Scarlett Shaw: "I’m heading back to the hotel."
She didn’t live here, after all.
The elevator doors slowly closed. Julian Ford looked at her coolly and said, "Aren’t you eting with Roman Lawson tomorrow to discuss the financing plan? He’s also staying here."
Scarlett was taken aback, recalling the hotel na Roman ntioned earlier in the day. She glanced at the logo in the elevator—it really was this place.
"You know Roman’s reputation. You’ve dealt with him for a while now—you should know the score. Walking in there alone... what, planning to serve yourself up?"
The elevator reached the upper floors. Julian walked out steadily as he spoke.
When he said this, Julian was uncharacteristically free of any teasing. His expression was serious and composed—he was genuinely discussing business with her.
Scarlett didn’t have ti to wonder how he knew the details. She switched gears in a heartbeat and replied respectfully:
"I already spoke with Manager Miller. She’ll be coming too. If anything cos up, I’ll be in touch right away."
Julian glanced at her lightly. "That’s it?"
Scarlett nodded.
She’d already done a lot of groundwork with Roman. She couldn’t just let it all go to waste now that he was finally starting to soften.
Julian pulled out his keycard and opened the door. Scarlett sensibly stopped in the hallway and said, "President Ford, if there’s nothing else, I’ll get going."
"I’m standing right here, and you’re not going to ask for help?"
"What?"
Scarlett was montarily confused, but when she t Julian’s deep gaze as he leaned against the door, she instantly caught on to what he ant.
Only an idiot wouldn’t lean on a strong back when it’s right in front of them.
Scarlett could tell Julian was offering to get involved. She stifled the urge to imdiately nod like a puppy and carefully confird, "If I do lean on you, will I still get my commission when the contract’s signed?"
Julian’s brow twitched. "The company isn’t worried about a little bonus money for you."
Scarlett’s eyes lit up.
The distance she’d put between herself and Julian all this ti disappeared as she shalessly scooted two steps closer, pretending to ask seriously, "President Ford, are you free tomorrow? Would it be too much trouble to ask for a bit of your ti? I’m not sure I can handle Roman Lawson by myself—I’m afraid I’ll need your help."
Julian’s lips curled up, almost in a laugh. "Didn’t you say you were in a rush to leave just now?"
Scarlett: "That was not knowing what was good for ."
Julian lifted his hand, his fingers reaching to pinch Scarlett’s chin.
But just as his fingertips touched her skin, she nimbly and almost defensively evaded him.
Scarlett gazed at him with those bright almond-shaped eyes, her smile both playful and earnest. "President Ford, you’ve always been upright and honorable. If you step in, it’s just because of your integrity—there’s no way you’d pull sothing like Roman, right?"
Julian raised his eyebrows, surprised, and looked at her twice.
Scarlett didn’t look away, eting his gaze head-on.
Her eyes were filled with absolute trust.
Julian’s raised fingers curled slightly and he flicked them lightly twice. "Co by again tomorrow morning."
Scarlett’s eyes curved into a smile. "Okay. Good night, President Ford."
The hand Julian had on the doorknob paused for a mont. He stopped closing the door and looked back at her.
"Good night."
With the man’s calm, cool voice, the door closed. They were separated by the wall once again.
Scarlett’s eyes flickered slightly. She turned and left. It wasn’t until she entered the elevator and walked out of the hotel into Bryland’s cold night breeze that the restless heat in her chest finally began to settle down.
...
Skyler had just finished her shower and walked out of the bathroom with a face mask on when the door opened from the outside and Scarlett, a little worse for wear, walked in.
Skyler: "Scarlett, didn’t you leave the manor earlier than ? Why are you only getting back now?"
Scarlett laughed awkwardly, "I ran into soone I knew and ended up hanging out a bit longer."
Skyler didn’t suspect a thing. As she picked up her phone from the table, she suddenly raised her brows and said,
"About eting with Roman tomorrow—I ran into President Ford during the day and thought, since he’s in Bryland too, I’d ssage him to see if he could help out. Didn’t expect he’d actually agree."
Skyler handed Scarlett her phone to show her.
Skyler had ssaged him in the afternoon. Julian agreed, but only replied five minutes ago.
"Honestly, I figured when President Ford didn’t reply all day, that idea was dead in the water, but then, surprise, he got back to just now,"
Skyler chatted as she scrolled.
"I have to say, even though President Ford doesn’t seem that approachable—kind of cold and aloof—he almost never gives people on our level a hard ti about work stuff. As long as you report things clearly, he’s easy to deal with."
"Compared to my direct boss, the general manager who just loves to PUA his team, President Ford is practically a saint."
Scarlett silently agreed with that.
She hadn’t worked directly with Julian very often, but since she’d joined, he’d never threatened her with her work.
Still, Scarlett sincerely admired Skyler. "Skyler, you’re amazing. You even thought of asking President Ford for help. If it were , I don’t think I’d even dare."
Skyler laughed. "Not amazing, really. I just figured it was worth a shot. At the end of the day, we’re all working for the company; President Ford isn’t so heartless. The worst that happens is he says no—nothing to lose, but if he agrees, that’s a real win, right?"
That’s what she said, but in practice, it really wasn’t so easy.
As for Scarlett and Julian—they were close, yes, but...
Work was one thing, personal life another.
If Julian hadn’t hinted at it, Scarlett really wouldn’t have had the guts or the standing to ask him for help with work stuff.
Skyler noticed her hesitation and said, "When I was just starting out, I wouldn’t have dread of doing this either. But after so years, you get bolder and pick up more tricks. You’re still young—take your ti and learn. There’s no rush."
"Thanks, Skyler."
Scarlett was genuinely touched, her round bright eyes looking at Skyler with true gratitude and respect.
Skyler’s heart softened. She let out a sigh, then squeezed Scarlett’s cool cheek and said, "If you look at with those eyes, fine. But if you turn that look on a man, he’s definitely going to want to take advantage of you."
Scarlett looked confused, stunned for a second.
Skyler: "Aaron Carson cos off as a real gentleman, but who knows if he’s the wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing type—you might get burned."
Scarlett: "..."
The next morning, Scarlett woke up to a ssage from Julian asking her to co over to his hotel.
She got up right away, and while she was putting on her makeup, she glanced out the window at the falling snow—streets dusted in white.
December in Bryland was deep winter; the chill was biting.
When Scarlett went out, she held the hand warr she’d charged up the night before, the heat spreading from her palm through her veins, warming her whole body.
Of course, part of that warmth was pure physics—but so of it ca from feelings she couldn’t let herself dwell on.
Scarlett arrived at the hotel, went up to Julian’s room, and knocked on the door.
Aaron Carson opened it, saw her, gestured for quiet, and pointed inside.
Julian’s suite was spacious. He sat at the dining table, long legs crossed, as the Mac in front of him stread a voice—Scarlett could tell it was a Veridian executive reporting on the annual financials.
The room was toasty. Scarlett clicked off her hand warr and put it in her bag.
Julian, sitting at the table, caught the item in her hand out of the corner of his eye. For a split second, his usually calm eyes rippled with the faintest disturbance.
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