Scarlett turned towards her closet as she was trying to figure out which fabric would be proper for such an urgent occasion.
But this time, she didn't reach for elegance alone. She chose control plus luxury.
A fitted green dress with long puffy sleeves and minimal shimmer that screams power.
She pulled her hair back into a sleek low bun that will expose her face fully.
She finally looked at herself in the mirror and saw someone that was ready for whatever was coming for her tonight.
"Mrs Maguire... let's not disappoint tonight" she said quietly to her reflection with a faint smile
She went downstairs to meet up with Jude as he was already waiting for her
"We need to go now", he said sharply as he looked at her briefly and looked away
The drive was very quiet.
Scarlett turned her head as she looked at him briefly without him realizing
His expression wasn't the usual expression he had when they had events. She felt that tonight mattered a whole lot .
"You are unusually tense", she finally said with a calm tone
Jude didn't look at her as he replied "I'm usually like this maybe you have never noticed"
Scarlett sighed heavily
"No. You are usually relaxed and more controlled but tonight, you look different", she said
He looked at her briefly and then looked away again
"Just focus on your role tonight. That's your business" , he said
Scarlett leaned back on the car seat slightly
"And what exactly is my role?"
"To be Mrs Maguire, stand beside me and not complicate things more than it already is", Jude said sharply
He paused for a bit as he looked outside the window enjoying the night lights in the city
"I'm sure you're good at that, or aren't you?", he continued
Scarlett was fuming but she didn't show it in her expression
"I don't complicate things. I only understand them", she replied
Jude didn't respond to her
"Drive fast", Jude told the driver
The car came to a stop in front of a private building Scarlett had never seen before
There were no paparazzis, everywhere was quiet. It wasn't like the other events they had attended.
Scarlett stepped out of the car as her heels hit the ground softly.
They entered a room filled with men sitting behind a long table with papers in front of them.
Scarlett knew this was business, serious business.
Scarlett walked in with Jude and every eye turned.
Jude's hand rested lightly against her back but this time it was a signal for her to remain sharp.
Scarlett was always on guard as she didn't need him to remind her .
"Welcome, Mr Maguire", one of the men said calmly
Jude looked at him and then scanned the entire room and nodded once
"Gentlemen"
Scarlett stood beside him with a flawless posture and a composed expression with a faint smile
"She must be the new wife", a voice from across the table said
Scarlett turned slowly towards the direction where the voice came from
"Mrs Scarlett Maguire….. it's a pleasure", she said before Jude could respond
There was a brief silence as everyone of the men were just looking at themselves
Then the same voice said "I like your confidence" as he chuckled
Scarlett didn't smile neither did she respond
Jude just took her hand and led her to their seats.
The conversation began almost immediately
At first, Scarlett remained quiet as she observed.
Then she saw a critical problem.
One man stood up and presented a proposal while another man questioned it cautiously
Scarlett placed her fingers lightly on the table feeling restless
She couldn't stop herself as she spoke
"The other man that questioned the proposal didn't question it because of the numbers"
Jude turned sharply towards her like 'what are you talking about?'
But Scarlett didn't look at him so that she won't be disctracted
"It's about the person handling them because if the numbers were the issue, you would have dismissed it already", she continued steadily
The man leaned back slightly against his seat as he looked at her
"So, what would you suggest?", he asked
Scarlett thought for a few minutes
"I would suggest clarity not adjustment because if trust is the problem, changing the structure won't fix it"
Jude's eyes were still on her as she was speaking
He felt her saying those words weren't rehearsed, neither were they out of luck but out of real understanding of the business world.
He felt interested in knowing what was going on in her head for a brief moment then he snapped back to reality.
"Let's stay on track", Jude said as his voice cut through the moment
Scarlett looked at him briefly for him to notice
And she could see that his expression had changed . He didn't like that she interrupted their business conversation.
The meeting ended shortly after.
Scarlett and Jude stepped out of the room as the door closed behind them.
Scarlett exhaled slowly
"Well, that was ...intense but interesting", she said
Jude didn't respond immediately. He just looked at her
"Who exactly are you? Aren't you the independent escort I picked up at the club?"
He asked quietly before he could stop himself
Scarlett blinked once
"I thought we already established that. I am your wife . Mrs Maguire", she said calmly
"That's not what I mean and you know it",
She smiled faintly as she looked it him.
"Does it matter?"
Jude didn't answer
Scarlett then took a step closer to him
"You needed someone who could stand beside you and play the role of Mrs Maguire and I did that", she said quietly
"That's not the answer I am looking for", Jude said
"It's the only one you are getting" she said calmly
Jude stepped away from her as he looked away
"Don't get your hopes high and don't read too much into tonight. It doesn't change anything between us" he said coldly
Scarlett just watched him as he walked towards the car
Back at the mansion, Scarlett walked straight to her room as she ignored all the greetings from the staff
She closed the door of her room heavily as she walked towards the mirror slowly
She has taken her reflection as her therapy as she looked at her reflection in the mirror
She just stared at her reflection for a very long moment
"To survive here….. you need to set your own rules", she finally said
Her fingers tapping on the mirror table gently
"No distractions", she continued as she moved her fingers to unclip her earrings one at a time
"No attachments whatsoever and no emotions from nowhere", she continued as her voice became firm
"No emotions especially towards Jude Maguire", she added
Scarlett exhaled loudly as she let down her hair from the hair band
"I came here for business and not for love and I won't lose myself in the process", she whispered
She turned away from the mirror immediately after setting the rules and headed towards the door.
She needed to breathe, she needed fresh air .
The hallway where her room was, was very quiet.
She headed downstairs and the entire mansion was also very quiet.
Scarlett walked past the living area as she headed towards the back corridor that led to the garden.
She already has her favorite spot in the garden.
But as she was about to turn towards the living area she heard voices
She stopped because the voices sounded very familiar
The voices were Jude and Violet's.
Scarlett didn't move. She just stopped to listen
"You're underestimating her", Violet said
"I'm not underestimating her, I am just trying to understand and then control the situation", Jude said sharply
Violet laughed out loudly but softly
"Oh!! That's what you tell yourself?"
Jude didn't answer as the room was quiet for a bit
"Jude, this lady is positioning herself in your life and in the Maguire family . She isn't not adapting", Violet continued
Scarlett still listening to their voices was trying to understand what Vioet meant by that
"I know exactly what she's doing and I am prepared for that", Jude said with his voice low
There was a long pause then Violet said
"Are you sure about that? Because from what I heard that happened at the meeting tonight, it didn't look like you were prepared for that",
Jude was surprised but not too surprised to know that Violet already knew what happened at the meeting earlier . Moreover she is the Senior director at Maguire industries and she would have people who answer to her.
"Well, as long as she remembers this is a contract and she signed to it, then she wouldn't be a problem", Jude said slowly
Scarlett felt the words as she stepped back quietly because she didn't want to make a sound
But just as she was about to turn, her hand brushed a flower vase beside her and it slanted
As she was about to catch it, the vase fell and shattered against the floor
The sound echoed through the entire mansion
It was very loud and sharp .
Scarlett stood still as the voices stopped instantly
Then she heard footsteps coming towards her direction
"Who's there?"