8

Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.

~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Anthony

“Sir, we will be landing in the next 20 minutes.” The flight attendant told me and I nodded dismissing her.

Averting my gaze to a sleeping Charlotte I couldn’t help the small smile that creeped on my face. She had fallen asleep hours ago after I finished explaining the content of the folder she had been pestering me about. I made sure I omitted any details pertaining to our illegal dealings. I wasn’t going to lie, I did feel relieved when she called my brother and it went to voicemail. I loved my brother but I found myself hating their closeness and this feeling only became worse as years went by.

Charlotte was folded in the seat opposite mine, I had told her to sleep in either of the two rooms but she refused, I told her she would have body aches once we landed but as always her stubborn self didn’t listen to me. She proceeded to fall asleep and I was left to cover her body with a fleece blanket and watch her sleep.

This was the first time I was watching her sleep after many years. The last time I could recall was when she had an episode after arguing with Jason. I remembered holding her in my arms and whispering sweet nothings into her ears, calming her in the process, I don’t know how long we were in each other’s but all I knew was there was a strange emotion that formed inside me that ay and till date I couldn’t pinpoint it.

 Leaning in, I pushed away a few strands of hair that had escaped the ponytail she had pulled it in and resting over her beautiful face. Biting hard on my lip, I took in her form before caressing her cheek. Instinctively, she leaded into my touch and I smiled.

“Charlotte.” I whispered casing her to shift in her seat but she didn’t wake up.

“Charlotte.” I repeated this time shaking her a little.

“Hmm.” She groaned.

“We’re about to land.” I whispered.

Groaning again, she opened her eyes slowly and her green sleep filled orbs stared into mine, pulling me in a trance, I found it hard to tear away from her gaze.

“It’s been 3 hours already?” she mumbled dropping her legs of the seat.

“Yes.” I nodded finally looking away from her captivating eyes.

“Huzzah.” She smiled making me chuckle.

Upon getting off the plane one of my men informed me that there was an urgent matter I needed to attend to and so I had to leave. I hated leaving Charlotte especially knowing that this was the first time she had ever travelled without either her brothers or father. She was the prized jewel of the family and convincing them to agree with her leaving took a lot of time, yes they had known myself and Matteo before when we were in our mother’s womb but that didn’t matter.

“Charlotte’s safely is your number one priority.” I told my men who quickly nodded. “Should anything happen to her, I’ll kill all of you.”

Entrusting Charlotte’s safety in Julio’s hands, I left. I knew my man would put their lives on the line for her if it came down to it but I chose Julio specifically because I had known the man for a very long before I became Don, he had worked under my father and would sometimes be given the task of guarding my mother whenever events where held or she and her friends went out and my father was busy. In addition to that, his wife recently gave birth to their baby girl and I felt as a girl dad, he would be more cautious unlike everyone else.    

                                                                               ☻

Leaning against the door, I intensely watched Charlotte as she went on to analyze the files on the desk that I had dumped on her to keep her busy. Spectacles perched at the bridge of her perfect button nose, she seemed so serious. I had never seen her that way and I couldn’t help but smile, she looked like a boss.

“Pardon me sir.” A feminine voice reached my ears, pulling me out of my trance and back to reality. I turned and saw the girl Charlotte had appointed to be her assistant.

Moving out of the doorway she slipped past me and informed Charlotte that everyone was waiting for her in the boardroom.

“Right.” She nodded she stood and grabbed a few folders off the table before handing them to the girl.

I was unaware of any meeting but before I could question her the phone stuffed in the pocket of my jacket begun to buzz. Sighing I walked away to see who it was. When I attended to whatever it was, I made my way to the boardroom, I was curious as to what the meeting was about. Entering the dark room with only the projector producing some light, I made myself comfortable in one of the corners and watched as people made their presentations. After the presentation, the projector was turned off and the lights switched back on. Charlotte stood and made her way to the front.

“A hand for Nora and Max for putting in the much needed effort to come up with these great ideas, your presentations where great.” She told them. “As for the rest of you, do you need to be reminded that you are employees at one of the biggest logistics firms in the country, and t nothing but the best is expected from you.” She frowned glaring at everyone. “Our company did not get to where it is from slacking, yes we are top-tier but that does not give leeway for you to slack, we need new ideas authentic ideas that will keep us at the top.”

As she talked she paced back and forth but still kept eye contact with as many employees as she could. The authority in her voice was something I had never heard before, to be honest I was quite perplexed, I had no idea she had such a side to her, the way she was carrying herself eluded power and everyone in the room could feel it.

“You will repeat this very task and this time you will present authentic ideas to me.” She declared.

“My idea was authentic, you just can’t tell.” One of the guys in the room mumbled under his breath, he said it in such a low voice but we heard him.

Charlotte halted in her steps before turning to face him.

“Pardon?” She quizzed but he shook his head. “Sir you said something-” before she could continue he rudely cut her off, stating he had not said anything.

The marketing manager tried to chime in but she stopped him with a rise of her hand.

“Sir,” She read the name on his ID. “I know you said something, I’m not imagining things, now, be a good boy and repeat whatever it was for everyone to hear.”

When he just sat there arrogantly starring at her, a sinister smile made its way to her lips.

“Now I hate having to repeat myself sir, so do yourself a favor and follow simple instructions.” She threatened. You could hear the promise behind her words.

Sighing, the guy stood to face everyone and repeated his words. Upon doing that, Charlotte asked him to repeat his idea, when he did, he went back to his seat.

“What school did you graduate from?” She asked out of the blue.

“Paxton University.”

“Right.” She nodded. “Kindly search for the definition of authentic.” She turned to her assistant who quickly did so and read the definition out loud. “Now Sir, I’m sure Paxton did not teach you that authentic means stealing an idea centuries old, you should have at least bothered to change the wording of your presentation in the least.”

Leaving the guy to wallow in embarrassment, she went on to address the team regarding what she was expected of them as they worked hand in hand on the new project.