Chapter 6: The Promise
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"We've received the list of the guests for the gala. Quite a lot of work, I tell you" Isla huffed before putting papers down on Scarlet's desk who was deeply immersed in her work with her eyes glued to the screen of her laptop, only looking up when she heard Isla sighing.

"The gala takes place only once a year. Many big personalities would be present. So many young and handsome faces. Who knows maybe I cross my ways with someone who is written to be mine?" Isla giggled as her cheeks flushed. "Isla, we're in the middle of the work right now," Scarlett winced taking her glasses off before completely facing her side.

Isla Makenzi, twenty-five and extremely charming, she is graceful and loving. With a quirky and funny personality, always cracking jokes in the office making all of them laugh and sometimes annoyed. Besides being an ambitious young designer she's also super dreamy. Her mind believes that one day, she'll find the man of her dreams. May she do, soon.

"A lot of hot young bachelors in the gala. Wow!!" She sighed heavily while leaning on the armchair.
"Isla" Scarlet looked at her, a bit seriously and her eyes strained from the continuous work over the screen. "Alright, I got you" Isla was quick to understand to shut her mouth about her dream husband and discuss the work instead.

"Sorry, I got carried away in my dreams," Scarlet shook her head with a small chuckle before her eyes darted back to her laptop's screen. Cal was still on leave. His mom was still admitted to the hospital. As an only son, Cal had a lot on his shoulders so Scarlet reassured him and told him to look after his mother taking full-time leaves.

Adair's event planning runs with the support of five individuals who put their heart and soul into work. Cal is very hardworking and supportive. Isla is gracious and quirky. She's the first one to fight if she sees anything wrong going on. Besides them, a teen couple works four days a week while also being enrolled in online undergraduate programs.

"For the gala, we have to separate guests into two sections. One is VIPs and the second one is VVIPs," Isla huffed as her eyes skimmed through the papers in her hand." She put the tip of her stylus pen under her chin while keenly reading the names and putting them in the VIPs and VVIPs on the iPad.

"Mike Addison- VVIP, Arnold Blair- VIP, Mr and Mrs Miller- VVIP, Allen James- VIP, Aditya Kennedy- VVIP, Allis Campbell- VIP, Elijah Adamson-VVIP, Noel Walker- VVIP"

Scarlet's breath hitched at the mention of his name all of a sudden. A sudden image of them kissing from a few nights ago flashed through her mind making her suck a breath harrowingly. "Scarlett, are you alright?" She heard Isla asking out of concern when she noticed the sudden change in her expression.

"Yeah-" Scarlett sucked a painful breath pushing away the feeling of his rough lips moulding against hers, "I'm... good," She muttered yet the heart inside of her ribcage thumped so wildly that she could hear it very well in her ears. Her eyes blinked in shame praying that Isla won't notice it.

"Okay, if you say so-" Isla said dubiously as her eyes keenly tried to notice the uneasiness on Scarlet's face. "I'll get you some coffee, I guess," she told her. Scarlet passed her an unfeigned smile, "Thank you" she muttered. Isla nodded uncertainly before putting her iPad down and leaving the cabin to fetch Scarlett some coffee.

Scarlett nibbled her lower lip between her teeth so harshly that she could taste the metallic taste on her tongue. The way his lips mingled with hers, the way he gently stroked her spine, the way he would tenderly bring her closer while dancing with her, the way he would smile when she said something, all the images played inside of her head one by one.

"Get yourself together, Scar. Stop fantasizing about a man you would rather never like to see instead of kissing again." The way Noel intimidates her even in their smallest interactions is enough to make her knees wobble, she would rather never desire another intimate encounter with him ever again.

Or would she?

"Trust me, Ms Adair. I'll always give my best if it's you"

Scarlett winced as the chills ran across her spine at the thought of his dark and velvety voice whispering something in her ear. She could feel the numbness in her legs.

Just a thought of him can make her body react the way it never does.

"Here's your coffee," Scarlett hissed at the voice that penetrated through her ears spilling water on her filthy thoughts about him, though she was grateful. If not for Isla disturbing her, she might have imagined something so sinful about him that she would've regretted later.

"Thanks, Isla" She smiled before taking the mug from Isla who smiled sheepishly before taking her seat. "I should continue doing what I left. We have so little time and so much work left to do," Isla heaved a disappointed sigh.

"I was on Mr Noel-"

"Isla!" Scarlett suddenly winced at the mention of his name. Isla looked up at her with concerned eyes, "Are you okay, Scar?" She asked, gently.
Scarlett quickly hid her discomfort behind a smile and nodded abruptly, "Yeah! I am. I just want to say that let's first get over with the designing materials, what say? You can do the list later as well," Isla stared at her demented but nodded anyway, "Sure, why not!" She said.

~~~~

"How did you find out about this dress, Scar?" Nancy gasped looking at her sister's phone's screen that displayed the black dress that she had on her Pinterest board for months. She was saving up the money to buy it before her eighteenth birthday which is the upcoming mid-December. But as she was done saving up the money for the dress, she found out that the stock was over.

"Did you probably check out the sales or something?" She asked Scarlett with an unbelievable expression. Scarlett who sat opposite her chugging her coffee elegantly, looked up at her with a smile, "No, I didn't" She replied.

"Are you kidding me? It's one of the trendiest pieces out in the market. How come you didn't even keep track and still got it?" Nancy almost screamed out of excitement.

"I found out about it when I heard you speaking to one of your friends," Scarlett confessed as she put the mug down. Nancy almost gasped, "You're kidding me!" Nancy gasped. Scarlett let out a huffed breath, "I shouldn't be eavesdropping on you but I'm glad I did," She chuckled.

Nancy's eyes went glossier as her lips formed a pout. She stared back at the page in her sister's phone, "But it was a one-piece. It must've cost you a lot," She muttered making Scarlett in awe while looking at her, "Aww my little adorable baby, your sister makes six figures," She chuckled.

"I know!" Nancy deadpanned, "But I would rather make myself earn for it," She pouted, "You're still too young and let your sister worry for this besides this, I only want you to focus on your studies, speaking of which, how's the new classroom?" She asked having another chug of her coffee.

Nancy's face became dull as she put the phone down apathetically. Scarlett was quick to spot the dullness on her face and put her palm on the back of her hand, "Something happened to you?" She asked making Nancy huff.

"I quite didn't like it there. College life is tough. I haven't made much of a friend there yet. It's been only a week and I already hate it." Scarlett visibly saw the dullness that grew deeper on Nancy's face with each passing word.

"Did someone annoy you?" She asked and Nancy let out a tired sigh, "Not really but there's this group of people from the IT department, kind of competitive and annoying also very-uh- popular," She mumbled fidgeting with her fingers while her eyes discarded down.

"Did they do something to you?" Scarlett asked seriously as her palms curled. One scratch on Nancy and she is ready to turn the world upside down. There was nothing that could hurt her, she always made sure of it. "Nope! Not at all!" Nancy said with widened eyes.

"They just-uh-" Scarlett keenly noticed the shift in Nancy's expression. A chill crossed through Nancy's veins before she nibbled her lower lip, dubiously "They kind of intimidate me," She whispered, feebly.

"Nancy, you've embarked on a new journey in your life now. You will face a lot of challenges. People will come and go. Sometimes, things won't go the way you want them to and that's completely all right. A thing you should keep in mind is that the future holds a lot for you. Since you're now in college you're already a big girl. Carry yourself with confidence, even if your knees feel weak never let people get an idea of your vulnerability. Trust no one but yourself. Never let people take advantage of you, you're understanding what I'm trying to tell you right?"

Nancy stared at her with her lips parted and face amused before she slightly nodded, "Don't worry Scar. You don't have to worry. I'll never do anything that will put you in trouble and I assure you, my only goal is to study and make a better version of me." She reassured and Scarlett smiled, nodding.

"I know and I'm rooting for you," She smiled. Nancy closed the phone before giving it back to her, "Now that we're on a holiday today-" She said before putting on her black beanie, "No more work talks. We're out to relax, chill and explore the town together," She straightened her black denim jacket.

"Yeah-yeah! As you say," Scarlett finished her coffee before getting up. She paid the bills by the counter before exiting the cafe with Nancy. Nancy was right as they were on a break today, no more work talks- only shopping and fun.

~~~~

"Have you heard about the news?" Louise walked inside the living room. Noel, who was deeply engrossed in thoughts, hissed in irritation at Louise's sudden obtrusion yet gave him the attention. Having the idea of Louise's calm and collected persona, he never reacts the way he just did unless it's something crucial.

"What news are you talking about?" Noel asked completely clueless. Louise quickly grabbed the remote from the table before putting on the news.

According to recent reports, Marres Industries has acquired 29% of shares of Addison Groups, a move that has raised eyebrows in the business world. It is speculated that Marres Industries' next target could be Walker Groups, as they have been in the media for quite some time. This acquisition has caused a stir in the market, with many wondering what could be the outcome of this strategic move. Only time will tell how this plays out and whether Marres Industries' aggressive expansion strategy will pay off in the long run.

"What?" Noel stared at the screen of the television with fierce eyes and hasped jaw. "Within a night? Un-fucking-believable" He shook his head, not believing what he just saw in the news.

"Marres has been preparing to make an aggressive comeback for so long," Louise grabbed Noel's attention with his words, Looks like he finally did now," He shook his head in disappointment. "Since he has gotten the news of your break-up, he now finally shoots his shot," Louise continued.

"I bet he has kept track of my activities for long enough to make a comeback just when the news of my engagement breaking circulated in the media" Noel's jaw twisted while his fingers dug deep into the couch's leather. Louise could visibly see the fierce shadow that crossed his face, his brows creased up. His phone started to ring making him let out a hiss of irritation.

After grabbing it, the expression on his face changed swiftly making Louise furrow his eyebrow in scepticism. "Yes," He answered.

"Have you heard the news, Walker?" Herbert went directly to the point. Noel gave Louise a sceptical stare before answering back, "Yes, I did," He replied in a composed tone. Hearing Herbert sighing from the other end, he knew the man didn't expect whatever had just happened, "Jesus! this is such a bad morning" Noel heard him murmuring in exasperation.

"I expect you to find a solution soon enough now that we've damaged enough reputation," Herbert added, "What is even going on in your brain, Walker? Are you even affected?" He heard Herbert gritting. Noel's fists clasped. The man had the nerve to ask him if he was affected when Herbert was the one who forced him into this mess in the first place.

"I do. I know what I've to do," Noel retrieved back earning a beguiled stare from Louise who stood a few steps away from him. He didn't mind and focused back on Herbert. "Do you?" Herbert asked sounding uncertain.

"I have found a way to shut the mouths of media and corporate bodies. I know what I have to do. Certainly, the upcoming gala will welcome Noel Walker with his partner and nothing less. I assure you with my words."

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