Chapter 4: The Feud Reignited

The first several days that Charlotte spent working at Kingsley Corporation helped her feel more at ease in her position. She was prepared to put her attention on establishing her own credibility now that the humiliation of spilling coffee on CEO Asher Kingsley had largely passed.

This particular day was particularly exciting for her since she had been given a high-profile project to work on, and she was determined to make a good impression.

Charlotte was asked to come to Asher's office that morning to talk about the new project. When she came in, he was, as usual, calm and collected, going through construction plans.

“Miss Evans,” he said as she sat down, his gaze briefly meeting hers. “I’m assigning you to help lead the design phase for our latest project—a luxury hotel development.”

Charlotte’s excitement grew. This was exactly what she had been waiting for. “Thank you, Mr. Kingsley. I’ll do my best.”

“You’ll be working with external partners on this one,” he continued. “Westwood Enterprises.”

Charlotte felt a flicker of recognition at the name, but she didn’t dwell on it. “Understood,” she said, focused on the task ahead.

Asher nodded. “The meeting is this afternoon. I expect you to be ready to present your initial concepts.”

With a mix of anticipation and anxiety, Charlotte departed from his office. Despite the immense potential of this opportunity, she sensed an air of unease in Asher's voice whenever he brought up Westwood Enterprises. Nevertheless, she ignored it, resolved to concentrate on the task at hand.

Meanwhile, across town, Liam and Luke Westwood—twins and heirs to the Westwood empire—were discussing the same project in their sleek, modern office.

Liam stood at six feet tall, with an athletic build, dark hair neatly styled, and piercing blue eyes that conveyed determination. He had a calm confidence and a composed demeanor that made him a natural leader.

Luke, slightly shorter but equally fit, had tousled chestnut hair and warm brown eyes that gave him a more approachable look. With a mischievous grin and a casual style—a fitted blazer over a crisp shirt—he contrasted Liam’s more polished appearance.

“I can’t believe we’re working with the Kingsleys on this project,” Liam muttered, scanning the meeting agenda for the hotel development.

Luke scoffed, leaning back in his chair. “I don’t trust them. Asher Kingsley thinks he can walk all over us because of his name.”

Liam nodded in agreement, his brow furrowing. “He’s as ruthless as his father. This whole partnership is a joke. I can’t wait until we’re in a position where we don’t have to work with them anymore.”

“Agreed,” Luke replied, a hint of frustration in his tone. “They think their money gives them an edge over us, but we have our own strengths.”

Liam sighed, glancing out the window as if searching for clarity. “We need to be cautious. This isn’t just business—it’s our family legacy at stake.”

Charlotte was excited to present when she arrived at the conference room later that afternoon, her sketches in hand. When a group of people from Westwood Enterprises entered, she was drawn to the presence of a striking woman right away. She had a confident demeanor and her eyes were piercing.

“Good afternoon, everyone,” the woman said smoothly, her tone confident. “I’m Kianna Westwood, project manager for Westwood Enterprises.”

Charlotte felt a small jolt at the name but quickly brushed it aside. It’s just a coincidence, she thought.

Asher’s expression shifted as Kianna entered. He stiffened slightly, and Charlotte sensed an unspoken tension between him and Kianna.

“Looks like we’re finally working together, Asher,” Kianna said, stepping closer to the table with a playful smile. “I’ve always admired your projects. Maybe we can collaborate more closely on this one.”

Asher maintained a professional demeanor, his eyes narrowing slightly. “This is a business meeting, Kianna,” he replied, his tone firm.

Kianna, undeterred, glanced over at Charlotte. “And you must be the new talent. I have to say, I’m impressed you made it this far. Asher has high standards, you know.”

Charlotte felt a slight flush of embarrassment but kept her composure. “Thank you, Kianna. I’m excited to be part of this project.”

Kianna smirked, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Just make sure you don’t get too ambitious. We wouldn’t want you to bite off more than you can chew.”

Charlotte’s stomach tightened, but she smiled politely. “I believe in aiming high. It’s important to push boundaries.”

“Oh, I see,” Kianna said, feigning surprise. “Ambition is great and all, but it’s best to know your place in a room full of heavyweights.”

Asher’s expression darkened, but he didn’t intervene right away. Charlotte could feel the tension rising, but she refused to let Kianna’s jabs affect her.

Trying to lighten the mood, Charlotte made a joke. “Well, at least no coffee was spilled today,” she said with a nervous laugh, referencing her earlier mishap.

The room fell silent. Kianna raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “Let’s hope you don’t spill any design concepts during this meeting. That would be a real tragedy.”

Charlotte cringed internally at the jab but maintained her composure. “I assure you, my designs are in good shape,” she replied.

Asher finally spoke up, his voice calm but firm. “Let’s keep the focus on the project. Miss Evans’ ideas deserve our attention.”

Kianna crossed her arms, a smirk playing on her lips. “Of course, Asher. Just looking out for our newcomer. We wouldn’t want her to get overwhelmed.”

Charlotte felt a mix of frustration and determination. She was here to prove herself, and Kianna’s remarks wouldn’t derail her.

As the meeting progressed, Kianna continued to undermine Charlotte’s ideas, but Asher defended her each time, his irritation with Kianna evident. Charlotte appreciated his support, but she was still perplexed by the hostility in the room.

When their eyes met briefly, Charlotte felt a strange connection with Asher—an appreciation for his defense. Despite Kianna’s attempts to rattle her, Charlotte felt a surge of gratitude.

As the meeting concluded, Charlotte packed her materials, her mind racing with questions. Asher remained behind, looking more withdrawn than usual.

“Mr. Kingsley?” Charlotte asked cautiously as she approached him. “Is everything alright? I couldn’t help but notice a lot of tension in the room today.”

Asher glanced up from his notes, his expression cool and impassive. “It’s nothing you need to worry about, Miss Evans,” he replied, his voice smooth. “Focus on the project.”

Charlotte nodded, though she couldn’t shake the feeling that something deeper was happening between the Kingsleys and Westwoods.

As she walked out of the conference room, she had no idea she was about to be pulled into a family feud that was far more personal than she could imagine.