Scarlett couldn't sleep.
Her mind was racing after the shadow after realizing someone had stood outside her door watching her
She pondered on the conversation she had with Michael as well
By morning, she had already made up her mind
She couldn't wait as she would also try to watch back
Three days later, she slipped out again
She stood beside the bench this time with her arms folded as her eyes were fixed on the empty road ahead
"You're starting to become an expert with the way you are sneaking behind", a voice came
Scarlett didn't turn immediately
"Well, I get used to everything especially when I want to get results", she replied
Michael stepped in front of her
"You came early", he said
"And you came very late", she countered
"That's fair", he said with a faint smile
He brought out his tablet behind him
Scarlett collected it from him as her eyes moved quickly across the screen
Her expression changed slightly as she went through the numbers
"They've increased the flow", she said
"Well, that's because they are getting confident", Michael replied sharply
"I don't think so. I think they are getting protection", she said as she shook her head
Scarlett looked up at him
"Confidence doesn't just come from somewhere. Someone is covering up for them", she continued
Michael looked at her carefully
"Are you sure it's internal?"
Scarlett gave him a look
"You already can sense it as well, can't you?"
There was a pause
Michael slid his hands into his pockets
"Why aren't you even surprised?", he asked
"That's because I focus on patterns and movements not surprises", she replied sharply
"And what does the pattern say?" he asked
Scarlett stepped forward slightly
"They are testing their limits and trying out with small movements first then watching their reactions", she thought aloud
She turned as she looked at him
"And when nothing happens, they move forward"
"So you are saying the real move hasn't happened yet?", Michael asked
Scarlett nodded once "Not yet"
"You're calm about all these", he said
Scarlett looked at him curiously
"Because it doesn't really concern me"
Michael raised his head slightly
"It doesn't concern you?"
"No, it doesn't because I am far ahead of all of these", she said
"Hmmmmn….. I believe you", he chuckled
Scarlett took a look at the screen again
"But hold on a minute. These transfers aren't just about transfers. They are also looking out for response time", she said
Michael looked at her curiously
"Are you saying they are trying out the system to see who reacts and who doesn't?"
"I mean they are seriously studying people", Scarlett corrected instantly
Michael moved forward slightly
"What's your plan?"
Scarlett handed the tablet back to him
"I don't plan on doing anything"
He frowned
"What do you mean you aren't planning on doing anything?"
"Thats exactly what I mean. I will let them continue, then I will react", she said
Michael looked at her
"Are you serious?"
"I am very serious. They will expose themselves that way. People get very careless when they feel they aren't being watched" she said
Michael nodded slowly
"You're taking too much risk"
His eyes stayed on her longer this time
"You're not what I expected at all. You're very different from the Maguires", he said quietly
"Point of correction. I am a Maguire. And you don't know me well enough to expect anything", she replied
"Maybe I want to know more about you", he said lightly
Scarlett didn't react
"This is business and we must keep it that way", she said
Michael smiled faintly
"Oh! Of course it's business"
He paused slightly
"But still you make it very interesting", he continued
Scarlett turned immediately as she ignored him
"Next time, come with the complete transactions", she said
"It wasn't easy getting these. I don't think it would be easy to get what you just asked for", he replied
"Well, if it's not easy, then it will be easy to lose control of Gerard industries", she said sharply
Michael exhaled quietly
Scarlett started walking away
"Scarlett", he called out
She didn't turn as she stopped
"Be careful. Don't forget the leak is internal", he said
It made her look back slightly as she wondered why he was concerned about her
"Thank you", she said as she walked off
Back at the mansion, Jude was waiting nervously
Scarlett stepped in majestically with measured steps as she spotted him immediately
"You have been walking around lately", he said
"But I'm not fragile and I can walk around anytime I like", she said without blinking
Jude looked at her
"You collapsed three days ago, Mrs Maguire"
"Scarlett, you mean to say. And I am standing now as you can see", she said sharply
Jude stepped closer after a while
"Where did you go?"
Scarlett looked him directly in the eyes
"I went out", she giggled
"Out where?"
"Why do I feel like I am a criminal and you are interrogating me?"
"I'm only asking a question"
"And I just gave you an answer. I went out", she said sharply
There was silence immediately
Jude looked at her carefully
"Well, you don't usually just go out, that's why I asked", he said
Scarlett didn't blink
"Maybe you haven't been paying attention. Well, why would you need to",
Jude reached out for her wrist
Scarlett wasn't shocked as she just stood still
"Next time, inform me before you leave this house", he said quietly
Scarlett looked down at his hand, then back at him
"Why will I do that?"
Jude was still holding on to her wrist
"Because I want to know where you go to", he said
Scarlett's eyes opened brightly
"I guess you forgot the clause in the contract that says, you won't restrict me and I will live on my own terms as long as it isn't public", she replied
His grip tightened a little
"Then that will be a problem that I will need to solve"
Their eyes met
Then Scarlett gently pulled her hands free as the tension grew
"I guess you aren't serious about finding your missing files. I think you should focus on that" she said
"And you should stop making yourself hard to find", he replied
She ignored him as she walked past
Jude turned and watched her as she walked
Later that night, Scarlett stood in her room as she went through the numbers she saw earlier on Michael Gerard's tablet
She felt something just wasn't through man, right
A soft knock was felt on her door
Scarlett turned her head slowly
"Come in"
A member of staff stepped in slowly with her head slightly lowered
"My lady ….. You have a package"
Scarlett lifted her head slightly
"A package? At this hour?"
"Yes, my lady"
"So, who sent it?" Scarlett asked sharply
The staff held back slightly
"It wasn't stated on it"
Scarlett was irritated
"Hand it over to me"
She looked at it carefully. There was no label, no sender's name only her name
She lifted the lid off the package and brought out a single sheet of paper
Scarlett unfolded it carefully
Her eyes went through the first line then she stood still completely
Written on the paper were the same account codes from the envelope
Her grip was tight around the paper
She turned her head slowly
The staff was still standing there watching
Scarlett's eyes locked into them
"So, which delivery company delivered this?"
The staff hesitated slightly
"I, I, I, didn't see" she stuttered
"Will you look at me when you answer me?", Scarlett cut in sharply
The staff raised her head instantly and looked at Scarlett
Scarlett didn't see fear or confusion
She saw something else on the staff's face like the staff already knew what Scarlett was holding
Scarlett moved closer to her
"Is this your first time delivering something ... to my room?"