Out of Control: Into Your Everything-Chapter 82: Incompatible Personalities

Skyler Miller said this openly, without a hint of evasion.

Present were Scarlett Shaw, Julian Ford, and Aaron Carson—anyone with normal hearing could catch every word loud and clear.

Aaron Carson wiped the sweat from his brow.

This question was seriously a loaded one; he could only glance at Julian Ford for a cue and play it by ear.

Unfortunately, Julian Ford’s expression didn’t budge at all, completely unreadable. Aaron couldn’t figure out his boss’s thoughts, and didn’t dare admit to anything, so he muttered vaguely:

"Just showing a bit of coworker care."

Skyler thought he was just shy and pressed ahead: "Don’t think tossing her a hand warmer means you’re off the hook. If you want to date Scarlett, you’ll have to pass our investment department’s inspection first."

Aaron: "..."

Why was his life so hard? Between Scarlett and his boss, he was left completely stuck!

Scarlett caught Aaron’s tragic expression at a glance and barely suppressed a laugh at the corners of her mouth. She was just about to step in and help him out, but Julian Ford actually spoke up first:

"You’ve got a hand warmer—why not use it?"

Julian’s gaze was cool, but when he said this, his eyes lingered on her slender white fingers.

Scarlett’s ears went a little red and she answered honestly, "I carry it in my bag, so when my hands get cold I’ll use it."

Julian: "Do you like it?"

Scarlett: "Yeah."

The two of them spoke briefly and politely, with an air of detached formality. Skyler didn’t pick up on anything unusual, but Aaron just got more and more unsettled as he listened. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Julian didn’t stay long in the departure lounge before heading to the VIP room to rest. Aaron hung back for a bit, and after Skyler went to the restroom, he pulled Scarlett aside for a hushed chat:

"So, what’s going on with you and President Ford? Are you two back together or not? All this eye-flickering—are you two flirting on the company’s dime?"

Aaron’s words set off alarm bells in Scarlett’s mind.

She’d almost forgotten—Julian Ford was now engaged. Her feelings were even more impossible to reveal.

Scarlett said, "Don’t talk nonsense. I already had a hand warmer. Julian broke it, so he just replaced it for me."

Aaron: "Well, that’s quite something. The boss himself went and bought you a hand warmer."

Scarlett immediately retorted, "So what if he’s the boss? If the boss breaks someone’s things, he doesn’t have to pay for it?"

Aaron was speechless. "You know what I mean."

Scarlett: "Julian’s already engaged. Stop letting your imagination run wild—gossip starts with loose lips."

"..."

Aaron wanted to say more, but it wasn’t appropriate, so he just turned and headed to the VIP room. Walking up to Julian, he said:

"President Ford, the Walsh Bank funds have arrived. Miss Walsh just messaged, asking about the previous documents and whether the engagement cancellation—"

"Have her wait."

Julian crossed his legs elegantly, glancing down at the magazine in his hands with a calm expression.

"Tell her, since she dared to play games with me, she’d better be prepared to get outplayed. Someone with obvious weaknesses should really know their place—it’s high time she got a taste of her own medicine."

Aaron: "Yes, sir."

The city Scarlett was traveling to for this business trip was the same as for the last training—Bryland. After checking into the hotel, Skyler Miller sent her an address and said:

"Besides us at Veridian, there are several competitors also going after a deal with Roman Lawson. I got someone to dig up his private schedule this time. We’re on a tight timeline—tomorrow’s opportunity is absolutely crucial."

The address Skyler sent was a castle estate, extremely upscale and private. Money alone wasn’t enough to get you in; you needed status and connections too.

Scarlett looked up the estate and asked, "Isn’t this place members-only? We don’t qualify to get in. Skyler, do you already have a plan?"

Skyler: "We’ve got you."

Scarlett: "Me?"

Skyler grinned with layered meaning: "When a man’s resources are useful, you’ve got to use them. If Assistant Carson wants to pursue you, a mere hand warmer isn’t enough to win over your heart."

Scarlett caught on right away.

She actually didn’t mind Skyler’s solution, but considering her past "record" with Aaron, she knew this wouldn’t go smoothly—there was bound to be some biting sarcasm first.

And sure enough, Aaron didn’t let her down. At her respectful, modest request, he practically grew a peacock’s tail—dragging it out with exaggerated airs before finally declaring, full of himself:

"I’ll see what I can do."

Scarlett shot back automatically, "I’ve sweet-talked you till my tongue’s dry and all you can say is ’I’ll see what I can do’?"

Aaron snorted, "Otherwise, why don’t you ask President Ford?"

"..."

When you’re asking for favors, you’re already a few notches lower.

Scarlett could bend and stretch: "My bad, okay? If that’s not enough—oh mighty Assistant Carson, I’m truly troubling you. When we’re back home, I’ll use my connections in Rondale to introduce you to some high-quality friends."

"Forget it, the folks there aren’t my type."

Aaron threw that sentence out and hung up, but later that night he sent Scarlett two electronic invitations.

Skyler glanced at them and couldn’t help but sigh, "Aaron really is worthy of being President Ford’s right-hand man—efficient, fast, no wonder the boss trusts him so much. Scarlett, back home, why not consider him?"

Scarlett gave her a sheepish laugh, "We’re not a good match."

"How do you know if you’ve never tried?"

Skyler said this as she opened the digital invites. The moment she saw the details, she froze.

Scarlett thought, there’s no need to "try"—that gender issue isn’t going away, but before she could say anything, Skyler gave a shocked cry: "Shit, isn’t this Zoe Sutton’s wedding invitation?!"

Scarlett: "???"

...

The next day, Scarlett and Skyler arrived at the manor. With the invites, they walked smoothly through the lavish golden entrance.

Guests were trickling in. When Roman Lawson entered, Skyler didn’t bother hiding her intentions and walked right up with her pitch.

Unexpectedly, Roman didn’t dodge and weave as she’d expected. Instead, he said, "If you want to work with our company, bring your financing plan to see me tomorrow night."

He named a hotel, and Skyler agreed on the spot. She caught the meaning in his look—her brows knit imperceptibly—but just as she was about to ask, Roman added:

"As for discussing the plan, no need for Manager Miller to come in person. Just send someone from your team."

The subtext couldn’t have been more obvious.

After dropping that, Roman made it clear he had no more to say and strode away.

Skyler’s expression turned complicated.

Scarlett hadn’t spoken but had heard every word, and she understood Roman’s meaning. So she volunteered: "Skyler, I’ll go meet with Roman tomorrow about the plan."

Skyler: "It’s too risky—don’t throw yourself into the fire."