Let Me Go, Mr. Howard Chapter 58

Emma's entrance with Scarlett caused quite a stir.

The sliding glass door to the design department clattered open loudly, drawing curious glances from around the office.

"Everyone, this is Scarlett Seymour, a designer personally hired by Mr. Watson," Emma announced, her gaze sweeping across the room with professional detachment.

Scarlett offered a polite smile. "Hello, everyone."

A few scattered responses came back before everyone quickly returned to their work, seemingly uninterested in their new colleague. 

Emma didn't allow time for socializing either, promptly leading Scarlett out of the general office area and down the hallway to the right.

They entered an open space with a secretary's desk at the entrance. The further they went, the more confused Scarlett felt, especially when they approached a door labeled "Director's Office."

She frowned. "Ms. Redd, are we going the wrong way?"

Emma, already pushing open the door, turned back. "No, this is your office."

"Mine?" Scarlett peered inside at the enormous space, large enough to be divided into distinct zones, including a dedicated relaxation area.

Emma maintained her expressionless demeanor. "Yes. If you have any questions, you can ask Mr. Watson directly." 

She noticed Scarlett shifting her weight uncomfortably. "Ms. Seymour, if you're tired, please feel free to rest. The tour can wait until later."

Scarlett brightened immediately. "Great, thank you!"

"Your secretary will arrive before the afternoon," Emma added, her lips pressing into a thin line at Scarlett's smile.

"That's not necessary. I don't need a secretary," Scarlett waved dismissively.

Emma adjusted her glasses. "This is Mr. Watson's arrangement."

"Alright then." Scarlett nodded, knowing better than to make things difficult for someone just doing their job.

Emma closed the door. "I'll be going now."

The moment Emma returned to the general work area, she found a crowd already gathered by the entrance, immediately bombarding her with questions.

"She's so young for a special hire! Which university did she graduate from?"

"Beautiful AND talented? What door did God close to balance out all these gifts?"

"Emma, do you think she might be Mr. Watson's little girlfriend?"

"Oh god, yes! If she's his girlfriend, please don't let her be another clueless pretty face. I can't have my designs deleted again!"

Emma calmly adjusted her glasses. "I don't have her university information, but with looks like that, she's certainly Mr. Watson's type."

The crowd collectively gasped.

"So a pretty face again? Wonder what disaster will have to happen before she leaves."

"Please, I'm begging—let her at least know which keys not to press this time."

Their complaints grew louder until Orion's voice cracked like thunder in a clear sky, "Everyone seems to have a lot of free time. Has the weekly deadline been met?"

The space instantly fell silent as everyone scattered, pretending nothing had happened.

"Mr. Watson," Emma said calmly, about to hand him her report when Orion waved it away, heading purposefully toward Scarlett's office.

The staff watched through the glass doors, exchanging doomed glances that all communicated the same thought: She really was his new lover!

Emma briefly glanced at them before ascending the spiral staircase in the center of the lobby.

Orion knocked on the office door.

"Come in," Scarlett called from inside.

"Ms. Seymour, settling in alright?" Orion smiled as he entered, thoughtfully leaving the door slightly ajar.

Scarlett noticed the partially open door, her opinion of him improving. "Everything's great, Mr. Watson though I wasn't expecting such premium treatment from you." 

She had spent four years climbing the ladder at the Howard Group to reach a director position, yet here at MRK, she'd been given the title on day one. The pressure was real.

"You deserve it," Orion replied without hesitation.

As they sat in the lounge area, Orion raised an eyebrow. "If my intelligence is correct, you were already a Design Director at the Howard Group."

Scarlett met his gaze directly, with earned confidence. "That's correct."

Orion spread his hands, his meaning couldn't be clearer.

"I understand," Scarlett said. When someone showed this level of trust in her abilities, she wasn't about to downplay her expertise.

Seeing the ambition in her eyes, Orion nodded and stood. Just before reaching the door, he paused. "By the way, I have a project for you—the design for the City Complex Building."

Scarlett's eyebrows lifted slightly. She'd heard about plans for that building during a phone call with Sebastian, but hadn't expected MRK to secure the project.

"Understood," she accepted without hesitation.

"I'll have someone bring over the details. You might want to visit the site today. I can have a driver take you."

"That's not necessary. I can take a cab," Scarlett declined, not wanting to stand out too much.

"That works too. We'll reimburse you."

The news quickly spread through the general office area. The Integrated Design Department was filled with talented individuals, each capable of leading major projects independently—precisely why the Director position had remained vacant. 

No one could accept anyone else taking the role, yet now it had been given to someone they perceived as the boss's lover who had parachuted in from nowhere.

And now, their major project was being handed over to this supposed girlfriend. Their resentment was palpable.

"When we take the project documents over, will she even understand them?" grumbled the person responsible for delivering the files, eyeing the USB drive skeptically.

Someone nearby handed over another drive. "Bring an extra copy of the drawings too, in case she deletes them."

Others looked up. "It's just a formality. This project is too expensive—Mr. Watson wouldn't be foolish enough to let her actually run it."

"True. I heard the Howard Group was also competing for this project. If Mr. Watson managed to snatch it from them, he must have put in significant effort. He wouldn't let her mess it up."

Once both USB drives were copied, the staff member finally headed toward Scarlett's office.

When he knocked, Scarlett was watering the plants on the flower stand. With nothing else to do and not wanting to venture out, she'd found something to occupy herself.

"Ms. Seymour," the man called from the open doorway.