A home?

"Don't give me that. You look like you haven't had a proper meal in days. What's going on?" Mario asked with a worried expression as she looks Scarlet over and over.

She had known Scarlet for a long time that she can easily tell when she is lying or probably when she is ill or worried.

For all she can remember, she had gone home in a hurry yesterday and Mario can bet a good amount that Scarlet went to bed without having dinner or better still after a despairing episode with her adoptive parents.

Her panda eyes which the makeup couldn't conceal properly also gave her away. When she called her earlier in the day, her voice was unnatural, drawled and weak as though she is under stress.

Mario stared into her face with all seriousness for a while urge yet nothing to give her away. Scarlet held her took a deep breath, her mind racing on how she will break the news.

She wanted to tell Mario everything, to unload the chaos that had upturned her life in as short as 12hours. But where would she even begin?

That she was used as a means of debt settlement with the loan sharks?

That she was now married to a man she didn't know anything about and never had an interaction with aside last night when he came to collect his debt and with the chaos she didn't get a notice of his face?

That she got to the marriage registration center and signed the marriage license without him being present?

Scarlet felt stumped to narrate her stories, "it's really baffling ", She thought.

She sighed and waved her hand dismissively. "It's nothing, really. Just family drama."

Mario wasn't convinced. She brought out the food flask in her bag and handed it to her.

"At least eat something before you pass out. Then, you're going to tell me exactly what's going on." She said.

Scarlet took the flask from her, her stomached growling in agreement. "Mar, you don't have to worry it just a family drama.".

Mario raised an eyebrow as she leaned against the desk. "You said something like that on the phone, but now that I'm seeing you in person, I have a feeling there's more to the story than just the 'family drama you mentioned.

Scarlet laughed lightly "Mar, you don't have to take it that way, it is really like I said....just...some minor issues," she continued while trying to make herself believe it is minor.

Mario scoffed. "Yes. But I will only know when you say the truth. And so, I won't let this go until you spill it."

Scarlet sighed, as she slowly unwrapped the flask and opened it, the mouth water delicacy revealing itself.

"Alright, you give me some time I will tell you, may be a in a few days. "Right now, I just need some time to breathe. Like I said, I'll be crashing at your place for a while—I need to get away and relieve some of this stress." She explained seriously.

Mario studied her for a moment before nodding. "Alright, I won't push it. But my door is open, and you're welcome to stay as long as you need."

Scarlet gave her a grateful smile. "Thanks, Mario."

"Don't thank me yet," Mario teased. "You still owe me the full story, and I'm collecting that soon and very soon."

The intercom rang disrupting the atmosphere. Scarlet picked it up "Scarlet Winter," she said as she answered it. Her tone professional.

Her eyes widened as saucers, her hand tightened against the phone, her heart beating wildly at the message passed across by the caller.

Mario seeing her countenance noticed something is wrong "Scarlet what is it?" She asked as Scarlet dropped the phone receiver on the table. Her hands trembling lightly.

"Don't scare me tell me what is wrong." Mario pressed further.

"I am to report at the President's office as his personal assistant in one hour." She narrated.

The colours drained their faces. Mario paused lightly "In one hour? What sort of internal transfer is that?" Mario questioned incredulously.

"Mario. That isn't the problem but the real problem is "It is quiet known even in the telltales that our president don't like having an assistants who are females. Why now" she queried.

"Yes, it is not just a telltales but a proven fact." Mario stated.

"Then, my bad luck. I have never seen him. I have never met him and now I have to wonder what he looked like and what sort of person he is", she mused.

Mario narrowed her eyes. "No need to fret, having worked in the company for sometime, it was never easy but you made it so this can still be so, okay?

"Do you think so?" Scarlet asked skeptically. She didn't want to think about the worst but in situations like this, you can do nothing but think of the worst case scenario.

"Of course, you are stronger than you think." Mario replied

Scarlet nodded hesitantly. She wanted to confide in Mario, but even she hadn't wrapped her head around everything. "I—I'm not sure. But I have a bad feeling about this."

While she is still standing thinking about how to go about the issue, her phone rang. It was Bryan. Her heart jumped out of her cage.

A strange sense of unease crept up her spine. She hesitated briefly before answering.

"Hello, Bryan," she said, trying to steady her shaky voice.

Bryan wasted no time in relaying his message "Miss Scarlet, Boss has refused your request to stay at your friend's place for sometime."

Her grip on the phone tightened. "What?" She queried, her tone a few decibels high.

He's instructed that you come home after work," Bryan continued, his tone firm but not unkind.

Scarlet felt a chill run through her. "Come home?" she repeated, disbelief lacing her voice.

Home?" What sort of home she contemplated briefly before sighing in resignation.

"Yes," Bryan confirmed. "The car will be ready anytime you call me okay? He asked.

Scarlet sucked in a sharp breath. Her mind raced with anxiety and trepidation.

Scarlet bit her lower lip, frustration bubbling inside her. "Fine,"

Scarlet ended the call and exhaled slowly, pressing a hand to her forehead.

Mario, who had been listening closely, raised a brow. "So? What home? What pick up?"

Scarlet let out a dry laugh. "Apparently, I have a home now. A home I didn't choose."