For a moment Ace was wordless. He stared at her unbelievably and later mentally concluded it was a sensitive subject and he had to handle tactfully with the juvenile.
For once at least she should have believed her friends and calculated Carl. Within a few months she should be a certified nutritionist. But now?
Scarlet hesitated to say her dangerous truth but Ace wouldn't stop enquiring.
The cops might come and arrest her on the murder charges at any time. However, seeing the reputed man in front of her, there was a small spark of hope gradually rising in her. Probably Mr. Taylor might help her to sweep away her criminal record.
But she knew she was walking on thin ice. She least believed the man that he was not interested in sleeping with her. Thanks to her interest in reading books. The knowledge helped her now. She has read in many magazines, he is the world famous playboy. Impressing girls with his smart talk, his virile looks and bringing them to his bed is an easy play to him. Ace was a reputed man and he could at the same time be dangerous. Before he takes her to his bed and starts playing his carnal games on her she should use his reputation and get out of the mud hole she misfortunately fell into.
Her fingers played with each other in anxiety and eyes reduced to her lap. She is a murderer just at the age of twenty-one. Was Ace going to hand her to the cops by himself? How was she going to convince him, take his help financially and escape to the convent? And even if he does, will sister Mary understand and forgive her? Will she accept a sinner in God's own land?
"You killed?" Ace asked Scarlet unbelievably again.
Scarlett bit her lip in pensiveness.
The man and his daunting tone….He must be the son of Lucifer to kill people with his intimidating aura.
"I was running away from my fiancée. Last night he drank too much and started abusing me. I couldn't take up to his torture anymore. So I broke a soda bottle and hit him with it on the head. He tried to paralyze my movement trying to attack me. To make sure he doesn't come back behind me, I pummeled the broken bottle into his belly. He had no movement after that." She took a heavy breath playing with the hem of her shirt and sniffed with welling tears in her eyes.
"And most probably dead." Her last sentence was almost unheard as she shook her head in dismay.
Ace was wordless. He listened to everything Scarlett had to say in her defense. Finally much to her relief at the end he nodded and made a series of phone calls asking her to wait outside at the reception.
An hour later he called her again in his room. Taking a deep sigh he looked at her with a Tsunami of emotions Scarlet couldn't fathom. "I do not know if this is good news or bad news to you. Your fiancée isn't dead. He is very much alive and has been admitted to the hospital. The warden of your hostel was the first one to react and reach his aid. He called her through his phone and was smart to fill her ears with a story that goes against you."
Running a hand through his neatly gelled hair he sighed looking towards the ceiling. "Pursuing your education in the same college is a lost option. Even if your glimpse is found by the people there, they will immediately hand you over to the police." He circled the table and stood right in front of her leaning to his work desk and legs crossed at that ankle.
Damn it! He was a good distraction even in her most shitty state. She doesn't know whether she had to admire or curse herself for her fidgety mind.
Coming back to the present, bit by bit the information she was getting from Ace was shattering Scarlet to pieces from inside. All her thoughts were leading to a road that was meeting a dead end. Her head started to ache like someone was drilling holes into it. She rubbed the temples and asked Ace in a meek voice that could hardly be heard.
"Can you please lend me your phone just to make a call?"
Ace didn't want to intrude and give her his phone without any questions. But now that he had accepted her as his responsibility he had to ask for her own welfare. "May I know who you want to speak to?"
Why is this man always so introspective? But did she have any other way? She was dependent upon him to save her. Scarlet, use him like a smart girl that you are and escape from him never to return. - Her sanity advised.
Scarlet nodded as a reply to his question. Suddenly the sight of the floor felt more attractive to her than any place in the room as she stared at it unblinkingly. "I want to speak to sister Mary."
But will sister Mary accept Scarlet back into the convent understanding her action as a part of self-defense?
Ace was still looking at her for more information. Scarlet bit the inside of her cheek, her fury was almost crossing the border line.
"Sister Mary is like a mother to me who brought me up since the age of six when I lost my parents. I want to go back to my convent. That's the place I have grown. I am sure I could get a job there easily to earn a living."
She looked back at Ace with expectancy. "Can you arrange for me a journey back to my convent? As soon as I reach there, I will send you back the money you spent on me."
"Sure" Ace nodded to her and in response her eyes shone bright like a sun that he hadn't seen so far.
It wasn't about the peanuts he would willingly spend on her but for something else.
He couldn't send this unblemished girl to the convent without completion of her graduation. Scarlet is a determined and hardworking student. He had already got her investigated by his team. She came to Perth to study on a scholarship. Ace wanted Scarlet to realize her dream of being a nutritionist and go back to convent with a successful vision.Whatever happened in her life was not her fault and she shouldn't be forgoing her career because of a rogue who tried to cheat and use her. Teaching Carl a lesson was sure in his 'to do' list but firstly, he had to join Scarlet in a university where she should be completing her education.Her purity was a peaceful and welcoming change to him. With the passing moments, Ace was intrigued to learn more about her. The more he came to know about her, the greater was his adoration and regard
She felt the wetness between her legs. He was handsome, an Apollo dressed to kill. He had the darkest blonde hair and most beautiful green eyes that Scarlet could spend an age staring at.Ace Taylor was a man with few words and more action. He held a kind of aplomb, a grandeur with which he carried himself."Get freshen up, outfits are waiting for you there. Put the one you like and come back to my office." He cleared his throat after having a glass of water."My secretary will accompany you to the suite. You can tell her your size and she will get you your...I mean...." He trailed off so as not to make her feel uneasy.What was Scarlett going to do now? Will she accept Ace's invitation or since he is already taken man find her own way to her destination?
Tugging a pink towel around her wet body she came out of the steaming bathroom standing before the rack. After looking at the varieties of dresses, and casuals hanging before her, Scarlet could not decide on what to choose. She was speechless. If only she could afford it she wanted to buy the entire wardrobe.Little did innocent Scarlet know Ace talked to sister Mary to get her permission in bringing her with him to Pennsylvania, to pursue her education and maybe help her start a career in his concern itself. He is a renowned businessman in pharmaceuticals and nutrition is a sub branch of medicine. Employing her in his firm will not be a big deal to him and she would get a good break if she starts her career from Johnson group of Industries.How was Scarlett's life going to turn with the intervention of Ace? Will he become the knight
"Read it and you will understand. Afterward, you can sign it here." Ace points to a place with the pen and speaks to her in a care as gentle as a caress."This is an application for graduation in Home Science from the University of Pennsylvania. It is very difficult to get through here." She confirms going startled.Ace shrugs in nonchalance. "You have got some of the best grades anybody could have asked for."Scarlet stares at him unbelievably. "I applied for this university earlier too but I did not get it. Do you have anything to do here with my admission?"Ace looks down at Scarlet in an intrigued grin but then gets back to his stoical nature not speaking anything.
She had fallen in love with the right person at the wrong time. Why did she have to go drunk at the bar and meet this charismatic entrepreneur in the first place? And of all the places in Perth, why should she take refuge only under his roof. Yes, it sounds like a fairy-tale but unfortunately it is not and the reality of her life.She could not continue her education in a university where she had worked so hard to win a scholarship because of Lothario who tried to rape her. Why should she bear the brunt of actions for a crime that she has not committed? Carl is not dead. And whatever she did to him was under the grounds of self-defense. Otherwise she would have been dead today.However she also knew taking rounds of the court her hairs would turn gray but with no justice. When she needed someone's help the most, Ace
Ace grilled his words in temper. "You are not an intruder because I have willingly invited you into my home. I do not have any problem if you stay here. But if you want to go then it is your choice." He had tried enough to instill some sense in the head of an inconsistent jejune who can't even decide what dress to put on in the closet filled with dresses. Yes, his secretary informed him about Scarlett's dilemma to choose between the outfits. All these days he was trying to help her save her career by giving her an opportunity but Scarlet is not only a fool but rigid and peeve too.She nodded in understanding but her eyes like always were trained to the floor during their conversation. "Thank you."Ace pummeled his fist into the wall with anger making Scarlet flinch in fear and walked out of the place. Scarlet did not know why he was
Scarlet decided to leave Ace's home. Nevertheless, when she was acting on it a gut wrenching feeling of sadness occupied the pit of her stomach. The very origin of the thought got emptiness in her heart. This is what she wanted. Then why was she feeling sad instead of staying happy?A lone tear fell out from the corner of her eye. Scarlet gulped and quickly wiped the tear away as if it was blunder not to be committed at any cost. This was the moment of happiness, not meant for crying, she pep-talked to herself.Scarlett contemplated if she needed to inform Ace of her leaving the house but the scene that went the previous morning rehearsed in her brain. Ace almost broke the wall with anger. Her heart missed a beat with fear and she decided not to inform him of anything.
"I'm thankful to you for your benevolence and kind-heartedness in saving me from court rehearsals, hearings, and cops regarding my situation with Carl. You have given me a new life by helping me with a seat in a university many of us can only dream of. But I do not want to be a burden upon you anymore." Scarlet slightly bowed before him and resumed her task of cleaning.Ace's teeth went chitter-chatter with temper. Within a leap of her eyes he stood in front of her as dangerous as a reckoning Tsunami."What is it with you? I only told you to come home and you're giving me a lecture here." Ace wasn't accustomed to listening, he gives orders and others listen to him. Scarlet was work, the complete opposite of his female preference but he has no idea why he wanted her happy and comfortable.