5

Charles' POV

I got home after the party and I couldn't sleep or eat.

I found myself wandering around my house with anger boiling inside of me.

I couldn't believe that Erika was now with the CEO of Wilson company.

She was mine from the start and I hated to see anyone around her.

This was a bit confusing right now because David Wilson, apparently, is someone that I needed.

His company was big on artificial intelligence and I didn't need his money, I needed to rub minds with him so that we could make something big together.

Why was it that Erika had to have something going on with him?

I wanted to maliciously get him killed, but he had the potential that I desperately wanted.

I sighed and gave my jaw an aggressive scrub. I took out my phone and started to call Linda, my secretary.

Even though it was very late at night, she picked up almost immediately with a " yes, boss."

" Linda, this is going to sound strange and stalkerish, but I need you to get me everything you can find on David Wilson, CEO of Wilson company," I instructed.

" Roger that, boss. It will be on your table first thing in the morning." She answered.

" No, I need you to do it now. Send it to my email within an hour." I ordered. " I give you an hour."

I ended the call before she could say anything.

I know, what I did was totally heartless, but I couldn't help it.

I needed to know what was going on with this Wilson guy and I needed it immediately.

I continued to pace around my mansion aimlessly with a glass of whiskey in my hand.

It took a lot of pacing, but the one-hour wait was finally over.

My phone beeped and when I took it out, it was a message from Linda.

**" Done, boss."**

I smiled as I walked to my study. I turned on the computer and found what I was looking for in my mail.

I dove headfirst into the pile of information and before I knew what had happened, three hours were gone. I couldn't imagine how she was able to put all of this together in an hour.

After going through it for some time, I found out the shock of my life.

Erika wasn't just dating David Wilson, she was also his partner and co-founder of the Wilson company.

Wilson company was doing impressively well for a company that kick-started a year ago, I mean it's worth billions of dollars.

I aggressively scrolled past pictures of David Wilson and Erika together at meetings.

I hated the way he looked at her, the way they laughed together, the way everyone was treating them like a fucking couple in those photos.

I even dug really deep to find out that Erika and David had known each other for a while now.

It happened that they met in college, and their younger selves were just as loved up as they are now.

My hands formed into fists. I was dating her in college, did that mean that she was cheating on me with him?

I slammed my laptop shut and angrily walked out of the study.

I got even angrier from the research that I had conducted, but at least I found out that Erika was the co-founder of Wilson company.

****

It was a really daring idea that I had when I made up my mind to pay Erika a visit at the Wilson company.

I wasn't going to go with any bodyguards, I would speak to her alone.

We had a lot to talk about, it was wild to even assume that she would give me a chance to talk to her.

Well, I was very determined.

I was driving already when I saw a fruit stall by the side of the road. I pulled over and got out of the car.

Out of all the bright fruits, my eyes caught the cherries.

They were her favorite, I remembered how she kept popping them into her mouth.

The old man who sold them was playing with his harmonica on a low stool, he got up as soon as he saw me.

" How much for a packet of cherries?" I picked up one.

" Seventy cents, good sir." He smiled, his teeth were brown. " But I could give it to you fifty."

I grunted in annoyance. How would this man assume that I was interested in a discount when I pulled up at his stall in an expensive suit and a car that costs millions?

I dipped my hands into my pocket, fetched a few dollar bills and I threw it at him.

" There, five thousand dollars." I walked away. " Hope the cherries are as good as they look."

I didn't bother looking back at him, but I heard him shout like he had received a miracle from Jesus himself.

****

Wilson company was a big name, the company was built to stand out.

Their building stood like a mountain amid dwarves and I couldn't help but admire it before I got in.

I was welcomed by the receptionist who stood up with a smile.

" Good morning, sir." She shook my head. " Mister Charles Evans."

Wow, she recognized me. That meant I was up for a good start.

" Good morning indeed." I returned her smile.

" How can I help you sir?"

" I am here to see Erika White, the co-founder of this company," I stated.

" Sure, sir." She nodded. " Come with me, please."

I walked with her and she went into the elevator. She took me to the second floor.

" Miss White's office is that way, sir." She pointed.

" Thank you."

I walked towards where she pointed and I found someone who looked like a secretary.

She smiled at me too and stood up.

" Good morning, sir. How can I help you?" She asked.

" I'm here to see Miss Erika," I answered.

" Unfortunately, she is in a meeting right now, but I will lead you in as soon as she is done." She explained. " Please have a seat."

" Thank you."

I sat down at the designated section for visitors. The cherries were still in my hand, I placed them beside me.

I crossed my legs and prepared for what might be a very long wait.

A very cute little girl walked past me with a Rubik's cube in her hand. She was about to get frustrated with the cube as she went.

She retracted her steps and came back to me. She stared at me, blinking her huge eyes.

She was very cute and I smiled at her, even tipped an imaginary hat.

" Hello, Mister." She came close to me.

She looked at the rubik cube in her hand and back at me.

" Do you know how to solve this?" She asked.

" Man, are you having a hard time doing it?" I took it from her.

The Rubik was one of my best toys as a child and I was really good at it. Maybe it was because I was so good at math.

" It's hard." She complained.

" No, it's not, dear." I chuckled. " You just have to know the secret."

" The secret?"

" Yes, sunshine." I started to move the pieces. " You have to make the whites into a cross and then..."

It took a few moves and I was done. Her eyes widened in wonder.

" Woo, that was fast." She exclaimed.

" Now, you try it." I mixed it up and handed it to her.

She solved it in a short time, such a brilliant kid.

" I did it!" She jumped.

" Yeah, you did! Let's try it again."

She still solved it, she was overflowing with joy.

" Thank you! Thank you, Mister!" She was in glee. " My mum was supposed to help me, but she has been in a meeting for hours."

My face fell, I didn't know what I didn't see it the first time.

She looked so much like Erika! This was her child? She has a kid with that David guy?!

" I'll be back, Mister!" She ran off before I could stop her.

I was so occupied by the thought that Erika had a child with David! How could she?!

The girl soon returned with a cup of coffee in her hand. She handed it to me with a smile and I took it.

" For me?" I asked.

" Yes, for helping me solve my Rubik's cube." She smiled. " Thank you, Mister. I'm Rose."

She was offering me her tiny hand for a shake. I took it with a smile.

" Charles," I answered.

" Are you one of my mum's friends?"

" I hope so."

I sipped from the cup and I froze. It wasn't that it was bad, it was because it was too good.

For as long as I could remember, I liked my coffee a certain way.

Only a few people knew how to make it and Erika was one of them.

" Who made it?" I asked her.

" I did." She laughed.

" What?!" I drank from the cup. " Who taught you to do that?"

" My mummy!" She laughed even louder.

She was so cute when she smiled. I hated her father, but I would admit that he made beautiful kids with my Erika.

" Hey!"

Rose And I looked up. Erika was fuming down on us with the meanest look.

I stood up slowly but then realized that she was still looking at her child.

" Why are you here?" She asked her strictly.

" I'm sorry, mummy." She sighed.

" Secretary!" Erika snapped her fingers and the lady appeared. " Take her back and don't let her out again. You have homework, Rose, run along."

Rose sadly bowed her head and left. I was very sad that she did that.

" Could I at least say goodbye to her?" I requested.

" No, Charles." She was so cold to me. " You have no right to speak to a child of mine."

Well, this wasn't going as I planned. I quickly took the cherries and offered them to her.

" Cherries," I said. " A peace offering. You like cherries."

She looked at the cherries with some sort of disgust.

" You think that cherries would suddenly wipe the fact that you stole my parents' shares and destroyed my life in front of people?" She hissed.

" Not exactly. I got them because they are your favorites."

" You don't know me that well, Charles." She said, " I may have liked them, but now I hate cherries with passion."