2025-09-03 15:32:58“You might actually get in trouble soon if you do this every time,” Sadie said as they waited for the coffee to brew.
“I wasn’t trying to defend you or anything,” Charles added quickly, before she could take it the wrong way.“By the end of the contract, you’ll leave a lot of problems for me to handle,” Sadie muttered.“I don’t think that’s the case. If you think about it, I’ve promoted your name so much in the last few days that I deserve a prize,” Charles said, leaning back casually.“You think that’s the case?” Sadie asked. “Not that you used my name to promote yours?”“You’re the one who needs promotion.”“There’s no one in New York who doesn’t know my name, Charles. So, stop getting ahead of yourself.” She grabbed one of the two cups of coffee.“On a serious note, though, that man needs to be taught a lesson.”“I don’t have his time.”“I told you a similar thing too when you insisted on getting som
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“And this…” Smith pulled out another picture. Two men. Not just shaking hands, no—they were tangled in ways that made Charles’ stomach churn. “They’re both top executives.”Charles snapped his gaze to him. “If I wanted to watch porn, I’d have downloaded it on my phone.”Smith chuckled, unbothered. “Apologies if this was unexpected, but these are the only pictures I was given to introduce them.” Then, without missing a beat, he shoved more photos forward—each one worse than the last. Charles actually felt his stomach threaten rebellion.“I’ll meet them at work when I come around,” he cut in sharply, waving off the pictures before he gagged.“Oh, really? That makes more sense,” Smith said with a grin, as if none of this was insane.“When should we expect you, sir?”Charles’ brain screeched. Expect me? He hadn’t agreed to anything.“Are there any married people in the company?” Charles asked, partly to buy time, partly beca
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Charles pressed the phone harder against his ear as he listened, jaw set. “I'm sorry, sir, no. The person you were after the other time—I can’t tell if it’s female or male, but whoever it was escaped with a car that came to his aid. No plate number, no trail. Our best bet is the man is just one of those she managed to get on his nerves recently.” Charles’ voice came out low. “What about the house I asked you to get me?” “Um, about that, sir…” the man hesitated. “It’s basically going to be… not that easy. The people around there are closely knitted. Everyone knows everyone. We could look into each one, but it’ll take time. We’re checking for anyone not tied to Dario’s ex while also making sure we’ve got enough leverage on them so you can stay for a couple of days.” Charles rubbed his temple, already feeling the frustration mounting. “How many days will that take you?” There was a
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“This way, everyone,” he said loudly. “We’re not letting what happened ruin the mood tonight. If you’re scared of enjoyment, you can go home. But for the next four hours—” He cut himself off deliberately, grinning, then signaled them forward.Charles noticed Sadie had already linked up with her friend. He caught Natasha’s eye and motioned for her to hang back.Natasha smirked as she drifted close. She gave his chest a playful tap. “You looked shy a second ago. Afraid Miss Sadie will find out you fell in love with me after, what, two hours?”Charles scanned the area before leaning in. His voice dropped low. “I’m not signing up for anything romantic with you. Not now, not ever.”Natasha leaned in anyway, lips parting, eyes closed. “We can’t kiss here,” she whispered.Charles stepped back, letting her hang there with her eyes shut until she finally peeked them open again.He saved her from embarrassment with a quick deflection. “Tho
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“Good thing,” Charles replied dryly. “Not sure I’d trust some stranger to check me out.”She smirked, then shook her head. “Be ready for Miss Sadie to drag you to a hospital. That’s the last thing you want, isn’t it?”Damn. She read him too easily.“I feel sorry for Miss Sadie,” Natasha continued softly. “She can’t even live a quiet life. I’ve barely been around her twenty hours and she’s already been through this mess.”“Thought you’d been with her longer,” Charles said, side glance sharp.“No. I just met her today. That’s why I was saying earlier—we clicked instantly. I don’t get what those men wanted though. It’s not her life. If they wanted her dead, they would’ve pulled the trigger already.”Charles mulled that over. She was right. Whoever those men were, Sadie wasn’t the target to kill. The fact they killed all their own men instead… meant something deeper was hidden. Loose ends weren’t allowed to live.A beam of l
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Charles sat up slowly, groaning. “Even if I was, your shouting just made me un-okay.” “Don’t stand up!” Sadie cried, rushing over with panic in her eyes. Behind her, the others swarmed forward. “Call 911!” someone yelled. “Will he die?” “He’s losing too much blood!” “No. I’ll be fine,” Charles shouted, louder than he intended. He had never been so embarrassed in his life as they all crowded in, hands fumbling like they wanted to smother him with “help.” “Everyone, wait!” Natasha’s voice cut clean through the chaos. The noise froze. All eyes swung to her. “He’ll be fine if you all just stop shouting,” she said firmly. “Someone get me bandages, painkillers, and antibiotics.” “Are you a doctor?” someone asked. “We have to take him to the hospital right now!” another cried.
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“Your parents are rich?” Charles asked. She was talking like someone who had never once needed to compare pizza prices before ordering.“Well, rich?” Natasha shrugged. “My father owns one little company downtown, and my mom is kind of like a model.”“If they’re rich, why are you working with Sadie? Or—you’re not really working for her, are you?”“It’s just Dad’s suggestion,” she said, twirling a strand of hair. “He wants me to check out different places so that when he eventually hands over the company to me, I’ll be capable. He’s built it all his life.”Charles nodded, hoping that would finally end the conversation.“Are you married?” she asked suddenly.Charles turned his head, giving her a long stare.“You don’t seem to be,” Natasha pressed. “And from the way you gladly followed Miss Sadie in here, I guess you don’t have a girlfriend either.”“And what does that suggest?” Charles asked, raising a brow.
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