Library

Search

Home / Romance / The Accidental Almost Kiss with my Ex's Uncle / Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

All Chapters of The Accidental Almost Kiss with my Ex's Uncle: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

59 Chapters

Twenty-One

CHARLOTTE’S P.O.V.I changed outfits three times. Three times! I felt ridiculous. This was just a work meeting, a tour really. Yet, somehow, as I stood in front of my mirror, I had been able to find flaws in every outfit I had picked out.In the end, I settled on business casual with a dark pair of tight jeans, a burgundy top, and matching heels. It was stylish and professional, and still worthy of a club. Yet, as I waited for the valet to reach my car, I was suddenly filled with a deep regret that I should have done more. For a Friday night, I wasn’t expecting to be let in so quickly, but I was ushered past the line at the door and sent straight to Heather for my wristband. She smiled at me and immediately pulled out the same band as before. It looked silver to me in the light, but she once again emphasized that the platinum band would get me anything I wanted, and goosebumps rose along my arms as she repeated the same line as before. “Enjoy your evening, and please do let us k

Twenty-Two

CHARLOTTE’S P.O.V. My mouth opened and then closed again as blood rushed to my cheeks. What did I think happened in here? There was no answer I could give that wouldn't make me want to melt into the floor out of humiliation. Standing in the middle of the room wasn’t helping. There was a large bed against the far wall with black sheets and a few pillows, but no blanket, so I knew it wasn’t for sleeping. I glanced from the bed to the plush chair in the corner across from it, biting down on my bottom lip to prevent myself from saying anything to embarrass myself more, when I noticed it was facing the bed instead of the small table next to it. There was a mini bar against the back wall, and a giant mirror across from the bed that reflected the entire room. “Meetings?” I squeaked pathetically. Derek was watching me, emotionless until I spoke, but the corner of his mouth twitched before he glanced back to the bed, eyebrows raised in amusement. “Right,” I muttered, frustrated

Twenty-Three

CHARLOTTE’S P.O.V.For the rest of the visit, I was dodging Derek’s hand each time he instinctively placed it on my back as we rounded corners, moved through doorways, or brushed past crowds. It didn’t take long before he noticed and shoved his hands back into his pockets, keeping them to himself for the rest of the tour. As soon as he showed me the last room, I was racing out of the club, trying to put as much distance between us as possible. I knew once I had some space and air, everything would go back to normal. Yet, as I kicked off my heels and walked into my bedroom to settle in for the night, I regretted leaving.At least at the club, there was life, laughter, and free drinks while I worked for them.But my apartment was quiet… too quiet.I should have appreciated it after the week I had, but the silence left me alone with my thoughts, and my thoughts had taken a dangerous turn over the past few hours.“No!” I snapped, pointing at myself in the bathroom mirror as flashes of

Twenty-Four

DEREK’S P.O.V. I hadn’t intended to show up tonight. In fact, I had avoided almost every family function for the past several years. It had never been a problem before. My family knew I was busy. While they were living off trust funds and working jobs that had just been handed to them, I was making something of myself. Every penny I had ever made, I had earned, and the empire I now had, I’d built it brick by brick with my own two hands. So, they never questioned why I wasn’t at family dinners and holidays. I was usually traveling for meetings and business deals. Still, when my father called and personally asked me to come to my grandmother’s birthday dinner, I couldn’t say no. With a sigh, I climbed out of my car and headed inside, not bothering to knock as I could hear the commotion inside. My hands tightened into fists as every head turned to stare, and conversation stopped when I entered. “Derek?” I turned, unable to hide my smile as my mother rushed toward me, cup

Twenty-Five

DEREK’S P.O.V. The silence that followed was almost suffocating, or it would have been if I were in Justin’s shoes. He looked like his air supply had been cut off, and he was ready to explode. At least forty people sat in the dining room, frozen, all leaning or looking over as they waited to hear what Justin had to say. Even the children seemed to know something big was happening, because even their usual bickering had stopped at their table. “Justin,” My mother repeated more sternly this time, not liking that she had to wait for an answer. “Who is Tara? What is he talking about?” Justin’s jaw tightened, and as he turned to me, I kept my expression neutral even though I was highly amused by the fury blazing in his eyes as he glared at me. “Justin,” Nonna hissed, a warning in her voice that she was expecting answers. For a moment, I thought he would tell the truth and own up to what he had done, but I should have known better after all these years. “I’m not sure what he is

Twenty-Six

JUSTIN’S P.O.V. Close enough. The words echoed around my head as I sat in my booth, sipping my fifth glass of whiskey. The Black Door was mostly empty, but considering it was only eleven-thirty on a Monday morning, I wasn’t expecting anything else. I should have gone to work. I had several clients counting on me today, but I hadn’t been able to sleep or focus on anything since my great-grandmother’s birthday dinner on Saturday night. Even when Tara had gotten on her knees and had taken me into her mouth to get my mind off things, I still couldn’t focus. I kept thinking about the outrage that had rained down on me at dinner, like it had been my fault that Charlotte couldn't give me what I wanted, and I had to go somewhere else. If she had just been able to do what women were put on this Earth for, then none of this would ever have happened. People were furious with me, but it was the anger and disappointment from my grandparents and great-grandmother that weighed on me the m

Twenty-Seven

CHARLOTTE’S P.O.V. I was giddy with excitement as I felt the packet of photos in my purse. It was a long shot, but I was ecstatic that they approved me taking pictures today, as long as no members were in the shot and the pictures were taken on a phone without internet access. I had just pulled my keys from my purse when I heard a car door slam behind me, and my entire body froze. Realistically, I knew it was a big complex and that it was probably just one of my neighbors, but every tiny hair on my arms stood at attention as if my body knew I was in danger before I actually saw it. Then I heard his voice, and my blood went cold. “You wanted my attention? You got it!” I turned slowly, my keys still clutched in my hand as Justin marched toward me… no, stumbled toward me, stopping and swaying only a couple of feet away. Was he drunk? He looked awful with his shirt stained and wrinkled, his hair was a mess, and even from several feet away, I could see his bloodshot eyes.

Twenty-Eight

CHARLOTTE’S P.O.V For a moment, neither of us moved. I stared in horror at the body at the foot of the stairs, frozen as my thoughts started going around and around, telling me I had just murdered someone. Then he groaned, and I watched as he began to push himself up, growling in anger. The second his eyes met mine, I dropped for my keys and scrambled to get them into the lock, hearing him take his first step back up the stairs. Stomp. Stomp. Stomp. My hands shook as I struggled to get the key in with my trembling hands, but I had no choice. Justin was moving faster with each step, and I needed to get inside. “Come on, come on,” I whispered to myself, my panic getting stronger with each step he took behind me until finally the key slid into the lock and I was able to open the door, slamming it shut behind me right as he reached the landing. I flipped the deadbolt into place, letting out an involuntary scream as he slammed his fist against the door. “Charlotte!” He shout

Twenty-Nine

CHARLOTTE’S P.O.V.It took me a moment to get my body to do what I wanted, but the knocking on the door stayed calm, and I could hear them calling out from the other side that they were with the police department. Still, I looked through the peephole to see their uniforms before I knocked the chair on the floor out of the way and slowly opened the door. “Charlotte?” One of them questioned, but I couldn’t focus on their faces. “Easy, we’ve got you.”I jumped as a hand was placed under my elbow, but I turned to see a female officer, silently offering support and gently moving me to the side so two others could enter and sweep my home. My home. My safe place. It had been ruined. "Justin," I whispered. "It was my husband, Justin."She didn’t react when I turned my hand and gripped her forearm, using her to hold myself up until they confirmed my apartment was clear. It was then that I was finally able to focus and look outside toward the several police cars blocking the parking lot, t

Thirty

CHARLOTTE’S P.O.V. For a moment, all I could do was stare at her. She couldn’t be serious. “I’m sorry, what?” I asked as a choking sound left my body as if my brain couldn’t figure out if I wanted to laugh or start sobbing. I was covered in bruises. They had just scraped Justin's blood and skin from under my nails. He had been trying to break into my house for God's sake while I was on the phone with the police. He really thought he could lie about this? I closed my eyes and took a deep breath as I pushed the thought out of my head. Of course, he did. He had lost his mind. “You don’t really believe him, do you? He attacked me!” I said, louder than I had intended, and she stepped closer. “Charlotte, we have the recording of your 911 call. We have photos and evidence of the scene,” She said, and I flinched as she described my home as ‘the scene’. “Right now, we just need your official statement to document your side of the story.” I nodded and hesitantly dove into wh

PREV

NEXT

SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP

DMCA.com Protection Status