The city skyline gleamed under the setting sun as Charlotte stood at the window of her small apartment, looking out at the bustling world below. Her mind was a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts and emotions. It had been weeks since her encounter with Adrian at Kingsley Enterprises, and yet, the memories of that brief meeting haunted her every waking moment.
Adrian had changed. She could see it in his eyes when he looked at her—the same eyes that once held nothing but disdain for her lowly position in his company. Now, they were filled with something different. Something dangerous. But what terrified her more than his new-found interest was the truth that she could still feel the same pull toward him that she had all those years ago.
The phone buzzed in her pocket, dragging her out of her thoughts. Charlotte fumbled to pull it out, her heart skipping when she saw the name on the screen: Adrian Kingsley.
"Hello?" she answered, her voice barely a whisper as a flood of memories rushed through her.
"Charlotte," Adrian's voice crackled through the line, deep and steady. "We need to talk."
Her stomach twisted. She'd been expecting this. Adrian had been persistent since their last meeting, and she had done everything she could to avoid him. But now, it seemed the moment had come where avoiding him would no longer be possible.
"I thought we'd said everything that needed to be said," she said, her tone guarded. "I don't see the point in reopening old wounds."
"There's more to this than just what happened in the past, Charlotte," Adrian replied, his voice surprisingly soft but filled with urgency. "We need to understand where we stand now, or everything we've both been avoiding will just keep tearing us apart."
Charlotte felt a pang in her chest. Adrian wasn't wrong. The space between them wasn't just filled with unanswered questions about the past—it was also filled with unresolved feelings. And though she hated to admit it, those feelings still lingered.
"I don't know if I'm ready for this," she said quietly, her hand gripping the edge of the counter in front of her.
"You don't have to be ready," Adrian said firmly. "But we need to meet. Now."
Charlotte sighed. She could hear the finality in his voice, the unspoken plea. She knew she couldn't run from this forever.
"Fine," she muttered. "Where?"
"I'll pick you up in thirty minutes," Adrian replied, and the line went dead before she could respond.
The words echoed in her mind as she set the phone down. This was happening. There was no turning back now.
---
Thirty minutes later, Charlotte stood outside her building, her arms wrapped tightly around her as a chill wind swept through the street. A black car pulled up to the curb, the engine rumbling to a stop. Adrian stepped out, his tall figure casting a long shadow in the dim light. He was dressed in his usual dark suit, exuding an air of authority, yet there was something in the way he looked at her that made her heart beat faster.
"Charlotte," he said, his voice steady but laced with an emotion she couldn't quite place. "I'm glad you came."
She nodded silently and climbed into the car, the door clicking shut behind her. The tension between them was thick, like a storm waiting to break. As the car pulled away from the curb, Adrian didn't speak. He simply kept his eyes on the road ahead, the lines of his jaw taut with an emotion he was holding back.
They didn't say a word until the car stopped outside a small, upscale café tucked away from the busy streets. Adrian opened the door and gestured for Charlotte to step out. She hesitated for a moment before following him inside.
The café was dimly lit, offering an intimate atmosphere that felt worlds away from the cold, corporate setting of Kingsley Enterprises. A private table was set in the corner, and they were quickly seated. The moment the waiter left, Adrian finally spoke.
"You've been avoiding me," he said, his gaze intense as he locked eyes with her. "Why?"
Charlotte met his gaze, her stomach flipping. "I didn't think I had a choice."
"You always have a choice," Adrian replied, his voice calm but insistent. "You could have talked to me. You could have come back. But instead, you kept pushing me away."
"I wasn't pushing you away," she said quickly, though her voice faltered. "I was protecting myself. From you. From everything."
Adrian's expression softened slightly, and he leaned forward. "You never trusted me, did you?"
Charlotte's breath caught in her throat. It wasn't a question—Adrian knew the answer. But the truth stung more than she expected.
"No," she admitted quietly. "I didn't."
A silence fell between them, heavy and pregnant with years of unspoken words. Adrian's eyes never left hers as he waited for her to continue.
"I couldn't," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "I thought I was doing the right thing by staying away from you. I thought I was protecting you."
Adrian tilted his head slightly, his brow furrowing. "Protecting me from what?"
Charlotte took a deep breath, the weight of the truth pressing on her chest. She glanced around, making sure no one was listening, then leaned forward slightly, her voice low.
"My father," she said simply. "He's not who you think he is. He's dangerous, Adrian. And he wanted to use you. He wanted to use me to get closer to you and your company."
Adrian froze, his face hardening. "What are you talking about? My father always said your family was a respectable one."
Charlotte shook her head. "My family's been involved in things you can't even begin to understand. My father isn't just a businessman. He's tangled up in a web of corruption and power that goes way deeper than you think."
Adrian leaned back in his chair, processing her words in silence. "And you thought the only way to protect me was to leave? To disappear?"
Charlotte nodded, her eyes filled with regret. "I didn't know who else to turn to. I couldn't bear the thought of you getting dragged into it. I thought I could fix things on my own. But it only made everything worse."
"Why didn't you come to me?" Adrian asked, his voice a mixture of frustration and something softer, something hurt. "Why didn't you trust me enough to let me help?"
Charlotte met his gaze, her heart heavy with guilt. "Because I couldn't bear the thought of you hating me. I couldn't bear the thought of losing you."
There was a long pause as Adrian processed her confession. His expression softened, his earlier tension giving way to something more vulnerable.
"I don't hate you, Charlotte," he said quietly. "But I need you to trust me. I need you to let me in. I don't care about your past, or the things your family's involved in. I care about you. Only you."
Charlotte's breath caught in her throat. "But what about your business? Your empire?"
Adrian leaned forward, his gaze unwavering. "I built my empire on my own terms, Charlotte. I'm not letting anyone, not even you, stand in the way of what I want."
Charlotte's pulse raced as she realized what he was saying. The man who had once been so cold, so ruthless, was now offering her something she never expected. His heart.
But could she trust him? Could she really allow herself to believe that this time, Adrian was fighting for her?
Before she could respond, her phone buzzed in her pocket, interrupting the moment. She glanced at the screen and froze.
It was a message from her Father.
---