The atmosphere in the room had shifted as though there was a dead body hiding somewhere.
Scarlett noticed the shift but she didn't react
It was a charity brunch. One of those carefully polished and curated gatherings where smiles were rehearsed.
Scarlett was standing beside Jude, her expression was very calm as she exchanged pleasantries.
And then the whispers started spreading
Scarlett didn't move, nor did she turn immediately
"...oh! I heard it this morning"
"….. Maguire married her too quickly"
Scarlett looked around the room as she turned just enough to catch a glimpse of a woman holding her phone as she buried her face in her screen
Scarlett already knew something wasn't right and she felt it was about her.
Jude noticed her expression seconds later
"Are you okay?", he asked under his breath
Scarlett didn't look at him as she replied
"I am okay. I'm just trying to figure out where to start", she replied
Jude looked at her as she replied to him wondering what was going on
Scarlett stepped away from him as she walked towards the center of the room.
She smiled as she used he ring to hit the glass she was holding to call the attention of the crowd in the room
"It seems I've become very interesting today?", she said as she looked towards the woman holding the phone
The woman was shocked as she felt she was caught unawares
"May I kindly know what you are looking at?", she asked
Scarlett didn't really ask a question as she approached the woman and took the phone from her
She glanced at the screen as she saw articles about her with headlines assuming about her lifestyle before she became Mrs Maguire
Scarlett handed the phone back feeling unbothered
Then she laughed softly but it came out loud
"Wow! So, they couldn't look for a better version of my story?"
Everyone in the room exchanged glances as they were confused because the reaction they were expecting from her wasn't what she gave them
"You don't seem to be bothered", someone out of the crowd said carefully
Scarlett looked in the direction the question came from
"Well, should I be bothered?"
There was silence
"It's quite…..re…vealing", the same voice said as they stammered
Scarlett smiled
"Thats true but selective writings tend to be revealing" she said
Then she stepped slightly closer to the direction from which the voice had been coming
"So, if you're going to talk about my life, at least, let me make it entertaining for you"
It caught everybody off guard as they were expecting her to be shy and wallow in the shame of the fact that false articles about her are spreading online
Scarlett straightened as she smoothed her dress
"Yes, I worked for everything I had before this life I am living in now", she said
The whispers started to reduce as they listened to her
"But I find it very interesting that you all in this room will just believe things you read online without verifying", she said as she looked around the room
She smiled brightly
"And I am excited that I am standing in this same room as you"
The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly as they felt her energy
"And if that makes anyone uncomfortable, I suggest you leave for me" she said softly but with a bit of authority
Then a faint clap came from behind her but she didn't turn immediately to look at who would be clapping behind her
Jude stepped forward slowly. His presence was felt in the room because he was a Maguire
He stopped closely beside her as he wasn't just standing with her but he was on the same path with her
"My wife has nothing to hide", he said calmly
He didn't say more than that as he was a man of few words in gatherings or events like this
And when he spoke, they meant a lot.
Scarlett didn't turn to look at him but she felt something closer to him choosing her publicly.
The conversation ended smoothly instantly as Scarlett had rewritten the doubts
As they stepped outside toward the car, Jude opened the car door for her for the first time.
Scarlett didn't react, she just stepped in calmly.
The car ride was quiet as usual until Scarlett broke the silence
"That was very strategic" she said as she looked at him
"Of course it was and you didn't deny the fact that you were working for everything you had before becoming Mrs Maguire", he said calmly
Scarlett leaned back slightly
"If I deny that part, it would cause a bigger commotion for the Maguire family" she replied
Jude looked at her for a bit
"Well, you turned it in your favor and that's a good thing", he said
"I only turned it into what I want people to know about me", she said as she looked at him briefly
Jude was still looking at her as he leaned back fully
"I'll let you handle it, next time", he said
They got to the mansion and Jude walked beside her closely
Scarlett noticed it wasn't distant this time.
He stopped at the foot of the staircase as he called
"Scarlett?"
Scarlett turned as she looked at him "Yes?"
There was a short pause
"There's another event tomorrow and it's more sensitive and more exposed", he said
Her eyes were trying to understand why he was telling her
"So?" she said
"So, I want you to be there", he said
She paused for a bit because she wanted to be sure she didn't hear
"I need you to be there or you have to be there"
He actually said "He wants me there" she thought
"Alright", she said as she walked towards her room feeling very exhausted
Scarlett stood alone in her room again as the city lights reflected faintly in the mirror in front of her
She replayed how the day went and also Jude's role in everything that happened
"That's how it starts", she murmured