hapter 93
She approached the bed, mopping about three feet away, and asked with genuine concern. “How’s your wound feeling?
Her tone was deliberately formal, showing appropriate respect for the man who had saved her life.
But her question hung in the air, completely ignored
Charlotte stood there awkwardly.
Nothing to do but wait in uncomfortable silence for him to acknowledge her.
Zarek was reading, his dark lashes lowered. From the moment the knocked until now, he hadn’t bothered to dance
up even once.
After what felt like forever, his elegant fingers deliberately turned a page with infuriating downess.
Interesting timing for your concern, don’t you think?” he finally said, his voice cool and distant.
Charlotte’s already stiff smile froze completely.
Great start.
She recovered quickly and explained, “I actually wanted to visit you at the hospital, but there were so many people around. I was worried it might cause unnecessary gossip if I showed up. That’s why I waited until you were home.”
“Gossip?” Zarek finally raised his eyes, fixing her with an unreadable look. “What makes you think your presence would make anyone assume there’s something between us?”
Charlotte felt like she’d been slapped.
His meaning was crystal clear despite the roundabout delivery.
He was mocking her for thinking herself so important, so attractive, when she was actually nothing special.
He was telling her nobody would ever imagine anything between them because she was beneath him–their worlds too far apart, she simply wasn’t in his league.
It was exactly like at the golf club when he’d humiliated her for her outfit, accusing her of trying to use her looks to manipulate him.
The room temperature seemed to drop ten degrees.
Charlotte’s face burned with humiliation, a painful flush spreading across her cheeks.
“I…” Words failed her. The situation was mortifying, and there was no good response. Her throat tightened painfully. “Sorry. I overthought things. Won’t happen again.”
“I should go forry for interrupting your reading
She retreated from the room, almost tripping over her own feet, barely avoiding a collision with the doorframe
Zarek stared at the closed door, his expression unreadable.
After a long moment, he shut his book and tossed it aside, leaning back against the pillows and rubbing his temples. closing his eyes in frustration.
He laughed bitterly at himself.
Real mature, Zarek.
Charlotte emerged from the bedroom and made a beeline for the exit.
“That was quick,” Liam said, coming from the living room with obvious surprise.
“He’s reading. Don’t want to bother him. I should go,” she said in a rush. She attempted a smile that looked more like
a grimace of pain..
Liam didn’t try to stop her, just mentioned she was welcome anytime.
Charlotte practically fled.
Liam sighed deeply.
Later, when Zarek came out for dinner, Liam remarked casually while serving the soup. “Her eyes were red when she left Probably crying her eyes out right now.”
Zarek froze.
He picked up his chopsticks, then set them down. “Are you guilt tripping me?”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Liam replied, placing the soup beside him. “Just puzzled. You took a knife for this woman. Why turn around and make her run away in tears?”
Zarek had no answer,
He picked up his chopsticks again, moving food toward his lips then pulling it away several times before finally asking in a quieter voice, “She was actually crying?”
Liam glanced at him. “Maybe you should go downstairs and see for yourself.”
Zarek’s face remained expressionless.
He stood up without taking a single bite and walked toward his bedroom, muttering. “Your commentary isn’t helpful.”
Liam didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
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this was his
Somehow this was his fault now?
Charlotte curled up on her couch, hugging a pillow to her chest, staring at nothing.
She alternated between sighing and scowling.
That floating, walking on clouds feeling she’d had when she learned how he’d protected her, confronted the Granthams for her, and looked out for her–completely gone.
In retrospect, she’d been completely delusional.
Yes, he had saved her life and shielded her from harm, but that didn’t magically make them equals.
A boss was still a boss.
He could be kind and gentlemanly when it sulted him, but turn cutting and cold the moment she overstepped. If she felt hurt by this, it only proved she’d forgotten her place.
Time to get her head straight.
Don’t mistake basic professional courtesy for friendship.
And for God’s sake, don’t imagine for one second that he might be interested in you!
It took Charlotte a full hour to reset her mental framework.
She dragged herself to the kitchen and made a bowl of instant ramen.
After just a few bites, her phone rang-
Liam’s name lit up the screen.
She froze with the spoon halfway to her mouth, feeling a wave of dread.
Liam was basically Zarek’s human telephone most of the time.
She answered hesitantly. “Hey, Liam.”
F
“Ms. Whitmore, any chance you’re free tonight?”
“Um…”
“Here’s the situation–Mr. Weasley needs help changing his bandages and applying medication these next few days. Rex can’t make it tonight, and I just got an emergency call from my wife that I need to deal with. I hate asking after, well… but could you possibly help out?”
By his second sentence, Charlotte’s stomach had already knotted itself.
She’d just escaped that penthouse, still stinging from the humiliation. While she wouldn’t quit over a few harsh words, she definitely wasn’t emotionally ready to face him again so soon.
“Liam, in’t there anyone else Maylin call a doctor or something?
Liam paused for at “Look, he acts all tough, but he’s actually pretty soft inside. He thinks the world of you, believe it or not. He genuinely likes you.
He was trying to make her feel better, to suggest she shouldn’t take Zarek’s words to heart.
But what Charlotte heard was: He values you as his assistant, so when he summons you, you come running.
If Zarek hadn’t been Injured saving her life, If he hadn’t repeatedly rescued her, she would have laughed coldly and quilt on the spot.
“Tine. Fll come up after 1 finish eating”
Charlotte relented.
Her appetite for ramen instantly vanished. After hanging up, she gave herself a stern pep talk before heading back upstairs.
Standing outside Zarek’s bedroom door, she took a deep breath and knocked.
“Come in.‘
His voice, still detached and cool, filtered through the door.
Charlotte entered, closed the door behind her, and approached the bed with a faint, professional smile. “I hear you need help with your bandages.”
Zarek studied her forced smile and overly formal tone, inwardly sighing. “Yeal
“Where’s the first aid kit?”
“Dressing room.
He gestured toward the walk–in closet.
Charlotte found the medical supplies and brought everything to the bedside, arranging what she needed on the nightstand.
All set.
But when she finally looked at him properly, her brain short–circuited.
Because only then did she realize the awkward logistics.
His injury was on his lower back. He was wearing nothing but a robe. So did that mean he should take off the top… or lift the bottom… or remove it completely…?!
“Weren’t you going to treat the wound?” Zarek asked mildly.
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“…You’ll need to take that off.”
Charlotte steeled herself, determined to get through this somehow.
