CharlotteI stared in disbelief at his response and instantly looked away. An uneasy feeling coursed through my body in waves. I had moved miles away to run from a reality I didn’t want, but it had caught up with me.“You didn’t call anybody. Did you?” I asked as my palms felt sweaty and my body trembled slightly. If he had thought that I was part of Rogerio’s family and called them, I wasn’t sure how to process that.I didn’t want them to know where I was. I had moved so far so I never crossed paths with them. I knew the Thuthais were somewhere in the upper-class region, but I hoped for a minute that I would get a break from all that. I tried to steady my breathing and started pacing.“No, I didn’t think I had any reason to,” he said after a long silence, and I sighed in relief.“Is there a problem? You have their…” he continued, but I waved dismissively.“It’s a long story. Complicated one too,” I responded.“I’ve got a lot of those too,” he said, and we chuckled. We stared at each
CHARLOTTE“You get right down to business, don’t you?” he replied. “I like it.” The car slowed to a halt, and the driver turned off the ignition.I glanced out the window to see the occupants of the other vehicles exiting and heading towards the entrance. Turning back to him, I arched my eyebrows. “I’ve learned it’s the only way to live,” I said, folding my arms across my chest. “So? What’s it going to be? Are you going to tell me what this is all about or not?”“I’d prefer to show you,” he answered with a smile. I started to say something, but the driver turned around to speak to him. He looked worried for a moment, then quickly masked his emotions. I tried not to listen, but it was impossible sitting right there.Their conversation sounded like gibberish to me, and I itched to get out of the car. My thoughts shifted to the suitcases in the backseat of the other car, and I remembered that I had been sitting still for a while in musty, uncomfortable clothes. “What I need is a bath and
CHARLOTTEWe stepped into a hall with pastel pink walls and flowers painted in darker shades in the corners. The air smelled fresh, yet held a familiar scent I couldn’t quite place. Sonia started to walk towards the end of the hall, where a single white door stood. I followed her with cautious steps and stopped in my tracks as she placed her hand on the knob. “What am I doing?” I muttered. She turned around to look at me.A look of confusion crossed her features for a moment, then it was instantly replaced by understanding. She let go of the door and turned fully to face me. We stared at each other in silence, and then she smiled knowingly. “You’re scared you’re walking into something bad?” she asked.I shrugged in response and ran my hand through my hair, which had been in a messy bun all day. I lowered my gaze and stared at the robe for a minute. “I’ve had quite the day, and my life has taken a drastic turn the last few weeks, so forgive me if I don’t trust anything,” I stated, movi
CHARLOTTEI stepped out of the bathroom, feeling a lot better than I had in the last few days. Sonia had shown me around and exited the apartment to give me some time to myself, and I was grateful for the silence. I wasn’t necessarily comfortable, but taking a bath had helped to calm me. I still felt very confused about the entire ordeal, but I was certain I’d be more receptive to whatever information Thiago had to give.I walked to the bed and found a clothes bag lying on it, a note pinned to a black box placed beside it. “What’s this?” I said, picking up the box.I brought it close to my ear and shook it; the box made a faint rattling sound, which piqued my curiosity. I moved it in front of me and read the note:I’d be ready to answer your questions at dinner. Take all the time you need. Call Sonia when you’re ready.I looked around for a signature or anything to indicate who had signed the note or left the present, then chided myself for being ridiculous. There was only one person
CHARLOTTEI picked up my phone and glanced at the time. It had been half an hour since I spoke with Sonia and I felt like I was ready to go now. I put the phone down and stared at my reflection in the mirror. The dress accentuated my figure, and I loved how comfortable the material felt on my skin. If there was anything I prioritized regarding my fashion choices, it was comfort. It felt great to be out of that robe, which was a representation of everything I didn’t want to feel ever again.Sonia arrived at the apartment to pick me up, accompanied by two men who helped move my boxes into the living room. They offered to take them to the bedroom, but I insisted I’d handle it when we returned. As we drove through the city, I couldn’t have anticipated a rooftop dinner. But as she led me up the stairs and held the door open, I finally understood what she meant about the Mooze family’s traditions. They had a knack for ensuring everyone experienced a taste of luxury.“Call me when you’re rea
CHARLOTTEIf I told anyone that I was satisfied with Thiago’s explanation about the events of the previous evening, I’d be lying. I had listened to every word, and they seemed sincere, but I could tell something was missing. There was something he wasn’t telling me, and that left me frustrated. Perhaps I was biased, already inclined to mistrust him as I lay in bed the morning after, pondering our conversation.He started by explaining the connection his family has to The Hilton Hotel and how the attack, which included the collapse of the building, was orchestrated by a business rival who had proposed a deal to the Mooze family a few months ago. His family owned the hotel, amongst other ventures scattered throughout the city and other countries. Their influence could be traced back to days when the town had just started blooming, and they had done quite well for themselves over the years.Being heir to the family’s assets, he had been sent away to Europe to get a dual degree in law and
CHARLOTTEThe rest of the evening passed quickly, though it had been somewhat awkward. Despite the delicious platters prepared by the chefs, I could barely enjoy the food, as my thoughts were scattered. I had expected our conversation to bring clarity, but instead, each sentence from Thiago left me more uneasy. I longed to return to the apartment, to be alone with my thoughts.I needed to be alone with my thoughts and at some point in the conversation, when he added that the penthouse was his way of ensuring I was comfortable throughout my stay in the city and I could stay for as long as I wanted, I wasn’t sure how to respond to that. While it felt like a great offer, I was terrified I had walked out of a terrible situation into a volcanic eruption.Would I be able to sleep with both eyes closed, knowing that I may be attacked as a way to get to the Moozes? The assailants had gotten away and while Thiago assured me that his men and the authorities were doing everything possible to fin
CHARLOTTE“A peace offering? I didn’t think we left dinner on a bad note; the food was quite lovely,” I replied, gesturing to the sofa behind him. “Please, sit.”“Thank you.” He settled onto the couch, glancing at the bottle and glass I had placed on the table before his arrival. “Yeah, everything else was lovely, but it still felt like something was... off. So, I came here to offer these, but I see you’ve already found the stash...”I chuckled, easing onto the couch opposite him. “It seemed like a great way to distract myself from thoughts I’m trying not to pay attention to,” I admitted, catching his wistful smile.“I understand. That’s partly why I’m here,” he confessed, leaning forward.“While we’re on the subject of distractions, would you like to go to the beach with me this evening?”His offer caught me off guard, and I hesitated. “I... I’m not sure,” I began, but he raised a hand, halting me.“No need to decide now. I understand if it seems rushed. But know this: whatever happen
CHARLOTTEWhen I got home that evening, one of the guards was holding a box, which he handed to me with a cheesy smile. I took it, arching an eyebrow, but as I read the note stamped on the side, I understood why he was smiling that way.Thiago had picked the silliest yet cutest way to ask me out to dinner. I chuckled, thanked him, and walked into the apartment.I knew Thiago was just being performative with this gesture, and while I appreciated it, I wasn’t sure I liked the ideas it might put in the minds of others.Hopefully, they’d been around us long enough to know there was nothing between us - or so I hoped.When I opened the box and turned it on the bed, a dark blue dress fell out. It was short, with purple and silver frills, a bodice I feared would be too tight, and small sleeves that let my arms breathe. I picked it up, admired it, and reached for my phone to call him.“What’s the occasion?” I asked, as he picked up on the first ring.He chuckled, clearing his throat before re
CHARLOTTEWhen I was done, I slid the mug over to him, and he inhaled the aroma first."What’s this called?" he asked, and I shrugged again."That’s not an answer," he added."Actually, it is. It’s called anything your taste buds want it to be. I have my name for it, but I like it when customers give their own. So, what do you want it to be called?" I responded, shoving the pen and notepad back into my pocket.He lifted the mug, looked at me with uncertainty, then sipped from it and smacked his tongue as he set it down."Oh, it’s sweet and hot. I like it," he said and downed the contents of the mug in one gulp, stifling a belch. "That’s actually great. Where’d you learn to mix like that?""Well, it’s been a few years since I bartended, but the art isn’t lost on me," I replied, folding my arms. "So, what do you want to call it?""I’m not sure… I might need another round to be certain," he said with a knowing smile. I chuckled and got to work making another drink for him.***The next f
CHARLOTTEWorking at the club was going smoother than I thought, and despite Thiago’s disapproval, I kept working as a bartender on some nights. When I wasn’t in the office with my nose stuck in financial records that I could barely understand, I took a break from that part of the trade by standing behind the counter, taking orders, and mixing drinks.It gave me the chance to familiarize myself with the regulars, whom I introduced myself to as “Charlotte,” but they preferred to call me “Charlie,” establish customer relationships with new customers, become closer with the staff who seemed to appreciate the approach I had taken towards running the establishment, and brush up my bartending skills.It was fun, a little overwhelming when I first set out to do it and stressful given that I hadn’t done it in a while, but still fun, and I made sure I had the best time. As I progressed, I asked the guards to get me a talkie or one of the earphones they used for their operations, and I became t
Elena“Very well. Also, call me when you’ve decided. I’ll reach out later in the week about the wedding plans. Now that a date has been set, everything should proceed smoothly,” she responded, her tone brisk. She said something to someone in the background, then hung up.I lowered the phone and stared at the screen for a few seconds before shaking my head. I never knew what to expect with the Thuthais. As much as I hated to admit it, Maria was right. No matter how much I tried to stay ahead of the curve, something always came up to make me feel like I was twenty steps behind.I knew I had to talk to Rogerio now. There were no more excuses to reschedule outings or avoid meetings. This had to be done soon. But before that, I needed to talk to someone else: my father.He had been the mastermind behind my insistence on the estate that had been given to Charlotte. No matter how much I tried to explain that securing it was nearly impossible, he remained adamant about pushing for it.It didn
ElenaI lowered the windows and closed my eyes as the wind blew tiny ringlets of hair across my face. I couldn’t stop thinking about Thiago’s words in the warehouse, about Rogerio’s insistence on finding Charlotte. Now I had Maria’s words to add to the mix.I tried to force myself to sleep, hoping it would save me from dwelling on the connection between what they had said, but the sound of the bustling city humming in the distance grew louder and closer, pulling me back.The noise reminded me that something else was out there, something beyond my reach. As we inched closer, I focused on the peculiar thought that every single person walking in and out of stores, yelling on street corners, or laughing in restaurants and bars with their partners and friends had their own unique problems. One way or another, regardless of social standing, we all shared that common thread.“Problems,” I muttered to myself, chuckling softly. “We all have problems we’re dealing with.” I shook my head at the
ElenaThey looked extremely stressed about the idea of answering to Rogerio, and I understood it. The power and social currency of the Rogerio name wasn’t something anyone in their right mind would dare go against.I was fully prepared to wield it to its maximum potential until one of the men finally spoke up, saying the only thing they could do was call Maria to come to the gate. That was perfect, as speaking with her had been my main objective all along.I crossed my arms, maintaining my annoyed expression while waiting. Predictably, Maria took her sweet time, and just as I was about to return to the car to sit and wait, she arrived with an expression far sourer than I could have conjured up myself.“You’re not wanted here,” she said coldly as the guards silently retreated to their posts, pretending not to eavesdrop on the conversation.“You have no right to tell me that. You just work here. This house belongs to Rogerio, and—” I began, but she cut me off with a sharp chuckle and an
ELENAThe meeting with Thiago had shaken me to my core. I had put up a brave face during the conversation, concealing my feelings as best as I could, but deep down, I was terrified of what the possibility of Charlotte being pregnant meant for me. If she were found, it would upend the plans I had carefully set in motion to solidify my place as Rogerio’s bride.For days, I mulled over ways to stay ahead of Rogerio and eventually decided to visit the estate. It had been a while since I was last there, and I wanted to see if my presence would provoke Maria enough to reveal any information about Charlotte’s whereabouts.That morning, I rose early, called my assistant, and instructed her to inform Rogerio that our meeting for the evening had been rescheduled. My plan was to spend the morning at the estate and see Thiago before he left Milan.However, the latter didn’t go as planned - my assistant informed me he had already left the city an hour before. I tried to reassure myself that Thiago
ROGERIO The plan was to wait outside her apartment and watch from a vantage point to study her movements. I wasn't sure what I'd be able to decipher from whatever I saw, but I still needed to satisfy the curiosity lodged at the back of my mind, propelling me to act on impulse. I didn't know what to expect, but even if she didn’t leave the house all day, I’d still be able to see if anyone came to visit. Maybe I’d do a better job identifying what exactly was going on. Half an hour later, I had parked the car a few meters away from her apartment block and turned off the ignition. I watched quietly to see what would transpire, and in all fairness, I was ready to stay there all day if I had to. My phone rang. I reached into my pocket for it and glanced at the screen. It was a call from the office, and I knew who would be on the other end. "Hello, Signor, you…" my assistant began as soon as I hit the dial button. I clicked my tongue against the roof of my mouth. "No meetings
ROGERIOI spent the next few days trying to weigh my options and decide the next step to take. "I have to watch her every move, but how?" I said to myself one morning as I prepared for work. Her assistant had called to reschedule the dinner we were supposed to have later that day, and instead of feeling relieved, my suspicion grew in leaps and bounds.I picked up my suitcase and stepped out of the apartment, deep in thought. She hadn't been here since the last time we spent time together. I was delighted to have my space all to myself the way I'd always wanted, but this new information stirred something in me, and I knew I would be restless until I found a way to sate it.I walked down the hallway, ignoring the guards that greeted me, and stepped into the elevator, trying to put the thought out of my mind and focus on the day ahead. But every step I took seemed to renew the desire to get to the bottom of this. As the elevator moved to the ground floor, I decided what I wanted to