Chapter 110
She stumbled forward.
About to crash into his chest, she grabbed the doorframe with lightning reflexes, pulling herself back with all her strength.
“Good morning,” Charlotte said breathlessly, steadying herself while brushing stray hair from her face, offering a smile that balanced awkwardness with professionalism.
Zarek: “…”
He stared at her for a moment. “Why are you lurking outside my door this early?”
His tone was completely natural.
As if she had been the one who’d nearly lost control twice last night.
Now, he stood impeccably dressed in a tailored dark brown suit, looking every bit the sophisticated executive, without a trace of last night’s behavior.
Charlotte inwardly rolled her eyes.
So he was clear–headed now and conveniently able to act like she was the weird one.
“I came to wake you up. We’re leaving this afternoon, so we should start packing.”
She improvised an excuse.
Zarek was silent for a few seconds: “Let’s have breakfast first.”
Breakfast!
The absolute last thing she wanted was to share breakfast with him!
Charlotte couldn’t imagine anything more awkward.
“You go ahead. I need to pack first.”
She stepped back.
Zarek walked out of the room, took a few steps forward then turned back, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Ms. Whitmore, you’re choosing to go in there now. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Without further explanation, he turned and left.
Charlotte stood there bewildered.
Warn her?
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Had he hidden a woman in they? Or www?
This confusion lasted until she entered the bathroom and cargo de Tus the understood
…She immediately regretted hay các
She knew far too trucht
Charlotte packed his luggage, then deliberataby wane back to pack hay ve Killing as my time as poole tee heading downstairs, assuming he most have faded breakdeer by ano,
Downstairs.
As soon as she descended, she saw him sitting on the long room sofa
“Did you completely renovate the entire upstairs?” Tarek looked up coolly Tes
Charlotte’s brain short circnted:“”
Why had he waited for her?!
She absolutely didn’t want this!
“Don’t just stand there.”
Zarek stood up and, seeing she wasn’t following urged her again.
Charlotte felt utterly trapped.
She patted her cheeks as she walked, trying to compose herself
It wasn’t like she’d just experienced some… things last night, and then discovered some…. other things this morning…
But when she sat down and saw him looking coolly composed in the sunlight.. her mind immediately flashed to him in that half–open black robe exuding desire… and worst of all, her brain supplied an unwanted mental picture of him alone in the bathroom taking care of… things…
Dear God-
Charlotte closed her eyes, fighting for mental control.
She hadn’t conjured these images intentionally. She was an adult woman, and those thoughts had invaded her mind unbidden. She didn’t want her brain going there, but it had a mind of its own!
“I did warn you,” Zarek sighed.
Charlotte clenched her fist: How can you be so freaking calm?!
Zarek looked at her with concern: “You seem troubled. I’m worried I frightened you.”
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Charlotte raised her hand in a stopping gesture, her expression resolute. “I’m not easily rattled.”
She then pretended to eat breakfast casually.
She cut at her plate, bit at nothing, thinking about global conflicts, humanitarian crises… anything to change the mental channel.
She desperately tried to turn the page on the current situation.
But Zarek flipped it right back when he calmly said, “I apologize for kissing you without your consent.”
Charlotte choked on air, coughing violently.
Why was he bringing this up now?
Zarek poured her a glass of water and handed it over.
Charlotte drank half the glass before recovering. “Let’s just… pretend that never happened.”
“I need to take responsibility for my actions.”
Charlotte frantically waved her hands. “No need, no need, absolutely no need.”
She repeated “no need” three times, looking as if she’d seen a ghost.
Zarek’s eyes darkened momentarily. After a long pause, he laughed softly. “For someone who claims not to be easily rattled, you look pretty shaken.”
Charlotte sat clutching her glass, saying nothing.
The atmosphere grew noticeably tense.
She looked down at her crystal glass. So clear and beautiful, yet so fragile and deceptive…
Zarek stood up and left.
Charlotte set down the glass and slowly exhaled.
Perhaps it was the mountain air, or maybe his drug–induced kiss had given him a momentary confusion about her. Things would return to normal once they got back.
Yes, exactly, once they returned to New York he’d be his usual self again.
When she went outside, Ryan was already there.
He was reporting to Zarek: “Mr. Hara left before dawn, claiming food poisoning and gastroenteritis. His entire group left with him.”
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Zarek nodded without further comment.
Charlotte thought: So the old fox knew to run. Seems Natalie delivered the message.
With Leif Hara’s hasty departure, the inspection ceremony that both executives were supposed to attend now had only Zarek representing.
From 10 AM to 4 PM, Zarek attended the inspection ceremony and luncheon, then toured the resort with the management team.
Charlotte remained by his side throughout.
By the time they finished and prepared to return, it was already 4:30 PM.
On the way to the resort, Zarek had her sit in the back with him. At the time, Charlotte hadn’t thought much of it–the mountain roads were winding, and the back seat was safer.
But on the return trip, she absolutely refused to sit in the back with him.
Charlotte opened the car door, and Zarek got in first, sliding over to make room.
His intention was obvious.
“Slam!”
Charlotte closed the back door and opened the front passenger door instead.
Zarek:
”
Driver: Huh? Why is Ms. Whitmore sitting up front? Did they have a fight?
“We can go now,” Charlotte said to the driver after fastening her seatbelt.
The driver silently started the car.
The entire journey was uncomfortably quiet.
The silence felt like the calm before a storm–the air pressure so low it was suffocating.
Charlotte didn’t doze off this time, sitting properly the whole way.
The driver, feeling the tension, considered opening a window for fresh air.
As the car left the mountains, darkness began to fall, and the distant city lights came into view.
Zarek received a phone call. After hanging up, he told the driver, “Change of plans. We’re not going to the airport yet.”
He gave the driver an address for a private club.
Charlotte turned her head slightly from the front seat.
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Chapter 110
She had overheard the call, and from the conversation, it seemed to be a close friend.
But if they went there, would they still be able to return to New York tonight?
“Ms. Whitmore, if you want to return to New York first, you can go ahead.”
A deep, emotionless voice came from behind her.
