Scarlett didn't move as her eyes met the figure at the door without fear.
"Next time, just knock", she said as she straightened her posture with confidence
It was Violet . She stepped inside the room fully as she shut the door behind her . She looked around the room like she was trying to assess it before she set her eyes back on Scarlett.
"You actually handled yourself quite well tonight", Violet said with a neutral tone
Scarlett was very unbothered as she walked towards the mirror table . She began to take off the necklace slowly as her reflection was staring back at her with confidence and aura.
"Well, I try to adapt anywhere I find myself", she finally replied
Violet laughed sarcastically "Oh! That's very admirable", she said
Scarlett placed the necklace carefully back into the small box with gold linings before turning to face her fully.
"You walked into a room filled with important people that you have never met before in your life and you didn't think you would ever meet. And yet somehow you impressed each and everyone of them", Violet continued as she folded her arms while she paced around the room.
"It sounds like I did exactly what was expected of me. Or wasn't that why I was brought to play Mrs Maguire?", Scarlett asked with a faint smile
There was a long silence that was felt in the room as Violet just stared at her.
"If you came here to compliment me, I guess you're done now. But if you still have more things to say, then say it", Scarlett said as she walked towards her closet
Violet just looked at her for a moment and smiled faintly.
"Let me remind you again that this house doesn't reward ambition without consequences", she said
Scarlett didn't respond immediately. Instead, she tried to take off her dress.
"It's a good thing that I'm not here for rewards, just survival" she said
"We will see how long that mindset of yours will last for", Violet said as she walked towards the door
She stopped few meters away from the door and turned to Scarlett
"And Scarlett, don't get too comfortable. Like I told you before, this family has a way of exposing people" she said as she continued walking towards the door, opened it and stepped out.
By the third morning, the mansion felt very familiar. It became something Scarlett could go through without asking for assistance .
She learned very quickly. She knew when to speak, what to say and what not to say.
And by the fifth day, she was already addressing the member of staff on how she wants her things to be done in the house.
"Let's try to make sure things in the Maguire mansion are kept in orderly manner at all times", she said gently
The staff exchanged glances at each other
Madam Tracy just smiled.
It was her second public appearance with Jude and another day to act like Mrs Maguire.
It was a charity luncheon filled with influential elites as usual. And this time, celebrities, ministers, businessmen across the country were all present and Scarlett didn't just attend, she represented class and luxury.
She listened when it mattered the most and most importantly she responded to few questions with a level of intelligence that caught most seasoned individuals off guard.
"She is beautiful and sharp", one business woman whispered to another
"And it makes her dangerous", the other woman responded quietly
Jude was observing and watching quietly as Scarlett was in a group of investors discussing a recent expansion and she was giving in-depth analysis.
It wasn't something he would have expected to hear from an independent escort.
She turned and met his eyes. She didn't look away. She just stared at him with confidence and she smiled to act the part in public.
Jude looked away immediately but softly.
BACK AT THE MANSION
Jude stood in his office, holding a glass of whiskey that he hadn't touched.
He was trying to figure out how an independent escort who just escorts men to their rooms for money could move with confidence like that in a room filled with power and influence.
"Or is she ….." he cut it off immediately
He didn't want to linger on the thought as he felt he was thinking about it too much and moreover it's just a contract.
Scarlett pacing around her room when she stopped in front of the mirror as she thought about what has happened to her in the past few days.
The contract laying on her bed, the stick on note she saw on her mirror and the one she saw in front of her door.
"Well, I don't lose and if someone is trying to play games with me….. I definitely won't lose", she said as she stared at her reflection in the mirror
And as she turned away, she heard two knocks on her door.
The knocks were urgent and fast.
She walked towards the door as she frowned and opened it.
"Get dressed", Jude said with a cold stare as he stood in front of her door
Scarlett blinked fast as she was confused as to why Jude was the one in front of her door and not Madam Tracy or Betty.
"What do you mean I should get dressed?" She asked
"Don't you understand simple English?", he replied her sharply
Scarlett didn't respond. She just continued to stare in confusion
"There's a situation urgently", he continued
She could feel the serious but unusual tone in his voice
She stood up straight as she tried to figure out what the situation was about
"What kind of situation is that?"
Jude paused for a second as he just stared at her.
"The kind of situation where your act as Mrs Maguire might not just be ….enough", he said slowly
Scarlett felt it was a challenge to the contract she signed and she was beginning to tremble but she didn't allow him to notice.
"It's a good thing that I don't rely on my acting alone", she said as she found control once again
Jude then stepped close to her. Close enough for her to feel his breath
"You'll need more than confidence tonight, Scarlett", he said quietly
Scarlett didn't move neither did she step back nor did she break the eye contact with Jude's eyes
"That's perfect because I was starting to get bored"
Jude turned away immediately as Scarlett watched him leave before she closed the door.
"Whatever the situation is, I am fully ready"