With the last drop of milk gone, Scarlet let out a deep sigh.
"Maybe now I can be allowed to return to my desk," she muttered under her breath.
Lucian had been unusually difficult today. She had asked if she could return to her seat with the milk, but he refused. Instead, he made her sit and finish it all and not even a single drop left in the cup.
Scarlet couldn't help but wonder—was he treating her like a child? Or was this just his strange way of showing authority?
Either way, she knew one thing: keeping her distance from Lucian, especially during work hours, was the safest option.
More than anything, she valued her peace and privacy. The last thing she wanted was for rumors of an "office affair" to start swirling around her name—husband or no husband.
"I've finished the milk. Can I go back to my desk now?" she asked, keeping her eyes focused anywhere but on him.
Lucian leaned back slightly and smirked.
"You can go… but not without answering my question."
Scarlet's heart skipped. Her eyes narrowed in confusion.
"What question?" she asked cautiously.
She may not like his controlling attitude, but he was still her boss. Still, she wasn't ready to answer just anything he threw at her. But one glance at his face told her he wasn't joking. His expression was serious—almost demanding.
"Why were you running away from me?" he repeated, his voice calm but intense.
Scarlet's breath hitched. Of all the questions she expected from him… this one never crossed her mind.
Her fingers tightened around the empty cup.
"N-Nothing," she mumbled, barely audible.
She stared down at the tray in her hands. "Who even wants to be close to him anyway?" she thought to herself bitterly.
Lucian said nothing. He simply nodded and walked back to his chair.
Scarlet let out a quiet sigh of relief. She quickly leaned forward, gathered the tray, and moved toward the door. Just as her hand reached for the handle, his voice stopped her again.
"Don't forget, we're visiting your parents after work today. That means we'll be leaving a bit early."
Scarlet gave a small nod but couldn't hide the worry growing inside her.
Visiting the Winters at a time like this filled her with dread.
Especially after her earlier mistake—confusing the identity of her supposed groom. She still hadn't fully recovered from that blunder. Was this marriage arrangement going to be a blessing… or a curse?
"Boss might be dangerous, but Lucian is deadly," she whispered under her breath.
For years, while working at Sterling Group, Scarlet had heard all kinds of terrifying rumors about Lucian Sterling—the cold, heartless CEO. He never showed interest in women. He had no patience for flirting, and any woman who tried to seduce him was said to regret it deeply.
And now, she found herself alone with that same man—her supposed husband.
"What a difficult life I've been handed again…" she murmured with a sigh as she returned to her desk.
She picked up her phone and began to scroll through her social media, trying to calm her thoughts.
Just then, the sound of heels clicking against the hallway floor echoed through the office. The rhythm grew louder until a shadow appeared over Scarlet's desk.
She looked up slowly, her expression calm but alert.
Scarlett Roberts stood tall in front of her, her eyes sharp and her smile fake.
"Miss Roberts," Scarlet said politely, "Is there anything I can help you with?"
Her voice remained gentle and composed—this was the presidential area after all. She had to be careful not to cause a scene.
Still, she knew exactly what Miss Roberts was here for—to make things more difficult for her or probably cause a scene and blame her though.
And with Lucian already being hard enough to handle, Scarlet braced herself for whatever storm Scarlett Roberts was about to bring.
Scarlett Roberts crossed her arms, her bright red lips curling into a smirk.
"You seem awfully comfortable here," she said, her tone light but laced with hidden daggers.
Scarlet remained seated, keeping her voice even. "I'm only doing my job, Miss Roberts. If that's a problem, you may speak with HR or you get Lucian to send back to my department."
Scarlett chuckled mockingly, taking a slow step forward. "Oh, no need for that. I just find it amusing how quickly things change around here. One minute, someone's just another assistant. The next…"
She leaned in slightly, eyes narrowed. "…they have squeezed themselves in to personal assistant."
Scarlet's fingers curled around her phone, but she kept her expression neutral.
"If you're done, I have work to do."
"But I'm not done," Scarlett snapped, dropping the fake smile. "You think I don't know what you did? Aren't you pretending to be quiet and innocent Scarlet… worming your way into Lucian's favor."
Scarlet stood up slowly, not in anger, but in quiet defiance. "I have no interest in Lucian Sterling's favor. And if you're here to accuse me of something, say it clearly or don't say it at all."
In as much as the mistake had been made, she wanted a reversal of the situation. But then who is Lucian Sterling? He couldn't be influenced by anybody.
The air between them crackled with unspoken rivalry. Scarlet may not have wanted this war, but she wasn't going to be walked over either though she felt sorry for the mistake but then wouldn't let herself be nailed on the cross.
Scarlett laughed again, but this time it was dry and bitter. "You have no idea what you've gotten yourself into. Lucian isn't someone you get close to. You survive around him. If he hasn't chewed you up and spat you out yet, trust me—he will."
Scarlet didn't flinch. "I'll take my chances."
Scarlett leaned closer, voice dropping to a whisper. "Don't say I didn't warn you. I've seen people like you come and go. You're just a passing shadow. And when you fall, no one will be there to catch you."
With a cold smirk, she walked past her toward Lucian's door. Scarlet had wanted to stop her, to say something sharp and meaningful, but then she had been his fiancée and if not for the mistake...
Scarlett Roberts glanced back at her with a chilling look, tapped lightly at the door, pushed it open, and stepped inside like she belonged there.
Scarlet, standing behind her desk, gave a tired shrug. "It's none of my business. Maybe they should resolve their trouble and set me out of this marriage, though," she muttered and sank back into her seat, her fingers tapping absently on the desk.
Her gaze drifted to the door that had just closed behind Scarlett Roberts.