Her eyes were fixed on the open page of the contract . The exact clause she missed.
Then she exhaled slowly out of understanding and not of fear because she was never afraid.
She felt this wasn't an accident . It was a clear message and she was ready.
She thought if Jude Maguire wants to play this way then she would respond the same way.
Scarlett walked closer to the bed and picked up the contract . She looked at the page briefly, closed it and dropped it.
She walked towards the mirror and looked at her reflection "I will have to play this game with him for ten years and I will be fine", she said as she smoothened her dress.
Then came a quiet knock on her door.
She was still looking at her reflection when she heard the knock . She didn't respond immediately until she heard the knock again.
"Come in"
The door flinched open . It was Betty again. She stepped inside with a bright smile on her face as she looked across the room.
"Mrs Maguire, Mr Maguire is expecting you at the dining room for dinner"
Scarlett thought for a minute "Dinner won't hurt anybody or would it?"
Then she turned slowly to look at Betty and nodded once . "I'll be there"
Betty didn't respond as she stepped out of the room immediately.
Scarlett looked at the camera trying to communicate with it.
She walked towards the closet and wore a very luxurious night wear lined up just for her.
The dining room was another huge part of the Maguire mansion. It was surrounded with golden chairs accompanied with golden cutlery.
The dining table was perfectly arranged with soft dim lighting and it looked very pleasing to the eyes.
Jude was already seated while Scarlett was strolling in.
He didn't look up as he was focused on the whiskey in the glass he was holding.
Scarlett walked in gorgeously in her nightwear with heels that echoed against the polished floor of the Maguire mansion as she took her seat across from him.
She is beginning to keep her end of the contract as she didn't sit beside him but across from him to maintain distance according to the contract.
The chef moved quietly and placed the dishes in front of them before leaving quickly.
They didn't speak to each other as they just focused on their meals while trying to figure out which one to start with.
Scarlett reached for her glass first as she took a small sip of water elegantly.
Jude was watching and assessing her carefully but quietly.
Scarlett could feel his eyes on her but she wasn't worried.
Then he finally said " I can see you are settling very well into the luxurious lifestyle"
She set her glass gently on the table and took a saviette to wipe her mouth. "Yes,i am ", she said
He didn't say anything for a few seconds.
"I can see you also notice how the arrangement of the house is in orderly manner" he said
"Well, I have noticed everything in the few hours that I have spent here", she said as she looked at him directly
Jude's expression felt like a huge relief .
"That's good . It will make things easier", he said
Scarlett looked at him with a bit of concern as she wondered what he meant. "You mean it will make things easier for you?"
"No. For all of us", Jude said as he lifted his glass of whiskey.
Scarlett picked up her fork as she was about to feast on the meal in front of her.
"Do you observe everything in this house?", she asked
"Yes,i do", he replied without hesitation
Scarlett looked at him again briefly. What about the people?" she asked
Jude didn't answer immediately this time around.
"I also observe the people", he finally said.
Scarlett was expecting that answer as she wasn't shocked she just acknowledged .
"Including their privacy?", she asked as she thought about the camera in her room.
"If you are referring to the camera in your room, then my answer is yes", he said without hesitation.
"Oh! I see", she said as she stared at her meal.
Jude looked at her for a while as he was studying her expression.
"You don't look bothered at all?
Scarlett placed her fork down carefully.
"Should i be bothered?", she asked as she locked her eyes with his.
Jude noticed she was staring at him and moved back slightly still holding his glass of whiskey.
"Most people will be bothered", he said
"But i am not most people", she countered him instantly
Jude looked at her and smiled . "No, you're not most people . You were an independent escort few hours ago and you are now Mrs Maguire" he said quietly
Scarlett's expression changed immediately.
They both continued with their meal in silence.
They could feel the tension in the room. They ate their meal as if they were going to lead a battalion into war.
Scarlett got up immediately she finished her meal and was heading for her room when she remembered he would not stop referring to her as an independent escort.
She stepped inside her room slowly as she was observing everything around the room.
She walked further inside the room and stood at the center of the room before she turned immediately to the mirror as she admired her reflection .
Something struck her in the mirror . It looked very strange. She stepped closer and saw a stick on note in the mirror.
She thought loudly "What's this, this time around?"
She picked up the note and read the words written on it.
"you don't belong here". It was faint as if the person that wrote it didn't want it to be too obvious.
She was stunned as she wondered who had been placing these things in her room once she left her room.
It felt very intentional and now it seems like a clear message .
But from who?
She looked at the camera immediately and the red light was still blinking.