Free Web NovelChapter 94: Leech (3)
"Well done with your work here, Quinton. You’ve outdone yourself again. Florence, please see that he goes off well," Scarlet said, bidding goodbye to the painter.
"Of course."
"And as for you," Scarlet said, turning to Ian who was a little too comfortable. "It is time for you to go."
"No dinner? I suppose that means I should have my fill by going to your mother-"
"Certainly not!" Scarlet exclaimed. She would not allow it. "If you don’t want to end up missing, I suggest you write back to my mother and tell her you have other arrangements for the rest of your life."
"The best way to get me to turn down her invitation for dinner would be to feed me. It is quite simple," said Ian.
"You’ve been away from your work for many hours. I do not want to hold you back. I’m sure you can cook a fine dinner and- What are you doing?" Scarlet questioned after Ian picked up one of the portraits with her in it. "That is to stay here."
"No, the perfect one without a flaw is to stay here. This one can go with me," Ian said, keeping his reward close.
"That is why you claimed there was a flaw? It is not to go with you," Scarlet said, going to Ian’s side. "It will stay here with the other one. I only agreed because I would be keeping it."
"Why would it be so bad for me to have one? What do you think I will do to the portrait? I am not a pervert,’ Ian clarified after a moment of silence. "Why would I care to touch or have indecent thoughts looking at this when you are always so near?" freёweɓnovel.com
"Besides," Ian continued. "I need to be concerned about you and your dirty dreams. You had to have known that I would not easily let this go."
"You know, I never have to worry about what a dead man says," Scarlet warned.
"If you keep threatening me, I might think you love me. It’s just going on a wall, Scarlet. You’ve seen my home. There are no portraits and the ones of myself aren’t enough. Plus, I am hoping that your face on the walls might scare away any ghosts in my home," Ian joked.
Scarlet glared at Ian for not only wanting to use her to scare ghosts but because she had started to take pity on him. "Get out of my estate, Ian. Find your dinner elsewhere and if I hear about that dream one more time, I am going to make sure that you never speak again."
With how playful Ian was, Scarlet couldn’t believe that he had killed someone.
"You, when are you going to show me the real side of you?" Scarlet asked.
"When you do the same," Ian replied. "Now, am I allowed to take this one? I’ll burn it a year from now if you aren’t in my life. It would be a little weird to have this on my walls should someone else be in my life then. You have my word."
Scarlet contemplated her answer. He was hellbent on getting it for some strange reason. "The Marquess who once lived in that mansion was said to be seeing things. Having conversations with the dead. It worries me that you might have conversations with this painting or perhaps, sit in your dining room pretending that I am there."
Ian stared at Scarlet, not knowing how to react to her imagination at first. What the previous owner did with that home had nothing to do with him. "Now I am starting to feel insulted. I am not crazy. If you wish for me to move because you are afraid of my home, just say that."
"You would be crazy to move just because one person doesn’t like where you live. That sweet talk doesn’t work on me. Take it before I change my mind," Scarlet decided.
Ian went from not wanting paintings to enjoying one. It was unfortunate for her that her face was in it, but she would leave him be.
"I expect that when the three months are over, this is sent back to me," Scarlet added.
"The deal was a year, Scarlet. Then again, I will allow you to break contracts," Ian offered.
Scarlet just might be the one to break the contract they had now.
"Since you are so rude to not invite me for dinner and the princess keeps walking by to look in this room, I will leave now. Come for tea in two days," Ian said, touching Scarlet’s cheek as he spoke. He enjoyed one of the rare times that she didn’t move his hand. "I will be too busy tomorrow to serve you, but I will send a gift."
"I don’t want any more gifts," Scarlet said, moving Ian’s hand from her face before he would get carried away with it. "I will walk you out."
"It is a gift that you will not ignore. Don’t go back to work right away when I leave. Go sit with the princess and enjoy the rest of the day," Ian suggested.
Scarlet didn’t answer as she didn’t need him trying to convince her when she already had plans of going back to work. She had taken plenty of time away from the hotel to watch Ian get his portraits done and now she had to go back to work.
There were too many who depended on her actively looking over her businesses. Too many relatives trusted her as the one to lead. A break would come eventually.
"You’re going back to work," Ian said, reading her silence. "You don’t need to walk me further than this. Dream of me again, Scarlet."
Ian backed away from Scarlet before she could hurt him by mentioning the dream again.
Scarlet watched as Florence walked back inside and Ian walked out.
"The painter went off well," Florence informed Scarlet. She remained by Scarlet’s side to be the one to close the door after Ian departed.
"What do you make of him, Florence? Honestly," Scarlet said, her attention still on Ian. "After being around him for two days."
Florence had a good judge of character that Scarlet liked. Florence was the one to hand-pick many of the servants present on the estate and there had been no incidents with secrets being shared to the town. Scarlet didn’t know how Florence was so perfect with it, but she had no need to question it.
"I think he is a breath of fresh air," Florence replied. She was the one allowed in spaces that many of the maids could not enter when Scarlet was with Jack. She had witnessed how the two men were different.
"He is quite annoying," Scarlet muttered.
Florence smiled. "Still, he has managed to bring out a different side of you. Get you out of your office and do things that startled me for a moment. One of the duties I gave myself as head maid was to do what I could to make my employer happy. I have failed to do that, but he is succeeding."
"Are you like Alana to wish that I be serious with him?" Scarlet asked.
"I am only your maid, Milady. I do not have any plans for what you should do. I simply enjoy seeing you in better spirits. He seems to be a good person," Florence answered.
