Trapped in the boss's embrace (by Katrina A) novel Chapter 102

Chapter 102 Sudden Free Time

"Quiet down," Damian said firmly, leading the way.

Ethan felt wronged, his expression wide-eyed and clueless.

Scarlett shot him a glare, her big, round eyes sparkling with annoyance.

Despite her sweet, fresh-faced look—like the girl next door without makeup—today she was channeling a sultry vibe.

With her knack for playful teasing and soft-spoken charm, she could easily wrap any man around her finger.

But today, Scarlett felt utterly defeated.

Ethan had just called her timid, and now Damian had scolded her, too.

"Hmph!" she huffed, stomping her foot in frustration.

Scarlett rushed up to Beatrice, linking her arm with hers, her red lips curling into a slight smile as she muttered, "Stupid men."

"It's alright, just ignore them," Beatrice reassured her.

"Yeah," Scarlett replied, leaning against her shoulder, looking vulnerable.

Ethan trailed behind, reflecting on how she had pushed him earlier.

She doesn't seem all that weak.

The corridor outside the elevator was long and dimly lit, bathed in a strange red glow.

Odd decorations lined the walls, and a mysterious incense hung thick in the air, creating an eerie atmosphere.

Whether Zara was truly mystical or not, the vibe was definitely set.

At the end of the corridor, they turned a corner and were greeted by a pair of imposing double doors, reminiscent of ancient tomb entrances.

The intricate stone carvings around the frame were grand and elaborate.

Are we really still in a building, or have we stumbled into a crypt?

The ruckus from the elevator must have roused someone inside.

Before they could even step into it, a girl glided out, wrapped in a billowing white robe.

She looked to be in her early twenties—fresh-faced, almost otherworldly.

"You all here together? Got an appointment?" she inquired, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"An appointment?" Beatrice arched an eyebrow, then nonchalantly fixed her hair, showing off her bracelet.

"A friend of mine recommended this place. She said Ms. Celestine's a real whiz."

The girl's eyes landed on the bracelet, and her grin grew wider.

"Ah, you're sporting a lucky charm blessed by Ms. Celestine. Your friend must think the world of you."

Her words practically screamed that Violet had been here before, and chances were she was still inside.

"You bet! Ever since I started wearing this thing, life's been a piece of cake. My friends wanted one too, but I couldn't get a hold of her today. Her phone's dead.

"So, I'll come on my own." Beatrice rambled on, trying to fish for more info.

The girl asked, "What's your friend's last name?"

"Hudson," Beatrice replied.

The girl's expression changed a bit, and she quickly averted her eyes.

"Oh, you're Ms. Hudson's friend? Bummer, she's not here today, and all the spots are taken till ten. You'll have to come back later."

As the girl turned to leave, Beatrice grabbed her arm.

At this moment, she was absolutely convinced that Violet was inside there.

Perhaps Beatrice was squeezing a bit too hard, causing the girl to scrunch up her face in discomfort.

Beatrice quickly let go. "Sorry, but we've come a long way. Please."

She gently tugged the girl aside and lowered her voice to bargain.

At first, the girl shook her head like it was on a hinge, but as they talked, her resolve started to crumble, and finally, she gave in.

Damian cocked an eyebrow, eyeing the back-and-forth with keen interest.

Before long, Beatrice and the girl rejoined the group.

"Ms. Celestine's free tonight. Follow me, please."

With a flick of her hand, the girl ushered them inside.

Once they were in, she told them to switch off their phones and chuck them into a nearby box for safekeeping.

It was crystal-clear: if they wanted in, they had to play by the rules.

The four of them grumbled a bit but did as they were told.

As they stepped in, they landed in another long corridor.

It looked so much like the entrance to an ancient tomb.

As Beatrice strolled along, she noticed the light beside her start to fade, and the thick, smoky smell gave way to a fresh, pleasant fragrance.

Damian was left with his mouth agape, unable to find a comeback.

Beatrice, who'd been all flustered a moment ago, got distracted by the girl's words.

Meanwhile, Scarlett and Ethan were biting their lips, struggling not to burst out laughing.

In the end, the girl guided them to a door. "Wait inside, please. I'll come get you when the time's right.

"Don't go wandering off. This place is sacred, and Ms. Celestine keeps some strong energy in here. Stir it up, and you're asking for trouble.

"See you all later," she said before taking off.

The four of them made themselves comfortable in the room.

It looked like a waiting area for guests, with a table, chairs, and some snacks laid out.

Feeling a bit uneasy after her earlier interaction with Damian, Beatrice picked a seat that struck a balance—neither too close nor too far from him.

"Vio—"

Scarlett barely got a word out before Beatrice raised her hand, stopping her.

Beatrice pulled out a sticky note from her handbag, wrote something down, and handed it to her along with a pen.

It read: [There might be listening devices here. Let's write instead of speaking.]

Scarlett grabbed the note, scribbled "OK" underneath, and passed it to Ethan, who did the same. Finally, it made its way to Damian.

He glanced at it but said nothing, silently acknowledging the message.

Ethan tapped his pen, urging him to write his "OK."

Damian ignored him.

Beatrice watched as the pen and note made their rounds like a game of pass-the-parcel.

She had more to say, but clearly, he had no intention of handing it back.

With no other choice, she stood up, walked over, and retrieved the pen and note.

Then, she quickly wrote something else.

This time, instead of passing it along, she waved the others over and showed them what she'd written: [Violet's here because Mrs. Jane Fairfax is coming tonight.]

They all nodded in understanding.

For so long, they had been puzzled about how this could be connected to Madeline or the Fairfax family.

And now... it all made sense.