"Legal advisor? At your company?" Scarlett exclaimed in surprise. She knew that Leonard Corporations had an exceptional team of legal advisors composed of mostly world-renowned experts in law, both domestically and internationally. Even though her knowledge of the legal world was decent, her expertise lay more in the field of litigation than anything else. She had limited experience as an advisor for a company as large as Jonathan's."Yes, don't worry. I've talked about this with the company before. While you serve as our legal advisor, you can also be my assistant." He smiled."What? You want me to juggle two jobs in your company? President Leonard, you're evidently exploiting my skills for free labor," she protested. The thought that Jonathan must have some kind of ulterior motive behind his offer crossed her mind immediately. If she decided to join the company, she would have to see him every day, not to mention the frequent interactions she'd need to have with him as his personal a
Scarlett took the contract and began reading through the clauses carefully. The first one was enough to elicit a protest from her."What the fuck is this, Jonathan? Do you really expect accompanying you to be one of my responsibilities as your personal assistant?" She was exasperated to read the childish term laid forth—it shouldn't even be part of the contract in the first place."It's simple enough. You're my personal assistant, so whenever I'm bored, you'll have to come over and keep me entertained. That's the whole point of being my personal assistant," Jonathan explained. Scarlett felt like she'd made an enormous mistake by agreeing to this yesterday. She should've known that when it came to Jonathan, nothing good would come out of their arrangements, no matter how attractive they sounded in the beginning."What about this clause? What do you mean you get to decide what time I start work? I'm here to work, not be your nanny or your companion," Scarlett plowed on angrily. Based on
"Jonathan, how dare you trick me? The coffee is here in your office. You don't even need me to make it for you," Scarlett bellowed. The man's deviousness and intent to drive her to the ground enraged her the more she thought about it."Scar, we're at work now, and you should call me Mr. Leonard, as we've already agreed. If you want to be more intimate, I suppose I wouldn't object to Johnny or even ba—""Enough, enough! So, Mr. Leonard, may I know why you played me like this? Do you think it's fun?" Scarlett interrupted."Of course not. I was simply evaluating your observation skills. There's hot water and coffee on my desk—didn't you see that when you came in? You don't even need to go out and ask someone when it's right in front of you! Do you still blame me for not stating the obvious?" Jonathan peered at the coffee on his desk as he spoke. He hadn't expected Scarlett to be as clueless as she'd been when she'd walked out with his mug without even asking him beforehand."You—" Scarlet
"What else do you want? Just tell me everything now," Scarlett said irritably. She knew that Jonathan must've had something in mind for him to be giving her such a hard time now. With his calculating and manipulative personality, she doubted he'd let her go this easily."Well, make me a cup of coffee," Jonathan told her simply.Earlier, she hadn't known where to go, but now that she did, Scarlett had no choice but to make him the coffee he requested."Ouch, that's so hot!" Jonathan spat out the mouthful of coffee he just drank, clearly dissatisfied."You—if it's too hot, why don't you wait for it to cool down first before drinking?" Scarlett really was at a loss for words upon seeing his dramatic reaction. She'd taken the time to make him a cup of coffee, and yet he still had the nerve to complain."You're supposed to adjust the temperature before giving it to me, you know?" Jonathan returned soberly."You—""Make me another one," he said."What?" Her surprise was evident. Didn't she j
"Don't worry, I won't even think about letting you tire yourself out with anything overly burdensome. Come here. You can help me sort these documents." Jonathan pointed to the haphazardly stacked documents on his desk as he spoke."Do you really have to deal with so many things yourself every day?" Scarlett suddenly realized the magnitude of Jonathan's job scope. He was the president of the company, and the affairs he had to handle were still paramount, and his tasks were numerous. No wonder he claimed to be busy almost every minute of the day."Yeah. Ever since I left Atville for more than a month to find you, several major decisions have been put on hold, and my work has naturally piled up. Now that I'm back, all I have is this stack of paperwork awaiting my attention. It's frustrating to simply look at it," Jonathan intoned helplessly. Many vied for the position he held, but not a lot knew the realities behind the power and status among other shining accolades he reserved purely for
"Let's go inside then. I thought you weren't feeling well. As long as you're fine." Jonathan slipped his arms around her and led her to an empty booth. Remembering their date that evening, he suddenly thought that perhaps it would be best for them to have a simple lunch.After the couple received their order, their meal passed by in a blur. Scarlett was rather impressed by the quality and taste of the food served there. She decided to come here for lunch from now on instead of eating the meals provided by Leonard Corporations. What she didn't know was that, more often than not, the food served by the company was beyond excellent, and many of her colleagues couldn't get enough of it."The food here is quite good," Scarlett remarked while she ate. If she were being completely honest, she was starving, and she had a big appetite.The two of them were very satisfied with their meal, which in turn solidified her plans to dine here more often when she was in the area.After lunch, she recall
A faint whiff of Freyan perfume greeted her as soon as she set foot into the restaurant. Scarlett couldn't help but gaze in awe at how well it showcased the unique aspects of the Freyan culture, although she was still skeptical about the service they would receive.Jonathan spoke briefly with the receptionist, and not long after, a Freyan man emerged from the back. His hair was a striking shade of gold, which complemented the startling ocean blue of his eyes. He was young, about Jonathan's age, and had a strong, muscular build indicative of his frequent workout regimens. Above all, what caught her attention was the absence of the fair complexion typically associated with Freyans—instead, his skin was a bronzed shade of copper, which emphasized the masculinity he so effortlessly exuded. Unlike most people, Scarlett found that his unconventional appearance only added to his allure. Lately, there had been a surge in popularity when it came to men with darker colored skin more than ever,
"Why are you so angry if you're not jealous? Okay, let me explain. I had a girlfriend once, but that was four years ago—we've long since broken up. The only person I love now is you, alright? Please don't be mad at me anymore." Jonathan had no intention of hiding his romantic history from Scarlett. He was a down-to-earth person and would never casually pursue other women besides the one he loved. After he'd broken up with his girlfriend four years ago, he'd only ever addressed his physical needs by being with Monica. Mingling around with other women and infidelity had never been and would never be part of his nature.He owed Scarlett for getting him where he was today. After she'd inadvertently taken advantage of him six years ago, he'd stopped frequenting nightclubs or bars in search of casual hookups. Moreover, now that he had her, his interest in entertaining other women was all the more nonexistent."Oh, so apart from your fiancée, you had a girlfriend before that too. How charming
Scarlett knew there was no real solution to the problem between her and Jonathan. The both of them were just choosing to ignore what had happened between them.There was nothing left for them to do to fix what had been broken.Until now, she still felt as if she was in a dream. Was she really married to Jonathan? Was she really living with him in such a lavish house? She found it hard to wrap her mind around it because it was all so surreal.The warm water in the tub sloshed gently over her body, and she felt her eyelids droop. These few days have been tough, and she hadn't been able to sleep well. All she wanted to do was fall asleep in this tub. If she were any less rational than she was right now, she probably would've just fallen asleep in the tub.Scarlett changed into a simple set of pajamas after her bath, completely ignoring the sexy lingerie set that Jonathan had picked out for her. She could probably wear that lingerie set if she were alone but she couldn't possibly w
Jonathan's tone was loving and teasing, and she was immediately transported back to the carefree times she had spent with Jonathan at university. Back then, they didn't have much to worry about and could just enjoy dating each other without reality holding them back."Have you had breakfast? I'm making breakfast right now. Do you want some?" Scarlett asked."No, thank you. I don't like eating in the morning. You can go ahead and enjoy your breakfast," Jonathan replied. Jonathan never got into the habit of eating breakfast; after he went overseas, he had less reason to have breakfast. As such, he never ate breakfast anymore. After Scarlett had finished her food, Jonathan drove them to city hall to sign the necessary documents for their marriage.The entire time, Scarlett felt as if she were in a dream. Everything that was happening seemed so surrea. The absurdity of the events and the fact that she had not slept well in two days only made her more dazed. Scarlett hadn't realize
Scarlett immediately understood what he was trying to say and bashfully lowered her gaze. Since when had he become so sleazy? Going overseas had done nothing to teach him to be a better man. Scarlett didn't know how to answer him, so she stared silently at the ground. Suddenly, she thought of something and raised her head to say, "Jonathan, I have to tell you something. I can marry you, but you must promise me one thing. We won't have a wedding ceremony."Jonathan was upset by that suggestion, and he huffed, "What? No ceremony? Are you planning on just getting married in secret? Is it that embarrassing to be married to me? Is that why you don't want a ceremony? If you don't want to marry me, just tell me! You don't have to do all this to show how reluctant you are to marry me!" Jonathan had no idea what was going on in her head. What woman would outright refuse to have a wedding ceremony? Any woman would love to have a grand ceremony to celebrate her marriage, but now that Sca
Just then, Scarlett heard someone call her name from behind her, "Scarlett?"Scarlett turned in confusion and realized that it was the school counselor. She never expected to see him here, and her heart was filled with warmth at the sight of him. She hadn't seen him since graduating, so she didn't think he would still remember her. She hastily wiped the tears from her face before greeting him with a brilliant smile, "Mr. Brown! Why are you here?""I had nothing to do today, so I thought I would drop by to play basketball. How's work? Why aren't you here with Jonathan? I can't believe it's been a year already. Time really flies … I still remember when Jonathan would play basketball, and you would cheer for him from the sidelines. I miss all of you, so come by with Jonathan next time! By the way, don't forget to send me a wedding invitation when both of you get married. After all, I've got my eye on both of you, and I'm sure you will end up together. I remember how nice Jonathan trea
"Hey! What are you doing? Are you going home now?" Scarlett asked."Of course! Where else would I go? Didn't we just break up? Why are you calling me again? Don't tell me that you miss me already!" Teresa's voice which was filled with glee, came from the other end of the receiver. Hearing her voice made Scarlett feel much better than before, but Scarlett was worried that she would no longer be so happy after Scarlett tells her the truth. She didn't want her problems to affect the lives of those around her. Since she made a mistake, she would be the one to bear responsibility, and no one else should have to suffer because of her … especially not her best friend.Scarlett hesitated before asking, " Teresa, do you like your job?""What's not to like? I love it! Being a teacher is my dream! My students are obedient and understanding. My job also gives me a sense of accomplishment! Why are you asking me this now? I've told you before that my dream is to be one of the best teachers in
As she spoke, Scarlett attempted to push Jonathan away, but he was too strong. She couldn't fight back at all. She felt like a fragile child in front of Jonathan, and he could crush her into pieces with just a little force. Jonathan leaned in and whispered coldly, "Do you think I’m still as compliant as before, allowing you to push me away repeatedly? Let me tell you, I’m not the same. How well do you think you know me? Let me make it clear, I will get what I want, including you!" Scarlett sensed the threat in Jonathan's words and looked at this unfamiliar man with some caution. She asked cautiously, "Jonathan, are you threatening me? What exactly do you mean? Why don't you just tell me instead of playing games? My time is not free, so let me go if you won't talk. I still have to work tomorrow." Scarlett was truly exhausted at this moment. Listening to her colleagues discuss Jonathan in the office had already put her on edge. After work, she spent so much time walking aroun
Jonathan did not take her comments to heart and continued coldly, "You came home quite late, Scarlett. It seems like you've learned to enjoy life more now, huh? Weren't you just a bookworm before? Why are you so late today? You've changed a lot after starting work and made more friends, huh? Tell me, who were you out having dinner with just now? A colleague? Your boss? Or is it your boyfriend? Whoever it is, it seems like he takes good care of you, and since you were having so much fun with him, why bother coming back home in the evening?" Scarlett could hardly believe the cruel words that came from his mouth. When did Jonathan become so heartless? Although he could be a bit carefree before, he would never say such things to her. In Scarlett's eyes, Jonathan had always been gentle and caring, completely different from the person uttering these words now. Scarlett felt infuriated and couldn't help defending herself, "It's not what you think! I was just having a cup of coffee with
The two best friends chatted, and before they knew it, time had passed as they enjoyed their coffee. Soon, night fell, and the sky that was once adorned with the setting sun was now full of twinkling stars. It was beautiful, but it also reminded Scarlett of the day she parted ways with Jonathan. That day was just like today, a beautiful night with bright stars. However, things had changed, and she could never sit here and talk with Jonathan as she did that day. Teressa noticed the shift in mood from across the table. After hesitating, Teresa couldn't help but speak up, "Scarlett, Jonathan ... He's coming back soon." Teresa didn’t know the details of Scarlett and Jonathan’s relationship, but she knew they went on a trip together during their final year while everyone was looking for internships. It was quite sudden since Scarlett barely hung out with Jonathan. Then, there were rumors that they were dating, but Jonathan went abroad to study soon after, and Scarlett never menti
Scarlett sighed heavily at these words. “Yeah, there’s no way our small magazine can get an interview with the great Jonathan Leonard. Only those major news outlets have the qualifications for that. It’s his first time returning to the country after going abroad, so this is big news. The media would be busy with this, but it’s certainly not for us to handle.” Just then, the editor-in-chief of the office suddenly appeared. He must have overheard their discussions outside and sternly said, “Am I paying you to gossip around? You’re all good for nothing. You’re all itching to gossip now that I’ve eased up on you?” Once he roared, everyone fell silent. They either looked down at their computers or pretended to be busy with their work. No one responded to him. Who dared to oppose the editor? His words were final. However, Scarlett, who had always disliked this editor, felt grateful to him at this moment. She thanked him silently for saving her from her colleague’s gossiping. This wa