Free Web NovelChapter 82: Kiss (3)
"I have work that I must finish today so I will not be able to entertain you. Not that it was ever my plan. You can try to find Sunny to play with her but I am warning you to expect scratches. Or you can speak to Alana. I wouldn’t be surprised if she is pressing her ear to the door," Scarlet said.
"I prefer to wait around here until you are finished with work. Besides, I can’t have you getting jealous of me spending time with the princess," Ian said, refusing to let her forget her first time being jealous.
"I was not. No, think what you will," Scarlet changed her mind.
Ian was going to believe what he wanted so what was the point in trying to convince him that she was not jealous?
Scarlet took the pot to her desk for it to be kept there for now until she could find somewhere better to display it. Ian did well with picking gifts he thought she would enjoy instead of being like most to just buy her something expensive.
It was evident that he put some thought into what he had been giving her and Scarlet was starting to feel like she should give him something in return. She had made it clear that there was to be no money spent but with Ian giving her two gifts now, it was wrong to not find something he would like.
Before Scarlet could sit down she watched as Ian made himself at home by sitting on one of the couches in the room, lying down just as he did when she visited him yesterday. No one had ever come into this room to fall asleep while she worked.
How was this fun for him?
"Ian, you can just go home to rest," said Scarlet.
"Or you can spare a few minutes to entertain me. I won’t keep you from your work for long. It’s that or let me rest until you are finished. I am quite comfortable here," Ian answered, closing his eyes to drift off to sleep.
Scarlet wanted to say she couldn’t believe he would just fall asleep but Ian was a weird mystery. She could never fully understand him and if not for knowing that he killed Robert, she might have pictured him as a harmless little thing in need of a friend.
Scarlet sat down to try to finish her work fast so she could entertain the man lying before her and send him off as soon as possible. Her parents tended to visit her without any warning so Ian had to go before that could happen. freёweɓnovel.com
"You are meant to be sleeping," Scarlet said, knowing he was watching her. She got the feeling she couldn’t ignore and didn’t want to look up to see him smiling. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
"How do you know when you didn’t look up from your work? Or did I miss you sneaking glances my way?" Ian teased.
"Honestly, why must I be the one to bear with this side of you? What will it take for it to end?" Scarlet questioned.
"Nothing. You’re getting too distracted from your work, Scarlet. Should I turn the other way so you can focus?" Ian asked, watching as Scarlet finally looked at him.
"You are quite confident with yourself," Scarlet noted.
"If I am not, who will be confident for me?"
"Hmm. Enough time has passed. Have you thought about how you would get back at Mrs. Kingsley? Your father’s kind words about you are spreading around town quickly. Soon it is expected that you will be living on their estate," Scarlet repeated what she overheard.
Ian was a hot topic for the town thanks to Hank Kingsley speaking about him every opportunity he got. Ian turning away his father at the viscount’s party didn’t seem to upset Hank.
Just how sick was Victor for Hank to be speaking highly of a son he didn’t seem to know?
"I have come up with an idea, but I won’t share it with you just yet," Ian replied as he inspected the room.
The Collins didn’t miss any opportunity to show off a portrait of their family as even Scarlet’s study had a big family portrait. He had only ever seen her parents so he didn’t know the others. Unlike him, Scarlet at least had relatives she could turn to. The bright side of not being labelled a bastard.
Scarlet followed Ian’s gaze to the portrait of her family. Though he found portraits to be pointless, he seemed quite interested in them. She wouldn’t be able to call the painter now, but she could make arrangements for another day. "Ian, when is the next time you are free from work?"
"You only need to ask nicely and it is any day," Ian replied.
Scarlet narrowed her eyes. "Do you not have a business to run? You cannot always be free for me."
"I have trusted employees doing their job, Scarlet. I am only there because I like to sleep there. What takes up my time is looking for news about Noelle and there are no leads right now so I am free," Ian answered.
"Then, do you mind coming here tomorrow? I can’t share now so you don’t run away from it. Just know that it will be something you will appreciate in the future," Scarlet said, certain of it. She had always enjoyed looking at the portraits of relatives. She had something to remind her of the ones no longer here.
"You want me to have a portrait done," Ian said, seeing right through her plans. "No need to pout because I have uncovered your secret. It is pointless for me to get one done but I will be here. I hope to have one with you in it."
"There’s no need," Scarlet replied. "I have plenty."
"Not with me in them and I want to remember this time as you said. We’ll have something to show the children. Ha," Ian laughed at Scarlet’s murderous glare.
"I will not be the one to create more of you. Find someone else to burden with that," Scarlet muttered, feeling sorry for the poor soul.
Ian smiled, getting up from the couch as he could no longer stay still. He wanted to see what else Scarlet liked. "You have a sword. I thought you were more of a woman who enjoys guns."
"It was a gift from one of my relatives. The larger one belonged to my great-grandfather so do not touch it. Should something happen to it, his children will come after you. What are you trying to find?" Scarlet asked, distracted by Ian walking around. There was nothing worth looking at here.
"Trying to learn more about me. Tell me something most wouldn’t know about you and I will share something about myself," Ian suggested.
Scarlet thought about it for a moment and then answered, "I like the rain."
"Not what I expected. It sometimes bothers me that I started a business serving others drinks," Ian shared his secret.
"Why? Who is it now?" Scarlet asked after there was a knock at the door. She was curious about Ian’s secret and wanted an explanation but she wouldn’t get it now.
Ian came to stand behind Scarlet as the doors opened, not minding that she tried to tidy her desk to hide her work from him. She would come to trust him in the future.
Florence entered the room first. "You have a guest, Lady Collins. Mr. Hurley is here to see you. Should I let him in?"
"Yes," Scarlet replied. She tapped her fingers on the desk to calm her annoyance with Ian touching her hair once more.
"Who is Mr. Hurley?" Ian asked as a face wasn’t coming to mind.
"You met him at the ball. It is one of my lawyers, Nolan. Do you mind not toying with my hair? Must I send you a head so you can play with the hair?" Scarlet questioned, swatting his hand away.
"Whose head would it be? Do you just have heads lying around? It is important to know," Ian asked as Scarlet stared at him like his questions weren’t important.
Florence returned shortly with Nolan behind her.
When Nolan reached the opened doors, he frowned immediately. He was looking forward to coming to speak to Scarlet alone but again that man was around her. What was Scarlet doing? Why did she allow this man in her home?
Nolan wanted to leave and come again another day so he wouldn’t have to witness Scarlet being so close to a man he was certain she did not know.
"Do you plan to stand by the door all day, Nolan? I don’t believe I have hired anyone to do that," Scarlet said, confused as to him just staring at her. Ian’s presence here shouldn’t have him be this way.
Again, she needed to talk seriously with Nolan about his feelings.
Nolan gripped the envelope in his right hand so much that he wrinkled it. He started to make his way into the office but stopped once more as he had to witness Ian kiss Scarlet. It was merely a kiss on her cheek but it was enough to upset him and the bastard knew it.
