CHARLOTTE“What do you mean they’re after Thiago too?” I asked, glancing at her. She shook her head.“If he didn’t tell you, it’s not my place to,” she replied, and I scoffed. I thought we were past this. I guess opening up to her about certain things hasn’t brought us as close as I thought.“You can do better than that. He said something about us fighting the same enemy. Those weren’t his exact words, but you get it...” I started, but she looked out the window.“We’ve found a connection between the incident at The Hilton and the Narhzy family,” she began. I listened intently as she explained the silent rivalry between the Mooze and Narhzy families.Both families were business partners at one point, a formidable force in the corporate world, expanding their ventures far and wide. But someone from the Narhzy family decided they wanted more—a higher stake in the shares than what the founding fathers had previously agreed on. His family backed his decision. This angered the Mooze family,
CHARLOTTEI spent the next few hours alone, and I detested it. It was nice to be back in the apartment, but I felt so annoyed, I couldn’t appreciate being in my own space again. Well, I wasn’t technically alone, given that I walked past the guards who were sharing a beer at the door on my way in, and I knew one would be here soon to hand me my things.But it still felt lonely. I chalked it up to spending the night elsewhere and trying to settle into feeling comfortable here, and I took the bags in my hand to the kitchen. I had left the file on the sitting room table with the intention of reading it before I ate, but my cravings overwhelmed my sense of curiosity, and I was happy to ignore it for a bit.“It’s not going anywhere anyway,” I said and ignored it for a little longer.As I moved around the house, I pondered the exchange with Sonia. She had never lost her cool around me, and as much as I was annoyed that she wouldn’t tell me everything she knew, I understood her frustration wi
CHARLOTTE“Hello, Maria,” I said into the receiver and waited for her response. It had been two hours since the training session with Sonia. I was aching in different parts of my body, but I had learned a thing or two about handling a gun and the perfect stance to take before shooting.Deep down, I hoped I’d never have to use the gun. I considered learning how to use it a necessity, but if push came to shove, I hoped I’d never have to put this new skill to use. I knew the people I was up against had zero compunction about taking a life if it meant achieving their goal, but I had never killed anyone. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to sleep well at night if I did, and chalking it up to self-defense wouldn’t help the situation, either.“Hello, Signora,” came the reply.Her voice was so calm it unnerved me. “Are you alright?” I inquired. “You sound… different.”“I’m okay, just exhausted. I’ve had a lot to do today at the estate,” she replied, but deep down, it felt like she wasn’t telling the
CHARLOTTEI dropped the phone on the bed and started pacing around the room, thinking about the possibility that Thiago would’ve gone to Milan, but that didn’t make any sense. Why would he go there? How did he find his way to the estate, and what did he want? I had so many questions, and none of the answers I could come up with made any sense. I heard my phone ring, stopped walking, and picked it up.“Signora? Are you alright?” Maria said, and I let out a short laugh.“I’m not sure. I’m sorry I hung up so quickly. I’m confused...” I started to say and paused as my thoughts darted to and fro in my head.“Nothing to be sorry about. I assumed it’s ‘cause you were shocked after figuring out who it was,” she replied. I pulled the phone away from my ear and put it on speaker.“Yes... about that. I’ve been thinking, it makes no sense that it’d be the person I think it is,” I answered, folding my arms. “Makes absolutely no sense. How did he find the estate?” I added, frowning, trying to remem
CHARLOTTEI spent most of the night awake, thinking about the best way to talk to Thiago about visiting the estate. That wasn’t the only question I had on my mind, but it was one of the most pressing ones. A few hours before dawn, I started to fall asleep, but it was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell.When it rang the first time, I thought I was hearing things, and my mind was playing tricks on me. By the second ring, I was convinced it was coming from inside the apartment and got out of bed. I made my way to the front door and opened it to meet Sonia, who was staring at me curiously.“You look like you saw a ghost,” she said as I stepped aside to let her in.“It feels like I heard one, and that’s relatively worse,” I answered and shut the door.“You haven’t slept a wink, have you?” she asked, walking towards one of the couches to sit down.“Barely. I was about to before the bell went off. When did we get a bell? Why didn’t you tell me? I was so shocked to hear it ring,” I repl
CHARLOTTE“Did anything happen there? You seem worried,” Sonia said as soon as I stepped into the vehicle.“I… I don’t know, I feel weird. Like something’s going to happen, and I can’t do anything to stop it,” I replied.“What’s that supposed to mean?” she mumbled, frowning.“How many more questions do we have to go through until we get back to the part where I don’t know?” I asked sarcastically, and she rolled her eyes.“Don’t be snarky,” she retorted and turned to look out the window.“Can’t help it, that’s the point,” I answered as the driver started the ignition, and the car pulled out of the lot. “Everything is so complicated. I don’t understand it sometimes.”“Sometimes?” she echoed, and I chuckled. We spent the rest of the drive in silence; I was really tired of this cycle. I sounded like a broken record at this point, but the entire thing felt like it was taking more from me than I wanted to give.It seemed like life just brought numerous obstacles my way, and I was sick of go
ELENAMilan wasn’t proving to be everything I had hoped for when I returned. I had started to regret not completely leaving to start my life on my own terms. Not having the resources needed for sustenance had driven me back home, but it was starting to feel like I had made a terrible mistake. My father continued to pressure me about the wedding with Rogerio.I was tired of giving excuses, telling him we were still working on the plan when, in reality, nothing was happening. All I had gotten from this entire ordeal was a lavish bachelorette party. And money— lots of it. I had enough to keep me afloat for a few weeks, but my main goal hadn’t been achieved yet. When I returned home, my father made me promise to get Rogerio to marry me again; he wanted the union as a way to gain access to the Thuthai family.Knowing my family, I could tell that he had nefarious plans beyond what he told me, but my role wasn’t to ask questions. I had one job: to marry the heir of the Thuthai family wealth,
ROGERIOFor someone who’s envisioned having the grandest wedding the city has ever seen and looks forward to being part of the Thuthai family, Elena’s grudges were not unfounded, but I had my reservations too. It was easy to make the conversation we had about the wedding revolve around my uncertainty about whether she was going to leave again when, in reality, I couldn’t stop thinking about Charlotte.The conversation I had with Maria replays in my head every second. I needed to find Charlotte. I considered going back to the hotel, but I knew it was futile. If Maria didn’t want to talk about it the first time, she certainly wasn’t going to mention it at all. I had to find Charlotte on my own, but it was becoming clearer that all the resources I had couldn’t get a definite location.The private investigators I hired were at their wits’ end; they’d seen nothing like this. It felt like she dropped off the surface of the Earth.“Why can’t they find her?” I said and leaned backward.I was
CHARLOTTEThe party had gone according to plan; everyone had a great time, and I was delighted to have pulled it off despite my initial doubts. It felt like, for the first time in a long while, something had gone according to plan without any hitches, and I was delighted to be part of it.As people filed out of the establishment, I settled into my office chair, sipping wine straight from the bottle. It felt like a small reward for a job well done. However, by the time I reached my second bottle, I knew leaving the office without stumbling over objects, or even people, was becoming increasingly unlikely.I giggled at the thought of falling over things, but knew it would be a terrible sight for everyone involved to watch their new manager embarrass herself because she couldn’t hold her alcohol. That was why I had stuck to drinking only a few glasses while the party was in full swing. Now that I was certain everyone had enjoyed themselves, it was time for my little celebration.When I le
ROGERIOThe wind blew debris across the estate as I stepped out of the front door. I watched the gardener and another worker dash toward the trash bins, trying to gather the scattered pieces and secure them. Climbing into the car, I glanced back at the house one last time.Maria’s response lingered in my mind as the vehicle hummed to life. The driver guided us through the gates and into the bustling city center, a blur of movement and noise. My visit to Maria had been a dead end; she was hell-bent on keeping Charlotte’s whereabouts from me, and for good reason.I was certain Maria knew exactly where Charlotte was staying, but she’d made the same calculations I had. My confession hadn’t helped my case.I’d assumed that being honest with her would make her see reason, that she might even try to help me out of this impossible situation. But hope, as I’ve learned, is a fickle emotion— present one moment, gone the next. As soon as she started laughing, I knew I’d lost the fight completely.
ELENARogerio’s approach to planning the wedding had finally pushed me to the wall, so I decided to call his mother. My family had spent the last few weeks reminding me that I’d thrown away my chances with the Thuthai family the first time, and I had to ensure the wedding happened this time. They didn’t care if I had to grovel or beg to become the next Signora Thuthai; they simply wanted me to do whatever it took to get it done.I knew calling his mom was a power move. She wouldn’t entertain the flimsy excuses Rogerio had been giving me for not picking a date, and he’d be forced to do whatever she said. As I sat at my vanity table, doing my makeup for the dinner Rogerio and I were supposed to have tonight, I wondered if he’d detest me even more than he already did - or if he’d understand that I’d done what needed to be done.The door creaked open, and a head full of red hair peeked through. I blinked, confused. I’d been expecting my assistant and had already prepared a speech to addre
ROGERIO“Hello, Rogerio,” the voice rang through the speaker, and my eyes flew open as I recognized who the speaker was. My mother rarely called. She was prone to making unannounced visits; a call meant that she had grown weary of the situation but couldn’t be bothered enough to make a trip.If it was important enough for her to make a call, there were two things attached to it. One, it needed to be urgently resolved. Two, she wouldn’t want to have the conversation again. I sat up and glanced around the room.I had taken the day off to schedule a meeting with Thiago, but he rescheduled, and I went home. It was a strange decision, an impulsive one, but I did it. The alternative was to go back to the office, then prepare for dinner with Elena, but I chose peace and quiet.“Hello, Mother, how’re you doing?” I replied and closed my eyes as she cleared her throat.“Were you asleep?” she asked, and I arched an eyebrow.“Why? You sound surprised,” I answered, trying to steady my nerves. I co
CHARLOTTEWe spent the rest of the day shopping, and what I thought would be a tedious spree turned out to be unexpectedly delightful. It gave me a glimpse of Thiago in a completely different light. I’d seen him in many shades, commanding with his security personnel, thoughtful and kind, calm yet simmering with intensity. But this carefree, lighthearted side of him was new.He had Sonia and the other guards keep a respectful distance as we moved between stores, selecting outfits. Thiago would try on clothing, examine himself in the mirror, and eagerly ask for my feedback. I knew he valued honesty, so I gave it without hesitation.If something looked good, I told him; if it didn’t, I suggested a different color or style. He did the same when I modeled my picks, though it took me a little while to loosen up enough to show him.Each time I tried on a dress, skirt, or blouse, he offered playful yet sincere critiques that eased my nerves. By the end of the day, I was laughing at his exagge
CHARLOTTE“I can’t take the job,” I said as soon as I stepped into the office. Thiago raised his head to meet my gaze and broke into a grin.“I knew you’d come,” he replied, standing up. “Sit. How are you feeling?”“I’m exhausted, and it’s not the type that comes from physical exertion. I can’t explain it, but I’m genuinely tired of everything,” I answered, sitting down.He returned to his seat and watched my expression for a moment before speaking.“I can’t say I understand how you feel, but I know what it’s like to feel overwhelmed by situations, especially those beyond our control. But I think you should take the job.”“Why? I don’t have any experience. I don’t know what it’s like to run a business, and I don’t have a degree that would give me the foundation to pull it off either. What’s the point?” I replied, throwing my hands up in frustration.When we left the apartment, Sonia had tried to convince me to take the job. I had been considering it during the ride here, but when I st
CHARLOTTEMy eyes flew open when I heard a knock on the door, and I realized that I had fallen asleep on the couch. The empty bottle of wine lay on the floor next to my feet, and my head throbbed as the events of the previous night flashed through my mind. “Come in,” I called out, and the door opened.Two guards stepped into the room, carrying a large frame covered with a white film. I immediately sat up as they looked around, trying to figure out where to place it. Sonia walked into the room and pointed to a corner; they made their way there and carefully placed the frame on the floor before leaving as quietly as they had come in.“Good morning, Signora,” Sonia muttered, her eyes glancing around the room and resting on the bottle. “You look pale,” she added, and I clicked my tongue against the roof of my mouth.“Hello, Sonia. You look like you’ve come to make my life a living hell,” I replied, and she laughed.“You only think that because you’ve been drinking again— a little too much
CHARLOTTEI walked towards the elevator with slow, steady steps. The evening had ended on a calm note, and I was happy to be alone with my thoughts. The last thing I needed was a conversation with Sonia, or anyone else in particular.I simply wanted to walk into the apartment, take off my dress, and get into bed. I pressed the button on the wall, and the elevator doors slid open. As I stepped inside, I heard someone call my name and turned around to see Thiago walking towards me.I resisted the urge to groan and held the doors until he reached where I stood. I was just celebrating not having to talk to anyone, only to have the one person I absolutely had to talk to walk up to me.“I thought you had left,” I said as he stepped into the elevator.“Yes, but we had to turn around. I left something important in one of the apartments, and…” He reached into his pocket. “I wanted to give you this,” he finished, handing me a small black box.“What is it?” I asked, staring at the box intently.
CHARLOTTE“You don’t have to go there, you know. I know a…” he started to say as I stared at the card in my hand. It was a black business card that had an address and Tiana’s name printed on the back.“Where is this?” I asked, studying the card curiously.“It’s Tiana’s favorite restaurant, one of her favorites to be fair,” he answered, and I smiled. “Don’t pay her any attention; she’s a nosy brat,” he said with feigned annoyance, and I chuckled because I could tell that, as much as he acted like he didn’t want her in his business, it wasn’t hard to see that he still adored her.“I want to go. I like your cousin,” I said, running my fingers across the edge of the card.“I was afraid you’d say that,” he replied and shook his head. “She’d be delighted to hear that. I have to warn you, though. When Tee sets her mind on something, she doesn’t stop till she’s achieved it.”I turned to him and arched an eyebrow. “What could she possibly have her mind set on by offering me a card to one of he