Check the trending topics—it’s flooded with news about him spending last night with Lynn Walsh at a hotel. The gossip is they’re a perfect match and an engagent is in the works."
Scarlett’s fingers tensed on the phone. Her lashes quivered as she looked at herself in the mirror and replied quietly, "Is that so."
Her tone was airy, almost indifferent.
If it was anyone else, a few words would be enough to brush it off.
But Yana had known Scarlett for years. She could tell what Scarlett had eaten last al just by a hiccup, so at once she sensed sothing was wrong. She hesitated: "You two... haven’t broken up?"
Scarlett smiled, "If he’s getting engaged, then surely things with are nearly over. You know how it is between us. It’s not up to ."
Yana was quiet. She didn’t know what to say.
As a bystander, Yana could sense there was sothing not right about Scarlett’s feelings for Julian. As for Scarlett herself, how could she not know?
She just saw reality too clearly, so she chose self-control and denial to keep up appearances.
After ending the call, Scarlett grabbed a piece of toast for breakfast, then left the house. Aaron’s car was already waiting by the curb.
She got in, composure intact. "Morning."
"Morning."
Aaron quietly glanced at Scarlett a few more tis than necessary.
Noticing, Scarlett turned to look him dead in the eye and smiled, "Aaron, why do you keep looking at ? You’re not actually into , are you?"
Aaron blurted out, "I’m not you."
Scarlett’s smile faltered for a second before deepening. "What about ?"
Aaron: "Nothing."
Aaron had seen the news about Julian Ford and Lynn Walsh first thing that morning too.
He’d always thought his boss was cold and disinterested in won. Even after breaking up with Zoe Sutton, he never expected Julian would use another woman to numb himself. That’s why, coming to know Scarlett, he’d felt she was special.
Now it seed, that feeling was just an illusion.
To Julian, Scarlett might really just be a cat—cute for a while, easily tossed aside when he got bored.
A cat that was never ant to be shown in public.
In any case, Aaron and Scarlett now shared a sort of "comrade-in-arms" bond. Thinking of it, he felt a pang of sympathy for her. After lunch, he bought her a coffee—and grabbed enough for the entire investnt departnt.
Lily sipped her coffee, and gossiped in the group chat with Skyler Miller and Scarlett: Scarlett, is Assistant Carson really after you?
Skyler: Odds are, yeah.
Scarlett: Definitely not.
Lily: But when you got sick, he instantly ca to see you, bought you coffee, and even treated the departnt. Isn’t he just currying favor at this point?
Scarlett: ...
She and Aaron might be "fake dating," but that was only to deal with Ryan Ford. Outside of that, she hadn’t planned to get close to him—especially not at work. If this ever reached Julian Ford, the petty man that he is, he’d definitely make her pay for it.
Lily: By the way, did you see this morning’s trending topics? President Ford and his girlfriend are such a perfect match. I heard she’s the Walsh heiress, and a lot of our company’s funds are tied up at Walsh Bank.
Lily’s words hit Scarlett’s chest like a pebble.
She didn’t respond, just sent a cute sticker in the group.
Aaron left the investnt departnt and, as soon as he stepped into the elevator, ran into Chloe Grant.
Chloe looked at him with a sly smile. "Assistant Carson, you’re so good to Scarlett. Is sothing good about to happen?"
Aaron frowned slightly.
Chloe didn’t say anything more. In her heels, she headed towards the finance departnt. Her face fell as soon as she turned away from Aaron.
Sure, Ryan Ford’s background was better than Aaron’s, but Aaron made good money, had a respectable job, and was President Ford’s special assistant. No one would dare disrespect him. He was definitely high-quality boyfriend material, maybe even a loyal man. If so, Scarlett would actually have a better life than her.
Chloe felt a lump of resentnt in her chest, suffocating her.
Why?
What’s so great about Scarlett? She wasn’t as pretty, had a mountain of debt, and ca from a broken ho—yet all the good things just fell into her lap.
Life is so unfair.
Scarlett stayed at Cloud Mansion for five days without Julian coming ho. Once her cold was completely gone, she packed up the clothes she’d brought and prepared to move back ho the next day.
When Julian finally returned, Scarlett was just putting so underwear into a small white suitcase.
At the sound of the door, she turned—locking eyes with Julian Ford.
Still technically "on the job," Scarlett played her part and greeted him properly as President Ford, paused her actions, and went to help Julian remove his coat.
Her slender fingers brushed over Julian’s broad shoulders.
He looked down at her. "All better?"
"Yeah."
Scarlett kept her head down, ek and obedient, her voice soft and light.
Julian stared at her for a mont. As she helped him out of his suit jacket, he suddenly grabbed her hand, slid it down along his shirt buttons, stopping at his belt.
Now that you’re well, it’s only natural to get back to business.
Scarlett’s fingers tensed, but she didn’t move.
Julian tightened his grip, pulling her close. "Just a few days and you’ve already forgotten what I taught you?"
Scarlett: "President Ford, since you’re seeing Miss Walsh now, doesn’t that an we’re done?"
Julian’s hand froze between her fingers, then withdrew. He hooked a finger under her chin. "This is the second ti you’ve said ’done’ to . The last ti was only half a month ago. Already forgotten so soon?"
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