"I was Dad's favorite you see," he paused, carrying an evil smirk. Further glancing her way, he assumed, "And his daughter's too." The smirk did not leave his lips as Scarlett incessantly glared at him.

Aaron balled his fists as he approached him with haste. He was ready to land punches on his brash face, but she managed to prevent him from doing so. Scarlett did not want anyone from the floor to know about his existence and his tricky ways.

Holding Aaron's arm lightly, she spoke in a composed voice, "Forget it, he's not worth it," she intently glared at the malicious devil in front of them. "Just give me 5 minutes and I'll be back." She remarked as Aaron scowled at him acrimoniously.

Scarlett saw something flicker over Dylan's eyes when she'd expressed those words. His blank eyes stared back at her furious ones. Probably, every time he can't be proficient in changing his expressions and if he'd measured that he could act all cool, calm and collected in front of her, right in her office, then it's his blunder to have such thought.

"You!!!" Aaron pointed at him as he uttered, gritting his teeth, "You are going to be repentant about this later." He removed her hold on him. Giving him one last vicious stare, he stormed out of Scarlett's door angrily.

"Don't worry. I'm familiar with overcoming my repentance, quite soon, might I add." He screamed, but Aaron was already gone.

"What do you want? Why can't you just leave me alone?" Scarlett hissed the same thing umpteenth time as he fished his hands inside his pockets looking at her and gave a sardonic expression. "You want riches, wealth, tell me," she folded her arms. Her eyes contemptuously pointed at him as he stared at her directly, carrying a burst of soft hidden laughter.

"I'll give you everything you coveted. Just get the hell out of my life. I want peace." When she'd completed, Scarlett's vision suddenly turned blurry. She could not keep herself from recalling his mendacity and deceits.

At once, Scarlett turned to the other side, not wishing him to look at her like this – vulnerable and exposed. Realizing his footsteps slowly impending, she immediately maintained a straight face.

Scarlett had no idea why she still abided with him. Clearly, she could simply get him out of her building, yet, she was still, waiting for him to formulate his next move. If that wasn't the most insane thing then she doesn't realise what else was.

Taking in a silent intake, she turned across, to face him. Dylan suddenly leaned forward and whispered, "Peace. It's something I want in my life too, but with you in it." His voice, his words brought chills down her spine.
Backing away a little, he chuckled, probably witnessing the change in her behavior.

Scarlett did manage to maintain a direct and collected face but she was quivering from inside, due to the proximity. Unquestionably, Dylan being so haughty as ever, noticed that and he smirked leaving Scarlett to cuss about it; for being apparent and predisposed around him.

"You don't need to cover your stance, Angel," he stopped as he inhaled heavily, getting closer. She went completely frozen. Instantly, her body reacted by the connecting breaths and she sighed internally, for it being so traitorous around him.

"You're so addictive," again, he raucously whispered against her face, as she tried to step away. However, his arms curled back to my waist. He continued his sweet torture, "You smell so good." He breathed out, his lips almost touching hers. Scarlett could not grasp anything further. Her gaze rooted on his lips as he talked and flagrantly, she wanted his lips on mine. 

All of a sudden, he stepped away and the permanent smirk, which played on his lips, reminded Scarlett of her fallacious thoughts. Right then and there, she wanted to hide.

"I'll meet you soon, Angel. Until then," he took a step forward and whispered in a teasing manner, "See you, and wait for me." Moreover, saying so, he took his steps towards the door as he turned the knob. Scarlett could just stare at him unfounded. Predictably, he turned, only to exceed one of his smug smiles one last time and disappear.

Blankly, she stared at the closed door until a certain irritating buzz disturbed her. Her cell phone vibrated. Disoriented, she took a hold of it, her mind still numb. She could still feel him extra close to me.

What was so wrong with her? She sighed. He had always won over her openness and she could only let him hold the effect he already had.

Again, it was him on the other end of the phone. Hastily, she switched it off, collapsing on her dark brown leather couch. She could not help but think whatever he'd said a few minutes back.

Was it possible that Scarlett's father, Arthur had left something for him? Precisely, he just tricked, that is what he had been doing since immemorial times. However, he was one hundred percent right. Dylan had been his favorite and surely, it might have been very hard for him to convince himself that he was wrong and a traitor. It was obvious that he would be hurt as he was the one who brought him to stay with them. Additionally, in return, Arthur faced betrayal. Probably, before he could express his disappointment and displeasure, he was gone.

An exasperated sigh came out of Scarlett's mouth, as she closed her eyes feeling the exhaustion creeping into her mental state. Her eyelids turned heavy and her whole system demanded peaceful rest, which seems like an impossible task. Lying on the couch was not comfortable either, yet she just lay there.

Scarlett remembers that Dylan had remarked that he would see her soon. She grimaced with the thought of it. She was still not ready to face him; she would never be, let alone his haughty remarks and cynical ways.

Scarlett could not agree more, with what Julia and Aaron think about the wedding. It was probably high time to take a step. She probably shall marry him as soon as possible, if that's what makes that conceited jerk stop his games. He considers her to be still hanging on to their dead relationship, which she was partly and she does not contradict either, but Scarlett hopes to call for it to end soon. If Dylan believes that, she's at a halt and is willing to get back with him, then he was absolutely in the wrong direction.

Steadily, she opened her eyes when she'd heard certain shuffling noises from her right. She'd been snoozing. She did not remember falling asleep.

Scarlett's gaze shifted towards the unbolt windows. It was quite dark out there already. She cursed again as she already got a few things to work on and between all that shit, she managed to doze off. Promptly, she got up, only to flinch in pain. Her back if her neck part hurt.

It was Aaron, who created the rustling sounds of papers. Hearing her whimper, he approached her way, inclining down to her level.

"Are you all right?" He asked, a frown taking place on his forehead as he poured her a glass of water.

"Yeah, I just got myself in pain," Scarlett involuntarily pressed the area that was aching around her neck, "Possibly because I was sleeping in an uncomfortable position." She responded.

"Yeah," he muttered, "It will be fine." He got up.

"I didn't realize that I was  deeply asleep." I apologetically replied and hissed again. He shook a little, "I know you've been under a lot of pressure lately and that's why I did not like the idea of waking you up. I fixed everything here though. Just head over to the home and take comfy rest." He said all at once and a small smile formed around her lips. The idea did appeal to her.

Taking the remaining files with her, Scarlett headed over to her place before glancing one last time at Aaron. He smiled through his inconvenience.

She was relieved not to face questions regarding the devil in town. He did not inquire with her about Dylan or try to know what had happened after he left the room, leaving her with him. Although he wanted to ask, she could easily distinguish it in his eyes but Aaron did not press on it and that makes him different from Dylan.

The first thing she had after landing home was, hunt down her medical kit and gulp down a painkiller. All of a sudden, the absence of her father irked her. She missed Arthur as she had her bowl of oats. She acknowledged Julia's absence in the mansion. She had a big social life from the beginning. 

Being alone and having dinner was unimaginable, yet she was experiencing it now and then. Scarlett reminisced about dinner time while she was young. Arthur always liked spending time with all of them, including Dylan and talking about how they esteemed the said day. Since he was gone, Scarlett feels that everything has been so discouraging. The whole thing has changed. Julia occupied herself more by being socially active; probably it was her way to move on. She never remarried. Though Scarlett inquired about her quite a few times, she thought no one had caught her eye so far.

Reaching back to her room, she tossed and turned but could not sleep, maybe because she was feeling melancholic at the present. 
Although the unfinished book on the nightstand requested her attention, she dismissed the idea of it right away, irrespective of how it appealed to her. Scarlett could not contemplate her work in the office and consequently, she initiated herself getting ready to spend her upcoming few hours inside the study room since the folders and the documents needed more attention.

Flashback:

"Uh oh...not again, I hate him so much." Leah cried as soon as their chemistry lecturer, Mrs. Bates walked in. Nothing amused her about the subject. Scarlett chuckled, noticing her friend's expressions.

"Don't worry, Lee," she started, "I don't think Mrs. Bates would like to get you involved. After those two minuscule explosions, which caused havoc on the floor the other day, she categorically cares for the school's belongings." Scarlett joked only to get a narrowed gaze from her.

Leah was bad at chemical reactions. However, they both laughed quietly remembering the referred event.

After a while, when their professor had left, Leah asked her friend, "Did you talk to him?" Both girls headed towards the canteen, to grab some lunch.

"About what and to whom," even though she had a total familiarity with what she was questioning, Scarlett played obliviously. She took out her phone from her bag, to avoid the stares, which she got from Leah.

"Duh! Dylan, obviously," The latter said, rolling her eyes as Scarlett shook a little. She sighed. "I'm giving you time until tonight. If you still don't tell him about your thoughts, then let me do the honors happily." She remarked, making her friend groan gutturally.

"Now, if you don't let him know, then I'd definitely enlighten him, I avow." she notified again, after glancing at her friend ignoring her threat.

"No, you won't," Scarlett warned back, only to gain a challenging stare from the former and followed by a reckless shrug.

"Scarlett, I just want you guys to stop playing these hide and seek games. I've caught him staring at you the same way you typically do." She said making Scarlett give her an incredulous stare.

"You're just messing with my feelings by saying that, Lee," she refused to deem. She thought, if that were the case, then he would not stop himself from being attached. He certainly would not have given her an idea about his resentment for kissing her at the backside cottage.

The kiss had completely disturbed her rational system. During her vacancy, all she thought about was their lips synchronizing and harmonizing. She wanted to experience the feeling of his lips against hers again. However, above all this, his immodesty became the reason for her pessimism and dejection.

"I'm not joking," Leah's voice brought her out of her thoughts, "I can prove it." She remarked assertively, making Scarlett give her an interesting look.

"How?" She questioned her right back to which Leah only passed a half crooked smirk, making her roll her eyes heavenward.

"Hey Mason, come over here, you can join us if you'd like." Leah squealed abruptly, as she raised her voice. She called out for him and waved his way. It was not long since he walked in here.

Scarlett looked at her dazed, astounded because she was not the sort who would prefer to be pleasant with random people like that. She is that kind only to those who are really close to her, like Scarlett, Aaron or Dylan.

"What's cooking up here?" Scarlett queried in a whispering tone as she noticed Mason someone approaching their way. Leah grinned as she shushed her, "Shut up and he's my skill project partner."

"Hey, what's going on, beautiful?" He asked, glancing over at her as she let out a weird smile, making Scarlett giggle silently.

"I was wondering, Mason, that you asked me to help in that project right? I'm ready for that other than you have to do something for me in return." She directly stated concluding straight to the point as he gazed at her confused but Mason, anyway, nodded lightly.

He was about to sit across Scarlett but Leah stopped him.

"You can sit here only if you agree." She said to him as he smirked, making the former frown. Soon the frown changed into an appalling wheeze as soon as Scarlett hears her. "You have to pretend like you are head over heels in love with Scarlett when Dylan's around." She dictated as if it was no immense deal.

Scarlett's eyes went wide in confusion.
"Sure, why not. What are contacts for?" He addressed, passing a teasing glance to his side, directing towards Scarlett, who already glared at her friend for suggesting such a lame idea to prove her specious point. However oblivious to her reproach, Leah grinned in pleasure.

Scarlett glanced beside her at Mason, who seemed quite fascinated with the discussed arrangement. "You are not agreeing to this stupidity, alright." She announced peeking over Mason.

"Too late, baby, look behind, target is approaching." He supposed as he dragged his seat right beside her as he held Scarlett's hand. The next moment, he placed their linking hands on the table for a show.

He was so immediate that everything was like a haze to her. "I said I can prove; now get ready to witness a jealous Dylan. I love being cupid." Leah grinned. She looked visibly excited. However, Scarlett was not. She did not want to do any such thing that would lead to further complications about the mysterious person, Dylan.

Before Scarlett could back off, Leah called the boys, Aaron and Dylan, their way, making her sigh deeply in frustration.

Somehow, Leah made him sit facing her friend so that he could have a clear view of Scarlett and Mason. Aaron settled beside her as she stared at him with adoration.

"Such an evil mind," Scarlett muttered under her breath. Catching her stare at her crush openly, Scarlett hit Leah behind the table as she came back to the right mind. It was her time to receive Scarlett's unsurpassed teasing eyes.

The lines on Dylan's forehead deepened the moment he spotted her with someone else, let alone that closer to her. Scarlett glanced at her mysterious crush as he frowned looking at their connecting arms and that made her remove instantly. Nevertheless, Mason was effective. He was perfectly doing the job that was assigned to him as he deliberately and effortlessly decorated their hands on the table for the rest of the people, mainly Dylan, to assume things.

Looking over to her side, she found Mason giving her dreamy looks, which were undeniably fake. Scarlett was incensed for some specific reason. She wanted to puke on him for getting that close to her.

"So, you were going to give him a chance?" Leah asked as Scarlett just stared at her blankly not knowing what to speak.
Therefore, she just nodded. She previously noticed Dylan looking at her, hauling a plain look.

"What's going on guys?" Aaron jumped in as he suspiciously looked at the supposed new couple in the canteen.

"Look at this new couple. Mason asked her out. They are so cute, right?" Leah faked adoration and Dylan glowered deeply as he cleared his throat. Scarlett consciously glanced over him, to witness his expression but all he did was to give her a cold stare. His gaze then traveled to their intertwined hands all over again.

It did impinge on him and the fact made Scarlett happier. Mason repeatedly did sweet things to make it look like they were serious, which included tucking her hair behind and kissing on her knuckles repeatedly.

Not after long, Dylan jerked, getting up abruptly. Anyone could witness the displeasure on his face. However, Leah made him take the weight off his feet again. He could not get away that quickly.

Alternatively, Scarlett started to welcome the little contribution. She enjoyed Dylan being so hot and bothered, the reason being her convenience with some other person.

Later on, he tried to leave a couple of times, but Aaron made him assemble and talk. Moreover, he was not into the conversations and Scarlett could clearly notice his agitation.

"I have to go." He'd informed finally getting up with a pissed-off expression. He looked livid too and that called for a mini celebration for the artists over there.

"In next to no time, I'm going to make him declare," Scarlett thought to herself as she smiled reflexively.

**********