Chapter 12

CHARLOTTE’S POV

The following morning, I woke up with one simple goal: survive the day without asking myself why I had agreed to spend thirty days living under the same roof as Professor Zade Stone. Unfortunately, the estate made that difficult. Everything about the place reminded me that I was no longer living the life I had known. By the time I reached the kitchen, I had convinced myself that coffee was more important than overthinking, so I sat at the large island with both hands wrapped around my mug, hoping for one peaceful moment.

“You're coming to dinner with me tonight,” Zade announced as he walked into the kitchen already dressed as though he had somewhere important to be, his tone so matter-of-fact that I immediately lowered my mug and stared at him. “It's connected to my work, and before you start refusing, understand that this isn't a request because I want to parade you around. You're going because you're going to be around me for the next thirty days, and you need to understand the environment that comes with that.”

“No, I'm not,” I replied as I placed my mug on the counter, staring at him in disbelief because I had barely adjusted to sleeping in his house and now he wanted to take me to some formal dinner filled with people I didn't know. “I don't know these people, I don't understand your world, and I certainly don't see why I need to sit at an expensive table pretending I belong there.”

Zade pulled out the chair opposite me and sat down, his expression remaining surprisingly patient. “You don't have to pretend to belong anywhere,” he explained as he rested his hands on the table. “But if you're going to work in my studio, attend university where I'm your professor, and remain under my protection while the situation surrounding you is being investigated, then you need to understand that my life doesn't stop at the studio door.”

“And what exactly happens at this dinner?” I asked as I studied his face, trying to determine whether there was something he wasn't telling me. “Because every time you say something is connected to your work, it somehow turns into another situation where I'm expected to follow you without knowing what I'm walking into.”

“It's a formal dinner for people connected to the art world, along with several business figures and families I've known for years,” Zade explained as he leaned back slightly. “You will meet people, eat dinner, and leave with me. Nobody is going to ask you to perform or explain your life, and you don't have to pretend to be someone you're not. If someone makes you uncomfortable, you tell me, and if you want to leave, we leave.”

I sighed, realizing I wasn't going to win this argument. “Fine,” I finally agreed as I looked at him over the rim of my mug. “But if someone asks me a question I don't want to answer, I'm not answering it just because they're rich or important.”

A faint smile touched Zade's mouth as he stood from the table. “I wouldn't expect anything less.”

By evening, I understood why Zade had warned me not to worry about impressing anyone. The dinner wasn't simply expensive. It was the kind of event where everything seemed designed to remind you that the people in the room had more money, influence and connections than most people could imagine. The restaurant occupied the upper floors of a private building overlooking the city, and every detail looked carefully chosen. I stepped inside beside Zade and immediately felt as though I had walked into a world where I didn't know the rules.

What surprised me most wasn't the money. It was Zade. Men who looked like they could command entire companies lowered their voices when they spoke to him, influential guests approached him first, and people who initially ignored me suddenly became interested once they realized I had arrived beside him. Their eyes moved between us with quiet curiosity, making me understand that being seen with Zade carried a meaning I hadn't known existed.

“You're staring,” Zade murmured as we moved through the room, his voice low enough that only I could hear while he greeted several guests. “Try not to look as though you're planning your escape through the nearest window.”

“I might be,” I whispered back as I glanced around the room. “Everyone here looks like they know something I don't, and the way they treat you is making me wonder whether you've secretly been running a country while pretending to be my professor.”

Zade gave me a brief look that almost resembled amusement. “I'm not running a country.”

“That wasn't a denial about the rest of it,” I pointed out as another influential-looking man approached him with a respectful greeting. “Who are you, exactly?”

“Someone who came here to have dinner,” he answered as he calmly turned toward the approaching guest, clearly refusing to give me anything more useful.

I tried to ignore the questions in my head, but they multiplied when an older man joined our conversation and casually mentioned Zade's family. “You could have inherited a much larger position than the one you've chosen,” the man remarked as he looked at Zade with amusement. “Your father still talks about what you walked away from, although I suppose some people are stubborn enough to believe they can build a life outside the family.”

I immediately looked at Zade, but his expression barely changed. “What position?” I asked quietly once the man moved away, leaning toward Zade so nobody else could hear me. “And what exactly did you walk away from?”

“It's family business, Charlotte, and it has nothing to do with you,” Zade answered as he kept his voice controlled. “Don't concern yourself with things that don't involve you.”

Before I could push him further, a familiar woman entered the room and immediately approached us with a warm smile. “Zade, you finally brought someone,” she called as her smile widened when she noticed me. “I was beginning to think you'd decided to spend the rest of your life avoiding everyone who knows your family.”

Zade's expression changed almost imperceptibly. “Charlotte, this is Jasmine, my younger sister,” he introduced us as he looked between us, his voice polite but noticeably guarded. “Jasmine, Charlotte is a student at the university and someone I've been helping through a difficult personal situation.”

“It's nice to meet you,” I replied as I returned Jasmine's smile, although I couldn't hide my surprise that Zade had never mentioned having a sister. Jasmine took my hand warmly, studying me with obvious curiosity. “It's lovely to finally meet you,” she said as she held my hand for a moment longer than necessary. “I've heard absolutely nothing about you, which is unusual because my brother normally tells me when someone manages to get past all his walls.”

I glanced at Zade before carefully explaining, “We're not that close. He's my professor, and I'm staying at his estate because of a personal situation. That's really all there is to it.”

Jasmine's smile remained, but her eyes became more observant. “Of course,” she replied as she tilted her head slightly. “And have you always been close? Do you trust him?”

I hesitated before answering, watching her expression carefully. “We've only known each other for a short time, so I'm still figuring that out.” Something flickered across her face before the warm smile returned. “Good answer,” she remarked as she glanced toward Zade. “You're much more interesting than I expected.” Later, when she complimented my appearance and casually remarked that Zade had always had unusual taste in people, I couldn't tell whether it was a compliment or an insult.

Eventually, the crowded room became too much, and I excused myself to find somewhere quieter. I had barely reached the hallway when I heard voices coming from one of the private rooms. I recognized Zade's immediately, but the second voice made me stop. “You walked away from everything our family built,” Jasmine was saying, her voice completely different from the warmth she'd shown me earlier. “You could have taken your rightful place, Zade, but instead you chose to hide behind a university position and pretend you're satisfied playing professor and artist.”

“I made my choice years ago, Jasmine, and I'm not changing it because Father still believes my life belongs to the family,” Zade replied as his voice hardened. “I don't want that position, I don't want the business, and I have no intention of returning to something I deliberately walked away from.”

I stood frozen in the hallway, my mind racing. A much larger position. A family business. A father who expected him to inherit something important. Suddenly, the expensive estate, the powerful people at dinner and the way everyone treated Zade began making far more sense. I quietly stepped away before they could notice me, but I hadn't gone far when Jasmine appeared at the end of the hallway.

“Enjoying the evening?” Jasmine asked as she walked toward me, her voice sweet but her eyes far too knowing. “Zade has spent years keeping certain parts of his life separate from everyone else, and you've only just stepped into that hidden world.”

“What does that mean?” I asked as I turned toward her, my curiosity overcoming my caution.

Jasmine continued walking before stopping near the end of the hallway. She slowly looked back at me, the warmth disappearing completely from her expression.

“You really have no idea who you've gotten yourself involved with, do you?”