Scarlette woke up with a jolt. Her parents are coming back today.

'You've gotta be shitting me.' She thought as she tackled Marshall, who was sleeping on her couch.

"Marshall! Wake up!! My mom and dad. They're coming today!" She said, shaking. His eyes then flew wide open and he fell off the couch.

"Holy shit! I... I gotta shower and get dressed! Oh god I have to wear my stupid ass uniform." He rambled, running to the employees quarters.

He picked up his suit which he hated and took a quick shower.

'Oh shit. Scarlette's parents.' He thought as he frantically scrubbed himself. 'I have to look and smell good. Jesus H. Christ.' He started to slow down his scrubbing as he thought about what they've done to her. He started to grow furious. 'Those little twats. Hitting my girl. Hurting her. My poor babygirl. I love Scarlette so much. I'll do whatever it takes to take care of her.'

He got out of the shower and entered Scarlette's room, only to find her dressing herself.

"Eep! Marshall get out!" She screamed, throwing her towel a him by instinct, but then covering naughty bits with her hands. "Get out Marshall! I'm dressing!" She screamed again. Marshall ran out of the room and slammed the door behind him.

"I'm so sorry Scarlette, I'll knock next time!" He said, trying to supress the blush on his cheeks.

'Oh wow. I really should've knocked.' He thought to himself, straightening his tie and gulping loudly. 'What if I saw her in... Her most vulnerable state? Jesus Christ.' He was cleared his throat awkwardly and gulped. He was definitely going to knock next time.

Scarlette then walked out in a band shirt and jeans with a towel wrapped around her head. "Marshall should I tie your tie for you?" She asked absentmindedly, obviously jittery and nervous about her parents' return.

"Well babygirl, I can tie it myself, but I'd enjoy it better if you did it for me." He said, winking at her and giving her his most flirtatious smile, which always. . Made her swoon. She blushed and pulled him closer by his unmade tie.

"Marshall... I'm scared." She said, tieing his tie. He frowned. She shouldn't be scared of her parents. No child should ever feel scared of the people that raised them. He leaned down and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Babygirl, don't be scared. I'll be right by your side, remember? I'll protect you." He said, stroking her cheek with his thumb. Scarlette finished his tie and hugged him.

"I love you, Marshall."

"I love you too, Scarlette."

With that, they shared a slow, and passionate kiss.

"Babygirl, relax okay? They won't hurt you." He said after the pulled away from each other. Scarlette nodded silently and leaned into him for a hug.

"I'll finish getting ready, okay Marshall?" She whispered into his shoulder. He hummed in affirmation.

"Make it fast babygirl. They'll be here in around fifteen minutes." Scarlette once again dissappeared into her room. Marshall sighed. He knew for a fact that there would be tension in the air when her parents returned. The poor girl was scared to death by them!!

She came out a few minutes later with her strawberry blonde hair up in a high ponytail and she wore her glasses. "Marshall, let's go down to the garage and meet my parents..."

Scarlette stood next to the limo, with Marshall right behind her. He watched her as her mother and father exited the car.

"Hello mother. Father. How was Milan?" She asked, as if she had rehearsed it a thousand times. Though her parents were both on their phones.

"What did you say honey? Anyways, there are some gifts for you in the trunk." Her mother said, making her way into the house, followed by her father. Scarlette sighed and hung her head down. Gifts. Again. She popped the trunk and saw a PS4, and an XBox 1. She audibly sighed again, lifting them up and giving them to a stationed butler.

"Please take these up to my room."

"Si, bella."

She smiled. "Grazié, signoré."

The butler smiled. "I am not a signoré. I am Rafaelle Vargas. A butler in the home of the Reeves!"

"I agree. You're prisoner here too." She said solemnly.

She and the butler nodded to each other. As if in silent conversation, and the butler went off into the house.

"Do you know that guy personally?" Marshall asked.

"No." She replied. "But I know what it's like to be them. Serving ingrates who care for nothing but themselves." She said bitterly, clearly referring to her parents.

He shook his head. "Babygirl... Don't think about it okay? You're a brilliant young girl... Soon to inherit this company... You may not want to, but it is a great way of making a living.... Baby, please... Bear it awhile..." He said softly, trying to cool her down. She looked at him with a pointed look, but then sighed.

"You're right... It's just... I want... To be free..." She mumbled softly.

He put two fingers under her chin, and ever so slightly tilting her chin up. He gazed sadly into her pained hazel eyes... They never ceased to shock him. At first, anger was perceived in her eyes, then that... Haunting, empty stare. It was only then he realized how pained she really was. Four years of pain and hurt... Only then he understood... She was broken. Shattered. And he wanted to stitch her wounds. He kissed her. It was quick and chastè. Though in that breif moment, both felt the love and passion they had for the other.

"Babygirl. I love you. Now, let's get inside. They'll be suspicious. C'mon, baby." He whispered, pulling her hand softly. She smiled weakly and let herself be pulled by Marshall. They arrived into the grand family room and her father was tapping away on his phone while her mother was screaming into hers.

"YOU KNOW WHAT? I DON'T CARE IF YOU FIRE MARIE, JUST GET THE SHIPMENT DOWN TO TEXAS PRONTO OR I'LL FIRE OF YOU." Her mother screamed and angrily ended her phone call. She then glared at Scarlette. "Why are you still here? Go upstairs or something." She snapped. Scarlette flinched, but continued.

"M-mother... Marshall has completed his weapons training. And I finished the spreadsheets for the financing department... A-a-and the gala went really well by the way..." She squeaked out.

"Okay whatever. Since you're done with the financing department, I need you to work in sales for a bit. Their copywriter is horrible. You're their writer for now. Go! Chop-chop!" Her mother snarled. Scarlette whimpered and stared helplessly at her father, who just shrugged lazily.

She nodded, and quickly scampered up to her room. Marshall quickly followed suit. When he got there, Scarlette was curled up in a corner of her room, tears falling quietly down her face. "What did I do wrong?" She whispered to herself. "Why won't you love me?" She choked up a bit and let out a small sob. "Why can't I do anything right?" Marshall's eyes widened and ran to her side.

"Scarlette? Scarlette, baby, don't cry." He then got up and wrapped a blanket around her. "Baby... Baby... Baby..." He cooed softly to her. She nuzzled into his chest, sobs instantly subsiding.

"What did I do wrong? What did I do that was so bad that made them hate me?" She mumbled. Marshall kissed the top of her head.

"You didn't do anything, okay? Why they hate you is their shit, okay babygirl? It's not your fault." He whispered again, kissing her cheek softly. She stared up at him, an alluring hazel meeting sharp green, she kissed him. It was slow, passionate, and intimate. She pulled away and got up shakily to her feet and grabbed her cell phone and tapped in a number.

"H-hello? Flora? It's Scarlette. Yeah, I'll be replacing your writer for the time being. I'll see you shortly... Yes... Yes... Okay. Goodbye." She sighed, pushing her glasses to the top of her head.

"Marshall... We have to go to the company headquarters. They need an appealing ad, ASAP. Let's go."

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