Rose knows better

AN: Early release. Don't forget those powerstones after 9:30. 

Charlie was still sitting beside Kate, their conversation flowing more easily now. He had finally relaxed. She was telling him about a wild audition in New York where the casting director fell asleep during her monologue. He laughed, then he told her one of his jokes, and she laughed.

Well, they kinda hit it off.

Then Joline appeared at his side. 

"Charlie," she said, touching his shoulder.

He turned toward her, the smile fading when he saw her face. She looked worried.

"Hey," he said. "Everything okay?"

She nodded quickly, too quickly.

"I just got a call. My husband's been in an accident. It's not serious, but... I need to leave right away. He's in France. Monaco, actually."

Charlie blinked. "What? Now? Do you need me to come with you?"

Joline shook her head with practiced regret.

"No. I already booked a flight. I'll be gone for a couple of weeks. And you showing up with me? That'd be... complicated. He has family there. It would just cause more drama than help."

Charlie felt relieved that he won't have to deal with her ass anymore. But something about it didn't sit right. The story. The timing. 'Ah! Rose. Yup! I'm pretty sure it's her. Thank you, Rose.'

"Are you sure you don't want me there?"

She leaned in and kissed his cheek.

"You've already helped more than you know," she said softly. "And I really don't want to drag you into my mess. You've got your own stuff to focus on. Don't get sidetracked."

Kate, now quiet, looked away politely as Joline stepped back.

"I'll call you," Joline added, already moving. "Once things settle."

Charlie stood, still unsure. "Okay. Safe flight, I guess."

Joline gave him one last flash of that perfect smile, then turned and walked away without another word.

Kate looked at him once Joline was gone.

"That felt like a goodbye," she said.

Charlie nodded slowly. "Yeah. It did."

"Do you believe her?" Kate asked after a moment.

Charlie looked at his drink.

"Doesn't matter. Thank god, she left. Truth be told, I owed her a big favor, and she took advantage of that to drag me with her and was probably planning to... You know... With her husband out in France and me being his ex with a big favor... Haaa..." He sighed and took a sip from his glass. 

Kate leaned in a little, arms folded on the table, eyes locked on his. "So, she was planning to sleep with you. Like sex in exchange for a career favor. That's... common in this industry. Sad, but common."

Charlie gave a dry laugh and shook his head slowly. "Yeah. I figured. But I didn't want to believe that's where it was going. Thought maybe I could fake my way through it. Be charming. Play the plus-one. Keep it friendly. Keep my clothes on."

Kate tilted her head. "You really think she would've let that happen? That she'd invite you on a yacht with lingerie under her dress and just talk about skincare routines?"

Charlie stared at the condensation on his glass. "No. Not really."

She looked at him for a long second, then asked, softer this time, "Are you in a relationship? Like, an actual one? Not just messing around."

He nodded. "Yeah. I am."

Kate's voice lowered. "So, were you really going to go through with it? If Joline hadn't left?"

Charlie didn't answer right away. He turned slightly, watching the way the ocean shimmered under the lights. Then he spoke, calm, like he was trying to convince himself just as much as her.

"It wasn't for me," he said. "It was for Lisa."

Kate gave a quiet nod. "Lisa's your girlfriend?"

"Yeah," Charlie said. "She lost her last job. Part of it was... well, because of me. I didn't mean for it to happen. But it did. And she never blamed me. Not once. She was looking for work, applying everywhere. I couldn't just sit around while she kept getting passed over."

"So you called in a favor," Kate said.

Charlie nodded. "From Joline. She owed me... kind of. She said she could get Lisa an interview for a top position at a private university. I took the deal."

Kate studied him. "And the price?"

He gave a tired smile. "One night. With her. No strings, just... a night."

She raised her eyebrows, letting the silence sit there for a moment.

"That's a hell of a gift," she said finally. "Trading your body for your girlfriend's career."

Charlie laughed bitterly. "Yeah. When you put it like that, it sounds noble and pathetic at the same time."

"It sounds like something someone does when they think they don't deserve what they've got," Kate said, sipping her drink.

Charlie looked at her.

She continued, "Like you're constantly trying to fix things because deep down, you think you're always breaking them."

That hit harder than he expected.

He let out a breath and set his glass down.

"She deserves more than me. Smarter guy. Less complicated. Someone who doesn't have exes trying to ruin her life or yacht parties hosted by stalkers."

Kate smiled softly. "But she chose you."

He nodded. "Yeah. She did."

"Then maybe you stop acting like you're doomed to screw it up and start acting like you earned her."

Charlie looked at her for a second, the noise of the party fading a little behind her words.

He gave a small smile. "You sound like a therapist. And you are good at it. It feels weird."

Kate grinned. "Guess I've been in enough therapy to start handing out recycled wisdom."

He laughed, then leaned back in his chair.

"Thanks," he said.

"For what?" she asked.

"For not judging me," he replied.

Kate tilted her glass toward him. "Oh, I'm judging you. I'm just being polite about it."

He chuckled.

She added, "But honestly? You're not as bad as you think you are."

He shrugged. "I'm working on it."

Kate stood and stretched. "Good. Keep working. And maybe next time, don't agree to sell your soul for a job listing."

Charlie stood with her. "Noted."

She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, which actually surprised him. "I like you, Charlie. Don't screw it up."

He smiled. "I'll try not to. Oh, I almost forgot. Can I take a selfie with you?"

"Ok." She gave a nod.

Charlie took out his phone and held it up, angling it just right under the string lights overhead.

"Ready?" he asked.

Kate smiled, leaning in close. "Always."

He snapped the shot. Then another, this time with her making a goofy face while he raised an eyebrow. One more with both of them laughing mid-smile. They looked good together. Natural. Like two people who actually enjoyed each other's company.

Kate peeked at the screen as Charlie flipped through them.

"Okay, that one," she said, pointing at the last photo. "That's the keeper."

Charlie tapped to save it. "Want me to send it to you?" 

"Sure," she said, giving him her number. He typed it in, sent the photo, and then locked his phone.

As she turned to leave, her expression shifted just a bit. The smile stayed, but something in her eyes dimmed.

'Figures,' she thought.

Of course, the first genuinely funny, honest, slightly broken guy she connected with in months had to be in love with someone else.

'Just my fucking rotten luck.' She thought.

She gave him a final nod.

"Take care of her," Kate said.

Charlie watched her walk away into the crowd, blending back into the elegant swirl of dresses and conversation.

"Damn," he muttered under his breath, still feeling the weight of the moment. A near-something. A could-have-been. 'Well, time to go home.'

He made his way through the lower deck.

...

[Out of the Yacht]

Charlie walked along the empty wooden planks toward the parking area.

Then he stopped.

Right in front of his car stood Rose.

Leaning casually against the hood, arms crossed. Her hair was swept to one side.

Charlie slowed his steps, eyeing her with the same mix of suspicion and exhaustion he always did when Rose appeared uninvited. He walked to her and leaned beside her. 

"Thanks for saving my ass from that gold digger."

Rose's eyes went toward him.

"You're welcome," she said quietly.

Charlie folded his arms and looked out at the lot. The wind was cooler now. The party sounds were distant. Out here, it was just quiet. Tense.

"I mean it," he added. "Joline was bad news. I don't know what I was doing. Maybe trying to feel like I still had control. Maybe trying to avoid guilt. Either way… thanks."

Rose finally straightened, uncrossing her arms.

"I've always wanted what's best for you," she said.

Then another moment of pause...

"So..." Charlie tried to make a conversation, but what the hell should he even talk about? 

"Oh, sorry about that. I feel so calm when I'm with you. Just wanted to... Anyway," She sighed. "Good night, Charlie." She said with a smile before walking away. She didn't even look back.

For a moment, he wondered if she had really changed, but then he realized that Rose had a Master's Degree in Behavioral Psychology from Stanford University. She must be playing a long game. Well, as long as it doesn't involve messing up his relationship with Lisa, everything is fine. Hopefully...

...

[Charlie's House]

The front door clicked shut behind him as Charlie stepped inside. He took off his shoes and socks and placed them properly. He loosened his tie and stretched his back until it popped.

"Oh, yeah. Phew."

Lisa was on the couch, barefoot, her legs folded underneath her. She was wearing her casual white top and shorts. A stack of folders sat beside her, and she was halfway through marking something in red ink.

She took a quick glance at him before shifting her focus back to the work.

"You look exhausted," she said, casually flipping a page. "How did it go?"

 "Let's just say somewhat good and..." Charlie walked over and pulled out his phone. He opened the selfie with Kate and handed it to Lisa.

Lisa squinted, then blinked.

"Is that... is that Kate freaking Beckinsale?"

Charlie leaned back smugly. "Yup. Sat next to her. Told her the wedding karaoke story. She laughed so hard she nearly spit her drink."

"You gotta be kidding me," She swiped through the selfies.

First one: Kate Beckinsale and Charlie, both laughing mid-smile. Next one: Kate making a goofy face. Third: the two of them looking surprisingly photogenic under string lights.

Then she noticed the background...

There were other celebrities too. 

"Wait a sec," She narrowed her eyes, zooming in on the background. "Is that Cate Blanchett?!"

"Yeah. I was shocked too. It turned out to be a celebrity party. I had no idea." He went straight to the kitchen and opened the fridge, took out a bottle of cold water, and took a sip.

"Wow!" Lisa closed the phone and placed it on the table. "So, did you get a contract or something?" She asked.

"Nope. Let's just say, I got some nice ideas now," Charlie walked behind the couch and hugged her from behind, placing his chin on her right shoulder. "And some big inspiration. I know what I need to do to get out of this slump." He kissed her neck softly.

"Is that so?" She leaned back a bit and rubbed her cheek against his cheek.

"Yup! So, how was your day?" He asked, taking a nice sniff of her smell. She smelled like a sweet peach. 

They continued to flirt and talk about their day. Then Charlie went to his room, took a bath, and changed back to his regular clothes. 

Just then, Alan entered... He had a spare key.

He was on his phone.

"For the fifth time, Judith. The clinic isn't doing that great, and you can't possibly ask for 60% of my income and child support, lawyers' fees, my house, car, and my soul and blood... I can't pay what I don't have. And... and for the record, it was an accident. You can't possibly drag me into a physical abuse case..."

He closed the door and stopped for a moment. Then he cut the call.

Lisa, sitting on the couch, was looking at him. Charlie, standing near the balcony doors, was looking at him.

"That bad?" Charlie asked.

"Yeah," Alan stood there in a daze, thinking about his life choices and regretting not listening to Charlie's advice not to marry Judith.

"Told you not to marry her, did you listen?" Charlie asked.

"Nope," Alan replied, still in a daze. 

"Planning to sell your kidney and liver?" 

"Yup!"

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