Third Person's POV

Calix was transfixed.

He knew Scarlett loved her job and was passionate about it but seeing her in action unlocked a whole new perspective into her as a person.

He had returned from Greece late Monday afternoon but unfortunately just missed Scarlett who had flown to California to represent someone. Now that the case had closed she had flown back. But before he could even see her she had to be in court once again for another trial.

That's how he found himself watching her debate with another lawyer. Her replies were always quick and well thought out like she had thought about every possible scenario and question and knew exactly how to answer each one of them. Calix noticed how the opposing lawyer was getting irritated at how Scarlett was clearly winning but even from him Calix could see the respect.

Everyone was transfixed with her, how she held herself with poise and grace but at the same time was able to completely demolish her opposition.

It was no surprise when Scarlett ended up at the top of the trial and even though Calix knew Scarlett had won a million of these he could see her eyes brought from all the way across the room like it was the first time she had ever won. This just proved that she poured the same amount of time and effort into every case and it was what was making her New York's top attorney.

Calix waited at the back watching her client thank her with tears in his eyes. She had a couple short conversations with a couple other people. A smile lifted onto Scarlett's face as she walked towards Calix and that made his heart start racing. She looked just as beautiful as she always did, a brown suit adorned her figure, a white shirt hiding under it. Her hair was tied up making her facial features stand out even more than they did on a regular basis.

"Hey." Scarlett whispered to him once she was close enough to him.

"Hi." Calix whispered back, a smile rising at the corners of his mouth. The courtroom was now clearing out quickly so they kept their voices down so their conversation wouldn't echo around the room allowing everyone to hear their exchange. "You want to get out of here?"

"Please." Scarlett breathed out and it was then Calix could hear the exhaustion in her voice. She hadn't shown an ounce of weakness minutes before standing before a couple hundred people defending someone's integrity but she had felt comfortable enough to let her guard down before him and Calix Theodore Radcliff was truly honoured.

Scarlett grabbed her bag and together the two walked out together. Like there always was when there was a big court case, any case Scarlett handled, there were paparazzi littered everywhere and the two had to try their hardest to keep their faces emotionless and get through the crowd without causing a fuss.

There was a saying that any publicity was good publicity but not in this situation.

Reputations are fragile things and Scarlett had been building up hers for many years. She didn't want it to crumble down for something that could have been avoided entirely.

Calix normally wouldn't care how he's perceived by the media. He had been in this life since the day he was born. But because of the court case he wanted to keep his appearance as pristine as he possibly could.

But even though the pair weren't doing anything special the photographers went crazy. Both adults were infamous in their own way. But what really drove the paparazzi wild was that they were together. Neither Calix nor Scarlett had ever been photographed with a possible significant other but the pair had been seen together not once but twice together.

This was definitely going to be headlining magazines in the morning.

The two continued their walk to the awaiting car, Calix holding open the door for Scarlett before rounding the car and sliding into the back seat beside her. And even though the bright flashes of cameras still were aimed in their direction no one could see them through the tinted windows leaving both Scarlett and Calix to relax their demeanours.

"Are we still going to meet the others?" Scarlett asked, they had made plans with all their friends plus Everett since it had been a while since they had all hung out together."

"Yeah, Si texted me a bit ago saying they were all there and waiting for us." His head turned so he could see Scarlett's profile. He was watching her stare out the window taking in the familiar streets. Calix could see the faint lines of tiredness on her face, as she blinked her pale grey eyes for longer than she normally did. "I can take you home if you would prefer that, Angel. We can always reschedule with the others."

"No." Scarlett shook her head. "I'm fine, my head's a little busy that's all."

"Sure?" Calix just double checked, he knew how exhausting travelling for work was, it was draining and you felt like you never stopped.

"I'm sure."

The ride wasn't long after that, the group had chosen an outdoors restaurant so Rhett could play while they chatted. It was a new restaurant and it hadn't been open very long so it wasn't a popular spot just yet. The only reason the group knew about it was because Imogen lived close by and had seen the signs up for their opening.

"Aunt Lettie." Blonde curls flew at her like they always did whenever the boy saw her. Whether it had been a couple days or just a few hours the enthusiasm never left.

"Hey bub." Scarlett scooped the boy up, setting him on her hip and peppered kisses to his cheeks making him squeal in delight.

"Hi Cal." The two were now acquaintances to one another and Everett was very much in awe of the man. He thought Calix was some sort of superhero, and maybe in some way he was, after all he had saved Scarlett.

"Hey champ." Rhett giggled as Calix fist bumped him, a small smirk rising onto Calix's face.

Greetings were quick, and soon Scarlett found herself sitting between Quinn and Calix, opposite Imogen and Silas as the group waited for their food to come out.

"So what's everyone's plans for the next few weeks, is anyone travelling?" Imogen asks the group as all of them had spent the last few weeks flying to different parts of the world.

"I don't know, I have a couple vacation days I want to use before Calix's court case since that's the only thing on my plate at the moment and I've already prepped as much as I can."

"Good, great." Imogen nodded and looked at the other's who all shrugged at her. "My parents have this vacation home in Florida but they're so busy working they haven't had the time to use it. They've given me free rein of it and I was wondering if you want to go there for a couple of days and make it a group thing."

"Sounds fun." Quinn agreed. "My parents have been wanting to take Everett for a couple days with them to Disneyland anyway so I have free time."

"I'd love to." Scarlett agreed.

Silas looked over at Calix from where he sat, an arm wrapped around Imogen. "Boss?"

Calix rolled his eyes at the term but nodded. "Well all be there, Imogen."

Gen grinned widely and the five of them continued finalising details about dates and plans. Scarlett was talking along before she saw something out of the corner of her eyes, rather a group of people.

A group she would have happily not seen for the rest of her life. "Oh shit."

She sank down further into Calix so she wouldn't be spotted and the group looked confused for a second, only Quinn catching on as he spotted the group as well. He repeated Scarlett's words exactly. "Oh shit. Do you think they'll recognise us?"

Scarlett looked at her best friend incredulously. "It's been three years, not thirteen, Quinton." He narrowed his eyes at her for the name but they both had bigger things to think about. "Where's Rhett?"

Their eyes both went towards the playground where Everett was playing with a couple other kids, looking like he was enjoying himself, so even though they kept a closer eye on him they let him be.

"Umm, what's going on?" Silas asked, the other three at the table were extremely confused seeing two of the most calm and collected people freaking out, and about what they had no idea.

"No time to explain, we'll tell you later." Quinn answered, catching sight of the group heading towards them. Like a flip was switched Scarlett and Quinn both sat up and held their heads high. They were in control and it just made the group approaching wearier.

"Quinn, Scarlett. It's been a while." A woman with dark hair and striking green eyes greets them, another woman and two men trailing after her.

"It sure has been Hayley." Quinn answers and turns to the people behind her. "Derek, Ryan, Selene."

As hard as he tried, Quinn couldn't keep the slight disapproval when he said the last two names. Scarlett grabbed his hand under the table as comfort for both of them.

"What are you guys doing in town, last I heard you had left the state?" Scarlett asks, taking a sip of her wine, subtly.

"Keeping tabs on us, Red?" Calix narrowed his eyes on the light brown haired man, who Quinn had addressed as Ryan, especially when he noticed Scarlett's hand tighten around her glace in both discomfort and annoyance.

"And why would I do that Ryan?" No one at the table had ever heard Scarlett speak anything but extremely politely. Even when she was dealing with the most difficult clients she always maintained a calm front, so to hear her speaking condescending to someone with a glare on her face which depended even more when it landed on the last woman who seemed to be hiding behind the two males. "If all you wanted was a greeting then I suggest you leave now."

"But...." The woman, Selene, finally had the courage to seek up but she was interrupted.

"Dad." Everett giggled, running up to the group and right into his father's lap, oblivious to the obvious tension surrounding the table.

Oblivious to the four gasps that rang out when the group saw him.

Alright I finally finished a chapter. I've been so busy and have had no motivation to write but I've slowly been working on this.

Next chapter should be very interesting, any guesses on what's happening?

I've been wanting to read the Addicted/Calloway series but I don't know whether I should listen to the audiobook or just read it. Any opinions.

Also if any of you are interested in being a beta reader or someone I can bounce idea's off of for all my current and future books, or even of you just want to be friends I would love for you to dm me on her or on instagram @arabernice. 

Please don't forget to vote and comment

Ara <3