Free Web NovelChapter 26: Offer (2)
"Many were enjoying your appearance tonight but must have been too scared to approach you as they feared the rejection. You don’t need guards to keep fools away from you. Your known personality does it for you," said Ian.
"It should be known by now that I don’t like to have my time wasted. I have a lot of work to do and when I am free, I don’t want to be bothered," Scarlet answered, then took another sip of wine.
Scarlet wasn’t oblivious to the looks she received whether it be men or women. She had been receiving gifts at the estate from men using her divorce to court her. It ranged from flowers with cards to jewels. She had sent them all back.
"Who was the man standing with your mother? The one begging for your attention," Ian said, wanting to learn about the puppy.
"Nolan? Why must you describe him that way?" Scarlet asked.
"I spoke of what I saw. He was hooked on you, wanting to pull you away from going to dance with me. That was part of my entertainment for the night. You’re keeping someone hopelessly in love with you close. Did you know?" Ian questioned, curious as to whether she noticed.
It was hard to miss that the man was in love with Scarlet.
Scarlet sipped the wine once more. She was well aware of Nolan’s feelings which was why she was always quick to stop his advances. He was good at his job so she hoped never to reach a point when she had to fire him for meddling in her personal life more than he needed to.
"I’ve known him for a long time. My father once worked with his and after he proved himself quite skilled at his job, I took Nolan as one of my lawyers. I am aware that he feels something for me, but I don’t feel the same. If anything were to happen between us, it’s because I wanted to make use of the person close to me," Scarlet answered.
It was a good reminder to have a conversation about it with Nolan. Neither of them had addressed it as Scarlet thought it should be obvious that she would not cross that line with anyone she worked with and she wished to not embarrass him by pointing it out. An awkwardness would come after that and she would need to fire him.
"Keeping him around for long when there will be men looking to court you will be a disaster waiting to happen. I quickly noticed he wanted me far away from your side," said Ian.
"I am aware. I am also aware that you wish to move him from my side to avoid my feelings changing. You think no different than Nolan. He has not let his feelings show enough to bother me. He would have been fired should he have made efforts to stop me from dancing with you," said Scarlet.
"Does it annoy you that he is near to me?" Scarlet asked, wondering if Ian’s jealousy was what led to him asking about Nolan. "Think that with him around you have no chance?"
"It does not. You paid no attention to him and I got you here with me. Though his sadness amuses me, it will quickly turn to pity. I rather not have to witness his sadness each time he is near you," Ian answered.
"You are quite confident in yourself," Scarlet replied, placing her empty glass on the table before her. "I am curious about something. With your family conflict and having rumours spread about you when you were young, why return to Lockwood?"
"I was away because of that woman’s actions for too long. It is a good town to set up a business and deal with unfinished business," Ian replied. "Does your business keep you here?"
"They do. Most of my good relatives live far out of town. I’ve been entrusted with taking over the family business so I can’t leave. Not that I want to leave at the moment. Taking trips out of town when this town becomes overwhelming is the way to go. Maybe when I pass on the business I will leave," Scarlet answered, watching as Ian poured her more wine.
At some point, she needed to court another man to have a child to take over the businesses or let another relative be the one to take her place.
"I have been all around the kingdom so if you need to know where is best to stay, you can always come to me. If you ask nicely, I might come along with you," Ian said, winking as Scarlet shook her head. "I would make an excellent travelling partner."
"Why did you travel all around the kingdom? To visit other relatives?" Scarlet asked, interested in his life after he left Lockwood.
"At first, it was for work. Knew that I could not live off the money I received from the court forever and then I was looking for where to start my own business. You look lovely tonight," Ian said, changing the topic back to Scarlet.
"That is to say I did not look lovely other times you saw me?" Scarlet asked.
Ian smiled. "Is it the wine that makes you this way?"
"Not at all. One and a half isn’t enough to make me say things that I normally wouldn’t. I am a long way from you seeing me drunk and long before then I will stop drinking. I don’t want to make a fool of myself before you," Scarlet said as Ian seemed like the type to never make her forget it.
"I would love it if you do. Honour me with being someone to see that side of you." freewebnovel.cσ๓
"It is a side only a few of my friends shall see. You must keep moving up if you wish to see it. Though I like to drink alone. Who taught you how to make tea?" Scarlet asked as he was quite skilled at it. fгeewebnovёl.com
"No one did. I simply watched someone make it many times and they were said to be good at it. I don’t wish to go any further," Ian said as it brought up memories of his youth.
"Then I won’t ask any further," Scarlet said. "If there is ever a point making tea for me seems like a bother, you do not need to do it. There are plenty more teahouses in town I can frequent."
"And lose the only reason you come here? I don’t think so. You don’t speak much about the tea when you drink so it does not bother me. It was time for me to get rid of hating something so simple so you coming for tea helps with it. You are special as you are the only person I have made tea for in years," Ian said, noting the shock from Scarlet.
"Well, I am glad to help someone and receive good tea. It is a good trade," Scarlet replied.
"Scarlet, I have a feeling that you are going to have an unwanted guest. Before that happens, I want to propose something. Keep me as a man said to be courting you by your side and I will take care of the annoying ones coming to you," Ian proposed.
