004

I'm sorry Charlotte but Mr Aster has to decide

"Come here, Jasmine," Charlotte said firmly, pulling her daughter by the arm. Jasmine hesitated, looking back at Astor with wide eyes, but eventually let her mother drag her away. Charlotte’s heart raced as she tried to shake off the strange moment. She didn’t need her daughter getting attached to Astor just yet.

Astor, on the other hand, turned on his heel, striding off toward the living room. His footsteps echoed against the marble floors.

Charlotte crouched to Jasmine’s level, forcing a smile despite the storm raging inside her. “Sweetie, you can’t just run to people like that, okay? Especially not him,” she said softly, brushing a stray curl from Jasmine’s face.

“But, Mommy, he’s nice,” Jasmine said, her tone innocent and matter-of-fact.

Charlotte sighed, biting her lip. “I know he seems nice, but he’s... busy. Let’s just stay out of his way, alright?” Jasmine nodded, though she seemed far from convinced.

---

In the living room, Astor adjusted his tie, his mind elsewhere. The meeting he was about to have wasn’t one he looked forward to, but it was necessary. Sitting on the grand leather sofa were two representatives from Harrington Enterprises, dressed in sharp suits and wearing unreadable expressions.

“Mr. Harrington,” one of them said, rising to shake his hand. “It’s a pleasure as always.”

“Let’s skip the pleasantries,” Astor replied curtly, gesturing for them to sit. “I assume you have updates for me?”

The man cleared his throat, sliding a file across the table. “As you requested, we’ve been monitoring the situation with the board. Your brother William has been making moves, subtle, but noticeable. He’s aligning himself with a few key members, likely to challenge your claim.”

Astor’s jaw tightened. “And what about Susan? She always has her hand in something.”

The second representative, a younger woman with sharp eyes, leaned forward. “Susan’s approach has been more indirect. She’s been speaking to outside investors, attempting to undermine your credibility. Nothing concrete yet, but it’s only a matter of time.”

Astor leaned back, rubbing his temple. “They’re playing a dangerous game. Have they forgotten what happened last time someone tried to cut me out?”

The room fell silent, tension thick in the air.

“We’ll continue monitoring,” the woman said carefully, breaking the silence. “But you should be prepared to act decisively. If they gain more ground, it could complicate things further.”

Astor nodded, his gaze distant. “Thank you. That will be all for now.”

The representatives stood, bowing slightly before exiting. As the door closed behind them, Astor let out a frustrated sigh. His family was always a battlefield, and he was tired of fighting wars on all fronts.

---

Meanwhile, Charlotte approached Brandon, who was busy coordinating staff in the kitchen. She folded her arms, her tone low but firm. “Brandon, I need to speak with you.”

Brandon turned, his brows furrowed. “Yes, Ms. Charlotte?”

“Look, I don’t want Jasmine getting involved in any of this,” Charlotte began, glancing toward the hallway where her daughter was playing. “Whatever Astor has planned, it’s his business, not mine. And definitely not hers.”

Brandon hesitated, his lips pressing into a thin line. “I understand, but...” He sighed, clearly uncomfortable. “I’m sorry, Charlotte, but I have to let Mr. Astor decide since he’s involved now.”

Charlotte’s stomach sank, but she nodded, swallowing her argument. She didn’t have the energy to fight. “Fine,” she said simply, turning on her heel and walking away, leaving Brandon standing there, guilt etched on his face.

---

Back in the living room, Astor leaned against the armrest, deep in thought. The sound of Brandon’s hurried footsteps broke through his reverie.

“Mr. Astor?” Brandon called, rushing over to him.

Astor looked up, his expression unreadable.

“Do you need help with anything?” Brandon asked, slightly out of breath as he approached.

“Yes,” Astor said, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. “Get me Charlotte.”

Brandon blinked, caught off guard by the command. “Charlotte, sir?”

“Did I stutter?” Astor snapped, rising from the sofa. He picked up his file and strode past Brandon without another word, heading back toward his room. The heavy sound of the door locking behind him echoed in the hallway.

Brandon stood frozen for a moment, his hands clenching and unclenching as he left Astor's door.

“What's really going on with this Charlotte of a person?” Brandon murmured, staring back to see if Astor would change his mind.

After his reply to Charlotte, he felt a hint of guilt wrap around him, this was the first time Astor was to determine the fate of an employee, he thought his response was hurting but on a second thought, he wasn't at fault.

“If only she had left that toddler at home, maybe all these wouldn't have happened.”

While Brandon debated how to approach her, Charlotte sat with Jasmine in a quiet corner of the estate. Jasmine was playing with a small doll, her face glowing with the innocence of childhood.

“Mommy, is Mr. Astor really my daddy?” Jasmine asked suddenly, her voice soft but curious.

Charlotte froze, her heart skipping a beat. “Why do you ask that, sweetie?”

Jasmine shrugged, twirling the doll in her hands. “Because he’s nice... and he looks at me like he knows me.”

Charlotte swallowed hard, forcing a smile. “Mr. Astor is just a nice man, that’s all. Don’t worry about it, okay?”

Jasmine nodded, though she didn’t seem entirely convinced.

Charlotte leaned back, her thoughts heavy.

“I can't just let him have Jasmine just because he has everything and if that's his thought, he better abort it.” Charlotte murmured, folding her arms.

“But Jasmine seem so fond of him, if only she knew he left..” Charlotte's thought was interrupted by the sound of a hurried footstep.

Just then Brandon approached Charlotte, and she immediately sprang to her feet, sensing something urgent from his hurried steps and the expression on his face.

“Miss Walker,” Brandon began hesitantly, his voice low, “Mr. Harrington has requested your presence.”

Charlotte raised a brow, folding her arms across her chest. “Requested?” she echoed, her tone carrying a mix of skepticism and irritation. “You mean demanded, don’t you?”

Brandon shifted uncomfortably, avoiding her piercing gaze. “He just said I should get you,” he clarified, though his hands fidgeted nervously at his sides. “It sounded... important.”

Charlotte sighed, her irritation bubbling. “Of course, it sounded important,” she muttered under her breath, glancing toward Jasmine, who was seated nearby, engrossed in playing with her doll.

“Well, you can tell Mr. Harrington I’ll be there,” she said dismissively, waving Brandon off.

“Uhh?” Brandon stammered, turning back toward her, clearly confused by her lack of urgency.

Charlotte had already crouched down to Jasmine’s level, brushing a strand of her daughter’s hair behind her ear. “Sweetheart,” she said softly, her voice slow , “Mommy has to go upstairs for a little while. You stay right here, okay? Don’t play about.”

Jasmine nodded obediently, her small fingers clutching her doll tightly. “Okay, Mommy,” she said with a smile.

“Good girl..” Charlotte said, tapping her gently on the back.

Satisfied, Charlotte straightened. She gestured toward Brandon. “Alright, lead the way Mr Brandon.”

Brandon gave a stiff nod, turning to head upstairs as Charlotte followed closely behind him.

Pior to their arrival, Astor sat at the edge of his bed, flipping through the file. His eyes scanned the neatly organized pages of numbers and proposals, but his mind wasn’t entirely on the business at hand.

The image of Jasmine wrapping her small arms around his legs and calling him “Daddy” replayed in his mind like a broken record, everything stirred something inside him.

It wasn’t the first time he had been caught off guard, but this felt different. The innocence in her voice, the way she looked up at him. It cut him off guard in a way he wasn’t prepared for. Astor shook his head slightly.

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his hands gripping the file tightly. "What are you doing, Harrington?" he whispered to himself, his tone sharp. Emotions were dangerous. He knew that better than anyone.

Astor had spent years perfecting the art of detachment. Every decision he made, every move on the chessboard of life, was calculated. He couldn’t afford distractions, not then, not now.

But this? It was unexpected.

He had thought he’d prepared himself for this moment but it was obvious he was ready for it.

Yet, the sight of Jasmine’s bright eyes and her charming smile had cracked something in him, something he hadn’t felt in years.

Astor ran a hand through his hair and exhaling sharply. “Get it together,” he muttered under his breath.

Still, no matter how much he tried to push the thoughts aside, they kept coming.

“This isn't the plan!” He snapped. “I need to get things together before it gets to me.”

Astor closed the file with a snap, the sound echoing in the quiet room. His jaw tightened as he straightened.

“Focus, Harrington,” he muttered to himself, his voice low and commanding.