CHARLOTTEFew things have knocked the wind out of my sails, like receiving this news. Everything spun momentarily, and it felt as if someone had thrown a brick at my head. I started to feel faint, my heart felt like it would burst, and my palms grew clammy as beads of sweat formed on my forehead.“What do you mean, he’s dead?” I asked, struggling to collect my thoughts. “He can’t be dead; he just sent me this,” I added, showing her the texts I’d received from him.She stared at the phone’s screen for a moment, then sighed. “Signora, I—” she began, but I shook my head vigorously.“No,” I interrupted, defiance etched on my face. “He can’t be dead, not when we’re making progress with the case. He—” My words faltered as I began to cry. She reached for my hands and held them.“I know it’s hard to accept, and I’m so sorry you had to hear it like this. I was hoping to wait until you were feeling better before saying anything, but he’s dead. He really is,” she said slowly, releasing my hand w
CHARLOTTESonia had left the room, mentioning she needed to update the guards on the current situation. I was glad to have a moment to myself. Lying in bed, I replayed our conversation in my mind—everything was happening too fast. I glanced at my phone, tempted to call the firm, but I couldn’t bring myself to pick it up. Someone was dead because of me, and I couldn’t shake off the weight of that reality.A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts, and Sonia re-entered.“You don’t have to stay,” I said, watching her walk to the bathroom to wash her hands. “You’ve been through quite a bit yourself. You should rest.”She stepped out, drying her hands with a towel before tossing it into the laundry basket. “I can’t leave you alone,” she replied, sitting in the chair positioned near the door. “The guards are supposed to take shifts watching you, but I figured you wouldn’t be comfortable with that.”“You’re right,” I admitted. “I wouldn’t. I just need to be alone right now to think.”So
Charlotte“What do you mean?” I asked, stepping back as the woman struggled to stand. She paused to catch her breath, then stifled a cough, but blood trickled from the corner of her lips.I glanced at Sonia, wondering if this was the reason she had been washing her hands in the bathroom earlier. She seemed like she was ready to start another session if the occasion called for it, and that scared me a little. I wondered what else she was doing that I may not have considered this the entire time.“Your presence here, Signora,” the woman continued speaking. I turned my attention back to her as she stood up slowly. I realized that her hands were tied, and the left side of her face had been badly bruised. “It’s going to stir the pot. A lot of people are going to wind up dead or missing because you can’t stay dead. It’s a shame I won’t be here to see it, but I’m sure,” she added, coughing, then chuckling. “I’m sure it would be so much fun,” she finished.“I wasn’t dead. I didn’t commit suic
CHARLOTTEI woke up to someone knocking on the door, reached for my phone, and glanced at the time. I tried to stifle a yawn as I stood up and walked toward the door. “Who is it?” I asked, placing a hand against my forehead.“Sonia,” came the reply, and I opened the door. “How are you feeling?” she asked as soon as she stepped inside.“I feel great,” I said, hesitating. “Though I’m not sure I should… with everything that’s happened.”“It’s good you focus on getting better. We can’t keep dwelling on the past. The best way forward is to look for some silver lining.” She interrupted, and I raised an eyebrow.“When did you become so optimistic?” I teased. She chuckled and shrugged.“I’ve had a few hours to think things over. Bottom line? It might be better to look on the bright side.”“What’s the…” I began, but trailed off, turning back toward the bed. “I got a message from Thiago last night,” I said, sitting down. “Is he back?”“Yes, he heard…” she started, but stopped, shaking her head.
CHARLOTTEThe activities of the previous day left me feeling weaker than I’d anticipated, but in a good way. I needed a minute to catch my breath afterward, but I was glad I did it.“How’re you feeling today?” Sonia asked as she walked into the room.I stared at her attire in confusion; she was wearing different clothes from yesterday—blue pants and a cream top I had never seen. She usually wore black, and seeing her in different colors felt strange and exciting. I realized she still had the apron on, and my face morphed into a frown. “What are you doing?” I asked, and she chuckled.“Making you breakfast. Well, everyone’s doing something as well—our way of saying thank you,” she said, folding her arms.“You don’t have to do anything in return. You already—” I started to say, but she held up her hand.“I’m sorry, we’ve been over this,” she said, and I chuckled.“Right. We have. Thank you,” I answered, and she nodded.“Do you have a plan for today?” she asked, and I looked at the clock,
CHARLOTTEWhen I opened my eyes, the car had slowed to a halt in front of a black gate, and the driver was speaking to a guard who held a large notepad. I sat up and watched as the guard shook his head and peered into the vehicle. I blinked in confusion and caught a flash of recognition in his eyes when he looked at me. He stepped back and sighed, returning to the security post to speak with his companion, who pressed a button, opening the gates.I tried to see his face as we drove past the post, but he had already moved inside, making it impossible to get a clear look. I replayed the moment of recognition in my mind, searching for a reason why he’d react like that, but nothing came to me. I shook the thought away and turned my attention to the environment as we passed trees and shrubs. Slowly, we made our way toward a building in the middle of a clearing, the pastel blue walls contrasting against the bright green landscape that surrounded us.The car slowed to a stop in front of the
CHARLOTTE“Come… come in,” I stammered, stepping away from the entrance and holding the door open for them to walk in.As they moved to different parts of the room, Sonia made a beeline for the wardrobe while the lawyer sat down on the couch opposite the bed. I peeped outside and scanned the hallway before closing the door. “Would you like something to drink? I could call room service,” I offered. They turned to look at me and shook their heads in unison.“You don’t have to do that,” Sonia said, turning to open the wardrobe door. She placed the items she was holding inside and started to lock it when she noticed the bouquet.“I’m alright,” Coleen said, setting her suitcase on the floor. I turned to her and watched as she reached into her bag, producing a notepad and a case file. “I had something to eat on my way here,” she added with a thin smile.“Are you sure?” I asked, glancing at Sonia, who had moved from her previous position to a corner of the room. She was leaning against the w
CHARLOTTE“Dafoe & Higgins,” I said as I stepped into the room. “I’ve never heard of them,” I added, glancing at Sonia, who had moved from her former position to sitting on the couch.“Yeah? I didn’t know about them either. I asked a friend for someone they could trust, and they recommended her. What do you think?” she replied. I clicked my tongue against the roof of my mouth.“I think she’s too excited to do this,” I answered, and she chuckled.“Isn’t that supposed to be a good thing?” she asked, and I shook my head.“Ideally, yes. But Berkeley was excited too, and that didn’t go well for him. I guess there’s a part of me that’s still scared of things going wrong,” I admitted, and we sat in silence for a while.“It’s okay to feel that way. The best we can do to prevent anything like that from happening is to ensure our security measures are airtight,” she replied as I walked toward the bed.“Yes, we’ll do that. The first thing on the list is to stop using the same location twice, esp
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