Dangerous Desire The CEO’s Hidden Woman

“What do you mean? We’re boyfriend and girlfriend, aren’t we? Why shouldn’t we live together? That’s the real question…” Francis leaned on the door and stared at Scarlett with his hands in the pockets of his trousers. If they had not been in the middle of a dispute, Scarlett would probably have admitted that his posture was sophisticated and attractive.

“Just because I’m your girlfriend doesn’t mean I don’t get to have my private space and time to myself.” Scarlett raised her voice.

“You can do whatever you want. I will not interfere in your personal life. But living together is the most basic tenet for two people who are in a relationship.” Francis answered very patiently. He was the one begging her to stay, after all. He needed to be careful with his words so as not to upset her.

“Nice try. But I would still prefer to live on campus.” Scarlett insisted.

“No, I won’t permit that.” Francis took a glance at his watch and said, “Anyway, I’ve got a conference call right now. Gotta head, see ya.”

There it was again! That domineering tone that Scarlett just could not manage to defy.

But Scarlett is always … very adaptable! “Alright, whatever, let’s see.” She murmured to herself and then pushed her suitcase back to her bedroom.

“Oh!” Something important crossed her mind. She decided to go to school later after Francis had finished with his Skype call. When Francis came downstairs after the meeting, he found that Scarlett had not left for school yet. “Wait, what? How come you’re still here? The first day of school made you feeling nervous, didn’t you?”

“Of course not, don’t be silly! It’s just… there’s still some time before I gotta head to class!” Scarlett stood up from the sofa and went up to him.

“Are you sure? It’s already ten. By the way, who said to me this morning that she must get up and prepare for school bright and early and even begged me to let her off?” Scarlett laughed awkwardly to ease the tension. She then walked closer to Francis and wrapped her arms around his lean waist, rubbing her small nose against his chest.

“Hey… you know… sometimes little lies can even make a relationship that much better.” Scarlett cooed.

She went on. “So, actually, I was waiting for you to get done with your call because… well, I wanted to talk to you about Chuck’s engagement and the coming wedding with Tiffany. He had talked to you the other day, but it didn’t seem like the conversation went anywhere, right?”

“I will talk to you tonight. You’re going to come back here, right?” Francis was seemingly testing Scarlett.

“Would you stop worrying about it?”

“Okay, so I would take it that you will come back tonight and every night after that, right?” Francis pursued the topic very childishly.

“Yes! Right! Can we get back to Chuck’s affair now?” Scarlett was losing her patience.

“Yeah, of course, keep going.” Francis took Scarlett’s hands and walked to the sofa.

“Actually, it’s quite simple and clear. They don’t love each other, so they shouldn’t walk into a marriage.”

“Who has he ever loved?” Francis sighed and continued,

“Scarlett, just trust me, I know him better than you do. He just doesn’t want to settle down. It’s not about Tiffany, really. He doesn’t want to settle down with anyone. I know he’s not able to truly love anyone because he’s still very irresponsible and immature. But that’s why he needs to learn how to take responsibility and take good care of a relationship or even a family. Okay, I admit it could be anyone instead of Tiffany. But she’s a good girl, she’s sophisticated, sensible and elegant. Chuck and Tiffany, I don’t see anything wrong with that combination, if I’m being honest.” said Francis calmly.

“But they don’t love each other! Chuck doesn’t love her at all. And it just could not be more obvious that Miss Tiffany is just performing some duties imposed on her by her parents. It’s just another commercial marriage like yours was, isn’t it?” Scarlett argued.

Francis swallowed the words on his tongue back and chose to stay quiet.

“If he meets a person he loves and he would like to spend the rest of his life with her, what do you think he’s gonna do? What options has he got then? To cheat on his wife or betray his real desire and love? What if you weren’t divorced and hadn’t been single for so many years… what if you were still married, right at this moment? Would you still be with me?”

“Yes. I would have. We would still be here, together, just like we are right now.” Francis answered firmly without any hesitation.

“Because I’m selfish.” he sighed, “Even if you were married, I would have done everything I could to take you from your husband. As for me, I would get a divorce first and then marry you. But Scarlett, you know that’s not an effective assumption because I’ve already…”

“But you think Chuck should marry first and then get a divorce?” Scarlett interrupted him.

“Alright, fine, I surrender. I’ll talk to him again, I promise. Alright?”

Looking at his disappointed face, Scarlett pinched his cheek and giggled. “Thank you, honey. You’re more considerate than I expected.”

“And you’re closer to Chuck than I expected. You really know him, huh?”

Scarlett lowered her body and pressed her forehead against Francis’s, and they looked at each other, eyes to eyes, nose to nose. “Save your jealousy for others, honey. It would never be Chuck, okay?”

“Others? What? There are others? Scarlett!” Scarlett didn’t reply. Instead, she put her lips to his and kissed him deeply.

***

Two days later, Scarlett ran into Chuck as soon as she left the house. She took off her sunglasses and complained, “What the hell are you doing here? Why are you here… again?” Chuck pulled her into his car and asked with a smile, “Where’re you going? I’ll give you a ride!”

Scarlett fastened her seat belt and then scanned the smiling man from top to bottom, “You’re so weirdly happy…what’s up… it’s weird…”