CHAPTER THREE

After hurrying back to her room, she got dressed, powdered her face as she grabs her car key, and exits her apartment while Oliver follows behind her. 

“ Alright I am sorry! Look I know how much you want to see and be with her, but Cornell went through so much to keep her away from you, do you think that he is going to sit idle about these”.

“ He only gets to find out if you tell him about it”. Audrey expresses as she presses the button on her car key, causing it to make a beep sound. 

“ Do you believe what you just said Audrey? That man is very dangerous and have you tailed twelve hours a day, if he is silent about this, then that is because he has a plan”.

“ Why do I have to go through so much just because my dad made a mistake, I am so sick and tired of his mind games, I want to be free”.

 Audrey tries sniffing the tears back in, but he grabs her head, pressing them gently to his chest. 

“ I understand how you feel, you were doing great while we were still in Paris, this place is toxic, especially for you, let go back, Audrey” 

Oliver advised while gently patting her on the back. 

“ I can't, not now, I need our divorce paper signed before I can go back and move on with my life”.

“ Then sue him in court since he is refusing to sign the divorce”.

“ Not yet, I want to try a practical means first, I have to get back to work now”.

“ Alright, what do you say I came over for dinner tonight? ”.

“ Sure! I will fix something up once I get back home”. Audrey force a smile as she watches him walk over to his car. 

“ Bye Audrey”. He waves his hand from the other side of the road, his eyes lit up while staring at her. 

*** 

Jane strode as lightly as she could while tailing Audrey who just got back to the office. 

She helps Audrey place her bag on the stand at her office, and seeing that Audrey was now relaxed in her office, she finally spoke. 

“ Maam! Colton Fashion has replied to our email, they have set up a meeting for you with the CEO at CRAVE IN for dinner”.

“ A dinner meeting, decline. I already have an appointment fixed for that time”.

“ Ma. It is a dinner meeting with the CEO of Colton Fashion, many will kill to get this opportunity with him”.

“ And am not many, so relay my message, tell them to fix this meeting to some other day, not today”.

“ alright ma, they also brought a personal message from the CEO”.

Jane replied, handing over the gift card to Audrey who opened it the moment she came in contact with it. 

‘Audrey, I promised to give back J. And J and that is what I will be doing. Just a few minutes of your time to sign the necessary document I promise’

“ You know what Jane, tell them we accept since it is just going to be a few minutes”.

“ Thank you ma! ”. Jane replies excitedly before exiting the large office. 

When Audrey was through signing off on the new projects, she decided to go over to see the factory workers. 

Stepping into the large factory that was filled with several kinds of machines for several purposes, fabrics and pieces were seen around the floor while each worker had a corner to themselves that contained every one of their tools required. 

Josh who stood at the entrance widened his lips the moment he saw her coming. 

“ Ma, I heard that you were able to secure a meeting with the CEO of Colton Fashion, that is a big one”.

“ We are getting J. AndJ soon”. She replied curtly before stepping into the factory as they all stood up. 

“ Good afternoon ma” they greeted in chorus while she went from desk to desk to supervise their work and give corrections where necessary. 

“ You all are doing a great job, I commend you so much for your hard work and soon our company shall be a household name in the fashion industry”.

 She encouraged them as they all clap their hands in excitement. 

“ I will let you all continue your work, Josh let's speak for a moment”. She exclaims stepping out of the factory and he follows. 

“ The meeting with Carter Colton is this evening at their family hotel, I will need you to accompany me there”.

“ Their family company? Wait, don't tell me the Colton family owns CRAVE IN? ”. He asks as his eyes widened in excitement. 

Audrey nods her head in response while recalling her expression the first day she found out about CRAVE IN.

“ So get ready, we will be going there by six, Carter can be difficult sometimes so you will have to put up with him”.

“ And till now, you still won't tell me about the relationship you had with him, I mean at first I thought you were married to him but I searched through the internet, and there hasn't been any news of him married”.

“Don't believe everything you see on the Internet”. Audrey smiles sarcastically as she walks away. 

**** 

Audrey was escorted to the VIP section while Josh sauntered behind her. 

“ Audrey, it's been a while! ”. James spoke, stepping out of the elevator. 

“ I guess so, is Carter here yet? ”.

“ Yes, he has been waiting, this way please”. James exclaims walking in front of her while she follows behind. 

“ He has been waiting for us, can you believe that! The Almighty Carter Colton has been waiting for us”.

Josh was grinning from ear to ear as he hurried behind her. 

Stepping into the private dinner room, Audrey could feel his aura in the entire room, he sat calmly while sipping a glass of wine. 

Staring at Carter in a light gray suit, he had his hair styled sideways, the event that had occurred this morning popped through her brain as she blush thinking of him lying next to her. 

“ Finally you showed up! ”. Carter spoke as he stood up, his eyes scanning her entire body from head to toe as he bit his lower lip softly. 

“ Good day sir, I am Josh Lenard, the executive manager of Mona Empire”. Josh spoke while stretching forth his hand, that was when Carter finally averted his gaze away from Audrey. 

“ Nice to meet you Josh, but I thought this meeting was meant to be just between your boss and I? ”.

Carter inquired deterring his gaze at Audrey who let her lips widen in a smile. 

“ I thought there was a need for a witness, just in case you decide to go back on your words”.

“ I never go back on my words, the only one who ever did that was you”. Carter had his eyes piercing at her while Josh also turned around to glance at her, not sure if he was permitted to sit down. 

“ This is an official meeting, sign the document”.

“ Sure I will, but let's eat first”. He sat down and signals the chef who comes in with the menu on an iPad. 

“ I will have medium-cooked steak and she will have shrimp”. Carter ordered after staring at the menu for a while. 

Hearing him make her order, she lifts her head as she glares at him. 

“ You don't get to decide what I eat”.

“ I had them update the menu with a new recipe just for you”. Carter broadened his lips as a smirk formed around his lips, he had his eyes glued to her. 

James, who was fully conscious of the chemistry between them, was now feeling like a third wheel there. 

“ I will excuse myself for a moment! ”. James expresses and without waiting for a reply from the both of them, he strides out of the VIP room. 

“ Your manager, he seems sensible”.

“ Carter! Can we not do this, being here with you right now puts me and our child at risk”.

“ Your life is at risk, you won't let me hire security for you and yet you won't tell me what is going on, if it involves my daughter, don't you think that I need to know? ”.

“ I am sorry Carter, but today is not that day, sign the document so I can get out of here”.

“ You hurt me pretty bad Audrey, why is it so hard with you”.

“ Maybe this was meant to be our fate all along, we can't be together, so let's stop now”. Audrey expresses as she bites her lower lip softly. 

The chef comes back with a tray containing their order as he carefully places them on the table before stepping away from them. 

“ Is that what you truly want? A divorce? I have tried to understand you even though it hurts so bad, I had to deal with the trauma of losing you for six years hoping that someday you would show up with an explanation of why you were cruel to your daughter 

But instead, you choose to remain this way, fine, I guess it is time I let go of you”.

 He opens the file in front of him and Scrabbles his signature on it before getting on his feet. 

“ Have a nice day Audrey, you can send your lawyer to deliver the divorce paper to me”.

 He explained before walking away but she grabbed his arm just as he walked past her. 

“ Carter, wait! ”. Audrey sniffed back the tears as she stood up, walking over to the door and shutting it before coming back to him. 

“ What is going on? ”. He asked, scanning her skeptically, her face was filled with tears. 

Despite how much Audrey tried to sniff back the tears, she couldn't deny how bad her heart was hurting. 

She desperately wanted to be with this man, but so much was involved, more than her life being at risk, she was sure how he was going to react when he finds out that her father was the reason for his years of consistent trauma. 

“ Audrey, talk to me, what is going on? ” he asks again, but this time, she walks closer to him, locking her lips with him. 

Carter felt a rush of adrenaline as he embraced her warmly, his tongue finding its way deeper into hers. 

Just then, the door clicked open and Chloe stepped in as they both moved away from each other.