Chapter 33

Ellison

I couldn’t help but watch Charlie with pride as she strode off to fight my battles. The type of protection I always felt over her came to a head when I watched her eyes grow with fury when Michael stomped into my office. She listened from the corner of my office, her eyes widening with shock at the accusation that had been thrown my way, but the way she was determined to use this to prove how much she cared filled me with a great deal of pride.

I followed her all the way to Sheila’s office not to stop her, but to see if she was serious. Michael was on my heels wanting to stop her, but the moment she rounded into the office I stopped him in the hallway. The two of us listened, her claws drawn as she stood ready to protect what was hers, and then I heard that switch.

She knew she couldn’t back the shark into a corner, so she coaxed her into one.

It was the most incredible thing I’d ever listened to. She brought down her guard, pulled out her emotional state, and slowly inched her into the corner Sheila wasn’t willing to be bullied into.

And the entire time, Michael was slapping me on my arm.

“What the fuck is she doing?” Michael asked.

“Shut up,” I said.

The moment Charlie had Sheila in her grasp I couldn’t help but step out. I wanted to see the look of fear and defeat in Sheila’s eyes, as the woman I’d fallen in love with ripped the jugular from her neck. I was more than willing to allow Sheila to walk because I now knew she had no case. It was admitted to Charlie while Michael and I were around the corner, and she knew she was done for.

Her position in this company as well as her bullshit lawsuit.

Sheila pushed passed us and I watched Charlie follow her with a menacing sort of pride. I felt my heart leap in my chest with something I hadn’t felt in days, and all I could do was scan my eyes along her body. The flowing skirt Charlie had on was doing her no favors, but the beautifully tight blouse she had on flaunted her tits in a way Sheila’s body never could. All at once, I felt that telltale pull I’d felt for Charlie for weeks now, and suddenly all the issues we had simply melted away.

“Well, that settles that little debacle,” she said. “If you’ll excuse me, I believe it’s my lunch break,” Charlie said.

She smoothed down her top and situated her hair before she pushed passed Michael and I, but I reached out to grab her hand. Charlie looked up at me with those piercing green eyes and that playful little smirk I’d come to adore so much, taunting me with a challenge.

Waiting to see if I would open and rehash our issues.

She slipped her hand from mine and turned to walk down the hallway as everyone slowly stuck their heads out of the office. Sheila was still in the distance, screaming about how Charlie was blowing the boss, and their eyes were wide with curiosity as they studied to the two of us. Charlie’s hips sashayed with a confidence I’d never seen her wear and the way her red hair fluttered down her back made my fingertips twitch.

In that very moment, I knew I wanted to keep this woman forever.

It didn’t matter what had happened up until this point. It didn’t matter that people were staring or that they knew we were sleeping together. It didn’t matter that Sheila had kicked up a stink or slapped me with a faulty sexual harassment lawsuit. It didn’t matter that Charlie and I had been sneaking around or that Michael was already yapping in my ear about yet another round of ‘damage control’.

All that mattered was that I was in love with Charlie, and I wasn’t going to let her walk out of the building without me.

“Charlie,” I called out.

She stopped, turning her head slightly to let me know she was listening, and I smiled before the words flew from my lips.

“Care to get lunch with me?”

I heard people gasp from their offices as the women of the floor started giggling and murmuring amongst themselves, but the only thing I was focused on was the grin blooming across Charlie’s cheeks. She turned her body fully towards me, her eyes sparkling with devious pride while her eyes looked deep into my soul.

I’d do anything for this woman, and that meant giving up this business. If that’s what I needed to do to make her mine-- to keep her by my side for the rest of my days-- then that is what I was willing to do.

Without a shadow of a doubt.

“I suppose I could go for a nice lunch,” she said.

“Where would you care to go?” I asked as I walked towards her. “After all, you just saved my ass.”

“I most certainly did,” she said, grinning.

“So, where does the lovely lady care to venture?” I asked.

“‘Lovely’, huh? A few minutes ago, I’m pretty sure I was the bitch that broke your heart,” she said.

“Why don’t we talk about that over dinner,” I said.

“Lunch and dinner? Sounds like someone’s groveling,” she said with a smile.

“Is it working?” I asked.

“Depends on how good the food is,” she said, winking.

I took her to lunch and we simply sat in each other’s company, but it was dinner I was looking forward to. For the first time, I brought her to my home and saw what she would look like in it. The penthouse suite on the top of the most beautiful complex in the area boasted of a view that dropped her jaw, but the only thing I could think of was pressing her against it and covering it in her imprint.

“Enjoying the view?” I asked.

“It’s beautiful up here, Mr. James,” she said.

“‘L’,” I said. “Just ‘L’.”

She looked at me with a smile in her eyes and I took her hand and lead her to the kitchen. My home was filling with the smells of a decadent filet mignon, and I could see her lick her lips in wanton lust for the food I was preparing.

“For a man who eats out all the time, it smells delicious in here,” she said.

“Only the best for the best,” I said.

“Ah, flattery will you get you everywhere with me,” she said.

“Not flattery,” I said as I sat her down at the table. “Simply the truth.”

I set a glass of wine down in front of her, but I noticed she wasn’t touching it. She was obviously nervous for the conversation that was about to ensue, so I decided to settle her mind as I set our plates of food down onto the table.

“I love you, Charlie,” I said, as I looked down at her.

She whipped her head up to me, her eyes glistening over with tears, and I bent down beside her and took her hand. I rubbed small, comforting circles on top of her skin while her eyes danced in between mine, and I raised up to place a light kiss to the tip of her nose before I continued.

“I was absolutely irate at the idea that you had betrayed me,” I said. “When I knocked on your apartment door and Rick opened up, it took everything I had not to punch him in his nose.”

“You should have,” she said. “I would’ve enjoyed that story much better than the one I came back to.”

“We had just had that perfect date, and then I walked into the office with Michael cornering me about our relationship, and then you left early because you were sick and I was worried about you.”

“I know,” she said as she brought my hand to her lips. “I know.”

She kissed it lightly and I felt a jolt of electricity leap up my arm. My hair stood on end as Charlie nuzzled her cheek into the top of my hand, and I turned my palm over to cup her cheek. Here she was. The vulnerable, beautiful, luscious woman I’d fallen in love with on that boat in the middle of the ocean. She was here with me, her heart bleeding in her lap for me, and I pulled her face towards mine before I descended my lips upon hers.

“I love you,” I said, murmuring into her lips.

“I love you, too, L. So much,” she said.

“I could never do that to you,” she says, breaking our kiss. “I could never cheat on you. There could never be another man in my life that would amount to anything close to what you’ve become to me.”

I watched as silent tears fell down her face at her admission, and my heart pounded heavily in my chest. Here was this strong, independent, prideful woman with words that cut like daggers and the ability to manipulate the most powerful people I’d ever known, and she was crying into the palm of my hand.

“When you wouldn’t answer my calls or texts, I got so angry at you. I needed you so much, so desperately, and you weren’t there. I was yelling for you, calling for you—reaching out for you.”

“I’m sorry,” I said with a whisper. “I’m so sorry, Charlie.”

“What happened?” she asked.

I leaned my forehead against hers as I brushed her wet cheek with my thumb. I felt her hot breath pulsing upon my lips as our food grew cold in the background, and I nuzzled my nose with hers before I found the courage to answer her question.

“I smashed my burner phone after I’d met Rick,” I said.

Her breathless laugh made me grin, but it was when she threw her head back in laughter that I finally saw my Charlie reemerge. The happy, resonant, life-changing Charlie I had come to know and understand. Her stomach lurched with her laughter and her bosom bounced with her giggling, and all I could do was smile as I took it all in.

She was in my home, our secret was out, and she was relaxed.

Charlie fit perfectly around me, among me, and within my soul, and there was nothing she could say or do that could make this scenario any better.

“Charlie,” I said.

“Yes, L?” she asked.

“You never told me. What was it you came into my office to talk about today?” I asked.

Her face grew somber and for a split second my stomach rolled with sick anticipation. I wanted her smile to come back. I wanted her to continue filling my kitchen with the sounds of her laughter. I wasn’t ready to venture back to reality.

Not yet.

Not after all this.

“I’m pregnant, L.”

I stared at her with an incredulous shock as her eyes danced around my face. My hand slowly fell from her cheek and sat in her lap, my gaze dropping to her stomach. That’s why her hand was splayed over her belly in my office. That’s why she was out sick for the past two days.

That’s why she wasn’t drinking her wine.

“You’re pregnant,” I said.

“Yeah. I-I uh—found out Monday,” she said.

“Have you been to a doctor?” I asked.

“No. Between my anxious nerves and the morning sickness, I haven’t really been able to get up and go,” she said.

All at once, my mind shut off. This incredible woman—who loved me throughout everything we had endured over the whirlwind that was the past few weeks—was carrying a child. My child. This sexy, passionate, honest woman—with the curves of a goddess and eyes the color of the sea before a storm—was pregnant.

With my child.

I pulled her from her seat and wrapped my arms around her. I picked her up and swung her around, my heart filled with the greatest of joys as I laughed into the crook of her neck. We twirled in circles before I sat her back down on her feet.

“You’re pregnant,” I said, smiling.

“So, you’re not upset?” she asked.

“Upset? Charlie, the woman I love with every fiber of my being is carrying my child. How the fuck could I be angry with that?” I asked.

I watched tears of happiness boil up in her eyes as I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever laid my hands on, and she was about to grow big and rotund with my child. I’d get to pamper her and help her. Massage her feet and wrap my arms around her growing stomach. I’d get to be at every doctor’s appointment and go on every shopping trip. I’d get to be a part of something I never thought I’d have in my life.

And best of all, I’d get to do it with her.

“Holy fuck, I love you,” I said.

And then, out of nowhere, she grabbed the collar of my shirt with her hands and pulled my lips down upon hers. Her tongue begged for entrance, swiping along my lips as I willingly parted myself for her. My hands cloaked her back and pulled her fragile body close, and dinner melted away into the background as my hands slowly made their way down to cup her ass.

“I love you, L,” she whispered into my lips.

But, all I could do to reciprocate what she had just given me was to sweep her off her feet and take her to my bedroom.

I was going to paint my walls with her.