Let Me Go, Mr. Howard Chapter 51

Scarlett carefully examined the employment contract Orion had handed her.

"Scrutinizing it so carefully—don't you trust me?" he asked, resting his chin on his hand with an amused smile.

"Mr. Watson, we only met yesterday," she replied without looking up.

Orion raised an eyebrow and drew out a long "Oh," then fell silent until she finished reviewing.

"The contract looks fine. Your generosity is quite surprising," Scarlett said, setting down the papers.

"Of course. How else could I win you over?" Orion's expression remained unchanged despite the deliberate intimacy in his tone.

Scarlett ignored his flirtation. "Will I start officially tomorrow?" She picked up the pen, hovering it over the start date.

Orion glanced at her phone, which kept receiving messages. "Whenever you've handled your personal matters. The start date is at your discretion."

Scarlett followed his gaze, her expression cooling momentarily as she flipped her phone face-down. "Then I'll start tomorrow."

After signing both copies of the contract, Orion noticed Scarlett's increasingly irritated expression as she checked her phone again. "If something's troubling you, I could help."

Scarlett immediately masked her emotions with a polite but distant smile. "Family matters. No need to trouble you, Mr. Watson."

Though curious, Orion didn't push. "Alright, I'll be going then."

They walked out of the café together and immediately ran into Sebastian.

"If it isn't Mr. Howard!" Orion greeted him, deliberately raising his voice. "How does someone so busy find time to come here?"

Scarlett hadn't noticed Sebastian until she heard Orion's voice. When their eyes met, she felt inexplicably guilty and lowered her head.

"Naturally, I'm here to discuss business. Have you forgotten, Mr. Watson?" Sebastian replied calmly after his gaze lingered briefly on Scarlett.

Orion stepped forward to put his arm around Sebastian's shoulder, but Sebastian dodged the gesture with a warning look.

"My, you're so unfriendly," Orion withdrew his hand. "We have a business relationship—why so distant?"

Sebastian ignored his complaint and fixed his gaze on Scarlett again. Sensing his stare, she looked up, guilt intensifying yet also feeling an inexplicable confidence that made her lift her chin slightly.

"Are you close?" Sebastian asked with the hint of a smile.

Before Scarlett could answer, Orion chimed in. "Of course we are! Why else would Ms. Seymour accept my request?"

"Oh? Is that so?" Sebastian chuckled, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Hearing his soft laugh, Scarlett tensed up. She swallowed hard and forced a smile. "Mr. Watson, MRK is an industry leader. Anyone with sense wouldn't refuse."

Her words contradicted Orion's claim about their closeness, clarifying that their relationship was merely professional. But Sebastian didn't respond, continuing his conversation with Orion as if she wasn't even there.

Scarlett pressed her lips together, a bitterness rising in her heart. His complete dismissal had made her explanation seem like a joke.

She tried to slip away quietly but after just a few steps, Sebastian called out to her.

"Ms. Seymour."

She turned to look at him. Sebastian was holding a cigarette—not his usual brand, apparently one Orion had offered.

"Go apologize to Edith," he said, his eyes containing an implicit warning.

Scarlett glanced at Orion, embarrassed by his direct stare. Resentment swirled within her as she bit her lip. "I wasn't wrong. She was the one who—"

"Go apologize." Sebastian's tone remained cold and merciless.

The bitterness in Scarlett's heart intensified, but her stubbornness remained. She said nothing, simply turning and walking away.

Sebastian watched her leave without calling her back, the cigarette in his hand crushed beyond use.

"Mr. Howard, you certainly have a hard heart," Orion remarked.

Sebastian glanced at him and tossed back the ruined cigarette. "If you have this much free time, perhaps you should focus on our collaboration."

---

Scarlett walked quickly, eager to escape her humiliation. As she stood waiting at a bus stop across the street, a black Audi A6 silently glided to a stop in front of her.

Looking up, she immediately locked eyes with Mark inside. She frowned and stepped back, recalling Sebastian's instructions. She could easily guess why Mark was here—Sebastian must have sent him to take her to apologize to Edith.

She gave a soft, contemptuous snort and turned away in disgust.

But Mark neither got out nor drove away. He simply stared at her.

The bus arrived behind the Audi but couldn't pull in because the car was blocking the way. A series of horn blasts filled the street, drawing complaints from people nearby.

Scarlett pressed her lips together and looked at Mark again. His expression remained composed, as if he couldn't hear the horns. 

She couldn't ignore them though—Mark had parked with remarkable precision directly in front of her, and all the bystanders were now looking in her direction.