Dangerous Desire The CEO’s Hidden Woman

Scarlett handed her a tissue, but Sophie waved it away. “Three years. Do you regret anything? You two spent so much time together…”

“There’s nothing to regret. I had fun with him throughout the years, I honestly only got space in my mind for good memories. I don’t know, like, he sucks, you know? He really sucks. But in the end, all said and done, I don’t hate him. I’m gonna be honest, I don’t hate him. I can’t hate him.”

“Um, Sophie… I know it’s bad timing to tell you this… but I’m actually…”

“Dating Francis.” Sophie interrupted her and smiled.

“Wait, what the fuck? How did you know what I was gonna say?” Scarlett was stunned.

“Jeff told me. I knew right from the start.” She took a sip of her wine. “If you don’t take the initiative to tell me, I won’t ask you. I thought it would be better just to give you time and space to think for yourself. But now I think I might actually have some useful advice for you.” Sophie put her hand on Scarlett’s shoulder.

“These super-wealthy men have their own plans for life, Scarlett. They’re solid and loyal only when it comes to matters of money and business. They don’t prioritize their personal lives. Like, they just don’t care about love at the end of the day. Don’t get yourself too immersed in this relationship, and don’t lose your independence! Make a plan for your own future so that you’ll be able to survive and even live well when the man suddenly quit the game and just, like, senses of peace out. You know what I mean?”

Scarlett knew that Sophie had given up full scholarships to study abroad– all in a bid to maintain her relationship with Jeff. Although she claimed she only recalled the good times, Scarlett knew there were many reasons for her to feel disappointed and regretful…

Chuck waved his hand in front of Scarlett’s face. Her eyes had glazed over; she had been contemplating deeply about something.

Scarlett looked back at Chuck and said, “It’s a scarce opportunity. I don’t want to miss out on it.”

“It’s more important to you than marrying into our family?” Chuck funnily looked at her.

It was the first time that Scarlett saw the real Chuck. There was condescension in his eyes; he was judgemental, cruel, and money-minded in a way that Scarlett had not previously realized.

“I know you are not a gold-digger, but if you marry my uncle, you’re opening the door to an easy and carefree life! Nobody asked you to be a housewife, and I bet Francis won’t force you to work if you don’t want to. He’d probably prefer it if you just sat pretty at home, honestly. What else could you even ask for?”

“Look, Chuck, you don’t get it. It’s about…freedom and my personal independence. Fine, I don’t even really know what I’m talking about.”

Scarlett, after all, was the only one who knows the real reason for her to be with Francis.

It was simple: she was with Francis because of love. But wouldn’t that sound so naïve and silly, especially to a member of the Sandler family? All they cared about was business. They would presume an ignoble original intention from her to date Francis, and they would undoubtedly assert that she was only keen to get married because of money.

“Are you out of your mind, Scarlett? Or did Francis really spoil you to be a little princess? Freedom and independence? How can you say something so childish and shameless? Don’t you know how the world works at all?”

See? Chuck was a good manifestation of the things Scarlett feared most about the Sandler family.

“Can you really bullshit about your so-called freedom without money? Oh, now you got the money, and you’re going to pursue your freedom and dump Francis? Oh no, no, you don’t really want to dump him. You just want him to be desperately waiting for you to come back, right? You’re much more greedy than I thought, Scarlett.”

“See, even you regard me as a greedy bitch.” Scarlett looked a little pale. “What about the others? I might know the answer.”

Chuck sneered and walked away.

***

Scarlett returned to the villa, and the housekeeper informed her that Francis had not yet returned. She went upstairs to take a shower and then waited for him for three hours. She hadn’t even received a phone call from him thus far.

Scarlett went downstairs and asked the housekeeper, “Did he say he has a meeting or a business dinner or something tonight?”

“Oh, Scarlett, I’m sorry, we don’t know Mr. Sandler’s schedule. He did not give us any such information.”

Scarlett returned to Francis’s room disappointed. She walked to the balcony and leaned on the railing. This is the first time she had desperately wanted to find Francis, and yet, she could not find him. Would there be a next time? How would their marriage end up? Would they be like two strangers who happened to be living in the same house? She tried to stop herself from picturing such a desolate future for herself.

Francis didn’t come back all night. Scarlett sat on the windowsill and didn’t close her eyes for even a second. The next day, she brought a few clothing, toiletries, and other necessary supplies back to school.

“Scarlett! Help!!” Young Lewis, one of Scarlett’s senior fellow in Russian faculty, came to her yelling and begging for help. A group of people in the library looked up to observe his actions.

Scarlett closed her book and looked up at him, “Are you being chased?”

“I need your help.” Young took a seat beside her.

It turned out that one of the cellists in the school symphony orchestra had broken her arm and would not be able to perform in the show celebrating UI’s Founder’s Day.

“What do you think, Scarlett?” Young widened his eyes and batted his eyelashes rapidly. He looked like a sweet puppy. It’s hard to find a cellist in our school and… I know you can play the cello. Please, it’d be super helpful if you could sub in…”

“But the celebration is only two days away. How can I learn a new composition within two days?” Scarlett looked at Young and said.

“It’s two and a half days to be exact!” he said, “I know you can do it, Scarlett! Please, just do me this one favor! I really need your help. I’ll owe you one for life. Please?”

“Alright, alright. I’ll try. Stop badgering me already.”