Charlotte:I try not to remember the words Anthony said to me last night, but I can't help it. They're always there. He thinks he can get me and push me away whenever he wants, like my feelings don't matter. Bastard. I call Adeline to tell her all the arrangements are done for her wedding next week and work on Clara's wedding arrangements. After a few meetings with my other coordinators, I finally get the time to eat lunch. Right about at this time, I'd usually go to Anthony's office and have lunch with him, but that's not happening anymore, because I've had enough of his asshole behavior. After I eat a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch, brought to me by Harper, bless her soul, Della walks into my boutique with her nose in the air. It's not like me to not like a person before actually talking to them, but I definitely do not like Della. I could see the way she was using Sebastian, and not to mention what she did to Anthony. She comes right into my office and I look away from my cam
Charlotte :The next day passes by in a similar fashion. No signs of Della and Anthony tried to talk to me again, but I ignored him. It was hard, but necessary. He needs to know that his hot and cold behavior is not okay. I sent Harper home an hour ago. Julia told me about the Annual Crosswalk Charity Ball, which is two days from today. Sebastian mentioned it in conversation weeks ago, but I guess I forgot. I pack up for the day and step out to lock the boutique. Before I can figure out who's in the car idling at the curb, a hand covers my mouth from behind. ______________________________________Anthony:I immediately unlock my door when some bastard puts his hands on Charlotte, covering her mouth with it. But she slams her head back into his nose and he immediately releases her while another one comes up in front of her, trying to punch her, but she catches his fist and twists his arm behind his back while the other one still clutches his nose. She throws a punch into his alread
Charlotte:On the day of the charity ball, the house seems to sparkle. More than it usually does. There aren't any decorations, but the usual beige drapes have been replaced with navy blue ones and the living room seems to have been transformed into some auction setting. There are six tables, each meant for seating six and a makeshift stage at the front. The entire room has a blue tint to it, with a million starlights on the ceiling. All the tables and chairs are navy blue and decorated with gold ribbons. I get dressed into a form-fitting black dress that reaches my ankles, every inch of it entwined with silver thread, so the dress shimmers as I move. It has rhinestone spaghetti straps and I pair it with silver strappy heels. I leave my hair in loose waves and put silver hoops into my earlobes. I finish my makeup and as I open the door, I bump right into Anthony. Great, just my luck. I glance up at him and take in his stunned expression. His jaw is slack, lips parted and his eyes ar
Anthony:"Get out of my room." I don't need to see her face to know who those long legs, wearing red heels belong to. It's not the first time she's had me cornered. "You didn't even look at me." She laughs, her blonde hair bouncing against her shoulders. Her blue dress clings to her body and to my utter dismay, she starts swiping her finger back and forth on her bottom lip. She takes slow, deliberate steps toward me, dragging her fingernails across all the furniture on her way. It grates on my nerves. She comes to a stop when the tips of her red stilettos touch my leather loafers. She tilts her head to put her lips near my ear. "Oh Anthony, how I've missed you."She drags that same damned fingernail across my neck and I remove myself from her touch. "Shame, Adeline. I didn't miss you one bit."She smirks. Her red lips stretching over her white teeth. "I think you're lying. Your dick says otherwise."I look down at her with furrowed eyebrows. What is she going on about now? Befo
Charlotte:I can't believe the audacity of this man. I shove him and go for the door, but his arm wraps around my abdomen from behind, pulling me into his body. "I'm sorry Charlotte. I don't care if I have to say this for the rest of my life. I'm never letting you go again, I promise.""I know the drill Anthony. Once I fall back into your arms, you'll let me go again. This time it was Sebastian. Next time, it may be some other man you want me to be with."His fingers wrap around my throat and squeeze. "Shut. The. Fuck. Up."I laugh despite the heat that shoots down to my core. "Ah, now he's angry.""You think I wanted to do it? I was dying inside. I'm admitting it's my fault for not thinking about you."I turn around to face him. "You think I was a bitch to Sebastian in the starting of our marriage? All he had were chances Anthony. I didn't want him. I wanted you. Only you.""Fuck, don't use the past tense baby.""I will. It's what you deserve." I still only want him, but he does
Charlotte:By the time I reach Meadow Cross, the venue of the wedding, Stacy rushes toward me, her eyes frantic. I get out and enter the room assigned for Adeline's wedding. It's. A. Total. Mess. The sheer curtains are in tatters, the bouquets of flowers are slimed and blackened, the carpet on the floor is completely torn up, and all the chairs are overturned and some of them are destroyed, and the altar is spray painted. Who would even do such a thing? I take a deep breath and call Franklin, the manager, to ask him if we can have another room. "I'm sorry Ms. Daymond. I'm afraid they're all booked."After hanging up, I dial my cleanup crew and tell Stacy to call all the vendors of the decorations she's used. My cleanup crew arrives in five minutes and the arrangements come ten minutes later. I needed to pull some strings for that. As soon as the cleaning crew removes a destroyed item, we replace it with a new one. Just short of two hours, we're done. The cleanup crew leaves and
Anthony:"It would take me mere minutes to dismantle your business James."I hear his sharp intake of air. "I've dealt with your daughter's misdeeds for long enough, but she's crossed so far the line today.""W-what do you mean?" He stutters. "You cross Charlotte, you cross me. You don't want to cross a Crosswalk, do you James?" The shit I can manage to say and get away with makes me laugh sometimes. Young Anthony could have never. We reap what we sow, and damn, am I enjoying the fruits. "Not at all.""Too bad. You already did.""No! Wait! Please. Adeline will issue a public apology. I'll make sure of it."I think it over. She ought to be punished, and Lance Harrington will put her in her place, I'm sure. There's no way she can escape embarrassing him. He may look docile and weak on the outside, but even I don't want to know the shit that goes on in that head. Those rumors about him killing his foster parents and setting fire to his aunt's home are not just gossip. "Next time she
Charlotte:"Daddy, could you please pass the gravy?" It's a classic misconception. Anthony and my father reach for it at the same time. I manage to hide my snicker, but tense silence ensues, with both their hands suspended over the gravy bowl. I never call my father Daddy, but he assumed it was him I was addressing. With everyone at the table staring at them and both of them staring down one another, Anthony regains control of the situation, like he usually does. "Apologies. Sebastian used to call me that often. Took me back to those times."My father, seemingly satisfied with the answer, leaves it be. It's Anthony who passes the gravy in the end. When he does, he squeezes my thigh from underneath the table and I cover my gasp with a cough. I clench my thighs, trapping his hand between them. That squeeze might leave a handprint, but it made me so wet, that my thighs stick together when I unclench them. Anthony's nostrils flare, as if he can smell my arousal. I'm just waiting for