Out of Control: Into Your Everything-Chapter 31: Do You Still Need Me to Teach You?
The car’s interior was cramped; only then did Scarlett Shaw notice the faint smell of alcohol.
Scarlett’s eyelids twitched a little—she was a bit surprised. Julian Ford hadn’t chosen to sit in the back with Zoe Sutton.
"Julian, is she your new assistant?"
Zoe Sutton spoke up suddenly.
In the rearview mirror, Scarlett met Zoe’s gaze. Zoe’s eyes flickered with scrutiny, like she was inspecting an object.
Scarlett felt a bit uneasy.
Julian’s lips curved very faintly as his calm eyes landed on Scarlett, carrying a hint of barely detectable amusement.
"What do you think?"
Zoe’s brows knit together subtly.
Usually, when people don’t give a straight answer, it means there’s something odd going on.
Julian’s reply was ambiguous, and within seconds, Scarlett clearly sensed the hostility radiating off Zoe.
Scarlett was honestly at a loss for words.
"I’m an employee at Veridian. Our company organized some training here, and I happened to bump into President Ford on the way."
Her voice was steady, her eyes filled with righteous conviction.
Julian heard this and let out a light laugh. "She is, in fact, a company employee."
Zoe said, "Veridian’s really hiring based on looks these days, huh?"
Zoe’s tone was airy, with a clear undertone of sarcasm.
Scarlett frowned slightly.
"So you mean you doubt Veridian’s hiring standards?" Julian said breezily.
The smile on Zoe’s lips grew a little stiff. "Of course not, I just saw this beautiful woman and couldn’t help but compliment her."
Julian replied, "Then your complimenting skills could use some work."
Zoe: "..."
Scarlett gripped the steering wheel, mouth pressed in a tight line, restraining her laughter.
Heaven knows, she truly wasn’t gloating. She just hadn’t expected Julian to be just as blunt with Zoe as he was with her.
Even if, compared to what he usually says to her, this was actually a lot tamer.
Still, Zoe was obviously proud by nature—her expression had already clouded over.
The rest of the ride was dead silent.
Their destination was a luxury villa district, an hour outside the city center. When they arrived, Julian told Scarlett to park by the roadside.
"Wait here for me."
Julian tossed this out, got out, and walked away with Zoe.
They had barely made it through the gate when Zoe stopped, glanced back at the car in the distance, and said coldly: "That woman, is she really just a Veridian employee? Julian, you’ve never been so openly protective of another woman before!"
Julian’s expression was detached. "And what position do you think you’re in to bring this up with me now?"
Zoe’s face darkened.
Julian: "Don’t forget, you’re the one who ended this relationship."
Zoe balled her fists. "And why do you think I ended it? Don’t you know? It was clearly you who..."
"What’s done is done, is there any point in digging it up now?" Julian cut her off listlessly. "Don’t worry, I’ll show up at your wedding at the end of the year, just like you wanted."
With that, Julian turned to go.
Without the slightest hint of regret.
Scarlett felt stifled sitting in the car, so she got out to wait for Julian.
She was bored out of her mind when Yana Yarrow suddenly video called her.
"Scarlett! Come out to play with us tomorrow night! I found you a super hot guy—the kind with massive pecs, feels amazing to touch!"
"I’m abroad for training,"
Chatting with Yana, Scarlett didn’t bother holding back and replied with a grin,
"But you better keep that hot guy on reserve for me—I’ll take my time hugging him when I’m back."
"No problem!" Yana declared. "You have no idea, ever since you broke up with Ryan Ford, so many good-looking guys have been asking me for your WhatsApp. This big pecs dude—he’s my top pick for you!"
Yana wasn’t exaggerating.
Back when Scarlett was with Ryan Ford, he was a player himself, but when it came to her, he kept every guy around her on a tight leash.
Any guy who so much as had a stray thought got nipped in the bud by Ryan.
Now that news of their breakup had spread in their circle, all those who’d secretly been interested in Scarlett naturally started making moves.
"By the way, what’s going on with you and Julian Ford? Anything happen after that night at your place?"
The name Julian Ford was nearly a boogeyman—Yana even lowered her voice unconsciously.
Scarlett thought, Oh, there was plenty.
But she didn’t dare say it outright. She just acted nonchalant, distancing herself: "What could possibly happen? You know better than anyone how shitty Julian Ford’s temper is. Unless I had a masochistic streak or nothing better to do, why would I mess with him?"
"Good. I was really worried he’d use you as a pawn to get back at Zoe Sutton."
Yana breathed out, then added,
"You don’t know the half of it—Zoe Sutton is no saint. She’s ruthless when she wants to be. Wouldn’t put it past her if someone got hurt, honestly."
"Getting involved with those two is just asking to be cannon fodder."
Scarlett recalled Zoe’s superior attitude in the car earlier.
She was just about to ask Yana what "someone got hurt" really meant when—
A breeze tinged with alcohol and tobacco suddenly drifted past her nose.
Scarlett nearly hung up the video call on reflex and snapped her head around.
Julian appeared, cigarette pinched between his fingers, standing tall and leisurely as he looked at her. "Why stop chatting?"
"..."
"President Ford."
Scarlett walked up to Julian and tilted her head up, looking at him carefully:
"How long have you been there?"
Julian flicked the ash from his cigarette, lips tilting up, "Should I remind you to make sure you hug your hot guy when you get back?"
Scarlett wanted to die.
She might as well just slam her head into a brick right now.
Julian raised his hand, tipping her chin up. "Did you forget what I told you?"
Scarlett: "Wouldn’t dare forget."
Julian smiled ambiguously. "Seems to me you have."
"President Ford, I was just fooling around. Everything you’ve said is carved into my heart—I’d never dare have improper thoughts about another guy."
"So, you don’t dare. Doesn’t mean you don’t want to."
Julian pressed his thumb to her lips, looking down at her.
Scarlett fell silent.
Of course, her mind had wandered before. Sure, Julian had those western angles with eastern skin—a top-tier look, no question—but he always had to keep her in check, which really knocked off quite a few points.
Come on, women get bored and moody, what’s wrong with admiring some hot guys to lighten up?
Scarlett was terrible at lying. Whenever she went quiet, it usually meant she didn’t want to admit something and had no idea how to respond.
"That best friend of yours—Yana Yarrow, right?" Julian said unhurriedly. "She’s quite the talker. If I remember correctly, the Yarrow Family only has her—an only daughter, three generations running."
Scarlett’s face shifted and she grabbed his sleeve, pleading with her eyes.
Julian glanced down. "Do I still have to teach you what to do?"
Scarlett’s hand slid down Julian’s sleeve, her little hand slipping into his palm, fingers weaving tightly with his.
Her other hand landed on Julian’s shoulder.
She leaned into his arms, stretched up on tiptoe to kiss his lips.
Julian was much taller, and standing up straight at that—he had no intention of making it any easier for her.
Scarlett nearly had to stand on her very toes just to barely brush his lips.
When she was about to lose her balance, Julian finally slipped an arm around her waist.
Julian said, "Only someone bored out of their mind would get tangled up with me? Sounds like you’re pretty free these days."
"..."
