Scarlet shifted around in her bed, awoken by the sound of something dropping close by. She opened her eyes to once more be welcomed by the view of the evening sky thanks to the window perfectly placed for when she looked to the left of the bed.

Scarlet was confused by being back at home when she last remembered getting food with Ian in town after they spent most of the day buying gifts for her family and she secretly bought something for Ivy.

"Oh," she rubbed her eyes, remembering that it got too windy so they had to return. Her feet still ached from walking around too much.

Ian was unaware of the pain since she kept it a secret to continue looking around.

Scarlet looked to the right only to find the bed empty. The only place she could think Ian went to was the kitchen as he would need to prepare dinner.

Scarlet rolled to be on her back. She needed a few minutes more before she got up to join Ian. It wasn’t good that she was getting so used to lying around doing nothing. She liked to be always moving around and did not want that to change.

"The call," Scarlet whispered, realising that she failed to inform Alana they would not be returning on time.

The call needed to happen quickly as there was much for Alana to plan to make her way out of Lockwood to the family reunion. With the change in plans, Alana had to make arrangements to travel with Scarlet’s parents and she had to do so quietly to not get Luke’s attention.

Scarlet sat up. She had to find Ian first and then make the call. She had also failed to check that there was a phone here which could make a call to her estate. If not, they had to send a messenger. "What is wrong with me? I am normally more organised than this."

Two days of having a break from work had made Scarlet lose her ability to do everything as planned. Her body was enjoying the break a little too much.

Scarlet got out of bed to search for Ian.

She went down to the second floor and straight to the kitchen where a delightful smell was coming from.

Scarlet leaned on the wall, watching Ian who was so busy that he didn’t notice her. "I wonder if I should add a second kitchen to the estate since you seem to enjoy being in one. I cannot have you and the cooks bumping heads."

Ian turned around, surprised by Scarlet’s arrival. He was rushing to have their dinner done before she woke up and he was still a little off before it would be ready.

"Why are you acting like I just ruined a surprise? Was I not to come down here?" Scarlet asked, going to where Ian stood to hug him. "It smells good. You should think of adding meals cooked by you to your bar. You would have many young women running to be served by you."

"You would not be jealous?" Ian questioned though he didn’t plan to go through with Scarlet’s suggestion.

He didn’t need any more young women coming around to enjoy looking at him and filling their heads with the idea that there could be something between them all because he smiled when he served his customers.

Ian had finally managed to get away from Monica and did not need a replacement who would go to further lengths to ruin his relationship with Scarlet. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"I would," Scarlet confessed. "But then I would like to show off that you are coming home with me. You already have a lot of attention on you. It doesn’t matter that it is out that you will not be the next Lord Kingsley. If you don’t want to make use of your face, make use of Owens. Have him stand by the door to attract the young ladies who are snooping around to see you."

Ian didn’t know whether to focus on Scarlet wanting to use his face to make money or that she thought Owen was handsome. He had to get her eyes checked somehow as Scarlet was seeing wrong. "Owen will not bring any customers."

Scarlet laughed as she knew what bothered Ian. "Are you jealous that I consider him to be handsome? You cannot be so petty. I have eyes that have not failed me yet and I will not lie about how someone looks. Here I was thinking of ways for you to make use of the attention and you are pouting."

"Turn around to let me see how you look when you are jealous," Scarlet said, poking his side to tease him. "You are more handsome than anyone you have employed. Besides, I think personalities add to how someone looks and Owen is not a man I am attracted to. I only have eyes for you."

Ian grabbed Scarlet’s hand before she poked a hole through his side. "Good to know that your eyes are good. You have not been around Owen long enough to know that once he opens his mouth to start flirting all the women present will leave. If women come to my bar to see the brother of Lord Kingsley, I will stop going there during the day."

He added, "You know how the town is. Someone might want some of the spotlight and claim that we are close. I don’t want you putting up with what Monica started again."

"It will happen. I’ve already started to hear the gossip but I ignore it because I trust you. I intend to make money off of the attention that will come when our engagement is revealed," Scarlet said, letting go of Ian to no longer be in his way.

"I will host an event at the hotel and have someone from the papers come to take pictures. They may waste their time gossiping while I advertise my business. I do not mind if you do something to attract the gossiping women and men to your bar," said Scarlet.

Sometimes the attention that was placed on them could be turned to a positive if they planned right.

"My bar is fine as it is but I will take your suggestion to place Owen at the door. Maybe he will attract those with slightly bad vision," Ian joked.

"I hope for Owen to prove you wrong and make your business bloom. I must try getting a hold of Alana-"

"I’ve already taken care of that while you were asleep. You may go back to bed while I finish up our dinner," Ian said, continuing to rush to have it done faster now that she was wide awake.

Scarlet sat on the chair she used when Ian was hard at work to prepare their meals. "I will sit here and do my part by tasting and waiting to eat. It is a tiring job but I must do it."