2025-05-24 15:30:41Sadie had been quiet since they got in the car. Charles had asked earlier if she was okay—she’d only given a nod.
Now, she had headphones over her ears. A clear sign: no conversation. And honestly? Fine by him. At least he wouldn’t have to put up with her usual chatter. Charles pressed down on the accelerator, gliding past the car ahead. Then another. He glanced at the dashboard. Odd. He wasn’t accelerating anymore, but the speed kept climbing. He glanced again. The speed had shot up—unnaturally fast. “You’re going too fast,” Sadie said, yanking off her headphones. “Exactly,” Charles muttered, trying the brake. Nothing. The car didn’t slow down. Not even a twitch. “What the hell are you doing?!” Sadie shrieked. “Your car’s been hacked,” Charles said calmly, swerving into the c
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Charles didn’t think. There was no time. He grabbed his jacket and dashed for the elevator.He should’ve warned her about that personal assistant earlier. Could it be him?“Damn it,” he muttered, bolting from the elevator.“Everything’s okay—just a personal emergency!” he called over his shoulder to the startled staff.They’d start thinking he was insane. Two dramatic exits in one day—all thanks to Sadie.In the car, he dialed her number. No answer. His heart sank.It had to be the assistant. Sadie wouldn’t have suspected him. She thought her ex was the threat.What should have been a twenty-minute drive, Charles cut down to eight. Miraculously, he avoided a speeding ticket.He burst into the house. “Sadie?”“Over here. In the kitchen,” she called.He rushed in and froze. No intruder. Just Sadie.“What the hell is going on?”“I don’t know what to do with him. He’s been crying
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“Of course,” Charles answered. “Let’s meet at Daryl’s Restaurant.”“Okay.” He pulled out his phone.“W-what are you doing, sir?” She leaned over, spotting his call log.“Calling my fiancée to ask if she’ll be free tonight. I don’t meet other women without her permission. She’s a little possessive.” He sighed. “Can you blame her? I’m too irresistible.”Her face turned red with embarrassment. She tried to cover it with a smile. “I had no idea you were engaged.”“That doesn’t matter, Rylie. She totally understands. You’re not the first woman who’s asked me out like this. But I don’t want you heartbroken—it must’ve taken courage to confess your feelings.”Rylie lowered her head, hiding her flushed face.“And why is this elevator not moving?” Charles muttered loud enough for her to hear. He knew the game. He was supposed to be stuck in the elevator with her, forced into an “intimate” moment.Too bad fo
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Charles made it to the elevator at exactly 8:01.He rushed out into the hallway, startling a few workers on his way to the conference room.“Nothing’s wrong,” he called over his shoulder. “Just a bit late.”He burst into the conference room, stopping at the door to catch his breath while his eyes swept across the hall. Every seat was already taken.“I’m so sorry for being late. I had to take care of some personal business, but that’s no excuse,” he apologized.“Oh my goodness, Mr. Charles, it’s nothing,” Holden replied with a warm smile. “You’re the boss. Whenever you arrive is the right time.”“Exactly, sir. You’re the law and life of this company,” another man chimed in.“You didn’t have to run that fast.”Charles moved to the seat reserved for him at the round conference table. He dropped his tablet on the surface and looked around the room.“I’m not sure how things usually operate here, but you’re s
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Charles pulled up in front of a modest house tucked behind a line of wilting hedges. He glanced at the time on the dash — 7:30 a.m.Ten minutes. That’s all he had if he wanted to make it to Valestone Dynamics before the morning brief.He slid his sunglasses on, ran a hand through his hair, and stepped out. This was the address his subordinate had given him last night — the home of the man who had ridden that motorcycle. His finger pressed the doorbell. Inside, a shuffle. Then, the door creaked open.A bespectacled boy, maybe five, peered up at him with a squint. “Who are you?”“Is your father at home?” Charles asked, keeping his tone light.“No. He left early this morning for—” The boy paused, realizing he was talking too much. “Who are you?”“I’m from his workplace. His boss.” The lie rolled off Charles' tongue like truth.“Mom! Someone’s here for Dad!” The boy slammed the door.Charles sighed.
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“How am I supposed to know?”Sadie took the paper, stared at the number for a long beat, then flicked it into the waste bin. “I won’t fall for that prank. He’s just a kid messing around.”Charles’ lips parted in surprise. Isn’t this the same woman who was trembling in the car earlier?“I’m off to bed. Turn off the lights before you sleep.”Is she serious? Charles stood up. “So you’re not going to call that number?”“I told you, I know who’s behind all this. Or are you scared?”A scoff escaped Charles’ lips. Scared? Shouldn’t he be the one asking her that?Without another word, she left him standing there and disappeared inside.He waited a few minutes, expecting her to come back, but she didn’t. What kind of woman was this, really?At first, Charles went to his room. It wasn’t his problem, after all. But after tossing and turning in bed, he got up and returned to the sitting room to grab the paper.
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Sadie had been quiet since they got in the car. Charles had asked earlier if she was okay—she’d only given a nod. Now, she had headphones over her ears. A clear sign: no conversation. And honestly? Fine by him. At least he wouldn’t have to put up with her usual chatter. Charles pressed down on the accelerator, gliding past the car ahead. Then another. He glanced at the dashboard. Odd. He wasn’t accelerating anymore, but the speed kept climbing. He glanced again. The speed had shot up—unnaturally fast. “You’re going too fast,” Sadie said, yanking off her headphones. “Exactly,” Charles muttered, trying the brake. Nothing. The car didn’t slow down. Not even a twitch. “What the hell are you doing?!” Sadie shrieked. “Your car’s been hacked,” Charles said calmly, swerving into the c
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