chapter 4: The Unwanted suitor &A very jealous Charles (Charles's pov)
Chapter 4: The Unwanted Suitor & A Very Jealous Charles (Charles's POV)
Charles Williams was a man of logic.
His entire empire had been built on strategy, calculated risks, and precise decision-making. He didn't do impulsive, he didn't do reckless, and he certainly didn't do jealousy.
Which is why it made no sense that he had spent the last twenty-four hours in a foul mood over a simple text from Isabella.
Isabella: Guess what? Charlotte already has a fan club. Her university admirer is quite the charmer. Should I warn him?
Charles had ignored the text. Or at least, he had tried to.
But now, he found himself parked outside Charlotte's university, disguised in his sleek black car, watching the students pour out of the campus gates like some kind of lunatic.
"This is ridiculous," he muttered. He wasn't here to check on her. He just happened to be in the area. Pure coincidence.
And then, he appeared.
Ethan Hayes.
The charming, flirtatious bastard.
And worse—Charlotte was with him. Laughing.
Charles's grip on the steering wheel tightened.
She looked… happy. Too happy. Her platinum blonde hair shimmered in the sunlight, her unique eyes bright with amusement. And this Ethan guy? He was too close. Talking too casually. Smiling at her like he had a right to.
Charles had never felt the urge to punch a university student before, but there was a first time for everything.
Then, Ethan touched her. Just a light touch on her wrist, but Charles saw red.
Without thinking, he opened the car door and stepped out.
—
Charlotte's POV
Charlotte was just about to say goodbye to Ethan when she felt it.
A shift in the air.
A presence so strong it sent a shiver down her spine.
Then, she heard his voice.
"Charlotte."
She turned—and there he was.
Charles Williams, standing like a thunderstorm in a perfectly tailored suit, his expression unreadable, his gaze sharp as steel.
"Oh," she blinked in surprise. "Charles! What are you doing here?"
He didn't answer. Instead, his icy blue eyes locked onto Ethan.
Ethan, who was now looking back and forth between them, clearly putting two and two together. "Wait a minute. This is Charles Williams?"
Charlotte groaned. "Don't start—"
Ethan grinned. "Man, I can see why you've been so distracted."
She wanted to die.
Charles, however, was not amused. He gave Ethan a slow, assessing look. "And you are?"
"Ethan Hayes. Charlotte's friend." Ethan extended his hand, unfazed.
Charles didn't take it.
Ethan smirked. "Ah. One of those guys."
Charlotte didn't know what those guys meant, but judging from Charles's slight twitch of the jaw, it wasn't a compliment.
"Charlotte," Charles said, ignoring Ethan entirely. "Come. We're leaving."
"Wait, what?" She blinked. "Leaving? Why?"
"I have business to discuss with you."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Wow, she works for you and you're picking her up from school? Controlling much?"
Charlotte saw it. The slight tick in Charles's jaw. The way his fingers flexed like he was seconds away from doing something rash.
So, before things could escalate, she grabbed Charles's arm and quickly steered him away.
"I'll see you later, Ethan!" she called over her shoulder before dragging Charles toward the car.
—
In The Car
The moment the doors shut, Charlotte turned to him.
"What was that?"
Charles adjusted his cufflinks. "I don't know what you mean."
"Oh, don't play dumb," she huffed. "You basically stormed in and dragged me away like a possessive caveman."
Charles met her gaze, calm and composed. "You seemed uncomfortable. I was doing you a favor."
She narrowed her eyes. "Right. And it had nothing to do with Ethan?"
He didn't answer.
Charlotte smirked. "Oh my god. You are jealous."
Charles scoffed. "That's ridiculous."
But his ears were slightly red.
And Charlotte? She felt a tiny spark of victory.
Maybe keeping her crush a secret was going to be harder than she thought.