Bab 3: THE VICE PRESIDENT 2
"Good afternoon, sir," Charlotte said, her voice steady and calm, despite her inner turmoil. She felt a surge of mortification, wishing she could sink into the floor. Her lips quivered ever so slightly as she met Sebastian's gaze, his smirk unmistakable.
"Pretty Rose?" he called out, his tone laced with amusement.
Taylor looked up, her eyes darting between them. "Yes, sir?"
"Leave us, please," Sebastian instructed, his gaze still locked on Charlotte. Taylor nodded and quietly left the room, leaving the two alone.
The office fell silent, the air thick with tension as Taylor left.
Sebastian's voice cut through the stillness, his words dripping with satisfaction. "I told you we'd meet again soon, didn't I, Orchid?" He toyed with Charlotte's wallet on the table, his eyes never leaving hers.
Charlotte felt rooted to the spot, her desire for the contract to be hers suddenly was overshadowed by her willingness to leave. She wanted nothing more than to take her wallet and leave the room.
"Come, have a seat." Sebastian beckoned her closer, his gesture casual as he pointed at the chair across from him.
As Charlotte approached the chair, she stammered, "I-I didn't know you were the Vice—"
But Sebastian cut her off, his lips curling into a sly smile. "Now that you do, will you give me your number?" He knew he had relish the power dynamic, confident that he held the upper hand.
Charlotte's gaze lingered on the chair before shifting to Sebastian, her eyes locking onto his with a fierce seriousness. "Only for business reasons," she clarified, her voice firm. "I came here for one thing: to get my wallet. That's all I intend to leave with."
Sebastian's sly smile faded, and he adjusted himself in his seat, clearing his throat. "Alright, why don't we discuss business then?" He motioned for Charlotte to sit, his tone measured.
Charlotte sighed deeply and sat down reluctantly, her eyes fixed on him.
"I heard about the mistake my company made considering the proposal and..." Sebastian started speaking but his words trailed off as Charlotte's thoughts drifted back to the possibility of getting the contract. After some seconds, she snapped back to attention, realizing she hadn't been listening.
Sebastian's expectant gaze met hers. "So, do you agree?" he asked, his hands clasped together.
"Huh?" Her lips parted in confusion, her eyes fixed on Sebastian with a bewildered expression. He chuckled, his tongue darting out to caress his lower lip, "Perfect," he murmured, seemingly to himself. His gaze seemed to gleam with satisfaction, as if he'd discovered exactly what he was looking for. "She's the type who loses her train of thought mid-conversation... just what I need."
Charlotte began to apologize, her words tumbling out in a flustered tone, "I'm sorry, I trailed off, you..." But Sebastian cut her off, his voice suddenly serious and direct. "I'll secure that contract for your company... if you agree to a 100-day dating arrangement with me."
Charlotte's face lit up with excitement at the words "Secure that contract for your company", but it was swiftly replaced by a look of stunned disbelief as the rest of Sebastian's proposal sank in.
"What?" she blurted out, her face a blend of astonishment and dismay.
******
Natalie's hands danced in the air as she asked, "So, what was your answer?" Her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Rachel stood by the counter, her expression neutral, waiting for Charlotte's response.
Charlotte, however, seemed lost in a daze. She sank into the old couch, her face pale and her eyes still wide with confusion and astonishment.
"So the president asked you out on a 100 days date in exchange for the contract to be given to us?" Natalie continued, not quite believing Charlotte's story.
Charlotte's hands rose to her temples, her fingers massaging away the confusion. "It's not the president," she said, her voice firm. "It's his brother."
Natalie's eyebrows shot up, her tone laced with disbelief. "He has a brother?"
She strolled over to the table, her eyes scanning the surface before landing on a magazine. The Elite Group's logo gleamed on the cover, and Natalie's fingers walked the pages until she found the one she wanted. A photo of a handsome man named Daniel Grande, smiled up at her.
Natalie placed the magazine in front of Charlotte, her finger tapping the image. "This guy? This isn't the one who asked you out?"
Charlotte's hands dropped, her eyes rolling slightly as she pushed the magazine away. "I told you, it's his brother."
"Wait." Natalie's eyes glazed over, her mind racing. Then, her face lit up with a sudden realization. "Hold on... The Playboy!" she exclaimed, her hands grasping Charlotte's shoulders.
Charlotte's smile was faint, almost hesitant. "It seems so."
Rachel, who had been quiet until now, spoke up, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable. "So, what was your answer?"
Charlotte's gaze darted between Natalie and Rachel, uncertainty pasted on her face. "Um, I didn't accept as..."
But before she could finish, Rachel cut in, her tone rising sharply. "No, you didn't, Charlotte."
The sudden intensity in Rachel's voice took both Natalie and Charlotte aback. They exchanged a surprised glance, their brows furrowed in unison as they turned back to Rachel.
"What's wrong, Charlie?" Rachel continued, her words dropping in a rush of anger. "Afraid of his playboy reputation? Newsflash: this isn't the most reckless decision you've ever made. Remember that massive loan you signed off on for your boyfriend? The one who left you high and dry?"
Natalie's face flashed with shock, her voice ringing out in protest. "Rachel, that's crossing a line!"
Rachel's eyes flashed with irritation, her voice heavy with sarcasm. "Oh, of course, Natalie, always the voice of reason. But let's be real, you're thinking the same thing I am. Charlie's mistake has put us in this predicament, so she needs to own up to it and fix it, no matter the cost."
Natalie's eyes met Charlotte's, who stared at the floor, her shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry, Charlie," Natalie said, her voice soft with pity.
Rachel's hands shot up to her hips, her eyes flashing with anger. "I'm sorry too, Charlie," she said, her voice laced with sarcasm. "But my mom's hospital bills are piling up, and I don't know how to pay for her surgery." She gestured to Natalie. "And I'm sure Natalie hasn't told you that her sister is being chased out from school because she can't afford the tuition."
Just then, a car horn blared outside, shattering the tense silence. Natalie rushed to the window, flinging open the curtains to reveal a sleek Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail parked outside. "What in the world...?" she trailed off, her eyes fixed on the luxurious car.
Charlotte's gaze snapped up from the floor, her interest piqued. She rose from her seat, her eyes locking onto the intern standing proudly beside the vehicle. "He wasn't joking," she whispered, a combination of awe and shock in her voice.
Rachel's eyes widened as she stared at the car, "What's going on?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity.
Charlotte's gaze drifted back to her friends, her expression serious. "He said if I don't give him an answer within two hours, it means I've accepted."
Rachel's eyes darted to Charlotte, her voice rising in surprise. "For real?!" she exclaimed.
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