Chapter 004: The Plan

Charlie leaves his apartment with a small piece of paper on the bed next to me and his digits written on it.

“Call me every time you’re bored. Let’s make the night day by making love,” were his last words before he went out of my sight.

The audacity to threaten me with his nonsense. He may have escaped for now, but that doesn’t mean I am going to turn a blind eye and let him do whatever he wants.

I need to escape from this hell of a mess as soon as possible. We are not boyfriends or having such a relationship.

He's my wife's brother. That's all I must have with him.

I shouldn't have had sex with him in the first place. He's always getting on my nerves. So, I reach out to Allen again.

“Does your proposal still stand?” I ask Allen the second he answers the call.

“Of course, boss,” Allen’s panting echoes in my ears. “But I’m afraid we can’t fulfill your order today. It’s your father. He’s furious because he found out that you left your wife in the middle of your honeymoon…”

“Damn it! I forgot about Clarisse.” I step on the accelerator and speed up the car.

"What were you thinking, huh, boss? You were supposed to spend time with your wife, multiplying numbers, yet you kept yourself busy looking for someone unimportant. Look what you've done? I don't have a face to..."

Allen keeps talking from the other end of the phone, but I simply ignore him. I already expected what he was going to say. He’s copying and mimicking what Dad could have told him.

Dad is a perfectionist kind of person. He is extremely keen on details. He doesn’t want to hear any bad rumors around him, especially about our family.

Above all that, he listens to no one but himself, even if he is wrong or out of line. Perhaps Clarisse told him about what happened.

No wonder that bastard and Clarisse were siblings. They always have a word and take no for an answer.

“Moreover, I already sent you the files about Clarisse’s brother, Charlie, first thing in the morning. Kindly check the storage compartment of your car if you haven’t. Guess what I found? Boss, he's nothing but a scumbag...”

My soul almost jumps out of the car as I bump into the truck ahead of me. I was too preoccupied looking for the document Allen mentioned, to the point that I forgot I was driving.

Instead of stepping on the brake to slow down, I put my foot on the accelerator. As a result of my stupidity and recklessness, I bumped into the truck.    

I reach out to my forehead, where I feel too much discomfort. Seeing my precious blood stains on my hands pisses me off.

So, I hop out of the car to confront the person in charge of the truck. 

"Are you blind or something?" The furious man, probably the driver, shouts at me.

"Are you saying that it's my fault that you're an unprofessional driver, huh? Who do you think you are?" I shout back, pointing a finger at him.

The man suddenly scoffs; his arms wrap around his chest. "Me? An unprofessional driver? It was you who was blind, you idiot! You better pay me for the damage. Look at the back of my truck. It's all wrecked."

People around us are getting interested in the scene.  That’s a good thing for me. I am eager to see their reactions once they recognize me.

"Do you have any idea who I am, huh? I am the son of the Guzman Group, the richest company in the entire city. I can destroy, not only that fucking cheap truck of yours, but also your goddamn useless life!"

"You've got to be kidding me! If you're the son of the Guzman Group, then I am the son of the president!" To my surprise, he kicks the front of my car. "Pay me now, you idiot! Otherwise, I'll call the cops."

I gasp shortly, trying to figure out what this man is up to. I also wonder why he didn't recognize me, when in fact, my wedding has been all over the news and the internet for the past few days.

Does that mean I am still not famous enough despite all my achievements?    

"Are you paying cash or online transfer?" He adds, "If I have it get fixed, that's around a hundred grand for the parts alone. Emotional damage, two hundred grand. Late from work, an additional fifty grand..."    

Judging by the look on his face, there was no chance he would settle for less. Unfortunately, I am not settling for less either.

My Lamborghini is ten times more expensive than his truck. I will never pay him, even a cent.

"How about removing you from your position at my company, huh, Mr. Denver? Let's see if your president father can help you."

A familiar voice suddenly echoes behind me. I turned around and was greeted by Charlie’s ear-to-ear smile. It is the kind of smile that tells me to step aside because he is going to handle it himself.

"Mr. Chairman," the man says, his voice trembling. "Good morning. What are you doing here? Is this man your...?"

Charlie suddenly puts his hand on top of my shoulder. He stands confidently in front of the man. "He is my brother-in-law. I have the evidence that can prove his innocence."

I removed Charlie’s hand from my shoulder as I didn’t like the sound of his response. This case is just a piece of cake. I don’t need his help.

Whatever evidence he had, I don’t need it. But as I was about to settle it with the man, he had already bolted his truck at the speed of light.

I am about to hop into my car when Charlie suddenly stops me. "What do you want, Charlie? Why are you even here, huh?" I ask. "If you expect me to thank you for helping me, you must be dreaming."

Charlie insists. He pulls me out of the car and closes the door himself. "I'm here for two main reasons, Dominick." He speaks. "First, Clarisse started feeling suspicious about us. I'm heading to the beach resort, where you and my sister are supposed to have your honeymoon. Second, I am driving you back to the resort so that you can have a solid excuse for your father."

"Excuse me?" I blurt, even trying to hop into the car for the second time, but Charlier pulls me back.

I gritted my teeth, almost as if they were about to fall from my mouth. Every time I look at his smile, it feels like the road is about to crack open.

Nevertheless, his statement somehow intrigues and confuses me at the same time.

"Unless you want Clarisse to believe that something's going on between us," he adds as he opens the door of his car. "Yours is broken. Let's go together and explain to them why we ended up together in the bar last night."

    "Did you tell them everything?" I blurt almost at the top of my lungs, worries and fears starting to consume me.

Charlie leans closer, close enough that our faces are almost a quarter of an inch apart. I close my eyes as my heart pounds in my chest, thinking he would kiss me as broad as daylight.

I already expected this kind of scenario. He’s trying to seduce me.

However, hearing the ticking sound of the seat belt has proven my assumptions wrong. I slowly open my eyes and find out his hands were already holding the steering wheel.

"I don't know about your father, but my sister has her means of knowing things, Dominick," Charlie replies as he tilts his head at me. "She believes that I kept bullying you."

"Aren't you?" I ask that on top of my head.

"But that's not the main issue here, Dominick," he continues, his voice turning serious. "We must stop your father and Clarisse from digging deeper into the situation. So, you better listen to my plan."