Scarlett Vanderburg's POV

"You going to your parents for dinner?" Mer asks stepping into my office, since the night I had been there two weeks ago they had requested to host dinner at their place. At a glance, people would think my parents were pushing me to rekindle with my siblings but they were doing the opposite, they were showing off how much better I was doing in life. They hadn't seen any of it the night I went but Kaitlyn saw a glimpse of me when I went to the office.

The weeks had seemed to fly by. I had been loaded with work like I always was but it felt a lot easier because of a specific dark haired neighbour.

I never thought I would be friends with Calix when we first met. I was intimidated by him, something that I never am but after getting to know him I've learned what a teddy bear the man is. He is so sweet and thoughtful with the smallest of things. When we're both home in the evening one of us goes to the other place and we sit and do paperwork while talking and then in the mornings when I don't go play tennis with Quinn he comes on a run with me or we go to the gym together then have breakfast on the roof.

I feel like I've been living a dream.

"Yeah." I sigh, it's Wednesday dinner at my parents. "You coming?"

"Of course, I might be running a little bit late but I'll be there okay?"

"Okay." My phone buzzed and I stood up clutching my purse. "I'm heading to the court house."

"Good luck baby." I lean down and kiss her cheek then head to the waiting car.

When the trial is dismissed I'm feeling annoyed. I know I did everything right but I know I still don't have the jury on my side, but it only means I need to prepare even more for the next court date. I tell Ben to take me to my penthouse so I can get dressed for dinner, but I'm so lost in my thoughts trying to find a solution that I don't notice someone coming towards me and I bump into them with my files and hand bag falling.

"Careful there, Angel." A smooth voice says and I look out, encountering worried obsidian eyes. Calix helps me gather up my things then directs me to my private elevator. "Are you okay, Scarlett?"

I take a deep breath letting myself breathe for a second, feeling the ascent of the elevator. "I think I am, I'm just tired and it's only Wednesday."

Calix still looks worried. "Don't worry about me, Cal. I just had a hard trial and I need to figure out how to change the jury's mind so my client wins and I feel like I just need a nap."

"So why don't you?"

"I wish I could, but it's Wednesday, meaning dinner with the parents." I had briefly explained my situation to Calix, not mentioning that my siblings supposedly put me in Atkins, or well they think Juvie or that they work for them but he does know I got into trouble and Mer helped me and I took on her name even though my biological parents are perfectly fine.

The elevator dings open and I step out, Calix a few steps behind me. I throw my bag on the couch. "Wait for me a second, yeah. I just need to change out of these deathtraps."

He glances down at my heels with a frown, probably wondering how he could make them more comfortable for me. The man might call me Angel but he truly was one. I take the few floors up to my bedroom. I didn't mind heels, in fact I loved them and the collection I had collected over the years along with my bags but being on my feet for hours on end in them is not something I can even enjoy.

Instead of just changing my shoes I put on a more comfortable outfit as well. Maybe dinner will be easier if I didn't wear a pencil skirt.

"That looks comfortable." Calix notices when I walk back down. I do a twirl showing off my white wool tights. I then dug through my kitchen drawer looking for a hair clip and as I was about to clip my hair a body came up behind me. "May I?"

I look at him confused for a second but he gestures for the hair clip in my hand. I pass it to him and so carefully Calix sections my hair and clips it back for me. The action was so small but felt so intimate that it couldn't help but leave me feeling breathless.

"There." He whispers. I turned around but since he hadn't moved back we were standing extremely close to one another. Since I was a lot shorter than he was, but his head was tilted upwards and he was turned down. Our eyes held each other's and it felt like electricity was building up between us. My phone dinged, breaking whatever was happening between us and I looked at it , making Calix take a step back.

"I have to go, my parents' place is pretty far." My tone was regretful.

"Drive safe, Angel. And when you get home and feel like company my door is open, okay?"

"How do you know anyways?" I ask, tonight was different when meeting my siblings because it was actually planned but he didn't know anything about it.

"I don't know, it seems you and I just seem to know each other."

"Yeah." Then I lean up on my toes and press a kiss to his cheek like he had done to my hand a couple of weeks ago and many times since then. He looked shocked for a second but I turned away before I could see his full reaction. "See you later, Cal."

♦

This was a bad idea, why did I ever think having dinner with my siblings was a good one? I knew why, because I adore my parents and will do anything to please them even if that means having a meal with the last people I would like to.

I sigh and hop out of my Ferrari, Tristan sees me and his eyes widen. He takes in me than my car and looks back to me. He opens his mouth to say something but I push past opening the front door this time without knocking.

"Mom, Dad." I shout.

"They had to run to the store to pick up some things." Hadlee tells me. "They said to tell you they'll be back in like twenty minutes."

When my phone rings I welcome the escape from the silence that I had been left in. All four of them were staring at me like I was a zoo animal. I see my assistance name on my screen and normally I wouldn't answer after I finish work for the day but I didn't want to sit here.

"Good Evening Demi." I listen to her tell me the updates that have happened since I left the office. I sat on my parents couch leaning my head back as her voice filled my ears. It wasn't anything important, stuff I already knew or could predict. "Oh by the way, I need to have a meeting with Calix Radcliff tomorrow at four-thirty so please block off my slot please."

"Oooh." Demi teases and I roll my eyes. Her, Imogen and the other assistants at the office were having fun teasing me when they saw Calix kiss my hand after a meeting.

"Shut up Demi." I couldn't do anything to stop the growing smile on my face, though. I loved my office family. It wasn't toxic and we all genuinely cared for one another. "See you tomorrow, and stop working now please."

It was by sheer coincidence that I got an assistant that was as much of a workaholic as I was and we often had to berate each other for the hours we worked.

"Sure thing boss."

I rolled my eyes at her cheek and put my phone down. They were all staring at me again. "Can I help you?" She drawled out.

"What's going on between you and my boss?" Kaitlyn demands.

"Calix?" Kaitlyn nodded and I stared at her incredulously. There was nothing going on and even if there was it was none of her business. "He's my client and someone I consider a friend, what's it to you though?"

Kaitlyn looks at me with heat in her glare then points it down at the floor before storming out of the room.

"You have to go easy on her; she's been pining over him for years." Hadlee tries to ease the situation.

But I stare at her now with bewilderment, what the heck was up with these people.

"Are you serious?" I almost want to look around for the hidden cameras, this has to be a joke or something. "Why would I care? Calix is a friend and if it does later progress to something more than it is not any of yours or your sisters business. You know what I can't do this. Tell mom and dad I'll see them on Sunday."

With that I grabbed my bag and left absolutely fuming. I calmed myself down so I wouldn't get into an accident. I didn't feel anything the whole trip home until I reached the inside of my penthouse. I didn't notice anything as I slammed my door closed and settled down on my couch until I had fully processed everything that had just happened. Without my permission, one tear escaped my eyes, then another, then one more before I started sobbing. I don't know how long I was and I only stopped when I heard a sound coming from my kitchen door which was now normally left open and then a shout.

"Zuppo!" When I saw the big dog bounding towards me I quickly wiped my eyes knowing its owner was going to retrieve him in a couple seconds. I already knew I was a mess but didn't want Calix seeing me like that. "Aren't you meant to be with your parents?" Calix asks, confused, then he sees my face and rushes over to me with a panicked look on his face. He kneels in front of where I was sitting on the couch looking at me with a worried expression. "Scarlett."

With how much care Calix was showing me , I was trying to keep all my emotions behind snaps and my eyes well up again with tears. Calix immediately pulls me into his chest holding me there. "Hey, hey, hey."

He strokes my hair as I attempt to stop crying but it doesn't work and I just keep sobbing but Calix doesn't seem to mind holding me tightly until my sobs turn into hiccups. "I'm sorry."

"What have I told you about apologising, Angel?" Calix whispers. "Are you okay?"

"I'll be fine, I'm just an idiot." An idiot for even believing for a second my siblings and I might be fine and be able to put the past behind us and maybe build a relationship.

"Somehow I truly doubt that." Calix says tilting my head so my stormy eyes have been his dark ones. "I might have only known you for just under a month but you are the most passionate, kind-hearted, intelligent person I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. You put everyone before yourself and are so loyal. And it kills me because you don't see it, how everyone's heads turn as you walk past, how when you compliment someone on their work they look like they have just completed a life goal, you are such an important person, Scarlett Julianna."

"The why don't my siblings see that?" I ask out of nowhere. "Why do they see me as this thing? They can just hurt over and over again then play the victim when I fight back."

"I don't know Angel, but if they don't see your brilliance then the are the ones that must be the idiots." He whispers. "And if you ever want to get rid of them I happen to have a couple connections just let me know." Humour shines in his eyes which I mirror, feeling a lot better than I did before I lean up and pressed kiss to his cheek.

"Thank you Calix really, and I'm..." He cuts me off by putting one of his fingers on my lips.

"If your next words are I'm sorry then I'm taking Zuppo away from you." I whine at that, I had truly become attached to the dog in the past few weeks. "I'm happy I was here for you, Scarlett really. I truly have grown to care a lot about you and it makes me happy I can help you. Now come one, I don't. You've had dinner yet and I've cooked extra."

He leads me into his kitchen, I like he had said there was a pot filled with more than enough food for the two of us.

"So." Calix speaks up after a bit of small talk. There was a nervousness in his tone that made me pause with my fork half-way to my mouth giving him my full attention. "On Friday evening I have a company event, we host one every couple months for our employees and people we work with, just like a formal evening to enjoy where you can dress up and dance, nothing too special." He paused clearing his throat. "Would you like to come with me Scarlett?"

A small smirk lifts onto my face. "Are you asking me out, Radcliff?"

"Would you like it to be a date, Angel?"

"Depends, will I get flowers?"

He scoffs like I was an idiot for asking. "Of course, my parents happened to raise me to be a gentleman, Miss Vanderburg."

"I'd love to." I smile and his eyes light up, mirroring exactly how I felt.

"Friday night at six, be ready Angel."