Chapter 22
Chapter 22: Whipped
“This way, Scarlett,” Kyle said, pointing to the biggest room on the floor.
Scarlett was feeling bashful with the fact that Kaleb‘s brother, the CEO of The Wright Diamond Corporation, was walking her to
the Vice President‘s office Everyone’s eyes were staring at her, clearly speculating her identity
Eventually, they arrived at the designated room, and then Kyle pointed to the lock, saying, “You can stay in his office while
waiting for Kaleb. I already asked my assistant to bring you coffee and treats.”
“Um. Thank you, Mister.”
“Kyle, you can call me Kyle,” Kaleb‘s brother proposed. He repeated to point to the door and suggested,” Open it with your
thumb. It has your biometrics saved.”
Noticing Scarlett‘s perplexed expression, Kyle explained, “Yes, it’s a smart digital door lock. While I could open the door for you,
it’s best to understand how I am familiar with you. You see, we all know you; by face, and under the name of Beauty.”
Scarlett was taken aback at the discovery. She clarified. “By all, you mean -”
“Me, my wife, my younger sister, and her husband,” Kyle answered in a nonchalant tone. “Kaleb has yet to tell the good news to
my parents, who are currently outside the country.”
Looking at the door lock, Scarlet doubted it, but seeing the seriousness on Kyle’s face, she reluctantly did as she was told.
Putting her right thumb on the handle scanner, the door opened instantly.
Her jaws could not help but drop, her hand covered her mouth. “How did he?”
“You did not know?” Finally, Scarlett saw a smile on Kyle‘s face. He hinted, “Well, well. Looks like my brother has learned from
me.”
“Don‘t be surprised,” he added. “You are staying with him and Liam, right?”
Scarlett‘s face burned instantaneously at his words, but Kyle made her feel at ease. He stated, “I have nothing against couples
who lives together. My wife and I lived together for years before we got married. Besides, he is already in his thirties, ripe for
marriage. Don‘t you think so? He probably took your fingerprint while you were asleep.”
“Oh, well. Um. It was only a temporary arrangement,” Scarlett spoke while she gazed down at the floor.” I‘ll be moving out soon.”
“I see,” Kyle replied. “That‘s a shame. I‘ve never seen my brother so whipped. It would do him good if you stay by his side all
throughout... You know, keep him whipped.”
“I like the look on his face when he thinks of you. Whipped.” A smirk formed on Kyle‘s face when he suggested, “Tell him I said
that.”
“What?” She clarified.
“That Kaleb is whipped,” Kyle repeated. The way his eyes gleamed, Scarlett could tell Kaleb’s brother was
extremely amused. “When I met my wife, he used to tell me that. Now it‘s my turn to say it back.”
Scarlett, “...”
“Anyway, Scarlett. I have to return to my office. I have mine on the top floor,” he said. “I’ll leave you here t o wait for him.”
“Remember, tell him I said he is whipped.”
***
For the next ten minutes, Scarlett lingered inside Kaleb‘s office. She relished the cup of coffee and treats that Mark, Kyle’s
assistant, brought over.
When the waiting took longer than expected, she wound up using the ladies’ room nearest to Kyle’s office. Upon walking back,
she caught a glimpse of a man she had grown to dislike over the year.
Luca James
Scarlett quickly hid in an empty cubicle, all while listening to the fuss going about two yards from her.
“Mister Wright. Please reconsider my proposal. I don‘t understand. We are offering you the best-”
“I did not know that attorneys can be so dumb.” Scarlett heard Kaleb‘s voice. “I said... We will not work with your law firm, even if
you give us a lower fee for all the legal filings we require.”
“Leave!” Kaleb‘s voice strengthened.
Scarlett could hear Luca trying to reason with Kaleb. He countered, “But I don‘t understand -”
“Oh, you will soon know,” Kaleb said. “Now, please leave. I have more important things to do.”
From where she hid, Scarlett could make out the sound of footsteps fading out. Only then did she take a peek in the corridors.
A young man who happened to notice Scarlett said, “Ah, Miss Beauty? You can go see Mister Wright now.”
‘Why does everyone keep calling me Beauty?‘ She silently thought.
Eventually, she made it inside Kaleb‘s office, catching him by surprise.
“Kitten?” Kaleb called. He was sitting behind his desk when she entered. As he rose from his seat, his smile easily reached his
ears. “When my assistant told me that you were here, I did not believe it at first.”
“Why is everyone calling me Beauty? And how do they even know my face?” Scarlett directly asked, all while remaining to stand
behind the door. “Why do I have my fingerprints on your door scanner? And why was Luca just here?”
Kaleb’s eyes panned from left to right. He contemplated putting the blame on Liam again, but he realized he needed to be
upfront with her. It was about time. He responded, “Scarlett? Why not?”
He paced in her direction, saying, “To me, you are the most beautiful girl in the world, and I‘m proud to show you around. Beauty
was the name I gave you after my brother caught me staring at your pictures on my phone.”
Never had Scarlett seen Kaleb flush, but at that very moment, he did so thoroughly. She maintained to listen as he revealed,
“How did my assistant know about you? I sort of... saved your photo on my computer screen.”
Hearing that, her heart fluttered. ‘How cute.’
“Why do I have your fingerprints on my office door scanner? Because I wanted to show you how much I craved you in my life,
that for you, I‘ll be an open book. I meant to bring you here to the office eventually, but you beat me to it.”
“If you think it‘s strange of me, then so be it. It is my first time, seriously falling in love with a woman and s o everything is new to
me,” he said before caging her in his arms.
“As for Luca? He wanted our business, and he came to our office, offering lower acceptance fees for our
ormed. “I turned him down because I hated the fact that he hurt you. Even if your past led you to me, how I wished I could turn
back time and save you back then.”
In Scarlett’s view, everything stilled. Silence fell upon them, and she could only hear their heavy breaths.
“You love me? Already?” Scarlett asked, all while blushing at his admittance. She cared not about the news of Luca.
Resting his forehead against hers, Kaleb gulped and acknowledged, “They say love knows no time or distance and it certainly
knows no reason. So please, don‘t let me explain things, because I do not know exactly how I ended up falling for you in just a
short amount of time.”
“All I know is that... I want you so badly.”
“Wow,” Barely a whisper, Scarlett remarked. “You – you really are whipped.”
Kaleb groaned. He sought, “Please don‘t tell me my brother told you to say that.” “Okay, I won’t tell you.”