Dangerous Desire The CEO’s Hidden Woman

“Saudi Arabia?” Scarlett stared at Dan in shock. “Are you asking me to go with you?”

It had been three weeks since the semester had started. Scarlett went to school as usual to take the all-important Russian newspaper reading and analysis course. Dan waited for her outside the classroom to inform her of his fieldwork trip to Saudi Arabia.

“Yeah. I think it’s a great opportunity. You’re the only person I know who can speak Arabic properly. It would be so great to have you on our team. And I guess you’re not too busy this semester, right? You’ve only got a couple of classes, and Professor Kroll just asked for a month-long leave, so it really seems like perfect timing to me.” Dan adjusted his glasses and looked at her excitedly.

“I mean, yeah, I guess… But it’s Saudi Arabia…”

“We’ve got full support from a famous local research institute, and they said that they’d provide us with all the necessary knowledge throughout the project. You don’t have to worry about safety problems. And anyway, we’ve got six men on our team. You don’t think we can protect you, girls?” Dan grinned and said confidently.

“Oh, okay. Then, that’s… good.” Scarlett was seriously considering Dan’s invitation.

“Think about it. You don’t have to make a decision now.”© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“Yeah, I’ll definitely think about it and let you know.” Scarlett nodded.

“This is a rare and important opportunity. If you’re applying for graduate school, then a one-month field study experience in Saudi Arabia will give you more insight and practical research skills. And if you want to hunt for a job right after graduation, I bet the experience would look really good on your resume.” Dan looked at her and said sincerely.

“Hmm, okay, you make some valid points there. Count me in for now, and I’ll tell you my final decision by this weekend. Alright, Dan?” Scarlett was still a little hesitant.

“Okay, that sounds good. I really hope you can join our team and come along with us.”

Scarlett bid Dan goodbye Dan and walked into the classroom. She could hardly pay attention in her Russian class that day because she was lost in thought about the whole Saudi Arabia fieldwork trip that Dan had just told her about.

When she walked out of the school after class, she was still lost in thought, so she didn’t notice a beautiful lady who was walking straight towards her.

“Miss Morris?” Vivian Patel stopped and stood in her way.

“Oh, hello.” The sudden appearance of Vivian took Scarlett aback, but she tried to keep calm.

“I’m Francis Sandler’s ex-wife. You can call me Vivian. Nice to meet you.”

Scarlett couldn’t tell if there was hostility or kindness, or both, in her smile. So she plastered on a fake smile and greeted her back.

“Are you available for a coffee, Scarlett? It would be great if we could have a little talk. What do you think?” asked Vivian.

“Oh, of course.” Scarlett was not surprised in the least. She knew that this face-to-face confrontation would come one day after the first time she met Vivian at the office.

“We met at the T. B. S. Empire office last week, do you remember?” Vivian sat opposite Scarlett on a cozy round sofa but kept an upright and elegant posture. She always looked great wearing a black dress.

Scarlett took a sip of coffee and smiled brightly. “Of course. I told Chuck how gorgeous I think you are.”

“Chuck, yes, I was angry at him because he didn’t even introduce you to me! And thank you for your compliment, Scarlett. You’re so young and pretty. I think Francis changed his taste for women again,” she chuckled. “You’re definitely the youngest girl he has ever dated.”

Now Scarlett could tell there was obviously irony and hostility in her words.

“Oh, really? I didn’t know, and I never asked. If it’s not a problem for him, then it’s not a problem for me.” She didn’t even know what she was talking about. But Miss Vivian seemed to be startled by her words.

“Yeah, age shouldn’t be a problem. But to tell you the truth, I wouldn’t choose such an old man if I was your age. You must have so many, don’t you?” She cackled again.

“Thank you for sharing your ideas and values with me. But it’s just not the case for me.” Scarlett started to feel that there was nothing to be afraid of.

“Haha…” Vivian laughed awkwardly. “So, how long have you been in a relationship with Francis?”

“Six months? Five months? Sorry, I don’t remember the exact date we agreed to get into a relationship.” Scarlett stirred the coffee in her cup.

“Oh, you don’t remember?” Vivian looked quite surprised.

She thought of the days when she was with Francis. She had been like a lovesick puppy in those days; she used to write long journal entries about every memory she had shared with Francis. She had been very meticulous about documenting every significant event.

That’s why she was shocked and even indignant to know that the girl in front of her, Francis’s current girlfriend, didn’t even remember how long they had been together. She simply could not fathom it.

“You know,” she cleared her throat, “I just thought we could meet up today so I could treat you to a coffee and have a casual talk with you. Seriously, I have no intention to cause any troubles in your relationship or anything. But you’re still a very young and pretty girl, and I believe it’s still a precarious and volatile situation, isn’t it?” Vivian smirked and said.

“I’ve got an appointment later, so I actually gotta go. It’s good to have talked to you today, Scarlett. See you.” She didn’t wait for Scarlett’s response before getting up, leaving her spot, and walking out of the café.

Scarlett glanced at Vivian as she walked away and breathed a long sigh of relief. Though her last few words were still ironic and offensive, the talk, in general, was much more peaceful than she had expected.

She spent another ten minutes in the coffee shop until she felt a sharp pain in her abdomen. She thought she’d better go home, so she stood up and left.

“Hey, Bell… Chinese hot pot? Oh, no, no, I’ve got a stomach ache.” She got a phone call from Bell as she walked to the main street.

“I’m fine, I’m fine. Maybe it’s because I drank too much coffee… Enjoy yourselves!”

“Are you going to your boyfriend’s house again? Scarlett, I’m warning you, if you don’t tell me who exactly your boyfriend is, I hope you don’t get too surprised when I stalk you and appear outside your window in the middle of the night!” Bell roared on the other side of the phone.

“Alright, alright. Calm down, honey. I promise you will be the first to know, okay? Anyway, I really gotta go. Now my stomach really hurts.” Scarlett got into a taxi with the intensifying ache.