Jude stepped forward and saw Scarlett as their eyes locked at each other.
The sound of the shattered vase still lingered in the air .
Scarlett didn't move nor did Jude as they both stared at each other.
Then Violet came behind Jude. Her eyes went to the shattered vase on the floor and then slowly to Scarlett
Scarlett felt like the world should just crumble beneath her
"Well, well, well, see who we have here", Violet said coolly
Scarlett exhaled slowly but composed.
"I didn't realize that observation was forbidden in the Maguire mansion", she said
Jude's eyes dropped on the shattered vase and then to her face again
"You weren't observing, you were eavesdropping" he said calmly
"I was just walking", Scarlett said as she pointed towards the garden
"...into a private conversation you mean to say", Violet said sharply dismissing her
"And yet, nothing I heard sounded private at all", Scarlett replied calmly as she looked at Violet and briefly at Jude
Jude stepped closer to her
"You are crossing a thin line and you need to be careful", he said quietly
Scarlett didn't step back as she stood still
"I think you should set the lines clearly, so I don't cross them", she replied quietly
Violet watched them both with calculating interest trying to figure out what Scarlett was trying to say to derail them from thinking she was eavesdropping
"Enough, both of you", Violet shouted
She looked at the shattered vase again and then looked back at Scarlett
"That was a very expensive vase. But if you're going to live in this house, you might as well learn how it works here properly", she added
Scarlett looked at her brightly
"And are you willing to teach me?", she asked without hesitation
Violet saw her face lit up brightly
"Well, I am offering to teach you to make sure you don't embarrass the Maguire family"
Jude turned sharply to her in disagreement
"You don't have to….."
"I know she doesn't have to teach me but I need to learn to stay beside you. Don't you think so?"
Scarlett cut in sharply
Jude could feel something in Scarlett's voice but he didn't know what it was. He felt the danger in her voice but he wanted to let it go.
The next morning, Scarlett arrived at the main living area at eight.
Not a minute earlier or late and Violet was already waiting there.
A tablet was on the table in front of them.
"You are early", Violet said without looking up
"I am usually punctual", she replied
Violet pointed to the seat across from her . "You may take your seat"
Scarlett took her seat as Violet slid the tablet toward her
"These are corporate etiquettes and not the kind that you fake at dinners. These are the kind that keeps you from being torn up in real room", Violet began calmly
Scarlett looked through the screen as she listened
"You did well last night, I must say. But that kind of input unsolicited can either earn you respect or ... create enemies", Violet continued
Scarlett looked up slowly
"So, which one did I create last night?"
Violet looked directly at Scarlett
"You created both"
She paused for a bit observing Scarlett's reaction
Then she leaned back slightly into her seat
"You don't panic", Violet said as she observed
"I don't see the need to panic", Scarlett replied
"You will see the need to panic if you intend to survive in the Maguire family", she said as she looked at her
Scarlett didn't respond but she listened.
Four hours passed and Scarlett learned actively from Violet.
She asked necessary questions. She absorbed everything and filtered some through her own understanding
"Hierarchy is about influence and not always about position", Violet explained at some point
Scarlett leaned back slightly in exhaustion
"Then why do you wealthy people pretend it's about position", she asked
"Because people are easier to control when they believe in structure", Violet said calmly
"Not everybody believes that though"
"But most people do", Violet replied sharply
Later that afternoon, after the teachings with Violet.
She stepped into the main office area of the mansion
She hasn't been there properly before.
She walked in like she belonged there without hesitation.
Staff members working around the main office area looked at her with surprise but nobody dared to question her
At the far end of the room, Jude stood there as he was speaking to one of his assistants.
He saw her and stopped immediately as his attention shifted completely.
Scarlett just walked towards him with composure and intentionality.
She reached him where he was and didn't hesitate.
"There's a gap in the logistics sector of your investment from last quarter", she said calmly
Jude looked at her sharply wondering what she was talking about
"What do you mean?", he asked
Scarlett looked directly at him
"You are losing good leverage there", she said
The assistant looked between them and asked to leave
The moment they were alone, Jude couldn't hold his anger
"What do you think you're doing?", he asked slowly
Scarlett didn't panic neither did she blink
"I'm just observing", she said
"Don't do that. You can't just walk into my space and start analyzing my business like it's yours"
"But I just did", she said as she stepped close
Jude stepped closer to close the gap between them and you could feel the tension between them
"That's not your role to play. Your role is to be Mrs Maguire. Period".
Scarlett brought her lips close to his ears
"If I'm standing beside you as Mrs Maguire publicly, then I am part of what peope evaluate including your business partners", she said quietly
Jude step back a bit
"And you think you understand my business well enough to have business conversations with my partners?"
Scarlett didn't change her expression on her face
"I think you are used to people not saying anything. But I am different"
Jude didn't respond immediately as he just stared at her
"You're overstepping your boundaries, lady"
"No, I'm adjusting. I think you should be careful not to confuse the two", she said softly
They didn't move neither did they say anything else
There was tension in the room and you could feel it from the mansion gate
Jude stepped back more and this time it was deliberate
"Don't make the mistake of thinking this gives you authority in the Maguire industries" he said as he continued moving back
"This isn't authority. It is awareness", Scarlett said sharply
That night, Scarlett stood on the balcony of her room as she stared at the city lights.
She placed her hands lightly on the railings as her mind raced farther than usual
"Stick to the rules, Scarlett . No distractions", as she looked briefly towards Jude's wing of the mansion
She felt something had already started shifting in her and she wanted to remind herself of the rules she made earlier
She turned to go back inside her room but she stopped as she heard the intercom in the room ring.
She frowned slightly as she wondered why they would be calling her from downstairs at this time of the night.
She picked it up. "Hello"
Madam Tracy's voice was at the other end.
"My lady….. you need to come downstairs"
Scarlett's eyes became very bright as she was afraid something might have happened
"What is it?"
There was no answer immediately
"I think you should see this yourself"
Scarlett grabbed her jacket. "I'm coming"
She ended the call immediately and walked fast.
By the time she reached the last step, she saw Jude already standing downstairs in the main living area.
Violet was also there holding a glass filled with water.
They were both staring at something.
Scarlett slowed down her steps and stopped for a bit as her eyes moved to what Jude and Violet were staring at.
Sitting calmly at the center of the room was someone who shouldn't be there
And this person was smiling as they crossed their legs.