Chapter 38

~Charlotte

My heart was racing, and my mind was swirling with panic. We were caught in a Catch-22. If we ended the contract, it would ruin Adam’s business plans. But if we didn’t, Dylan would do it for us, and it would end up destroying Adam’s reputation and undermining the respect he had earned in his business.

“There has to be another way,” I insisted, my voice quivering with desperation. “We can’t just sit here and wait for Dylan to ruin everything.”

Adam’s gaze drifted away from me, his eyes scanning the room as if searching for an answer. His thoughts seemed opaque and inscrutable.

He stood abruptly, his body tense and coiled like a spring ready to snap. “Maybe there is a way,” he said, his voice low and measured. “Perhaps we can use Dylan’s feelings to our advantage. If we play our cards right, we might be able to persuade him to keep quiet.”

I raised my eyebrows, surprised and intrigued. “How do you propose we do that?” I asked, trying to keep up with his train of thought.

Adam