And then the door hand stopped turning.
And for a few seconds, Betty waited to see if the handle would turn or someone would enter the room but nobody came.
She came out from behind the curtains and let out a heavy breath of relief.
Betty quickly ran out of the room quietly and locked the door with the same master key she used to open it.
As she was about to turn away from the door, she saw Scarlett's back towards the entrance and she realized it was Scarlett that was about to open the door.
Suddenly, Scarlett felt someone was looking at her as she turned back immediately but before she could turn completely, Betty already hid behind one of the pillars watching her walk towards her room.
Scarlett opened her door and entered. She felt the air in the room was different from when she left it. She perceived a different kind of cologne that wasn't hers or in the collection of cologne in her dresser . She felt someone's presence other than herself had entered her room.
She looked round her room in case she finds something out of place again. She went to the dresser, the mirror, the table, the bathroom and even checked underneath the pillow to be certain nothing was laying somewhere waiting for her.
There was a soft knock on her door. She was irritated as she was about to relax after a very long day in the Maguire mansion.
"Who's that?. Can I at least relax for a bit?" She shouted
"Mrs Maguire, it's Betty", the voice behind the door claimed
Scarlett stepped down from the bed and wore her pair of slippers .
"Come in" she said reluctantly
Betty stepped into the room. Her eyes were briefly scanning the room . She was trying to confirm whether Scarlett noticed someone was in her room.
"What is it? Why are you here again?" Scarlett frowned
"Mr Maguire would like to see you in his office urgently"
Scarlett's eyes went dark immediately.
"He wants to see me now?"
"Yes. Immediately ", Betty said
Scarlett held back for a bit and then picked up her jacket of her nightwear and walked past Betty without responding.
As Scarlett left, Betty turned slightly to watch her leave with a dark smile on her face.
Jude's office was quiet just the way he liked it as he looked through his laptop scrolling through business documents.
Scarlett strolled in without knocking this time.
Jude continued with his laptop scrolling through clients and important business proposals. He didn't look up immediately but he knew she just entered his office as he perceived her fragrance. His space was engulfed with a flora fragrance he couldn't resist.
"Close the door", he said
The click of the door echoed as Scarlett closed the door.
"You've been moving around the house like you have been part of the family", Jude said as he finally lifted his eyes to her
Scarlett folded her arms slowly.
"Oh!! I didn't know I needed permission to move around and even breathe, now that I am your wife"
Jude looked at her as he leaned back on his chair slightly
"Well, I didn't say you needed permission. I am just impressed by your adaptability skills" he said
"And at the same time, you need to understand where you are though", Jude continued as he swung the chair
Scarlett watched him very carefully like she was watching a map to a destination she hasn't been to before.
"And where exactly is that?", she asked
Jude stood up and walked towards the office window.
"The Maguire Mansion of course. It isn't just a house but a home that works with order and organisation"
Scarlett giggled slightly as she looked at him
"Is dropping contracts on my bed and writing threats on mirrors also part of your order and organization?"
Jude didn't change his expression as he wondered what she was referring to . He didn't say anything.
Scarlett tried to look for an answer on his face or his change in expression but couldn't find any.
"So it wasn't you?"
Jude pretended not to hear her .
He walked away from his window and walked towards her as he stopped in front of her .
"I want to make something clear for both of us. This marriage. No, this contract is an arrangement and nothing more"
Scarlett closed one eye as she pouted her mouth.
"I'm very aware of that fact"
"So it shouldn't be difficult for you to understand the basic rules" he continued
Scarlett moved her head towards the direction of his mouth.
Jude looked at her feeling irritated by her attitude.
"We live in separate rooms as you can see. I made sure you have a spacious room to yourself"
"We only appear together for public events, business functions, and family obligations when necessary", he continued
Scarlett smacked her lips
"So you are saying that we play the perfect couple to the world and act like strangers behind closed doors? Well, that's perfect by me" she smiled
Jude moved closer
"It's not a suggestion. It's a condition and if you read the contract you would know and that's why I am taking my time to explain it further to you", he said as their eyes locked
Scarlett took a step forward to even get closer to him
"Then let me make myself clear as well", she said softly
"Don't invade my space and I won't invade yours either" she continued
His expression changed immediately cause he liked what she just said.
"I Agree"
And there was silence. Silence that was filled with tension between the both of them
"You'll be attending a business dinner tomorrow night with me", Jude said
Scarlett nodded in 'that's why I am here in the first place' before she spoke
"Of course i will"
Jude turned away and went towards his desk indicating that the conversation was over.
"You may now leave"
Scarlett didn't leave immediately. She watched him as he walked back to his desk before she turned and walked out.
On the hallway, Betty had been waiting.
She saw Scarlett leaving Jude's office in confidence.
Betty had a faint smile on her face. The smile felt dangerous as she watched Scarlett walking towards her room.
"Let's see how long you can survive this" she murmured
Scarlett stopped abruptly in front of her room door.
The contract and a stick on note was lying in front of her door and this time the words were written boldly
YOU WILL LEAVE THIS HOUSE