The clear reflection in front of Scarlett cracked her qualms. It did not hide her state, which screamed insecurity and reticence. For her, last night was so disconcerting. The person whom she addresses as the devil – his influence crept inside her brain, leaving her unguarded.

I expected a little trust from you, Scarlett. Those words from him were everything that she had never witnessed while she was with him back then. She reminisced about Dylan's way of expressing anger, which is not like a common person. He moderately chooses to stay unvoiced, keeping his feelings to himself and not articulating them in front of people.

However, countless things have changed over these years. Scarlett was not a part of his life anymore. He chose to change everything, the way she'd consider stuff and the way she'd notice things – it's all changed. She dislikes assuming that she knew him anymore. He is an absolute stranger to her.

Now when she recalled last night, the temper he showed by the pool, made her squirm. He knew what he was opting for, by interpreting himself as the sufferer, and as surprising as it may sound, Scarlett could not believe she almost gave it a second thought about the possibility of him being trapped in all the drama in the past. Absolutely, that makes him triumphant in his task, exactly for what he is back.

Scarlett was astounded. How could someone be scheming to that extent? Is it that simple for him to present as if she was the one who created all the mayhem that drifted the whole thing apart?

Since he is back, he always points out and talks about trust. Dylan does not recognize that trust is a fragile thing. When you trust someone, you allow yourself to be vulnerable. That was what her actual fault was. She had let him in, she'd handed him her heart and core and believed that no matter what would approach in the coming times, he will always be with her and take care of it. However, few things are against a person's wishes. Scarlett was proven so wrong about it and for her, after her father's demise, it was the second most complex thing to ever experience.

The soft, unruffled and gentle Dylan does not exist anymore. Although, for him, being conceited is mandatory and that is the only thing that did not change about him, followed by sarcasm and mordacity. These past couple of encounters with him have helped her in recognizing the devil's motive, which integrated nothing except to invade her passive life.

Now she recognizes a tiny detail, Scarlett was peaceful before when he'd not shown up. Although she was not in high spirits either, before his return, it was still serene. Recently, when she had nothing and nobody to reside in her thoughts, Scarlett found herself wondering if all this actually anguished him.

"Has he ever loved me?" Scarlett questioned no one in particular. Alternatively, she was just a ladder for him to step up and reach his intention. At least that's what she feels at the moment. Does he not feel repentance, for attempting those crimes that he'd chosen to execute? Also sullying everyone, mainly her.

Scarlett's eyes twisted in exasperation as she sighed. Why was she not able to move on? Also, why does it turn out to be hard for her to avoid what she used to feel for him!?

She was met with utter disappointment when she tried to seek answers from nobody other than her. She had always come out as vacant one when he was the reason.

For the second time, those aching expressions he had on his face last night, made Scarlett feel and think. She could not help but to hopelessly wonder – did she really make a mistake back then by not believing in him?

Realizing her unfounded thinking, she shook fanatically, not considering the thought of him being innocent. Dylan was proven guilty and now he is back for retribution. He is just not someone one could give forgiveness on. He is an existing devil.

Taking in a long relaxing breath, Scarlett adjusted her hair and the business skirt. Glancing at the wall clock made her immediately realize that she does not want to be late for work, all over again.

+++++

"You've met Dylan?" Scarlett was at the breakfast table with her mother, Julia, when she decided to choke her with such an unexpected question, "You knew it, yet you didn't feel the need to share this little part of alarming information?" Obviously, she was pissed.

Scarlett glanced at her. Her expressions demanded her to reply and her brows snapped together in distaste. When it came to him, all of her lovability and modesty drifted somewhere far away. She has always been so incessantly neurotic about him on her part.

She continued giving her daughter those inquiring stares as Scarlett chose to reply with a slight surrendering nod.

"I cannot believe this," her voice rose an octave and she sighed. "You hid this from me, Scarlett," Julia exclaimed, her frown getting deeper as she was gripped hard by rumbling concern. She passed Scarlett the piece of paper that described him in an article, where Dylan's tall image resided, with the honor in his hand. Scarlett's brows met the ceiling in stunned surprise upon noticing his image occupying the entire page and not to forget, the same smirk planted on his lips, that started to haunt her existence.

"Well," she cleared her throat, "I didn't want you to know about it." She responded as she twisted her eyes in anger.

Sighing, Scarlett spoke, "Look at you, you seem completely abashed and alarmed," she remarked, offering her a glass of water. She could easily tell that her temper was slowly rising as red could be seen all over her face. "I don't want you to be apprehensive about it. He was in for a reason and someday or the other; he was bound to be back." She shrugged as Julia looked at her as if she had grown two heads.

Apparently, Scarlett succeeded in showing like it was no big deal to see him again after all the years, but, Lord only knows, for her, how excruciatingly painful it had been from the inside, to see him, to talk with him and deal with his snobbish ways.

"He was a past. I have moved on and he is not going to mess it all up. I won't let him, alright." Scarlett expressed, it was more like a promise to no one but to herself. She looked at her. The worry she'd carried a while ago was slowly decreasing as she drank the glass of water in one go. She was so riled up.

Scarlett was about to leave, when her mother stopped her, "Scarlett, you're not forgiving him." It was more like an order. Her brows deformed in displeasure as she stared at her.

Giving her a patent stare, Scarlett marked her steps back towards her, "Of course not, mom. What makes you think like that?" I questioned as she sighed.

Holding her hands assuringly, she spoke in a smooth tone, "You tried your best in saving me, yet I couldn't recognize between best and worst," she shook as she placed her hand on my shoulder, looking at her softly. She continued with a casual shrug, "You know right, that I still value your wisdom and experience and I can never be grateful enough for being there always, ahead for me and no matter how big I am grown, I will always need your good advice," she paused as her mother smiled, her eyes moist as Scarlett smiled back. She continued in a quiet voice, "It was already over, long ago. I was young and immature back then to oppose you. I'm not that same child to run back into his arms after all this mess." She finished as she let out an understanding nod.

The phone on the table rang bringing them to the present. It was Aaron. Apparently, he was expected to return after a couple more days as the task is partly done there in Japan.

"Okay. I'll be waiting," Scarlett smiled as she hung up.

Later in the afternoon, there was a meeting regarding the same project with Mr. Brooks and Mr. Fintan, the replaced employee of Stevens, whom she'd fired for being reckless.
Recently, they'd discussed the expansion of online services and expanding the firm's reach in other geographical areas, other than Japan.

"In this method, there's a possibility of facing a big strategic risk as the amount of time, funds and other legal complexities are involved in taking over the other business," Mr. Fintan presented as he marked the areas where the expansion was intended. He continued, "However, if successfully implemented, then it guarantees an increased market share and we accomplish the accelerated market growth." He completed it.

"Expanding always loads risks and since we are picking for our old strategies, it might double the rate as well. All we have to carry is do thorough research and carefully plan to spot the intrinsic worth. Anticipating risks should not be ignored either. We have to manage that as well later." Scarlett completed it and everyone else seemed to be agreeing with her thoughts.

The conference ended after an hour or two and the rest of the day went just like that, which included her figuring out things and signing the folders.

Flashback:

It has been years, to count a few, since Scarlett and Dylan have known each other. It did not take long for her to fall for him. How could she not? He was a born charmer and everything about him amused the interests of her.

Nonetheless, Dylan did deprive her sometimes though, of getting her closer to him.

One evening, after college, Scarlett suggested going on an ice cream date, but being so distant, he repudiated. Later, she managed to drag him to spend a few moments as they have their favorite ice cream flavor, along with Leah and Aaron, who happens to be their best friends.

"Like seriously, Leah," Aaron made a face showing repugnance as he messed with her, "How can you settle on only that one and declare that it's the best until and except you won't try any other flavor than almond and chocolate?" He said, only to get a hard set of glares from the former making Scarlett chuckle a bit. It is only their chit chat, which keeps her away from Dylan's thoughts when they are together.

Scarlett glanced at her as her best friend pouted at Aaron. He continued having his drink. She noticed Leah staring at him fondly and that led to raising a few suspicions in her mind.

Leah continued staring at him, to the point where she was being obvious and to stop her best friend from coming out so silly, Scarlett kicked her from behind the table. She was exposed to her now.

Warily, she looked down, her cheeks deciphering her vulnerable state as Scarlett smirked. Snapping her eyes together, she silently enquired the reason behind her flushed state.

Leah's dreamy looks, however, indicated the forthcoming love story between her and Aaron. Scarlett wreathed in smiles.
"You have a lot of clarification to do later," Scarlett mouthed only to get a warning stare from her friend and this only caused the former to giggle loudly, grabbing both the boys' attention.

"You should aim to try mine too, Aaron. I'm pretty sure you'd change your flavor then after." Leah said courteously offering him her favorite flavor.

Aaron denied verbally, parting his mouth, but she was quick enough to shove the spoonful of cream inside his mouth, making him groan in displeasure. The sight of him growling noisily only made the two girls chuckle loudly.

"You're cute," Scarlett addressed her best girlfriend, making her share the looks of adoration. They have been together since they were children and they both created a good bond.

The statement only made Aaron laugh loudly as if Scarlett had just cracked the biggest ever joke. He'd never treated her like a girl. Since the beginning, they both shared a bittersweet relationship, and now, surprisingly, Leah happens to like him. She and Aaron, again engaged themselves in their never-ending banter and instantaneously, Scarlett's attention shifted to her right, where her mysterious man, Dylan was seated, carrying a uniform look in his eyes.

"Oh, lord! Why is it so difficult to understand him," she muttered, with a deep sigh.
Scarlett elbowed him only to gain a scornful look. It gave her a reason to pass him her best glare, in which she miserably failed. At least, she tried. She repeated the treatment, this time shaking him by his arm, but he being strong-willed, did not move.

It has been a month since the day, where they kissed at the backside in the log cabin and, apparently, Dylan happens to take it critically. He was not joking when he addressed kissing her as a big fault and later on, he made it seem like one either.

Although Scarlett felt he was being an absolute jerk by avoiding her she just could not appreciate the fact that he was not into her. On the contrary, she was not playing a part of an infatuated teenager, but the way he'd isolated himself and his expressions say it all. He definitely was trying hard to attain control over his emotions.

It did not take much time, for Scarlett, to realize that he is special and she cannot stop herself from being with him, but he was calculatedly drifting away and that was breaking her heart.

Apparently, she was brought out of her thoughts upon hearing her name repeatedly.

"Back to earth, Scarlett," she snapped back to the present as she found a waving Aaron in front of her eyes. Not long, they were on their way back.

"I'm hungry," Leah squealed as soon as she spotted a fast food centre.

"Jeez, you're unbelievable. You just gobbled four full scoops of that awful ice cream, Leah," Aaron ridiculed, making a face. Revealed as if he just remembered the taste of it while she'd forced him to taste it a few minutes back and it caused his admirer to hit on his arm quite loudly.

On the other side, Scarlett unhappily glanced at Dylan and his face was still void of any type of expression. His gaze was relentlessly rooted on the road in front of him as he looked totally so deep in his thoughts.

"Are you okay, Dylan?" Aaron asked, noticing his friend, who seemed to be so lost from reality?

Giving them a small nod through his rearview mirror, he dismissed talking about him. Although, his friend seemed skeptical but avoided anyway, knowing about his outlook.

Scarlett, who sat beside him, couldn't block herself from staring at the person, who managed to make her lose her mind? She did not grasp it; until Dylan pointed it out, "Stop staring, Scarlett." He countered in a clearly disturbed tone, making her shift her eyes outside the window.

She found herself again hectic with her thoughts about her disarranged time.

**********