Chapter 3: The car ride

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"What happened earlier? You were a bit worried, Anna." Scarlett asked. The cake ceremony for Ryan's birthday took place a few minutes ago. And right now, everyone was sitting while Ryan danced and played with his friends.

"I promised Ryan to give him action sets and collectables of transformers. I had my eyes set on the collectibles for the whole time but I couldn't order them earlier. I tried contacting a few shop owners last night but failed as well. So that's why, I asked Aden to help me. Luckily he got one for Ryan as well. He said I can take it and he will give Ryan something else" Anna explain with a deep sigh.

Scarlett smiled sympathetically. Of course, as a mother, she got upset that she won't be able to gift her son the thing she promised to give him for his birthday. It was natural for Anna to get worried so easily.

Her husband, Ivan Miller, was out for a business trip and just arrived half an hour before the cake ceremony.

Of course, Anna only had her brother to get help from. And she did.

"That's alright. I'm glad you got what you needed." Scarlett smiled.

"Yes. I'm so much relieved." Anna heaved a sigh of solace.

Anna is five months pregnant. Yes, she and Ivan are now expecting a second child after Ryan. Everyone in the family is so happy and impatient to welcome the baby.

Especially the child's father and uncle. After some treacherous things that happened to them in the past, the couple is now finally living in peace.

It might seem like a bad nightmare but Anna and Ivan lost their first child. Anna had a miscarriage before getting pregnant with Ryan. It was such a dark phase for everyone. But in the end, everything worked out for them. Anna and Ivan had Ryan and now, she's expecting another baby.

Ivan's younger sister Eve is now settled with Chris who also happens to be Ivan's friend. It was a disastrous moment when Chris proposed to Eve for marriage. They are right now happily engaged and living together. Their marriage is going to take place somewhere between November and December next year.

Both of them are present tonight for Ryan's birthday. Ryan is everybody's favourite and why wouldn't he be? He's the purest and adorable little boy. The only kid among adults. He reminds everyone of their childhood.

Though their childhoods were flawed.

"I think I should accept Edward Collin's offer. I'm planning on shifting to Denver for some time." Eve said before placing her drink back on the table.

Right now, they were sitting together in the living room. All three of them.

"Have you talked about it with Chris?" Scarlett asked.

"I didn't yet. But I'm planning on telling him soon." Eve replied.

"You should. It's a big decision that you're going to make" Anna smiled.

"Getting a chance to work one on one with Edward Collin's is a dream come true for me. He's one of the most reputed fashion designers in the industry. And his works are just magnificent" Eve sighed in pleasure as the word magnificent left her mouth.

Both Anna and Scarlett were so happy to know about the impressive opportunity that Eve has got in showcasing her works in the fashion world. If tell the truth, Eve's work has always been different, spectacular with a touch of elegance.

But she was an outsider, it took her a while to make her name and build a brand of it in the fashion industry. Though Ivan had tried to reach out to her for support she always refuses politely saying she would make it on her own without anyone's help.

And she did.

The last year was a huge success for her designs. Her work ethic has always been enthusiastically filled. She never used the privileged she had as the sister of one of the most well-reputed personalities of the country, Ivan Miller.

She did all of it herself. And she is so proud of it.

"I'm sure Chris will understand this" Scarlett smiled making Eve sigh.

"I hope so. Besides it's just for a while. I will be back. I'm never gonna leave my roots but for myself to grow and make my wings stronger I have to get out and try flying. At least for a while" Eve said with a small smile.

Anna smiled before placing her hand on Eve's shoulder reassuring her through her eyes.

"You gonna make it big for sure. And Chris knows that it's your dream. He will support you no matter what" Anna replied making Eve's smile grow bigger as she nodded before looking in Chris' direction who was right now talking with Ivan.

~~

The birthday function was put to an end by 11 p.m. Chris and Eve left an hour ago.

Scarlett left the function a bit earlier saying her sorries to Ivan and Anna for not being able to have dinner with them because of some urgent work.

She left to have a meeting with the lawyer who is in charge of Adair's event plannings' lawsuit.

"I tried to have a conversation with him but he's not ready to listen and he said he just wants you and your company to be out of his property" Victor, Scarlett's lawyer informed her.

The lines of worry crept on Scarlett's forehead. All of this was getting out of her hands and she wasn't able to do anything.

She tried to contact this man who filed the lawsuit multiple times but he never answered. All she would get from his side was official notices regarding lawsuits and court.

He wasn't even ready to listen to her when she said that she has the proof for the legal buying of the property and she has legal property papers as well from the original owner.

"I'll send you the rest of the information by email. The date for the hearing is yet to be finalized. Let's hope he just listens to us one time before it otherwise, it will be difficult for us" Victor sighed before collecting the documents.

"I'll get back to you soon if I get something that could help us"

"Okay thank you, Mr Victor." Scarlett replied before leaving the office and Victor left as well.

Taking her phone out she tried booking an Uber but the network connection was too slow to call or message anybody. She sighed looking up hopelessly towards the gloomy clouds.

"Maybe, I can get a regular taxi" She sighed before walking down the street. The weather was pretty bad. It felt as if rain was going to happen soon.

It was so strange when the weather was normal just an hour ago and now, it was all gloomy and dark.

Pretty much like her situation.

She was living happily all good and fulfilled until out of nowhere, an unexpected notice was sent to her apartment regarding a lawsuit against her company that she has never expected.

Scarlett sighed looking at the sight of the empty road in front of herself. Most of the town shops were closed because of the bad weather and taxis were also not available. She sighed before continuing to walk.

She has no other option, does she? The apartment was fifteen minutes far by a car ride that meant at least thirty-five minutes of walking for her.

As she walked a car stopped on the side of the road grabbing her attention. Inside of which, she saw someone she never expected.

"Ms Adair?" The man asked before his eyes shifted to each of the sides of the road before shifting back on her.

"Mr Walker?" A voice same as a whisper left her mouth as she stared at the man who was now out of his car standing in front of her.

"You're walking by yourself in this deadly weather instead of preferring a taxi?" He raised an eyebrow as confusion surrounded his face. Scarlett's tongue twisted inside of her mouth but she didn't let him notice.

'Is he loving to play dumb with me? Can't he see there are none?' Her mind spat at him. Of course, she can't, who doesn't love their life?

"Umm... I tried for an Uber but my network connection was super bad. And taxies weren't available" She said more like muttered to herself in utter disappointment.

Noel stared at her for a brief moment before looking around the road once more. A breath of discontent left his mouth. The road was for sure empty and no car or taxi to their farthest eyesight was visible.

"I see. The weather's pretty bad and an alert has been announced just a while. So only if you want..." He said as his hands crossed passed her making her eye widen. Her breath hitched before she looked at him, a soft click of something reached her ears. It was him opening the door of his car before his eyes shifted back to her.

"I can offer help" His honey-coloured eyes shifted as his form remained composed.

It would be so stupid for Scarlett to decline this very much-needed offer in this bad weather but on the other side, the help was being offered by a man she would very least likely to be involved with.

Noel Walker

Just his name is enough to make her stomach churn in angst. She took a breath before looking back at him. Smiling as politely as she could.

"Thank you very much for this generic concern but I honestly think the weather isn't that bad, I think I can manage a walk to my apartment"

Scarlett could visibly see the twist in his perfectly chiselled jaw. She could sense the tension that crept down her spine seeing as her words annoyed the man standing in front of her.

"It can be worse later" He warned.

"Well, I ca-"

"Get inside"

His deep and authoritative tone was enough to send chills down her spine. "I'm telling for one last time" He added.

Scarlett herself didn't know what crept into her head so suddenly but for sure pissing Noel off one more time could lead to some of the worse situations in the world she might less likely want to experience. And without wasting another second, she got in.

A smirk of satisfaction left his lips before he gently closed the door. Passing back to his side and with one last soft click, he was inside, sitting beside her.

It was a little heaven in hell for her.

A blessing in disguise.

She never knew walking to her apartment alone in bad weather would lead her to a ride with the man she wants the least to cross paths with.

******

Hope you guys liked the chapter :)

Take care