Charlotte took a moment to fully understand what he had just said. Her lips made an 'o' sound. Prince Lucas looked at her and laughed. She turned her face away, hiding her embarrassment. She licked her lips before looking back at him. He had an amused grin on his face."You can laugh if you want, you know." She said, trying to dispell the embarrassment she still felt.He sucked in air a bit sharply, making a very brief hissing sound."Nah. That'd be rude. Let's go in. Your aunt wouldn't be happy if I brought you back frozen cold." He joked.Charlotte appreciated it but couldn't bring herself to genuinely smile. She chuckled but it was dry. And he noticed."Did I say anything wrong?" He asked slowly. Charlotte shook her head and looked at him with a smile."No. You didn't. Now can we go in? Asecond more out here and I think I'll truly freeze." She tried to joke.It wasn't a good attempt but Prince Lucas laughed for the effort. She had her arm crossed in his as they walked into theres
Prince Lucas listened hard to the dial tone as he gazed out the car's window,.trying desperately to distract himself from the gripping anxiety he felt.The monotone sound came once. Twice.A third."Sorry, the number you dialed has not been answered. Please try again later." The feminine message said."Why?!" He exclaimed."Calm down." His friend and right-hand man Michael said to him."It's been hours and she hasn't replied to my texts or answered my calls." "Just hours?" Michael joked.Prince Lucas looked at him to see him on the verge of laughter. "It's not funny." He said seriously.He held the phone hard in his hands as his mind raced for reasons why Charlotte wasn't answering his call.He knew he probably got her upset the nightbefore but surely 11 missed calls would have her answering by now.And her phone was still on. So she was purposely not answering his calls. That hurt."Have you checked her home?" Michael asked."You think she'd be home?" Prince Lucas asked, worry etch
Prince Lucas held her face in his hands. His hands trembled with relief that he has found her. And she was alive."Are you okay?" He asked, his eyes searching for any injuries. Charlotte was sure he would find some and he did."I'm okay." She said anyway.Prince Lucas pulled her into another hug, squeezing her as tight as he could. He could only wonder what she had been through."I'm so sorry." He whispered."It's fine." She said.Charlotte noticed Michael standing awkwardly at a distance."You brought Michael." She stated. Prince Lucas turned back."Yeah..yeah I guess I did." He said with a chuckle.It was more of a relieved chuckle than it was a humorous one. He turned his attention to the couple who had answered her call.The young lady had her hair tied up in a high afro bun with what he assumed to be an African printed cloth over a pair of jeans. Her skin looked silky and smooth and she had adorned her ears with hooped earrings. She had a piercing on her nose. It wasn't something
"Thank you for bringing me home." Charlotte said to Prince Lucas.They had just arrived in her neighborhood and the driver had parked the car before her house. He smiled at her."It was my pleasure."He stretched out his hand for her palm to help her out of the car. Not that she needed any assistance.In a way she felt he did that to make her feel more at ease and a bit pampered."Take care of yourself." Michael said as he leaned against the care with his hands dug into his pockets."I will.""You promise?" Prince Lucas asked as they walked to her front door. She nodded."I'll still make sure though." He joked.She laughed. Before they reached the door, Aunt Joan opened it. The minute her eyes landed on the pair, a cry of relief escaped her lips."Charlotte oh Charlotte! My daughter, I thought I'd never see you again." She cried, running to her.Charlotte winced as she ran into her arms."I'm fine aunt. I just got a little lost." Charlotte said, hugging her aunt."I told you this man
Ryan's silence was the only answer Charlotte git because he ended the call without saying a word.She groaned, dropping the phone on the bed. She didn't have to be a fortune teller to know that his involvement with Veronica would end badly.Somehow, she wanted to call back but she didn't have the strength she thought she'd need for the conversation.Instead she pulled herself to her feet. She felt a bit better so she decided to get something to eat before dizziness kicked in again.She got out of her room. All the lights were out in the other rooms, including Aunt Joan's room. She decided to be as quiet as possible, so as to not wake her up even though she dragged her feet as she walked.She turned on the lights in the kitchen. It was as she had seen it earlier. And the delivered food was still on the counter as she had left it.Untouched.Charlotte ignored the fact that her aunt hadn't taken a serving. Maybe she wasn't hungry.Charlotte took a minced beef wrap and a pack of noodles.
"What's he doing here?" Ryan asked, looking behind her.Prince Lucas sat quite comfortably on her seat, unaware of Ryan's attention to him."Don't think about that. We have to talk." Charlotte said, drawing his attention back to her. They stood at the entrance of the office."Yeah we do. You spent the night with him didn't you?" He said accusingly."What? Let's not get into that. It's Veronica we need to talk about." Charlotte said, not wanting to get off tangent even for a moment."Hey, if you can go sleeping around, so can I. What do you care?" Ryan walked past her but Charlotte reached out to him, making him stop."What are you talking about? You think I'm sleeping with him?" She asked, astounded. He shrugged."It's obvious. Why him Charlotte?""I should be asking you the same question. She messed you up and you still let her back in-" "And he beats you up yet you still defend him?"Charlotte's mouth dropped open. It was the first time he acknowledged how she looked since she met h
"We'd?" Prince Charlotte repeated, raising a brow.His eyes sparkled with interest and amusement. Charlotte looked like she was thinking about her answer carefully.That was something he had noticed about her. She was careful with her words. Strategic even."Forget it." She said finally. He licked his lips."Nothing will happen." He said before tearing his eyes away from hers.From the corner of his eye, he could see her cheeks turn a shade of pink. He loved to see her flustered.She looked hotter.Well she was in bandages but that did little to affect her beauty."So we're going to your office?" She asked after a while.He chucked. He turned to her."If you want." He said smoothly.She smiled gratefully."Thank you. Now I can finally see what you actually do." She said with a laugh.That took Prince Lucas off guard. He burst out laughing before he could stop himself."Is that why you want to go there so bad?" He said, his eyes thinking with amazement.She shrugged."Well I don't know
"He said that?" Mia asked.Charlotte nodded before answering.She sat on her bed and it was past 10pm that night but she didn't care much. She had left Prince Lucas' office almost immediately after his secretary left and hadn't answered any of his calls and texts since."Yes. I told you. They're always after something. Always."Mia remained quiet for a while. Charlotte sighed and buried her face in her hands.She felt stupid. She tried to console herself. At least he didn't...She didn't know what to tell herself. Shefelt hurt. And she called Mia as a way to raise her mood.But her friend was still silent."Why aren't you saying anything?" She asked Mia. "I'm just..."Mia smacked her lips."Maybe you heard wrong?" Mia asked."I didn't. I'm positive his secretary said something about me being a goal and he said he knew.""Maybe you misunderstood it? Or heard wrong. You did say you were half-asleep.""I heard them loud and clear. Gosh how disgusting. They were so plain even when I was