Chapter 112 Blind Date
A flicker of irritation crossed Ambrose's face. He leaned back in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose as his eyes darkened.
"Find out who handled this video," he said, his voice deceptively calm.
"And find out who's helping Opal."
Chase understood immediately and nodded. He then remembered Wesley's bail and reported that as well.
"Wesley made bail. He spun some story about the kid being his son, and they let him out."
Ambrose crossed his arms, his handsome face unreadable in the dim light. After a long moment of thought, he spoke, "If he's admitting the child is his, then no one on the internet will dare to point fingers at Scarlett anymore."
Chase's eyebrows shot up. He'd never seen Ambrose let anyone off the hook, especially not someone who deserved punishment. Was he really letting Wesley go?
"Then we'll just have to punish him another way," Ambrose added, his tone turning sinister.
Chase knew that tone. A cold smile touched his lips as he grasped Ambrose's true intention. This wasn't about letting him go; it was about using a different method. And that method had a name: the Ross Group.
"I'll start cutting off all of the Ross Group's business ventures, effective immediately," Chase declared.
Ambrose nodded. Then, considering Chase's recent workload, he asked, "Are you managing okay with everything? If it's too much, call Xander back."
Chase's eyebrows quirked up. "It's about time he came back. He's been having way too much fun over there. He was just bragging to me about it yesterday."
A faint smirk played on Ambrose's lips. "Good. Tell him to come back."
As Chase left, the smile faded from Ambrose's face.
He always felt uncomfortable thinking about how quickly Scarlett had resolved the online video issue. She was telling him that she had the ability and could also find people to help her.
He let out a bitter laugh. He'd never once doubted her capabilities.
The kids were back to their usual selves after a couple of days, though they stayed home from school, spending the rest of the week at Lakeside Garden until the weekend.
On Saturday morning, it was time for Hayden to return to the Boleyn Manor. Ambrose was taking him, but Hayden was clearly reluctant to leave Scarlett, trailing behind her like a little shadow.
Sensing his mood, Scarlett knelt in front of him just as he was about to head out the door. She straightened his collar, her voice soft and soothing.
"You're just going to see your great-grandfather, Hayden. You'll be back in two days, just like always. Cheer up."
Hayden stared at her. "When I come back, can I sleep with you?"
A warm smile spread across Scarlett's face as she playfully tapped his little nose. "Of course."
Only then did a grin break out on his face. Standing by the door, Ambrose watched the scene unfold, his expression hardening. For days, she had been giving him the cold shoulder, her indifference a palpable wall between them. Yet with Hayden, she was as warm as ever.
"Let's go," Scarlett said, letting Hayden go and stepping back. As she did, her gaze met Ambrose's intense stare.
Their eyes locked for two seconds before she looked away.
Lately, every time Ambrose tried to get close, Scarlett would find an excuse to slip away. Fearing he would push her further away by being too aggressive, he'd backed off, resulting in this chilly, stagnant stalemate.
Ambrose left with Hayden. It was Saturday, and Scarlett had originally planned to take Yara to Orion's, but Ulysses's phone call had changed everything. For now, she needed to keep her distance from Orion. She'd explained the situation to him last night, and he'd understood.
So Scarlett planned to take Yara to visit Briar. Briar didn't have to work on Saturday, and the two of them had made an appointment the night before to go shopping and watch a movie.
She and Yara got dressed and headed to Briar's apartment. When they arrived, Briar was still dead to the world. Yara, however, made it her personal mission to change that, darting into the bedroom and pouncing on the sleeping figure.
Briar yelped, then wrapped her arms around Yara's small, wriggling body. "You little monster, I'm gonna eat you up!"
"Mommy, save me!" Yara shrieked with laughter.
Watching the big-and-little duo wrestling on the bed, Scarlett shook her head with a helpless smile. She rescued Yara from the clutches of the tickle monster.
"Go watch TV in the living room, sweetie. Mommy's going to drag Briar out of bed."
Like a little bird set free, Yara chirped happily and zoomed out of the room.
Briar finally sat up, running a hand through her disastrous bedhead as she stumbled towards the bathroom, grumbling.
"I must have owed you two big time in a past life. Can't even let me sleep in on a Saturday."
"It's ten o'clock," Scarlett countered. "By the time you're ready, it'll be almost eleven. We can grab lunch and then hit the stores."
Sure enough, it was nearly eleven-thirty by the time Briar emerged, fully transformed. The three of them headed straight for the mall, grabbing a bite to eat before starting their shopping spree with Yara in tow.
They passed a lingerie store, and Briar grabbed Scarlett's arm, pulling her inside. Scarlett just assumed Briar needed new underwear and followed without a word.
Yara, used to their shopping trips, found a comfy chair to sit in, behaving perfectly while the two women browsed.
Just as she always did, Yara sat patiently. Scarlett joined her for a moment when suddenly, her phone rang.
It was Hayden.
She answered. "Scarlett," came Hayden's voice, sounding a little hurt.
"What's wrong, Hayden?"
"Scarlett, my dad is on a blind date." His voice was flat.
Scarlett froze, unsure how to respond.
She hadn't even figured out her own relationship with Ambrose, and now this bombshell. He was on a date. After a few seconds of stunned silence, before she could formulate a reply, Hayden spoke again.
"If they get married, does that mean I can't live with you anymore?"
Scarlett took a deep, steadying breath. "I suppose so," she said gently. "But we can still see each other. You and Yara are in the same class, so we'll still see each other every day, okay?"
The line went dead. Hayden had hung up.
Staring at her phone, Scarlett managed a wry smile. If Ambrose's blind date was a success, their relationship would revert to what it was supposed to be: boss and subordinate.
That was a good thing. A return to normalcy.
A wave of relief washed over her. She knew from the start this was just a transaction. So why should she feel upset? Not one bit. In fact, she felt a sense of impending freedom.
Buoyed by this newfound lightness, she cheerfully bought two new lingerie sets for herself and then a few new outfits for Yara.
After shopping, their original plan was to see a movie, but Yara wanted to go to the indoor playground. So, they took her there instead, playing until it was seven in the evening. After dinner, they all went their separate ways.
By nine o'clock that night, Ambrose hadn't shown up. And for some reason, that familiar, uncomfortable feeling started creeping back in. Who did he think he was? He could just show up whenever he wanted, and not even bother to send a text when he wasn't coming?
Irritated by the feeling, Scarlett grabbed her phone and called Briar. She announced she was finally making good on her promise to treat her to a "freedom celebration" dinner and drinks, the one that had been postponed.
Briar, who hadn't been to a bar in a while, was thrilled. The two of them headed to Midnight Oasis Bar.
At the Midnight Oasis Bar, Scarlett ordered some drinks, then she said to call two male hosts to accompany them. Briar froze for a moment and stared at her.
Briar froze, staring at Scarlett.
"Something's up with you today. Did you and Ambrose have a fight?"