Chapter 8: Restless
***
Scarlett turned around in her bed, feeling the uneasiness crawling up her body. She sighed heavily. Sleep was nowhere to be found in her eyes, even after her body was utterly exhausted. There were tons of things that were running through her mind. One of which was the conversation with Noel.

-
"What are you here?" Scarlett asked, coming straight to the topic. Noel let out another smirk at her intriguing attitude. He knew that she knew why he was here for a coffee with her when both of them didn't even know each other in the first place. They have only come to face each other a few times in all these years. All of those instances were because Scarlett used to live with Anna and her husband, Ivan, in the early days of her university, when her mother died. Until their latest meeting in the club.

And, as Anna's brother, he encountered her in that place a few times until she finished her graduation and moved out with Nancy. Noel had all of the ideas about her background. There wasn't something that he couldn't get his hands on. Finding out about her background was a small piece of work and trouble.

"I am genuine with my words, Ms. Adair. I've heard you're facing a lawsuit." He placed the mug neatly on the table before wiping the corners of his lips. Scarlett's eyes were sedately fixated. "Yes, I am," She heaved a sigh. The corner of Noel's lips twitched when her eyes became heavier abruptly.

"Who is he?" Even though he already knew the name. While finding out about her, he also got his hands on every bit of the lawsuit.

Kacey Wills, twenty-eight, is a single father and the owner of a food chain in California. He is currently residing on the Upper East Side because of some financial responsibilities he has received from his late uncle. Where Scarlett has her office, Kacey's uncle used to have a natural gas company some twenty or thirty years ago before he sold the company to a newcomer businessman who then couldn't handle it and sold it to someone else.

Within this period, the property was sold out four or five times before Scarlett legally bought it to open her event management company. Now Kacey has allegations against Scarlett's company that she got it through some illegal activities and wants his property back, and if not, then compensation, which is almost three times the total cost of Adair's event planning company.

"Uh, I don't know him completely. Kacey Wills refuses to meet me. All the times I have seen him, he is only in the trials." She nibbled her lower lip while her fingers started to fiddle with her bracelet, which didn't go unnoticed by his hawk eyes.

She was super troubled!
He concluded. "I see." He shrugged his shoulders, trying to find the right choice of words in his brain, careful not to say something that could have hurt her. "Then, what are you going to do?" He asked, and she dropped her shoulders dejectedly. "I don't know. All I could do was face him and fight him."

The corners of his lips curled while his eyes glimmered in pride. She was strong; he already knew that. For all his knowledge, Scarlett has been fighting the world since she was only eighteen years old. After the death of her mother, Scarlett has fought the world all by herself. And he was really proud of her. Even if he didn't share a bond strong enough to say that to her face, he was very proud of her.

"You're a strong woman, Scar," The endearment left his lips without him even realizing it. All he could feel at the moment was the warm pleasure that crept into his heart. Scarlett's eyes were filled with amusement, yet they shimmered alluringly at the way he called her a strong woman with an endearment. Even if he wasn't that close to her, the words filled Scarlett's heart with a strange yet comforting warmth.

"Thank you." That was all that left her lips before she chugged back on her coffee. He keenly watched her as if trying to interpret her. Her details were beautiful and...sterling.

-
Scarlett shrugged before looking at the bowl of noodles placed in front of her. She cooked herself instant ramen at three in the morning. All because of the sleep that was nowhere to be found in her. Almost the whole night passed just like that, thinking and wandering.

After their conversation, Noel dropped her back at her office without saying anything else. She was in a dilemma for the whole day, and she couldn't even focus on the work. She thought of coming back earlier and taking some rest, but that didn't work either. Now it was three in the morning, and she still wasn't able to sleep.

"What is wrong with me?" Scarlett muttered despondently, her shoulders dropping as she went back to her room after having her instant ramen. "For god's sake, I have a goddamn meeting tomorrow. I have so much to present to Mr. Addison," she mumbled helplessly. Her body dropped on the bed, and her eyes closed tightly.
~~

"Good morning, Ms. Adair," Herbert Addison said scornfully as Scarlett stood in front of him. Currently, she is in the Addison group for her discussion with Herbert regarding the gala. The gala was one of the most discussed gatherings in the town right now, and Scarlett has so much to do.

It was one of the few big projects that would lead her company to new heights of success and popularity. She cannot lose this chance to prove her and her company's potential for a brighter future. Even after Adair's event management was involved in a lawsuit, Herbert still gave her a chance to fulfill a contract. There is no way in the world she could lose that chance.

The legal dispute has done enough damage to the company, and by managing this event, she has a chance to regain the faith of her future clients in the company. This gala has to be one of the most life-changing events in her life.

"I think you've been working quite a bit hard nowadays, Ms. Adair," Herbert asked while Scarlett packed her material back after discussing everything regarding the event. "Uh well, I cannot disappoint you with my work, Mr. Addison. Of course, I will work hard." She smiled adeptly.

"I understand your concern with this event, Ms. Adair. But I would say that health should be your priority as well." Herbert looked at her admirably. His response was reasonable. For quite some time, Scarlett hasn't been able to look after herself. Whatever he said was not wrong at all.

"I will definitely do that, Mr. Addison." She let out a forced smile, making him nod. "And don't worry, I love your ideas. I am becoming a fan of your creativity." Scarlett nodded as her eyes shimmered. "Thanks, Mr. Addison," she replied graciously.
On her way out of the office, her body came into collision with something rough and hard. "Ouch!" A small yelp came out of her mouth when her shoulder came into contact with a sudden force. She grabbed her shoulder tightly as her eyes shut tightly in pain.

"Oh my god! I'm so sorry. I didn't see you coming, as I was in a rush. Are you all right?" The man gasped in surprise. The guilt surfaced on his face when he saw her in pain. "I'm fine," she muttered feebly. The man's eyes softened. "You don't look like you're fine." He asked genuinely.

"Di-did I hurt you?" He asked, and she abruptly shook him. You definitely didn't. Don't worry," she told the man genuinely. "I'm Mike." He forwarded his hand for a handshake. "Uh, I'm Scarlett Adair." She joined the handshake for a bluff moment.

"Scarlett Adair? Um, the founder of Adair's management?" He asked. Scarlett let out a curt nod, earning a full smile from the man. "So you are the one who's been in charge of the gala this year. I'm Mike Addison, specifically for your concern." He told her. Scarlett quickly remembered when the man told her his complete identity. He's the new CEO of Addison Groups and Herbert's grandson.

"Oh, I got it. I know now. It's such a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Addison." She smiled. "Same here, Ms. Adair. And I'm genuinely sorry for this." He said, apologetically pointing at her shoulder, which she still held by her other hand.
"Oh, it's completely all right, Mr. Addison. I was in a hurry as well." Mike let out an apologetic sigh. "It's still my fault, though. And I do want to make it up to you."

"Scarlett?" Both Mike and Scarlett were interrupted when Mike heard someone calling her name. To his surprise, it was Noel. His eyes were only fixated on Scarlett.

"Oh, you two know each other?" Mike asked in utter dismay when Noel walked adjacent to them. "Kind of." He replied curtly to Mike without giving him any attention, who raised his eyebrow, interestingly looking between them. A small smirk played on the corner of his lip, showing how preoccupied Noel was with Scarlett.

"What brings you here, by the way, Noel?" Mike asked as Noel coolly shifted his eyes to him. "Since you're in big trouble, I have to step in," Noel smirked, snapping at Mike, who now looked nothing like a second ago. His facial expression turned hard, and his jaw clenched when Noel reminded him about the mess they'd gotten into with Marres.

"Are you here to ridicule me?" Mike's fists clenched as Noel gave him another cool smile. "Of course not, Mike. But seeing how you've been handling the situation, I'm quite dissatisfied." Noel jeered, earning a harsh glare from Mike. For a minute, they forgot that Scarlett was also present there and were ready to throw fists at each other, but somehow they controlled themselves when she broke the thickness with a cough.

"Why are you holding your shoulder like that?" Noel looked back at Scarlett, earning a feeble gulp as her reaction. "Actually, I was in a rush and I didn't see Mr. Mike coming so we-"

"Do you want me to take you to a doctor?" Noel asked while his eyes quickly softened. "No, definitely not. I'm fine. It's ridiculous," she said. "I'm concerned." He muttered back. Mike's phone started to ring, interrupting them. "Uh, guys, I think I should take my leave. I have something important that came up. Ms. Adair, I owe you coffee, and Noel, I'll see you later." With a sharp glance at him, Mike left, answering his incoming call.

"Come, I'll drop you off at your office," Noel said, more like declaring to her while leaving Scarlett amused, but before she could protest, he was already walking. Shrugging it off, she followed him. Since Isla took Scarlett's car for an emergency, she was going to book a cab anyway.

"Why was Mike asking you for a coffee?" He asked after some time of reticence. "He said he's sorry for not looking out and wants to make it up for me," Scarlett replied, fidgeting with her bracelet. "With a coffee?" Noel ridiculed.

"Um, I did not mind," Scarlett muttered, lowering her head. Noel's jaw clenched, and his grip tightened on the steering wheel. "Are you interested in him?" He asked, showing more interest in the conversation, though his insides thrashed violently just at the thought of her with Mike.

"Why would you ask that?" Scarlett's head snapped at him as she looked completely amazed. "Why would you not mind a coffee from a guy whom you've just met?" He matched her energy with disappointment.
"Well, unless you're interested in him, of course," he reminisced scornfully.
"This is absurd." Scarlett shook her head. Noel's car came to a halt with a screech, making her gasp. He turned his head towards her, looking deeply incensed. Scarlett's heart thudded at the sudden change in his emotions.

"Not everyone is as devious as you think, Mr. Walker." She said this as she was still fiddling with her bracelet.

"Not everyone is as trusted as you think, Scar. Stay away from Mike. He's not a guy to be around." Noel mused, lowering his head to her level. Scarlett's heart beat wildly inside her ribcage. Seeing Noel so pompous by her being with someone else was something so new and startling to her.

"Are you concerned?" She asked, raising her thick and gleamed eyelashes. She saw a swift change of emotion in his honey eyes—the rings of fire ignited.
"I am more than concerned, Scarlett. I am affected."