Chapter 101
Besides their joint project, what else connected Jayden and Issac? The answer hit Charlotte suddenly: Evelyn
Grantham.
What new scheme was she cooking up now?
Just thinking about that toxic snake made Charlotte’s mood darken. Could they seriously not put her behind bars?
Summer had explained the legal situation: with current evidence, Evelyn could only be charged as an accomplice to kidnapping, but assault with intent to kill was solid. Even with the Grantham legal army working overtime, the combined charges should net at least fifteen years.
But Evelyn was fighting tooth and nail to avoid prison.
First came convenient medical reports claiming severe mental illness, now she was apparently having public seizures… God knows who they’d paid off this time.
Was it really impossible for regular people to stand up to power and wealth?
The injustice of it all stung. Charlotte had hoped Zarek wouldn’t let the Granthams exploit these legal loopholes, but he seemed to be letting them slide. Of course, she had no right to demand anything from him–he had his own agenda.
She let out a quiet sigh.
From the back seat, Zarek studied her profile.
Noticing her troubled expression, his brows furrowed slightly. What was bothering her?
If he’d known her thoughts, he would have gladly told her that ignoring Evelyn wasn’t weakness–it was strategy. This temporary freedom was actually setting Evelyn up for something much worse than prison.
“Next Wednesday–which of you is coming with me?” His deep voice pulled Charlotte from her brooding.
She shifted in her seat to look back.
Rex glanced up at the rearview mirror.
“I should probably stay at the office,” Charlotte offered first. “Still have a ton to learn about operations.”
Rex nodded. “Makes sense. I’ll go.”
They thought they’d settled it until, five minutes later, from the back seat: “Charlotte will come.”
Charlotte and Rex exchanged confused looks.
“It’s just a formality,” Zarek continued casually. “Making an appearance, shaking hands. Perfect for someone still learning the ropes.”
ment 11 at Co My Uncle Feraning the Forbidden Past.
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Charlotte bit her lip. Is he calling me a pretty accessory? And if he’d already decided, why even ask?
Rex’s expression shifted subtly.
He stole another glance in the rearview mirror, mentally connecting dots: the strawberry cake that morning, the protective behavior at dinner, and suddenly–like a lightning bolt–other details he’d previously dismissed came rushing back.
Holy shit.
Holy. Fucking. Shit.
The realization made his hand jerk slightly, causing the car to swerve.
Zarek, who’d been resting with his eyes closed, opened them immediately. “Rex, have you been drinking?”
“N–no! Of course not! Ha ha…” Rex stammered, his voice unnaturally high. “Just, uh, pothole in the road.”
He nervously glanced toward the passenger seat, mind racing.
Back at the office, it was nearly 1 PM.
Zarek disappeared into the rest area for his usual afternoon nap.
As Charlotte and Rex left his office, she started, “Rex, later-”
“I’ll wake him,” Rex jumped in before she could finish.
Charlotte paused, then broke into a pleased smile. “Perfect! And if you’re swamped with other stuff, just let me know. Happy to pick up whatever.”
Rex nodded quickly. “Will do.”
Charlotte walked toward her office with a bounce in her step.
Rex watched her go, feeling a twinge of sympathy.
Though his suspicions might be a stretch–the CEO wasn’t exactly known for office romances–he couldn’t entirely rule out the possibility that Zarek was just… lonely.
Blissfully unaware of Rex’s thoughts, Charlotte focused on work. Over the next week, she made incredible progress–mapping out the org chart for headquarters and branches, getting up to speed on all major projects from the past year.
She strategically connected with department heads and executives throughout the company.
Using lunch breaks and after–work hours, she treated the secretarial staff to several meals, fast–tracking relationships.
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Since she relied on their cooperation daily, having loyal support was essential.
On her first day, they’d eyed her with suspicion, but within days they were calling her “Charlotte–girl” and “boss,” even bringing her coffee unprompted.
But her greatest relief? Rex had completely taken over Zarek waking duty.
Morning coffee, afternoon tea–he always jumped in with “I’ve got this!”
Rex was turning out to be an excellent partner.
She’d definitely misjudged him.
Wednesday arrived.
Charlotte was booked to accompany Zarek on the business trip.
Two days, one night.
Leave in the morning, back the following afternoon.
Tuesday evening, while Charlotte packed, Summer sprawled across her bed hugging a pillow, chin propped in her hands. “Just the two of you? For a whole night?” she teased with a wicked grin. “You’d be crazy not to make a move.”
Charlotte threw a shirt at her face. “Make a move? I’m going for work, not a hookup.”
Summer pulled the shirt away. “All I’m saying is, keeping your heart locked away doesn’t mean your body has to suffer. A little physical activity is healthy–might even help you live longer.”
Charlotte couldn’t help laughing. “What do you think he is, some high–end escort? Like I can just throw money at him and he’ll lie back and let me have my way?”
Summer wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. “Maybe he’d be into it.”
Charlotte rolled her eyes. “As an escort?”
Summer flopped back on the bed with a dramatic sigh.
“You’re hopeless.”
The next morning
Charlotte overslept by fifteen minutes.
She wolfed down a slice of toast and gulped some milk before racing to the penthouse, luggage in tow.
Zarek was still having breakfast.
She stood awkwardly, waiting.
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The mouthwatering aroma of perfectly cooked meat drifted toward her. She peeked at his plate–just bacon? How did it smell so incredible?
As he took a bite, she involuntarily swallowed.
Then she watched him fork some salad. The vibrant greens looked farm–fresh, still glistening with morning dew. The crisp sound as he bit into them made her stomach growl audibly.
She didn’t realize she was staring at his mouth, her eyes tracking every bite with barely concealed hunger.
“Ms. Whitmore,” Zarek said, visibly uncomfortable under her intense gaze, “why don’t you just join me?”
“Oh, I couldn’t possibly–that wouldn’t be appropriate,” Charlotte protested, even as she immediately sat down.
Liam smiled warmly as he prepared a plate for her.
He explained that the bacon was his secret recipe, unavailable anywhere else. The salad greens came from the Weasley family greenhouse–he’d picked them himself at six that morning. Every fruit in the juice was personally selected for peak ripeness.
“God, I need a Liam in my life,” Charlotte said between blissful bites.
“If you dare to dream, it can all be yours,” Zarek remarked casually from across the table.
