Lucius stood at a distance, a solitary figure wreathed in smoke.
Mia's fear of him was palpable, her face pale as a sheet. Scarlett shot her a glance, a silent command to leave. Mia's anxiety was evident in the furrows of her brow, but she understood the unspoken message. With a final, apprehensive look at Lucius, she was the first to depart.
Scarlett studied Lucius's silhouette, took a deep, steadying breath, and approached him, stopping a respectful distance away. In her usual courteous manner, she greeted, "Nice to meet you."
Lucius exhaled a plume of smoke, his gaze distant, his expression inscrutable. "Given the affluence of those who frequent this place, there was no need for a spectacle on my account. Your friend seems to be running a less than reputable business," he commented, his tone detached.
His words, though delivered casually, cut through the air like a blade. Scarlett hadn't intended to conceal anything, but she hadn't anticipated Lucius's forthright approach.
Caught off guard, she had no choice but to face the music. "I apologize, Mr. Zhou. My friend has just started a new venture, and her lack of recognition in the industry has made her a target. I felt compelled to intervene. However, she is genuinely talented, and I have faith in her ability to make the business thrive."
Upon hearing this, Lucius turned to regard Scarlett. His expression was enigmatic. "And why should her company concern me?" He asked.
Before she could respond, his eyes narrowed, his voice carrying an undercurrent of threat, "There are all sorts of people in this world. It's the first time someone's had the audacity to exploit me so openly. Do you think I'm a fool, or do you believe it's easy to manipulate me?"
Scarlett felt a wave of pressure wash over her. She had considered apologizing, but it was clear that an apology wouldn't suffice now. So, she replied without hesitation, "I shouldn't have attempted to outsmart someone as astute as you. An apology might be meaningless to you. If you're truly upset, you can consider our verbal agreement from yesterday null and void. I promise never to use your name for my benefit again."
Lucius's expression remained unchanged. He was unmoved. Just when he thought Scarlett had said all she had to say, she added, "Of course, you can also give me some time to prove myself in my field of expertise. I believe actions speak louder than words."
Lucius remained impassive. "You've said your piece," he responded coldly.
This time, Scarlett didn't respond. She simply waited for him to speak his mind. Lucius averted his gaze and took another drag of his cigarette. "I don't appreciate strangers exploiting me. I'm generous with those who are loyal to me. I'll give you a chance. If you perform well, then you're one of us. I won't mind if you pull some strings or even act assertively. But if you don't…"
He turned his head to look at Scarlett. His dark eyes appeared calm at first glance, but upon closer inspection, they held a profound sense of danger and indifference. His voice was low, his words slow, almost as if he was narrating a story, "If you don't, I won't just hold you accountable for the influence you wielded and the games you played, but I'll do it without mercy."
Scarlett watched Lucius with a calm exterior that hid the alarm bells ringing in her mind. She was reminded of the text message he'd sent her the previous night, and the secret about Ryan playing cop, a secret supposedly known only to the two of them, yet somehow discovered by Lucius without a hint of suspicion.
She wasn't sure when Lucius had found out, whether he'd only investigated Ryan, or if, as the rumors suggested, anyone 'suspicious' within a mile of where Lucius was, was under his scrutiny. Whether by coincidence or by design, the more she interacted with Lucius, the more Scarlett found these rumors to be true. No wonder Mia felt like she was facing a formidable adversary just hearing his name.
Swallowing a momentary lump in her throat, Scarlett quickly composed herself and responded, "Thank you, Mr. Zhou, for giving me this opportunity. I'll strive to become 'one of us'."
As Lucius took his last drag and extinguished his cigarette in the nearby ashtray, he replied in an indifferent tone, "Tomorrow morning, ten o'clock."
"Okay," Scarlett nodded in response.
The two of them sat side by side, backs facing the hallway, Scarlett's entire attention focused on Lucius. She didn't notice anyone approaching from behind until Lucius suddenly turned his head. Following his gaze, she spotted an attractive woman in a red dress standing not too far away.
The woman, young and around Scarlett's age, had a flawlessly made-up face. Her gaze held a mixture of scrutiny and disdain. After glancing at Scarlett, she turned to Lucius with a smirk, "I've been looking for you everywhere. So, you've been hiding here, having a quiet chat... Have I interrupted something?"
Women understand women. There was no need for intuition. Scarlett didn't want to take the blame. She quickly made her exit, saying, "Mr. Zhou, I should go."
As she walked past the woman, she clearly saw a fleeting displeasure, even anger, hidden in her haughty disregard.
After Scarlett had walked away, the woman, red high heels clicking on the floor, sauntered over to Lucius. She looked upset, her tone a mix of annoyance and disdain, "Is the bar for becoming 'one of us' so low now?"
Lucius, expressionless, continued walking, ignoring her. The woman, following him, taunted, "You're quite generous with your 'own people', although some people's ambition to rise to the top is too obvious. In just a short while, she must have collected at least twenty business cards from strangers, if not thirty."
She deliberately obscured the subject. In fact, Scarlett hadn't taken any business cards; it was all Mia's doing.
Lucius didn't even turn his head, simply replying in a matter-of-fact tone, "I allowed it."
Taken aback, the woman scoffed, "What's going on, playing all sides?"
Lucius stopped in his tracks, turning to look at her. His handsome face radiated indifference and disapproval. "Mind your own business," he said dismissively. "My people don't need others to interfere. You should be less concerned about things that don't concern you. To those who don't know, they might even think you are someone to me."
...
Scarlett stepped outside and immediately called Mia, who answered instantly, and they met up shortly. Mia was worried sick, repeatedly asking, "What did he say? Did he give you a hard time?"
"I think he's a decent person," Scarlett replied, unfazed.
Mia looked at Scarlett in disbelief, probing hesitantly, "Did... did he threaten you?"
Scarlett replied, "The most important thing in life is to stick to principles and follow rules. He's a man of principles, and I plan to adhere to his rules."
Mia looked utterly bewildered, instinctively asking, "What did you promise him? If he dares to force you into anything, you must not stay silent!"
Scarlett responded dryly, "You should watch fewer soap operas. In real life, there's no domineering CEO falling in love with me, only a domineering CEO offering me a high-paying job. And even that, I earned through my years of hard study."
The pair decided not to linger at the party. As they left, Scarlett surreptitiously looked around. Mia, sharp as ever, said, "I just saw some top executives from Leo's company, but Leo himself didn't show up today."
Scarlett instinctively wanted to deny it, but when the words reached her lips, she simply accepted the observation.