Chapter 3 He Is Charles Langston

• Cecilia’s mind went blank the moment she saw the man she thought she’d never have to face again, now sitting right beside her. Her eyes widened in shock. Her tongue felt numb, unable to form a single word. When the man greeted her, there was nothing she could say. Her thoughts were in total chaos.
• Cecilia sat rigidly, anxiety bubbling under her skin. She blinked several times, hoping that what she was seeing was just an illusion. But every time her eyes opened, the reality remained unchanged—this was no illusion.
• What the fuck? Why is he here! Cecilia screamed inwardly, cursing her rotten luck.
• Yes, the appearance of the man she’d spent a passionate night with was making her break out in a cold sweat. Heat surged through her at the memory of his intoxicating touch. Yet a chill of anxiety and fear crept over her.
• Cecilia wanted to get up and leave the meeting room, but she knew she couldn’t. Evan’s damned threats left her powerless, trapped like a prisoner in a cell whose door was wide open—but she still couldn’t escape. Not yet, anyway, because of the cursed contract she’d signed, binding her to her ex-fiancé’s company for at least five years. This was madness.
• “Before we begin, I’d like to introduce someone important to all of you.” Evan stood, his authoritative presence filling the room.
• Everyone turned their attention to Evan, waiting for him to continue.
• “The gentleman who just arrived is a significant figure. He’s one of our shareholders, and this is the first time he’s been able to attend a meeting. He’s been away from London for quite some time, living in Tuscany. His return has been highly anticipated. It’s a great honor for me to have him here with us today,” Evan said, ending with a broad smile. His words were full of genuine happiness, and many in the room grew even more curious about this guest.
• Evan gestured with his right hand, pointing in a direction that made Cecilia’s heart skip a beat as she suddenly became the center of attention. But no, it wasn’t her. The man sitting beside her suddenly stood up.
• “My uncle, Charles Langston, one of our shareholders and my father’s younger brother, who has been away from London for a long time,” Evan announced, openly declaring his family ties to the man now standing.
• Cecilia’s gaze shot up, her heart nearly stopping. U–uncle...? Did I hear that right? she thought, unable to believe her own ears.
• “Uncle Charles, thank you for attending the meeting, especially since I heard you just returned from Tuscany,” Evan said warmly. Charles responded with a wide smile and a brief nod. “Uncle Charles, would you like to add anything to your introduction?” Evan asked respectfully.
• “No,” Charles replied curtly.
• His deep, commanding voice made Cecilia freeze in place. Her heart pounded in her chest.
• I... I slept with my ex-fiancé’s uncle?
• The shock was written all over her face. Cecilia was too stunned to regain her composure. She struggled to get her body to function again after hearing such a shocking revelation.
• No way... How is this possible?
• Cecilia tried to swallow, but it was almost impossible. Her wide eyes barely blinked. She was trembling in her seat, as if perched atop an active volcano about to erupt and destroy her.
• Charles noticed Cecilia’s extreme anxiety. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see her looking like she was about to die of shame. All this time, the handsome man had been secretly watching her every move. It was quite the spectacle.
• After the brief introduction, Evan told Charles to sit back down. Charles did so without a word, straightening his suit and clearing his throat—a clear signal to snap Cecilia out of her shock.
• At the front, Evan continued speaking, but Cecilia barely heard a word. She was completely overwhelmed by fear. Even breathing felt difficult.
• Charles, radiating an intimidating aura, now seemed like he was about to destroy her—destroy her with the humiliating truth between them.
• “To support this plan, I am officially appointing our marketing director, Cecilia Moreau, as the lead for our new marketing strategy for the fashion brand we’re focusing on. Of course, Ms. Moreau’s credibility and performance were the main reasons for this decision. I am also appointing Bertha Stone as her assistant.”
• Evan’s next announcement nearly gave Cecilia a heart attack. She hadn’t even processed the fact that Charles was Evan’s uncle, and now she had to hear that she would be the lead, with Bertha as her assistant.
• Oh, God. Could this day get any worse?
• Cecilia’s face flushed bright red, especially when she accidentally locked eyes with Bertha. Her former friend shot her a defiant look that made Cecilia want to flip the table.
• “I’m expecting your best, most satisfying performance, Cecilia,” a deep voice whispered into Cecilia’s left ear, snapping her attention back.
• Cecilia whipped her head around, glaring at Charles. Her eyes flared, a storm of emotion brewing beneath her lashes. It only got worse when she saw the sly smirk on Charles’s face.
• “I’m sure you know how to give your best,” Charles continued, still in that teasing whisper.
• Cecilia flinched silently, her hands trembling in fear. Still, she tried her best to stay composed, shooting Charles a warning look, which he met with a victorious stare.
• Charles Langston seemed to have little interest in what his nephew was saying. For the rest of the meeting, the handsome man kept his eyes on Cecilia, who was clearly panicking. Her panicked face amused him, but he enjoyed seeing her so rattled and terrified.
• The meeting finally ended, but Cecilia still felt too tense to move. She wanted nothing more than to leave the room and gulp down fresh air, having held her breath for so long.
• Forced to attend the meeting and suddenly tasked by Evan to work with Bertha, Cecilia was on the verge of tears from the emotional turmoil. And with Charles’s relentless gaze, she was ready to break down.
• The room gradually emptied as participants left, chatting casually. Some made small talk, others continued discussing topics from the meeting. Evan left with Bertha, who was seeking advice—though Cecilia knew the snake was just angling for some secret affection.
• When she was finally alone in the room, Cecilia let out a long, shaky breath, her defenses crumbling. She trembled in her chair, having fought so hard to contain her emotions. Fear closed in, limiting her every move.
• Please, let what happened that night never come out... Cecilia thought, gripping the chair for support as she tried to stand. Her chest was tight, her breathing still ragged from the unresolved turmoil.
• Once she managed to stand, Cecilia took her first shaky step toward the door. She needed to get outside, to breathe and unburden her chest.
• After stumbling through the hall, Cecilia finally stopped in a quiet corridor. She pressed herself into a nook in the wall, hiding from passing eyes.
• She broke down for the second time. Her lungs gulped air greedily, her body still trembling violently.
• This is insane. This is hell! Cecilia raged inwardly. How could I end up in the same room as those bastards? She tried to steady her harsh breathing, but her lungs still wouldn’t cooperate. Fear. Anxiety. Anger. All those feelings made her break out in a cold sweat.
• The fact that I slept with my ex-fiancé’s uncle is enough to drive me crazy right now! Cecilia cursed herself for being so reckless and foolish. Oh God, I really must be insane.
• She scrubbed her face with both hands until her hair was a mess. Frustration and self-loathing overwhelmed her.
• “Rubbing your face that roughly isn’t good. You’ll hurt yourself.”
• Cecilia stifled a scream, instantly straightening up at the sound of that familiar, husky voice. Suddenly, she remembered how he’d moaned her name.
• Stop it with those crazy thoughts, Cecilia! she scolded herself. The veins in her neck tensed as her eyes landed on Charles, standing three steps away. He’d found her. How? Had he followed her?
• Charles stood with his arms folded across his chest. Cecilia glared at him, tracking his every move as he approached. Once again, she froze as his tall, broad frame stopped in front of her, boxing her in. She pressed herself against the wall, squeaking in fear.
• Charles reached out and brushed her tailored-fit blazer. “You look beautiful in your formal outfit, but I preferred what you wore last night. Wild and sexy. Especially when you were dancing on top of me,” Charles said bluntly.
• Today, Cecilia wore a blush rose tailored-fit blazer with a slight V neckline, revealing a champagne ivory satin silk blouse with a small bow at the chest. She paired it with high-waisted pencil pants in a matching color—a look that exuded confidence and professional allure.
• “Shut up!” Cecilia snapped, losing control. Her breath quickened, but she was helpless, cornered by this man.
• Charles was dangerous for her. He was hunting her.
• “Daring to yell at me, huh?” Charles said calmly, leaning his left hand against the wall near Cecilia’s head, making her stare at him in terror, holding her breath. He bent down until their foreheads nearly touched. “But I have to admit, you’re a brave woman, Cecilia. Just like last night, when you made the first move.”
• Cecilia’s face burned. Her hands clenched into fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms. “Why are you following me? Where are your manners?” she shot back, her anger exploding.
• Charles just smirked. “Ah, I just missed you,” he said playfully, his husky voice low. His breath brushed her face.
• “Don’t mess with me!” Cecilia shouted again.
• “Shh!” Charles put a finger to his lips. “Lower your voice, or we’ll get caught.”
• That threat was enough to make Cecilia swallow the string of curses she was about to hurl at Charles.
• Charles traced her jawline, feeling her soft skin. “You talk about manners. But weren’t you the one who threw yourself at me last night?” he teased.
• Damn it, Cecilia remembered exactly what she’d done to this man last night. Her chest was about to explode from a mix of anger and shame. But he clearly wasn’t done dredging up the events of that night.
• Yeah. Cecilia figured she must have left her brain at home when she went to that club. How could she have been so quick to seduce a stranger just because he was handsome—now revised to ‘annoyingly handsome’?
• Cecilia swatted his hand away. “What are you talking about?” she tried to deny it, but her nervous tone gave her away.
• “Oh. Pretending to forget?” Charles mocked. He leaned closer and whispered, “Should we recreate last night’s heat, right here, to refresh your memory?”
• Cecilia barely held back a curse. Her hands itched to slap that smug face. Her lips pressed into a trembling line.
• “Well?” Charles pressed, intentionally pushing her. “I want to play with you again. Play with fire.” He whispered right in her ear, ending with a sly, wicked smile.
• Memory after memory of that night crashed into Cecilia’s mind. She closed her eyes, trying to steady her breathing. The familiar masculine scent made her remember their night even more vividly.
• “You... look scared.” Charles watched her with amusement. “What’s wrong? Do you need my help to relax?” he asked again.
• Cecilia looked up, her red eyes blazing. “If I asked you to keep that night a secret, would you?” she asked, mustering what little courage she had left.
• Charles didn’t answer right away. His brow furrowed in thought. “Hmm, I wonder,” he mused. “Can you offer me something in return?”
• Bastard! Cecilia cursed inwardly. Her sharp glare screamed every insult she could think of. Her silence only made Charles’s mysterious smile widen.
• Standing tall, Charles leaned in again, their faces so close they could have kissed. Cecilia trembled as his long finger touched her chin, lifting it so she had to look into his piercing eyes.
• “I don’t think I want to let go of something as precious as you,” Charles said in a low, almost whispered tone, full of seriousness.
• Cecilia shook from head to toe, holding her breath. Especially as Charles brought their lips closer. No. She wasn’t ready if he suddenly kissed her. Not here, in public. But her body wouldn’t move, frozen like a statue. She couldn’t escape.
• But—fortunately or unfortunately—there was no kiss. When Cecilia closed her eyes and waited for several seconds, nothing touched her lips.
• “Why do you look disappointed?” Charles asked, feigning curiosity. “Were you hoping for my lips and tongue, hmm?”
• “You bastard!” Cecilia finally spat out.
• Charles just chuckled. “You’re quite entertaining,” he said, pulling his face away. His left hand dropped to his side, freeing Cecilia from his hold—and himself from the heat that was beginning to rise.
• “I have to go. See you again, Miss Moreau.” Charles spoke more lightly now, stepping back, turning, and walking away.
• The handsome man left Cecilia slumping weakly. Charles Langston had truly thrown her world into chaos.