Gradually Scarlett became her cheerful old self. It brought a smile on Lucian's face seeing her like that. It was almost like that night didn't happen. But it was buried deep within his mind. He could never forget the look he saw on her face.
He never wanted to see that frightened look on her face again.
It was nearing the end of the week but also Christmas. He was dreading getting the phone call from his mother. He didn't know how to handle it. He would attend her Christmas dinner, there was no doubt about that. But he wasn't sure if he should invite Scarlett.
It was like making a statement that they had a future together. Marriage wasn't something he wanted to think about just yet. They weren't even officially dating yet. That was just a little too ambitious even for his liking.
Noah and Michael expected to see her there though, they made that clear.
He was about to leave his office for an update meeting about the Christmas party when his phone rang. It was his mother. No doubt she called about the Christmas dinner she'd throw. Scarlett came walking into his office to remind him of his meeting. She raised an eyebrow when he held his finger up and answered his phone.
"Mom, give me a minute, okay?"
He didn't wait for an answer and flickered his eyes to Scarlett, "Can you attend the meeting on my behalf? Note down what you think is important for me to know. I'll join you shortly. I just need to take this call."
Scarlett looked dazed for only a split second and then nodded, "I got this, take your time." She walked out of his office and closed the door behind her to give him some privacy.
He sat down in his chair and focused on his conversation with his mother, "Mom, you there?"
"She really does work as your assistant." His mother concluded.
"You thought I made that up?" He asked her curiously.
His mother hesitated but did answer him after a while, "I assumed you made the whole thing up."
The relationship and the backstory. To be fair he did makeup being in a relationship with Scarlett, however, the woman did work as his assistant. That part was most definitely the truth. It was what made things so complicated for him even though it wasn't that complicated at all.
He just needed to get over it. Noah and Michael did that without hesitation.
"Well, now you're proven otherwise." He stared at his laptop screen, watching his inbox fill up with tons of emails, "How are you, mom?" He asked changing the conversation so he didn't have to feel guilty about the half lie.
"Good but busy, the Christmas party is coming up. I hope you and your girlfriend can join us."
His mother also expected Scarlett to be there. If Scarlett demanded to have another day off in the week he couldn't provide her that. He hoped she would join him regardless, otherwise, he needed to come up with an excuse.
It was Christmas he could come up with tons of excuses as to why his so-called girlfriend was occupied. But he would like it if she was there. She'd make Christmas endurable.
"I will be there, I'll ask Scarlett if she can make it."
"Okay, come around five. I have a whole menu planned out."
He smiled, "Are you going to make us eat ourselves into a food coma?"
"That's the only Christmas I know." His mother joked.
He chuckled, glancing at the time on his laptop. He needed to join Scarlett and the others, hearing all about the progress on the damn Christmas party next week. It was nearly wrapped up, they just needed his confirmation.
"I need to go, mom, I do have a meeting to attend. I'll see you Tuesday around five."
She snorted, "You'll see me Monday night at the Christmas party at the hotel." She reminded him.
Right his family would also join that party. Too many stressful days in a row. He needed to prepare himself over the weekend. Either stay at home and rest up or go out and drink till he couldn't see straight anymore. Despite the latter option sounding tempting, he knew his body couldn't handle it. He'd have to pull himself together in a matter of hours come Monday.
He knew he wouldn't be able to do that, so staying at home and doing the hermit thing was the better option.
"Right, Monday night." He trailed off.
"Your dad and I are looking forward to it."
He smiled though it didn't quite reach his eyes. He did force himself to sound utterly happy about it though.
"We're doing our best to deliver so I hope you'll enjoy it."
His mother giggled, "So professional." She joked, "I'll let you go. See you Monday night, honey."
He ended the call, closed his laptop and pocketed his phone. Throwing his jacket back on, he straightened his tie and ran his hands over his jacket to fix everything. He then left his office and joined his staff in the conference room. Scarlett sat in his chair at the head of the table, focusing on the pitch of their marketing and communication team. They fell silent for a split second when he joined them. He then sat down at Scarlett's right and gestured for them to continue.
"It's all going according to plan," Scarlett whispered to him.
He flickered his eyes to her, "We're wrapping this up?" He asked her.
She nodded, looking very confident about her decision, "Yes, without a doubt."
He smiled and focused back on the pitch, trying to get back in the game so things wouldn't drag on forever.
***
At the end of the day, Scarlett walked into his office to let him know she was ready to leave. She smiled at him when he met her gaze.
"It's my day off tomorrow." She reminded him, "I'm going to enjoy it to the fullest."
He smirked at her, "You should. You did go through hell to get your day off."
She grinned and leaned against the doorpost, "It wasn't that bad." She said quietly, "I recall having a great time together with you."
Like always she tried to charm the pants off him. It worked, he was charmed by this woman looking at him as if he was her Christmas miracle.
"Yeah?"
Her eyes softened as she quietly responded, "Yeah, I had fun." She confirmed.
He could stare at her all day when she looked so beautiful. Soft and gentle with warmth in her eyes which promised him a future he didn't dare dream of. He needed to pull himself together, otherwise, they'd stare at each other for the rest of the evening.
"My mother is throwing a family Christmas dinner the day after our Christmas party." He started and watched her wrap her arms around herself as she carefully listened to him, "She wants you to attend it too. If you can make it I'd love having you as my date. I do need to warn you, everyone will be present."
"Michael and Noah's family?" She asked.
He nodded, "So I do understand if it makes you uncomfortable."
She narrowed her eyes on him, "I'll be attending it as your girlfriend, right?"
"Yes."
The serious tone faded as snow before the sun. She grinned at him as if she won the lottery with that one, "Good, then I'll be happy to join."
As his girlfriend?
She always confused him when she teased him like that. He figured she wanted something more from him but she never confirmed it. He didn't dare to ask her since he was afraid to destroy what they had. They just had to wait and see for now.
"I'll pick you up around four, my mother has a tight schedule so I don't want to be late."
"Yes, let's not upset her further." Scarlett agreed, "If you need me tomorrow just call me. I am taking my laptop with me."
She was still professional at heart. He loved that.
"I think we can manage for the day, see you Monday, Miss Archer."
She pushed away from the doorpost and smirked at him, "Looking forward to it, Mister Starr." She then winked at him, left his office and closed the door behind her.
The woman was so confusing but he reckoned she wanted the same thing as him. He'd follow Noah and Michael's example and lower his guard completely. Maybe after they endured Christmas together he could officially call her his girlfriend.