Despite having already made up her mind, Scarlett didn't find it appropriate to tell Ezra directly that she didn't want Jonathan to see her with another man. It wasn't that she was afraid of his rage—she was afraid of its consequences, which made her hesitant to trigger his temper if she could help it.Jonathan's threats were still ringing in her ears, an incessant reminder that plagued her. How could she forget when it was all still so vivid? She could curse him and yell at him, and she could call him a bunch of names and manage to get away with it, holding on by the skin of her teeth, but to appear in front of him with another man didn't seem to promise such optimistic outcomes.Left with no other choice, Scarlett could only alight from the car and head toward the entrance of the hotel along with Ezra. Even though her head was lowered, she could feel his piercing gaze threatening to strip her whole being right then and right there.Jonathan's gaze was cold as he stared at the man wal
"Miss Langston, you might be new here, but that's alright. You haven't seen how many newbies I've trained who eventually became famous. Just look at Daphne. She was once as clueless as you are now. Fortunately, our Daphne here picks up new things quickly and does as she's told. I'd say she understands the rules we play by too. Look at how famous she is now. I say, Miss Langston, if you grow to appreciate and abide by our rules, there's nothing you can't achieve."The man's sleazy words, barely hidden behind courtesy, gave her the urge to flip the soup bowl in front of her and pour the boiling liquid down his face in a fit of rage. While she wasn't familiar with whatever rules he was talking about, she understood what he was implying. Scarlett would never agree to any of that and would never stoop to the level of playing dirty just to get what she wanted. If she were truly that kind of person, her qualifications would've skyrocketed her fame so much that it would've long surpassed Daphn
No matter how unwilling she was to comply, Scarlett knew she had no other choice. She couldn't possibly remain at the entrance in a stalemate with the driver, so she forced herself to board Jonathan's car. She didn't need to look to deduce the surprise on Ezra's face, though his shock was understandable. The fact that she was acquainted with Jonathan was shocking enough for anyone, really.Scarlett thanked him once more, her countenance filled with awkwardness.Ezra simply nodded without a word. He didn't know what he was supposed to say anyway—when they first met at the entrance earlier, he had sensed something strange between Scarlett and Jonathan, something he couldn't quite put his finger on. He didn't know if he was more surprised by Scarlett's firm refusal of not knowing Jonathan or the fact that she actually did.The truth was, their relationship didn't seem simple at all. Why else would the other man send a personal chauffeur just to pick her up if they were mere acquaintances?
Jonathan did not give her the chance to hesitate or argue before scooping her up and carrying her, bridal style, to his own room. His expression was dark, foreboding—as if he couldn't wait to tear her apart and savor whatever was left of her.Along the way, her heart pounded with fear. How she wished she could faint—at least if she did, she wouldn't have to see with her own eyes the events that were about to unfold.Scarlett knew that Jonathan was not one to forgive and forget, at least, not so easily. Her appearance together with Ezra definitely had infuriated him. Not only that, the fact that she had confided in Natalie about their past would surely push him off the edge. She could imagine how angry he currently was, but even if she could, it didn't mean she was ready to be on the receiving end of his palpable rage.In her defense, she never thought she would encounter him at the entrance of the hotel earlier. It wasn't something within her control, and Jonathan had not given her the
After Scarlett hurled the insults at Jonathan, she could almost hear him grinding his teeth in anger. That was a sign that she might be handled roughly later. But that didn't come as a surprise because Jonathan had been torturing her in the same manner all along. Feeling desperate, she closed her eyes and submitted herself to what would come next. At first, she expected him to slap her furiously after hearing her insults, but instead of that, he aggressively kissed her all over the body. Somehow, she felt incredibly vexed by Daphne's scent on his body."Jonathan Leonard! Get lost! Get away from me! You make me sick. Get lost now!" She wiggled to free herself as though she could not bear his presence for a second longer. Alas, her action further triggered him. Slowly losing his control, he ripped her clothes and pressed himself against her to stop her from breaking free.For a short moment, his rage-filled eyes looked dazed at the sight of her seductive body. However, her disgusted exp
Even though Scarlett knew that leaving was not an option, she had to ask because she was obsessed about leaving, a thought that mattered so much to her. Jonathan was a devil in her eyes. If it weren't for him, she could have lived a happy life with Justin without even getting married.She woke up early the next morning because Jonathan rose early. He seemed to have forgotten about the incident from the night before and looked refreshed, nothing like the man who inflicted torture on her. Anyway, she wouldn't want to go against him, not because he instilled fear in her last night, but because she learned that the more she fought against him, the more he clung to her. She had probably used the wrong tactic against him all along. She shouldn't have rebelled. Perhaps, if she acted demure and obedient like the other women, nothing would have happened between Jonathan and her. He might even grow tired of her after a few days. By then, she would not even need to be let go or "discarded like tr
Jonathan brushed his fingers against the smooth skin on her cheek with a straight face. He joked, "What? Don't you know that you have to send me to work as well?"She silently cast a glance at him and followed closely behind him like a dutiful wife. He was surprised at how long she went without speaking and chuckled because he found it rather hilarious. "Wow, Scarlett, that was impressive. I'd love to see how long you'd last without speaking. You've been like this the entire morning. Are you putting on a silent protest?"She was really something. He had never seen her in this hilarious situation before. She had learned to utilize silent protests against him. No matter what he said or did to her, she would give no response, just like an empty husk. Her lack of reaction bugged him immensely.However, she easily ignored his question, which only turned his rage up a notch. He pressed her against the wall, thinking that he might break her calm by kissing her.She put on an even more stoic e
The opulent surroundings added to Scarlett's discomfort, making her feel like a fish out of water. It was dinner time when the men finally wrapped up their discussion. Oddly, Mr. Weissman might have been warned off by Jonathan because he had stopped openly leering at her. Although she felt more at ease, she wondered if Jonathan had pulled something on Mr. Weissman. Not only did Mr. Weissman treat her with more respect, but he also looked meek throughout dinner as well.She silently grumbled at having to witness the drama between the two men. Even though she was clueless about their dynamic, she assumed they must have been bound by a business relationship in which Jonathan had the upper hand.Even though a feast was laid out for her, she had no appetite at all. She wished that the dinner would end soon so she'd be free from boredom. However, time ticked away at its usual pace.Noticing her bored expression, Jonathan thought she was being a Debbie Downer. Irked at her lack of enthusiasm