Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Lots of thoughts ran through Scarlett's as she sat beside Julian in the car, who'd been silent for the whole 45 minutes they'd been in the car. He'd come that morning to pick her up, and without hesitation, she'd packed up and followed him immediately. Not like she had a choice anyway, she was practically homeless and knew nobody in the city. The thought of the cash she'd deposited in Aaron's account flashed in her mind and she shook her head wistfully. Damn! If only she'd known.

She glanced at Julian again, and she wondered why he was so silent. Except for the quiet hum of the car's engine, the silence in the car was deafening. Ever since he'd come to her hotel room the previous day, she was sure he had spoken nothing more than 20 words. His face was masked behind thick black shades, and it expressed no emotion. She needed to say something, yet she was unsure. But she asked anyway.

“Um… where are we going?”

Julian said nothing. He was as still as he'd been.

“Hello?”

He made a quick turn to look at her, then looked back straight ahead.

“Can you just say something, please?” Scarlett said, sounding desperate.

“You'll see when we get there, miss,” Julian said, still looking straight ahead.

Scarlett went mute. She had a lot to say, a lot to ask, and if thoughts made sounds, hers would have been the loudest.

The driver made a detour off the road and drove into a quiet road, beautified with trees side by side. Scarlett was captivated by the natural view and pressed her face to the window to have a proper view and the car drove on. After about 30 minutes, the car came to a complete halt.

Julian got out, while Scarlett sat still. “Come on, let's go.”

Scarlett got out of the car and came face to face with a nicely built duplex, and she watched Julian as he walked to the door.

He turned to look at her. “Come on!”

Scarlet picked her bags and followed, and walked in as Julian opened the door. Her bags fell of her hands and her mouth fell open as she beheld the beauty of the house.

Julian removed his glasses and placed them in his pocket. “So, Ms. Scarlett, welcome to your new home. This is where you'll be residing henceforth,” he said.

Scarlett turned to look at him. “This is where I will be residing? Alone?”

Julian nodded. “Got any problem with that?”

“No, no. It's… beautiful!” Scarlett mouthed. She'd never seem a place as beautiful. Truly, there were many things she was to see, her life had been tied around Aaron and his mother after all.

“This is your new residence like I said, and it's got everything you'll need. Get settled, and if there's anything else you might need, you can call me,” Julian said.

“Thank you. Thank you very much,” Scarlett said.

Julian nodded and turned towards the door.

“Can I ask a question, please?” Scarlett asked.

Julian stopped to face her. He shrugged his shoulders, urging her to go on.

“Is all these from the big boss?” She asked.

“What do you think?”

“Well…” she trailed off, unsure of what to say next. “Extend my appreciation to him. I'm grateful.”

Julian nodded.

“One more thing…”

“Yes?”

“I don't know when next you'll be here… but I hope my child is fine,” Scarlett said shakily.

“Your child? Do you have a child with me?” Julian asked, furrowing his brows.

“No… I… its…”

“Look, Ms. Scarlett. You made a deal, you've done your part of the deal. The rest is none of your business. So I'll suggest you focus on yourself henceforth and don't get involved in matters that don't concern you.” Julian said, giving her a stern look.

Scarlett was downcast. “I'm sorry.”

“Have a nice day,” Julian said and walked out, shutting the door firmly behind him.

Scarlett took in a deep breath and exhaled heavily as she looked around the sitting room again, and then she squealed.

“Yesss!! Finally, a new start,” she said to herself, giggling.

She picked her bags and ran up the flight on stairs, and as she located the bedroom, she dropped her bags on the floor and threw herself on the bed. She lay on her back, thinking and smiled at her good fortune. Suddenly, she sprang up from the bed, her face creased in a frown. There had to be a reason why the big boss was doing this. Could it be that he needed her for another task? She shook her head vigorously, it couldn't be. She wasn't ready to risk herself again, especially in the hands of his crazy fiancée.

She lay back on the bed again, and closed her eyes, and in minutes, she drifted into oblivion.

**********

“Julian? You've got her all settled, right? Is she okay?” Damon said, speaking into the phone.

“She's perfectly fine, sir. I've taken her to the apartment as you directed,” Julian said, answering from the other end of the phone call. “She seemed a bit jittery and worried, and kept asking if ‘her child’ was okay, though.”

“Her child? The nerve!” Damon scoffed. “I'm sure you didn't reveal anything?”

“I didn't,” Julian said.

“Great!” Damon said, taking a sip from his glass of whiskey. The door opened and Rose walked in. “Let's continue this discussion later, Julian.”

“Alright, man.”

Damon dropped the table on the table. “And why exactly are you here? What do you want?”

Rose said nothing as she walked closer to him, stopping a few inches before him.

“How are you doing, darling?”

Damon's brows furrowed as he looked up at her. “Darling?”

“Aww… don't tell me you're still upset about the last time. It meant nothing, really,” Rose said as she reached to touch his face.

Damon bent his head slightly to the side to avoid her hands. He got up. “Again, I ask you. What do you want? What are you doing here?”

Rose walked closer to him and put her hands on his chest. “Damon…”

He pushed her away. “Can you just stop? Quit this madness, right now!”

“Look, I'm sorry about what happened, okay? I was upset and you refused to listen to what I had to say and I just wanted you to be as upset as I am. It was stupid, and I'm sorry,” Rose said.

“You're sorry?” Damon gave a short dry laugh. “And what exactly are you sorry for? The attack on Scarlett? The insults? The cheating? What exactly?”

“Damon…”

“If you've got no reasonable response to what I just asked, then there's nothing for us to talk about, Rose. Please leave my house, this minute.”

“Are you for real? You're asking me out of your house?” Rose asked him.

“It's not the first time, is it?”

“Damon,” she said going closer to him. Damon stiffened. “We could talk this out, okay? I know you're upset, but come on, we can't let this get between us.”

Damon was irritated. “It's sickening that you haven't understood the consequences of your actions. You still think all you've done is too minor to be swept under the carpet, don't you?”

“For God's sake, Damon! I messed up, I get it. But we shouldn't make this worse than it already is. Come on,” Rose said.

“We shouldn't…” Damon trailed off and shook his head. “Rose, leave. And I'm done. It's over between us. I never ever want to see you again. Ever!”

“You're kidding now, aren't you?”

“I'm not smiling, am I?” Damon countered. “Get out, now!”

“Damon…”

“Out, Rose! Leave!!”

Rose picked her purse on the table and turned on her heels, walking to the door.

“You know what, Damon? Fuck you! You and your stupid bitch can go to hell and burn!” She said as she walked out and closed the door with a loud bang.

Damon threw his weight on the chair as he yelled. “Fuckk!!”