Chapter 2: Unveiling the Truth
I walked into my apartment, feeling like the weight of the world had collapsed on me. The walls of my life were crumbling—James, work, everything. The memory of getting fired flashed through my mind, followed by the cruel end to my relationship with James. Everything was spiraling out of control, and all I could do was blink back the tears. But it was too much. The dam broke, and the tears came flooding out, falling like raindrops onto the floor. "I wish my father was still alive," I muttered, clutching a pillow tight against my chest. "Maybe all this wouldn't be so hard." Emma walked in, her face soft with sympathy, yet firm. "You've not lost everything, Charlotte. You still have me, your mom, and Olivia. We love you, and we believe in you. Forget about James. He's not worth this heartache." As much as I wanted to take solace in her words, I couldn't shake the lingering feeling of that phone call from the night before. The stranger’s voice had been filled with urgency, hinting at some dark secret about James. "Emma..." I whispered, "There’s something else," I said, wiping the last of the tears from my face. "Some guy called me last night. He said something about James being dangerous. I didn’t think much of it then, but... it’s been nagging at me." Emma’s brow furrowed. "That’s... weird. Maybe you should call him back and find out what this is really about." I hesitated. "What if it’s nothing?" "What if it’s something?" she shot back, her tone firm. "You need to know, Charlotte." Taking a deep breath, I nodded and grabbed my phone, dialing the number with trembling fingers. The line rang once, twice, before a voice on the other end picked up. "Hello? Miss Charlotte?" The voice was calm but tense, as if waiting for the wrong move. "This is Charlotte," I said, my voice surprisingly steady. "You called me about James. What’s going on?" There was a pause on the other end, and then the man spoke again, his tone lowering. "It’s not something I can explain over the phone. Can we meet? It’s important." My heart pounded, but I forced myself to stay calm. "Where?" He gave me the address of a restaurant—Momofuku Noodle Bar on First Avenue. I knew the place. Common, busy, public. That was good. "Alright," I agreed. "I’ll be there." *** The afternoon dragged on as my nerves buzzed beneath my skin. Just as the sun was starting to set, my phone buzzed with a reminder I’d set for work. Except there was no work. Not anymore. I groaned, rubbing my temples as I tried to shake off the overwhelming feeling of failure. But the feeling only deepened when the doorbell rang, and Olivia, my younger sister, rushed to open it. "Good evening, sir," Olivia’s voice chimed from the hallway. I tensed, hearing a man’s voice I didn’t recognize. I stood and walked toward the door, just as my mom appeared from the kitchen. Her eyes widened when she saw the landlord standing there, his arms crossed, his face set in a stern expression. "Good evening," my mom said, her voice shaking slightly. "Please, come in. Can I offer you something to drink?" He didn’t budge from the doorway. His eyes narrowed, and his voice was sharp. "I’m not here for a social visit, Mrs. Thompson. I’m here to remind you that rent is overdue." My mom’s face paled, her lips trembling as she tried to speak. "I... I know, sir. We’re trying to get the money together. Just a little more time—" "I’ve given you all the time I can. If the payment doesn’t come through soon, you’ll have to leave." The silence that followed was suffocating. My mom stood frozen, and I felt a wave of guilt crash over me. I should be helping. I should be contributing more. Instead, I was jobless and helpless. As the landlord left, my mom slumped against the wall, her eyes filled with worry. "It’ll be okay, Mom," I whispered, though I wasn’t sure if I believed it. My phone rang, cutting through the tension. It was the unknown number again—the man from earlier, reminding me of our meeting. I glanced at the time. It was almost evening. "I’m heading out," I told Emma, who had stuck by me through the entire mess. She grabbed her purse without hesitation. "I’m coming with you. You’re not meeting this guy alone." *** Momofuku Noodle Bar was just as busy as I remembered it. The smell of noodles and sizzling vegetables filled the air, but my stomach was in knots for a different reason. We stepped inside, scanning the room for the man. "There," Emma pointed. A man in a black shirt and blue pants sat near the back, his eyes locking onto mine as we approached. "Miss Charlotte," he greeted, standing as we reached the table. I shook his hand, feeling the tension radiating off him. "Let’s get to the point," I said, my voice firmer than I expected. "What’s going on with James?" He leaned forward, lowering his voice. "Stay away from James. He’s not who you think he is." My stomach dropped. "What do you mean?" "He’s involved in some dangerous activities—kidnapping, money laundering, and he’s broke. The authorities are closing in on him, and you don’t want to be anywhere near when they do." I stared at him, my mouth dry. "Kidnapping?" "Children," he said grimly. "For money. It’s... ugly. You’re lucky you got out when you did." I swallowed hard, trying to process everything. "I had no idea." "Just stay away," he warned. "They’ll be questioning everyone close to him, and you don’t want to be caught up in that." Emma gripped my hand under the table. "Thank God you’re not with him anymore." I nodded, still in shock. "Thank you for telling me." As we left the restaurant, the cool night air hit my face, snapping me back to reality. James wasn’t just a bad boyfriend. He was a monster. The next morning, I woke with a renewed sense of purpose. I wouldn’t let this define me. Dressed in a white suit, I walked through the city, dropping my résumé at every office I could find. Each rejection hurt, but I kept pushing. Just as I was leaving the last office, my phone buzzed with a message. Meet me at Club Aces (Irving Plaza Gramercy -17 Irving PL) tonight at 9 PM. Don’t be late. My heart raced as I stared at the unknown number. Charles. What did he want with me now? The game had changed, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready for what was coming.Chapter 3: The Night of Missed ChancesCharlesI straightened my collar for what felt like the hundredth time, a strange sense of excitement bubbling inside me. Tonight, I’d finally meet her—the woman who had been on my mind since the night we met. My heart raced as the clock ticked closer to 9:00 p.m. I’d sent her the club’s address, and now I was just waiting to see her again. It had been a long time since someone made me feel this way, and I was determined to make tonight unforgettable.---CharlotteI stared at the address on my phone, feeling a strange sense of familiarity wash over me. The club's location tugged at a distant memory, but I couldn’t place it. My phone buzzed with a message from Emma, but I decided not to bother her. She’d been through so much with me lately. I could handle this alone.The cab arrived quickly, and I climbed in, anxious thoughts swirling in my head. The city blurred past as we sped toward the club. My mind was full of questions—who could have sent m
Chapter 4: The Secret OpportunityCharlotte"Are you serious?" My voice trembled as tears of joy blurred my vision. "I can’t believe it! I’m actually going to work for a billionaire!" The weight of all my problems—the rent, Olivia’s university fees, everything—seemed to lift as I spun around in disbelief. Emma grinned, her excitement mirroring mine. We locked hands and squealed together, quoting our usual mantra, “BFFFF—Best Friends Forever, For Real and for always.”I was so eager to rush upstairs and tell my mom and Olivia about the life-changing opportunity. But just as I turned to run out, Emma caught my wrist, her face suddenly serious.“Wait, Charlotte. You can’t tell them,” she said, her tone cautious.I frowned, confusion replacing the excitement. “What do you mean, I can’t? They’ll be thrilled.”Emma hesitated, glancing at the floor before meeting my gaze. “Your mom won’t agree to it. Trust me.”A flicker of uncertainty spread through my chest. “Why not?”Her voice was softe
The moment I heard the name Charles Goldberg ,a chill ran down my spine. It couldn’t be the same person. Charles Goldberg? The playboy billionaire who graced every tabloid cover, known as much for his business acumen as for his revolving door of women? What have I gotten myself into? I thought, adjusting my suit in the mirror.But I couldn't back out now. My disguise as a man would protect me. He would never know. I was going to be one of many in his empire, just another faceless assistant. “I have no choice,” I whispered to myself, adjusting my tie one last time. “It doesn’t matter who he is. I’ll play my role, and he’ll never suspect a thing.”Downstairs, I could hear the usual sounds of home—my mom humming softly in the kitchen and Olivia pacing as she scrolled through her phone. “I got the job, Mom,” I said, leaning into the kitchen doorway, trying to sound casual. “I’ll be staying at Emma’s place for a while, just until I get settled. But I’ll visit when I can.”My mother wiped
CharlotteI couldn’t believe it—I actually took down those men. It felt unreal, like something straight out of an action movie. All those years of taekwondo training, which I once thought was a waste, turned out to be my saving grace. I had saved a billionaire. Charles Goldberg, no less.But despite the rush of adrenaline from the fight, a hollow feeling settled in my chest. I had lost my shot at the PA job, the one opportunity I’d been hoping for. I made my way back to Emma’s place, dragging my feet with a mix of pride and disappointment. By the time I reached her door, the weight of it all pressed down on me. I couldn’t bring myself to smile.The door swung open before I could even knock, and Emma rushed out to meet me, her face lighting up like the Fourth of July. “How was the interview? I know you crushed it!”I could only give her a weak smile. “Not exactly.”Her excitement faded as she caught on to my mood, her eyes widening with concern. “Wait, what happened? Did he reject you
CharlotteIt was supposed to be a beautiful day. The birds were singing, the sun was shining, and yet there I was, sitting on the couch like a prisoner waiting for judgment day. My heart was in my throat, and I couldn’t even focus on the cheesy romantic movie playing in front of me. I was supposed to be preparing for a meeting… as a man. Emma, ever the optimist, grabbed my hands and gave them a reassuring squeeze. “Today is your day! Trust God, believe in yourself, and make it happen.” She flashed me a grin. “You’ve got this, Charlotte. I trust you.”“Yeah, easy for you to say,” I muttered. “You’re not about to impersonate a guy in front of a billionaire.”“Hey, chin up!” Emma tapped my nose like I was a sulking toddler. “Besides, how hard can it be? Just act like a man. Eat like you’ve never seen food before, and talk like emotions are some kind of disease.”I snorted, feeling slightly better. “That sounds ridiculous.”“It’s true though,” she said, trying to stifle her giggle. “Just
Charlotte POVI burst into the house after Emma's frantic call, barely catching my breath. "Hey, Mom," I called, trying to act like everything was perfectly normal. "Long day, huh? I’ll just head to my room." My heart pounded as I made my way to the room, bracing myself for whatever "emergency" had Emma in such a frenzy.As soon as I opened the door, there it was: Olivia standing there, holding up my disguise. The fake mustache, the men’s shoes, the documents—all of it. I felt my stomach drop and my pulse racing. My worst nightmare was happening right before my eyes."What's going on here?" I demanded, trying not to let my voice crack.Emma nervously shifted from foot to foot, her eyes darting between me and Olivia. "Uh, well, Olivia was... um, cleaning your room, and she—""I wasn’t cleaning!" Olivia interrupted, her face turning bright red. "I was looking for my charger, and I found... this," she said, waving the disguise in the air.My heart nearly stopped. The girl didn’t just fin
Charlotte’s I stood outside Mr. Lucas Goldberg’s office, frozen, staring at the nameplate like it had the power to change my life. And in a way, it did. My heart pounded, my palms were sweaty, and the knot in my stomach felt like it was tying itself tighter.Okay, Charlotte, deep breaths, I thought. You’ve faced worse than this. Well… maybe not.I adjusted my tie, tugged at the hem of my suit jacket, and finally, with a shaky hand, pushed the door open.Mr. Lucas Goldberg looked up from his papers, his eyes sharp and calculating. It was like looking at an older, more intimidating version of Charles. The resemblance was uncanny—the same piercing blue eyes, the same chiseled jaw. But where Charles’ arrogance was all swagger and charm, Lucas’ was steely and authoritative.“Good day, sir,” I said, trying to keep my voice from trembling.“Mr. Mason,” he greeted with a nod, his eyes scanning me from head to toe, assessing me like a chess piece. “How are you?”“I’m doing well, sir. And your
---Charlotte stepped out of the noisy club, the cool night air a welcome relief from the chaos inside. Her heels clicked against the pavement as she paced back and forth, trying to calm the rage burning inside her. She clenched her fists tightly, nails digging into her palms. She had never felt this embarrassed in her life. And the cause of it all? Charles Goldberg, she thought bitterly. That arrogant, entitled jerk!The club's heavy doors swung open, briefly letting out the sound of laughter and music before slamming shut again. Charlotte barely registered the people going in and out as her mind raced. Her chest tightened every time she thought about the scene that had just unfolded. Charles, in his usual fashion, had flaunted his wealth and charm, drawing the attention of every woman in the room. But this time, he had gone too far. He had made a spectacle out of her, his own PA.Who does he think he is? she fumed, kicking a small stone across the sidewalk. He had no right to embarr
Charlotte's POV continuedI entered the house with my extra key and started tiptoeing to my room and suddenly I hit my head on the wall. I used my hand to search for the light switch to turn it on and see where I was going and the wall I hit my head on, and it was Olivia. She was dressed in shorts and a crop top. With the way she was tiptoeing, I knew she was trying to sneak out of the house probably to meet Adrian. For a second or two, we both stood staring at each other. Olivia tried screaming, but I was quick enough to cover her mouth with my hands so she wouldn't wake Mum up.“Relax Olivia. It's me, Charlotte, and not a thief who breaks in." I said. Olivia tried talking but my hands on her mouth restricted her from talking. Noticing her struggles, I decided to release my hand from her mouth hoping that she won't scream.“What the hell is happening here,e and why are you calling yourself Charlotte when you're not? Do you think I'm a kid?" Olivia ranted out. Noticing that words won'
Charlotte's POVI spent the night alone and the next day, I went to check up on Olivia at the hospital. I called Mum to give me directions to where the hospital was located and her ward number. I got to the ward to meet Adrian, who was feeding her, and my mum was sitting beside them.“Hey, mum. Good morning." I greeted her.“Good morning. How was your night and how was your journey?"It was fine mum.“It seems Mum is the only visible person here." Olivia mouthed.“No sis. I was about to ask you too. How's your health?"I'm getting better“I tried talking to you most times but mum said you're always sleeping."Yeah. The surgery stressed me, so I needed enough time to rest. How did your trip go in Hawaii?”Olivia asked me."It was fun and I took lots of pictures,” I replied to her back and brought out my phone to showher the pictures I took when I was wearing the red bikini."Oh, my goodness, Charlotte! You look like a water goddess.” Olivia exclaimed and I smiled ather.“How many guy
NEW YORK CITYMAVERICK SPECIALIST HOSPITALLinda Keller's POV (Charlotte and Olivia's mum)It's been three days now that Olivia has been in a coma, and she's responding to treatment, but she's yet to wake up. I could have told Charlotte on the phone but I don't want to disturb her fun. She's been trying to fend for the family and I admire her courage and selflessness in caring for the family. I rested my head on my lap when I heard Olivia calling me faintly.“Mum. Where am I?“Don't say a word yet. I will call the doctor to come check up on you." I said and went to call the doctor. The doctor came a few moments later and checked her vitals.“Everything is fine about her vitals but we will still have to keep her here to monitor her health because it's a miracle she woke up this early." The doctor said“Can she take food now?"You can only get her fruits. If you need anything, you should call me.” The doctor said and walked back to his office I guessed.“How are you feeling now?" I aske
Chapter 52: The Morning AfterCharles POVI woke up the next day and used my hands to tap the bed to see if Angela was still there and if she was sleeping peacefully like the angel she was. I snuggled closer to her, taking in her sweet scent while she let out a little sound. The little act of hers made me chuckle. I moved closer to her and gave her a peck on her forehead. My hands moved to her silky blonde hair, and I brushed it aside, taking a better look at her face. I moved her hair sideways as I stared at the birthmark on the side of her neck, which looked too beautiful to be natural. I have seen this girl once again and I'm never going to lose her. I took my business phone and tried taking her facial pictures but it was out of power. I took my private phone and took her pictures in different poses as she slept. I'm so happy to get her pictures because if she should disappear again, finding her won't be a difficult thing. I got down from the bed to charge my phone, which was out o
Emma's POVThe party was awesome and I enjoyed it a lot. In short, everyone enjoyed the party well except for my bestie. Talking about my bestie, I haven't seen her ever since she went to meet Charles and guess she was bored. I just hope she's not doing something risky. After the dance, I was about to look for her when I saw her walking into the party looking hot in her red bikini which made her the center of attraction at the party, and I guessed she had missed her real self and spotlight as an actress. I saw her walk over to Charles and push the girl who was seducing him aside before sitting on his lap. It's glaring that my bestie is all over thisguy. The short period of time they've spent together was enough to make them fall in love with each other. It's just that their love is in disguise, portraying what they are not and what they don't want, which makes it harder for them to accept their true feelings for each other. Soon, I saw both of them heading inside the lodge, and I kne
Mason's(Charlotte) POVAs we entered the beach fully, I felt more of the urge to do something crazy, but I tried to control myself and my feelings. I walked around with Charles as he had fun and I knew he wasn't comfortable. I left him alone to enjoy the party while I sat in a lonely corner to watch what wasgoing on in the party. I saw Emma giving Liam a lap dance and other couples kissing each other. I moved my eyes to where Charles was and I saw he was also having his fun. I guessed I'm the only one not having fun here. I stood up to meet Charles and lied to him that I was not feeling good and that I was going to rest in my room, but I had other plans. I went back to the lodge and I saw Tessa talking to one of the drink servers."What is she doing here?" was the question that came to my mind, and I was about going to meet her when I heard her speak."Have you given Charles the drink I told you to give him?." I heard her ask him."Yes ma'am"Good." She said and walked away. Charles
Alex's POVI chatted with Noah, but he wasn't replying to my messages. Then I decided to use another way to message him, and that got him to reply to my message.💬 I've been going through your page for a while now and I'm impressed about your drawing.You're a talented person.💬 Thank you very much. Art is me and I love expressing it💬I hope you don't mind working for me?". I sent him.💬With what?💬It's just that I need a drawing or just a sketch of an access card. I have an island somewhere in this country and I've been told that it's been used as a tourist attraction which I don't like so I'm thinking of creating an access card that only the owner of the access card can haveaccess to the island." I lied smoothly before sending him the message.💬 That's an easy thing to do. I will help you create one with my idea and you can give it to someone who's going to make my sketch a reality." Noah replied to me and went offline.💬 Okay. I will be counting on youA few minutes later,
Tessa's POVI sat down in my room, waiting for Alex's message or maybe a call to inform me of Charles' location, and just like I had thought, Alex's call came in, and I picked it up immediately."Hello, ma'am."Hello. Have you found an update?"Yes ma'am. Presently, Charles isn't in the state. He had gone on a short vacation with the company's staff in Hawaii to celebrate their recent success."Wow. That's a good thing. Is there any way I can go there to meet him and maybe seduce him?"I will look for a way around it and I also heard that a beach party will be held tomorrow."That's an opportunity to get him, Alex. I would be wearing my bikini since it's a beach party and you know how sexy I'm going to look."Yes, ma'am, but there's one more thing that can restrict you from attending the party."Which is?"The lodge they are staying at is a private island owned by the Goldbergs which means you willhave to get an entrance key or card to have access to the island and it's only the Gold
Quick reminder: Tessa claimed to get pregnant for Charles in previous chapters, and Charles was very aware that he didn't have sex with Tessa. She only had oral sex with him, and I'm sure we've all been wondering what was happening to Tessa, and Mason was yet to get a response from her guys on what Tessa's plan was. In this chapter, we will be talking about it.Tessa's POV.After the visit I paid to Charles telling him about my pregnancy, I'm yet to hear back from him, or does he know he's not the real owner of the pregnancy? Maybe I should just look for another person to hang the responsibilities on.I browsed through my phone, most especially going through celebrities and billionaire news; I saw a headline of Charles's company winning a business deal with a company from France, which means their company had skyrocketed from the 5th to the number 1 company in the whole of New York City which means more wealth to Charles. I had better not let go of Charles.I still have hope with him.