“There’s only fruit,” Charlotte said helplessly.
Zarek relaxed his furrowed brow, nodding in understanding.
Charlotte thought he’d drop it, but instead… he called to have ingredients delivered.
At this hour?!
How hungry could he possibly be?
By the time the ingredients arrived and she prepared something, it was already 11 PM.
Zarek ate with obvious enjoyment.
Watching him, Charlotte briefly wondered if her cooking skills had been severely underestimated–perhaps even superior to Liam’s, possibly Michelin–star worthy.
By 11:45 PM, she was fighting to stay awake.
She hadn’t slept well the previous night, had only dozed briefly in the afternoon, and now her eyelids were growing heavy again. After going upstairs and seeing Zarek head to the study, she didn’t bother asking if he needed anything else and went straight to her room to shower and sleep.
Around 2 AM, Charlotte was startled awake by a low growl.
She jumped up, opened her door, and noticed the master bedroom door was slightly ajar with faint light filtering through.
She walked over and pushed the door open.
The scene inside shocked her.
Zarek stood with fury etched across his face. On the floor, Natalie was sprawled in a white see–through negligee, crying, her hair disheveled, looking utterly lost.
Charlotte reacted quickly, rushing to the bathroom to grab a towel for Natalie, then demanded sternly, “How did you get in here?”
Natalie just continued sobbing without answering.
It was obvious–Leif must have orchestrated this.
As co–owner of the resort, setting up this scenario and gaining access to the villa wouldn’t be difficult.
But this was beyond outrageous.
Sending someone to a man’s room required at least implied mutual interest. Zarek had clearly refused, yet Leif
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persisted, first trying to drug him, then sending Natalie to his bedroom in the middle of the night.
What, did he think Zarek would lose all self–control if he woke up to find a woman in his bed?
What was Leif thinking?!
“Get her out of here,” Zarek ordered with disgust, waving his hand dismissively.
Natalie covered her face and cried even louder.
Charlotte helped her up and led her out. Growing tired of the continuous sobbing, she snapped, “Stop crying. Your
act doesn’t work on me.”
Natalie looked at her with tear–reddened eyes. “If I go back like this, Mr. Hara will throw me to those men.”
“What do you want, then?” Charlotte deliberately asked.
Natalie clutched her arm like she’d found a savior. “You’re kind–hearted like Claire. I know you don’t really want to sleep with your boss either. If you help me this once, when I become Mr. Weasley’s mistress, I’ll put in a good word for you. I’ll do whatever you say.”
Charlotte felt both amused and angry.
Ha! Put in a good word?
Suppressing her disbelief, she asked suggestively, “Your offer is tempting, but how can I help? Send you back to him? He’s not interested–he’ll just throw you out again.”
“No, he won’t. I saw him drink that water. The drug just hasn’t kicked in yet. When it does, he won’t be able to resist.”
Natalie’s innocent face revealed unexpected cunning.
Charlotte’s heart dropped.
Her expression changed instantly.
Giving Natalie no chance to say more, she dragged her to the door and shoved her out. Her face turned ice–cold. “Go tell Leif he’s made an enemy of the Weasley family! As for you–you’ve made your choices.”
Charlotte’s sudden transformation left Natalie stunned.
She tried to get back in. “Please, don’t tell Mr. Weasley…”
“Get lost!” Charlotte slammed the door.
She had no time for this morally bankrupt girl. She turned and rushed back upstairs to the bedroom.
In the dimly lit room, Zarek sat with his eyes closed on a black chaise at the foot of the bed. One hand propped up his forehead. His black robe trailed to the floor, the collar slightly open revealing his chest, the belt precariously loose…
1:ddon Dast
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Already breathless from racing upstairs, seeing her boss looking so… vulnerable made her catch her breath.
The air carried a faint scent of cherry liqueur, and she noticed the empty water bottle by the bed…. so Instagram Face had disappeared to switch the water!
Damn them!
Charlotte was furious enough to throttle all three conspirators.
Her expression grave, she sat beside him. “Sir, they drugged your water. Are you feeling any different?”
She examined him carefully.
His skin wasn’t flushed. No sweating. As for temperature….
She started to reach out, then pulled her hand back.
“It doesn’t seem to have hit you yet. We should get you to a hospital right away. I’ll call the driver.” She reached for
her phone, only to realize she’d left it in her room.
She was wearing only her pajamas. And… no bra!!
Charlotte had a brief moment of internal panic.
“Sir, stay here. My phone’s in my room–I’ll get it.”
She turned decisively.
At that moment, putting on a bra somehow became more urgent than her boss’s medical emergency–he’d survived this long, what difference would a couple minutes make?
“Ms. Whitmore…”
His hand landed on her shoulder. His voice unnervingly deep.
Oh no.
Charlotte hesitated, unable to abandon him in this state. She turned back. “How are you feeling? Are you uncomfortable? Hot?”
Zarek didn’t answer.
He slowly opened his eyes.
Perhaps due to the dim light, his eyes seemed darker, more intense–dangerous, with an otherworldly quality.….. staring as if he could see right through her.
Charlotte involuntarily held her breath.
He looked into her eyes, his hand tightening on her shoulder. His tall frame leaned toward her, his breath hot
against her ear. “I’m thirsty.”
The sensation sent a jolt through Charlotte. She pulled his hand away. ” you some way!
She tried to spring up, ready to bolt
The next second, she was pulled back onto the chaise.
“Too late.”
A husky whisper brushed her ear. The hand that had been on her thoulder moved to her waist. Before the knew it his lips pressed against hers–gentle yet intense, passionate yet restrained
Later, Charlotte would have to admit it was somewhat intoxicating,
But in the moment, she progressed from shock to confusion to… realization. She bit his lip, pushed him awey, grabbed a nearby pillow and hit him repeatedly. “Snap out of it! Don’t let the drug control you! You can fight this! Stay strong!TM
There was definitely some element of venting her frustration.
Zarek caught the pillow, his expression a mix of helplessness and amusement. “I’m fine.”
Charlotte channeled her inner skeptic. “Really? I don’t believe you”
She stood up defensively.
Glancing at the door to confirm her escape route, she said, “We need to get you to a hospital, or you’ll completely lose it soon. I’ll call for help.”
If he was already losing control, that drug must be powerful.
It could turn even the most virtuous man into a midnight casanova.
“It’s at least three hours to the nearest hospital. Do you want me to… suffer through this in the car?” Zarek’s gaze was penetrating,
If only Rex were here! Rex, Rex, where are you when I need you?!
Charlotte mentally cursed Leif and all his ancestors before sighing, “What should we do?”
“Just go, close the door, and don’t worry about me,” Zarek said, leaning back on the chaise.
Charlotte left.
A while later, she returned with all the ice from the refrigerator, dumped it into the bathtub, and added cold water. It took a full twenty minutes of persuasion to get Zarek into it.
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“Sir, doesn’t that feel better?”
Zarek’s lips tightened from the cold. “…Where did you learn this method?”
Charlotte gestured dismissively. “Don’t ask. It’s standard procedure. Soak until dawn and you’ll be fine. Don’t worry
about running out of ice–I’ve made more. Plenty to go around.”
