Novels by Wendy Charles

———— The hallway was quiet, dimly lit by the soft glow of wall sconces. The silence should have been calming, but my heart was still pounding, my skin still warm from Blake’s touch.I needed air.I needed distance.But as I turned the corner, I nearly collided with someone.A firm hand caught my arm before I could stumble.I looked up—straight into Alan’s dark, mesmerizing gaze.For a moment, neither of us spoke.He was dressed in all black, his shirt unbuttoned at the top, revealing a hint of warm skin. There was something slightly disheveled about him, like he’d just come back from somewhere. The faintest scent of whiskey and the night air clung to him.I swallowed. “Alan.”His fingers flexed around my arm before he slowly released me, his eyes never leaving mine. “You look… distracted.”My breath caught.It wasn’t a casual observation. It was precise. Cutting. Like he knew exactly what was running through my mind.I straightened, forcing my pulse to steady. “I was just—”

A WEEK LATER———— I hadn't’ expect the house to feel like this—alive, bustling, transformed. Everywhere I turned, there were staff moving around with purpose, carrying decorations, adjusting floral arrangements, and ensuring that every inch of the house was prepared for the grand ball.I knew this event was important, but standing in the middle of all the chaos made it feel even grander—like something out of a world I didn’t belong to.And then, I stepped into the grand ballroom for the first time.I froze.The room was massive. The ceilings stretched impossibly high, adorned with intricate chandeliers. Golden-trimmed walls shimmered under the glow of the soft evening light, and floor-to-ceiling windows lined one side of the room, revealing the stunning landscape beyond.It was breathtaking. Intimidating.I had spent weeks in this house, yet somehow, I hadn’t even known this room existed.“Wow…” I breathed, my voice barely above a whisper.Beside me, Isabella laughed softly. “I k

Blake stepped into the living room, rolling his shoulders slightly, exhaustion clinging to him like a second skin. The day had been long, filled with meetings, calls, and numbers that blurred together—but all of that faded the moment he saw her.Isabel.She was curled up comfortably on the plush couch, a steaming cup of tea in her hands, looking every bit like she belonged. When she saw him, her entire face lit up, her green eyes sparkling with warmth."Blake!" She set her cup down and practically launched herself at him.He caught her easily, laughing under his breath as she wrapped her arms tightly around his waist."You act like we haven't seen each other in years," he teased, ruffling her hair playfully.She pulled back just enough to pout at him. "It feels like years! You barely call, you barely text—do you even remember that you have a sister?"Blake smirked. "Vaguely."She gasped dramatically and smacked his arm. "Unbelievable!"He chuckled, shaking his head as they bo

I blinked, my mind struggling to catch up. "I-I'm Samantha," I finally managed, my voice slightly uneven. "I work here."Her brows lifted slightly, as if she hadn't expected that answer. "You work here?" she echoed, as if tasting the words on her tongue.Before she could say anything else, the sound of footsteps filled the air.I turned instinctively, my pulse stuttering.Alan.He walked in with his usual air of quiet confidence, his sharp black eyes scanning the room before landing on the woman in front of me. And then-His entire demeanor shifted.His expression softened, his lips pulling into something dangerously close to a real smile."Alan," the woman breathed, as if she couldn't believe he was actually standing there."Isabel?”The way he said her name—low, familiar, intimate, sent an unexpected pang through me. And then, before I could fully process it, she closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around him.I should have looked away. Should have given the

Alan stood behind me, his expression stable. Droplets of water clung to his skin—he had just come out of the shower, once again half-naked.Heat rushed to my face as I quickly turned away. "I-I'm sorry."My grip tightened around the tray. "I wasn't snooping," I added hastily, gesturing toward the food. "I brought your breakfast, but the door was already slightly open.""And you forgot to knock?" His voice was cool, edged.I stayed silent.He let out a low chuckle. "You don't have to turn around. Haven't you seen a half-naked man before?"Of course, I had—your brother—and you!!!"Face me."I swallowed, hesitating before slowly turning back around. My gaze stayed fixed on the tray as I extended it toward him."Your breakfast."His gaze flicked to the tray, uninterested. "Put it anywhere."I exhaled sharply, setting it down on the table. But as I turned back to him, the words left my mouth before I could stop them."I didn't know you were an artist."For a second, his face was b

I stepped into Mr Blake's office, clasping my hands together as I stood near the door. The air felt heavier than usual, though I couldn't quite place why. He was sitting behind his desk, flipping through a file, but the moment I entered, his eyes lifted and for a second, he just stared.I cleared my throat. "You wanted to see me?"He didn't answer right away. His gaze still on my face before settling on my lips. His fingers, which had been tapping lightly against the desk, went still.I shifted under his scrutiny, suddenly aware of how warm the room felt.Then, before I could react, he pushed back his chair and stood, walking toward me with slow, deliberate steps.My breath hitched.I forced myself to stay still, but when he stopped just inches away, my heart thudded so loudly I was sure he could hear it.Then, to my absolute shock, he reached up and tilted my chin, his fingers brushing my skin as he studied my face."What happened?" His voice was quieter now, lower.I froze.W