The cheerful exchange lasted for an entire day and night. By the next afternoon, the novice ladies reluctantly prepared to leave, still eager to linger.
"Charlie, I hope we can learn together next time," Mrs. Rahad said, her tone filled with infatuation.
"Of course, you are always welcome to exchange views," Charlie Lee replied with a polite smile, intent on maintaining a friendly rapport with the women.
As the group of ladies, now budding car enthusiasts, finally departed, Lima sprawled lazily across Charlie's body like a relaxed sloth, a mischievous grin lighting up her face.
"How do you feel after all that?" she teased, her tone playful.
"I'm satisfied with how you arranged things, but let's not stir up unnecessary trouble," Charlie responded, his tone firm but kind.
"Don't worry, this was their first time. I'll keep things in control," Lima whispered in his ear with a mischievous smile.
"That's for the best," Charlie nodded, relieved. He had no desire to create undue complications.
Mrs. Rahad, as he'd come to learn, had been estranged from her perpetually traveling husband for years, the two leading separate lives while maintaining a façade of high-society unity. The other two women were widows whose past marriages to wealthy older men had left them financially secure but emotionally distant. They'd been drawn to the thrill Lima had promised, seeking an escape from their monotonous routines.
When Lima proposed a competition involving test drives and promised the ladies the exhilarating sensation of "soaring through the skies," they eagerly joined in. None had anticipated how deeply enthralled they'd become.
"This is a lovely place. Is it new?" Charlie asked, glancing around the 200-square-meter apartment.
"Yes! I wanted a love nest just for you and me," Lima said, her voice gentle and her smile warm enough to melt the coldest heart.
"It's nice. I'll visit often," Charlie replied nonchalantly, avoiding any inquiry into her personal life that might make things awkward.
With Lima, he allowed himself to indulge in his wilder side, something he seldom did. She had a way of drawing out his hidden desires, making him feel both free and slightly vulnerable.
"Pick a color for the car I'm going to have delivered to you," Charlie said casually. He appreciated Lima's efforts to please him and wanted to reciprocate.
"Blue," Lima replied without hesitation, clearly knowing her preference.
"Good taste," Charlie remarked approvingly. Of all the Rolls Royce colors, he too preferred the pure, unblemished shade of blue. It exuded sophistication without the over-familiarity of black.
"I've got to head out. Bring my clothes," Charlie instructed, patting Lima playfully on her lower back.
Lima scurried off to fetch his freshly laundered attire. She'd discreetly cleaned them during the previous day's chaos, ensuring they were ironed and ready.
"Here you go. Have a good rest," she said, handing over the clothes with a bright smile.
Charlie left her a check before leaving the apartment with a gentle close of the door.
"Yes!" Lima exclaimed after inspecting the six-figure check, her joy uncontainable. She hummed a cheerful tune, twirling around the room as she prepared for an upcoming dinner with friends. She relished the thought of flaunting her success in front of envious acquaintances.
As Charlie stepped into his car, he instructed the driver, "Head to Zone 22 and bring the car back here. Leave the keys at the front desk."
"Yes, boss," the driver responded obediently, the vehicle pulling away smoothly.
The past night's indulgences had left even Charlie's superhuman stamina taxed. After days of business engagements, he looked forward to a much-needed rest. But peace eluded him.
Upon arriving home, he was greeted by Lao Huang, his trusted butler, who bore grim news.
"Eric is injured," Lao Huang said, his face heavy with worry.
Eric, one of the two children staying under Charlie's care, had become part of the household's fabric. Together with his sister, they'd bonded with Yan Yan, Lao Huang's daughter. Charlie had taken a liking to the siblings, who were treated like family by both Lao Huang and his wife, Qiao Qiao'er.
"What happened?" Charlie demanded, his voice sharp as he followed Lao Huang to the community hospital.
Inside, he saw Eric lying unconscious, his leg wrapped in bloodied bandages. A knife wound had pierced deep into his thigh.
"Who did this?" Charlie growled, his fists clenched.
"It seems to be the boy he argued with last time," Andrea explained with a dark expression. "The kid dropped out of school two days ago, and we thought he was avoiding trouble, but this…"
"Find him. Bring him to me," Charlie ordered, his voice cold and seething with anger.
Charlie had initially encouraged the children to handle minor disputes on their own, believing it would teach them resilience. But this escalation was beyond anything he'd expected.
"Mobilize everyone. Call Grant and have him issue a $20,000 bounty," Charlie commanded.
Within minutes, Zone 22 was emptied of personnel as his men fanned out across the city. By the 15th minute, the Chicago Police Department had issued an official reward notice, albeit carefully worded to avoid direct accusations.
Charlie sat by Eric's bedside, anger bubbling beneath his composed exterior. The boy's unconscious state was a cruel reminder of the attack.
The first update from his men, however, brought an unexpected complication.
"Boss, the FBI is here," Lao Huang informed him.
"The FBI?" Charlie raised an eyebrow. "What's Washington's problem now? Are they trying to put me in my place?"
Still, he found the situation amusing. In his current position of influence, the U.S. government had little leverage to intimidate him without solid justification.
"Show them in," Charlie instructed, heading outside to meet the visitors.
On the hospital lawn, he was greeted by a sharp-eyed man who exuded authority.
"Mr. Lee, I'm Detective Purvis, head of the FBI Chicago Division," the man introduced himself, his expression a mix of professionalism and arrogance.
"What can I do for you, Detective?" Charlie asked, shaking his hand firmly enough to make Purvis wince.
"Your men are causing panic across Chicago. I need you to pull them back," Purvis stated bluntly.
"Panic?" Charlie smirked mockingly. "I don't hear anyone screaming. The streets seem perfectly calm to me."
"More than 5,000 armed men have spread across the city. What's your objective?" Purvis demanded.
"My objective? Perhaps you'd like to see for yourself," Charlie retorted, leading Purvis toward Eric's hospital room. "A child in my care lies unconscious because someone stabbed him over a racial slur."
Charlie's voice turned icy as he leaned closer. "Detective Purvis, this is the United States, isn't it? A country that prides itself on freedom and equality?"
Purvis instinctively stepped back, his hand twitching toward his holster. The intensity of Charlie's presence was almost unbearable.
"What happened here?" Purvis asked cautiously, realizing he needed the full story.
After Lao Huang recounted the events, Purvis's expression shifted from annoyance to unease. A schoolyard dispute had escalated into premeditated violence. The attacker's decision to drop out of school and disappear only confirmed his guilt.
"I'll deploy agents and police to search for him," Purvis said after a pause. "Once we apprehend him, the courts will handle the rest."
"The courts?" Charlie sneered, his expression unreadable as he mulled over the suggestion.
"Fine," he finally said, nodding curtly.
As Purvis departed, Lao Huang muttered, "It's time for him to leave."
Charlie, meanwhile, sat back down by Eric's bedside, a storm brewing in his mind. If the courts failed to deliver justice, he would ensure his own reckoning.