2025-06-09 15:32:18
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“Yeah.” He set the glass down. “You not going to bed? It’s ten past four.”“I can’t sleep.”Charles tilted his head. “What if I could knock you out in the next ten minutes?”Sadie raised a brow. “Don’t tell me you’re planning to inject me with tranquilizers.”He chuckled. “I’m not as bad as you think.”“My doctor prescribed a drug a month ago,” Sadie murmured. “Started with one pill. He wasn’t sure how I’d react. After all that hype, I only slept thirty minutes before the effect wore off. So I upped the dose—three, then four. Still didn’t work.”Charles raised an eyebrow. “What if I make you sleep till nine a.m.?”“You can’t. That’s what I’m saying.”“Come on.” He reached for her hand and led her toward her room. “If you’re not asleep in ten minutes, do anything you want to me.”Sadie gave a weak laugh. “That’s cute. We both know you can’t. You’re not s
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His protests went ignored as she dabbed some minty ointment on the marks. He never said it hurt—but he let her do it anyway.“I was waiting for you when someone delivered this box,” she said later, once they were both in the living room again.“You see what I’ve been saying? Jasper is obsessed with me. His initial’s right there—‘J.’ I think it’s time I finally report him to the cops.”Charles nodded. “Yeah,” he muttered. No point telling her again that Jasper hadn’t been in town for days.“Open it. See for yourself.”Charles lifted the lid. If Hardin hadn’t already warned him, the fake hand inside might’ve made his skin crawl.Her name written in red only made it worse. He reached for the letter in the box.Sadie’s hand clamped onto his.“Don’t.”Charles darted her a look. “What?”“I’m sure he wrote really creepy stuff in there,” Sadie said quietly.“Wait. Other than the initial,
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“I’m sorry to interrupt, ma’am. I tried to get your attention a few times, but… you didn’t seem to hear me,” the guy said, eyes everywhere but on them.“What is it?” Sadie asked, unbothered, as if she hadn’t just been wrapped in Charles’ arms.“I… I can’t find the restroom.”“Oh, really?” Charles stepped forward, all too eager. “Let me show you the way.”The guy managed a shaky smile. “Thank you, sir.”As soon as Charles shut the door to his room and locked it behind them, the man sank to his knees.“I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t want to come. But… the Godfather has access to the phone I’m using. He called and ordered me to come immediately.”The unreadable look Charles sent the guy made the silence unbearable.“Any way you want to deal with me, sir. I’m okay with it,” Hardin said quietly.“Why did she call you in the first place?”“She said her ex sent her a package. She was scared. Hones
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By the time Charles got back home that night, it was a few minutes past 1 a.m.One of the security guards greeted him warmly as he walked in. Sadie hadn’t told them what exactly he was to her, but still… he felt like some creepy lover sneaking into the house. He gave a nod and forced a smile.He unlocked the living room door with his fingerprint. Took a step inside—then stopped.A male voice.He heard it clearly now. Someone was talking in the living room. They hadn’t noticed him yet.Then, Sadie laughed.His mind flashed to another night. That night with Emmy.This was a contract thing, sure—but Sadie? Bringing a man into the house? He wasn’t going to let that slide.“I knew you’d love it,” the man said.Charles moved carefully, eyes sharp. His gaze found Sadie first. His mind, uninvited, checked her outfit. Damn it. But yeah, that was the first thing he did. She was dressed fine. Nothing wrong. B
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“Will you need my help?” Thomas asked. “I’ve worked with Holden for a while. He’s not the type to let a prey off the hook. If you need anything—I could talk to my guys, maybe pull some strings—”“Thanks, but no,” Charles said, already heading toward the cab that had just arrived.Thomas let out a long sigh as he watched Charles walk off. He didn’t really know who Charles was, not deep down. But one thing was certain—if he didn’t play Holden’s game, he was going to get hurt.Other CEOs had spent a few nights in a cell before their brains clicked and they started cooperating.But Charles?Charles was a stubborn bastard.Thomas’ phone rang. He didn’t need to check the screen—he already knew who it was.“Get your ass here and explain why you let that guy go! You’ll be the one facing Mr. Holden when he comes tomorrow!” his boss shouted over the line.Thomas rushed back inside. He’d be lucky if this ended wi
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Sadie checked the time for what felt like the hundredth time that night.11:18 PM.Still no sign of Charles.She had called his phone more times than she could count, but she might as well have been trying to make a pig fly. No answer. Not even once.Worried, she called the office. The executives didn’t seem to have a clue. “Mr. Charles? He left before 4 p.m. this evening, ma'am. Why do you ask?” Holden had sounded genuinely surprised.Sadie wandered toward the door, brushing past the kitchen. The aroma from the meal she had prepared—specially made to celebrate a project launch—still lingered in the air. It only made the house feel more empty.A strange panic gripped her. What if Charles had already left her life?He had come into it mysteriously. What if he had just… disappeared? What if she’d never see him again?The doorbell rang.“Charles?” she called out, her heart leaping. She ran toward
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