A long-awaited Chapter 69!

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I had run various scenarios in my head during the past days.

What R.E.C. would expect, and what he wouldn't.

I'd tried thinking of every attitude he would expect of Charlotte.

Maybe he expected her to break down the moment she sees him.

Or that she'd pull off an extremely cold attitude as an aftermath of the phone call.

Or perhaps she'd appear clearly affected and traumatised by what happened overall.

I'd run in my head all possible scenarios which he might've expected.

Until I eventually realized there's one attitude he could not have possibly seen coming.

And I'd decided to opt for just that.

With the help of a quick whiskey shot Sebastian had provided me on the way here to enhance my... boldness...

And with the widest smile and bubbliest voice I had on me, I fixed the man in the room with excitement in my eyes.

"Good morning, President Ellington!"

From over his bed as he smoked his morning cigarette, Rickard Ellington Conway...

Froze.

And his eyes widened in clear, rare lack of registration.

For a second, had the whiskey bottle next to his bed not been still closed and his glass unfilled, I would have assumed he was testing how sober he was.

I smiled as I stepped in, Sebastian next to me.

"I brought you a guest." Keith nudged my back gently, as his lips twitched playfully at this before shooting me a look. "Not gonna lie though, I had to discipline her a bit."

My smile remained, internally in awe at how his lordship was perfectly sticking to the attitude I'd agreed with him over.

"Y'know," He continued smoothly as he fixed his majesty Ellington with his unwavering gaze. "Tell her that no matter what had happened, it was rather rude not to visit her ex-employer, aye?"

My smile wavered. Yikes, that would certainly strike a nerve.

I kept my wide smile, turning towards my employer once again as I walked further into the room and ahead of his lordship, uninvited.

Like a pair of imaginary chains, the steel blue in Rickard Ellington Conway's eyes wrapped around me, taking in every single inch of me.

I could feel he wasn't leaving a single detail of me to his imagination, as he shamelessly and unflinchingly fixed me with his dominant and consuming gaze.

My heartbeat suddenly skyrocketed.

And I struggled to keep my cool at this.

But then I snapped myself back to the idea that I needed to keep the plan.

Catching his eyes, I let them invade my soul as I kept my smile.

Taking a place on the chair next to his bed, his musky scent crawled into my nostrils druggingly.

"I guess I needed a kind reminder from his lordship that I still have some duties even after being fired." I mouthed smoothly, shooting Sebastian a quick smile before I turned back to his majesty. "So, do you like this surprise?"

Now, knowing his majesty Ellington, I'd expected his state of stun to remain for a rather longer time.

But no, the bastard would never do such a thing as leave someone to enjoy their victory for longer than a minute.

In a matter of seconds, he'd turned his attention to Lord Keith, who'd casually stood before the window and lit a cigarette at this.

"Ah. You seem to possess a lot of time at hand, your Lordship." He mouthed without flinching at Sebastian, then smoothly slid his eyes over me, "To be taking care of incomplete matters with my... people."

Sebastian flinched not, his gaze darkening as it fell on me, and his smile returned. "Oh don't get me wrong." He murmured seductively, "I certainly did not go out of my way and trouble myself to bring Charlotte here to you."

Mr. Ellington showed no such thing as a blink, yet his gaze darkened at his lordship's revelation, as though expecting the latter had more in store.

And he really did.

"It just seemed convenient," His lordship continued, "For us to pass by..." He let the sentence linger as he locked his jades into mine.

"After having finished Charlotte's job hunting tour around companies in London."

And Rickard Ellington's icebergs sank into a further degree of grey, yet he once again allowed Keith not the delight of victory.

As he decided to simply move a step ahead of the lordship.

Instead of shooting back at Sebastian and maintaining the tensed back and forth...

Mr. Ellington shifted targets.

As he turned his attention towards me.

"Job hunting, Miss Thorne?" His voice came frozen, arrogant, and torturously slow.

As he caught my eyes with his, and an unfazed dark cyclone devoured me in with massive power.

My smile froze, and so did my body language.

Somehow though, the man before me did not seem to be awaiting an answer on my behalf.

"Now that you mention it," He continued frostily.

"I distinctly recall Scarlett had mentioned such a thing when she was over, days ago."

My eyes widened, and it didn't escape me that a shift occurred in Sebastian Keith's stance some steps away.

Because of the various layers the sentence held.

Between calling me a Miss Thorne and Scarlett by her name.

And the fact that my sister was over days ago.

And the fact that R.E.C. knew very well that Sebastian Keith and my sister were on rather bad terms...

The man before me had certainly delivered a low yet very smartly weaved shot back at Sebastian Keith.

Keith shifted to answer at this, but I was faster.

Because I'd be damned if I let Rickard Ellington view me as the easy link to aim his shots back at Sebastian.

Not this time at all, Mister.

With a whiskey-induced headache thumping in my forehead and a semi-clouded judgement, I moved towards the man before me.

Invading his personal space as I sat next to him yet facing him on the bed.

"Really?" I renewed my smile at him as I let my eyes glimmer against his in shear excitement.

"You asked Scarlett about me? That's so caring of you!"

My heart skipped a beat, noting a blink, for the first time today, escape Rickard Ellington Conway.

Point scored!

–But not for long.

Because once more today, R.E.C. had the composure and unpredictability to remind me...

That he was capable of countering any tactic used against him in a matter of seconds.

Completely neglecting Keith's existence in the room, the muscular, half-naked Greek God before me shifted.

Lifting his veiny and muscular left hand up, he extended it.

In my direction.

As he brought his face nearer to mine at this.

And kept his eyes fixed into mine druggingly and with soul-binding arrogance.

I couldn't help the flinch which escaped me.

As his left hand came up to casually move a hairlock of mine behind my ear after it's been out of place.

"Do you doubt that?"

My eyes disappeared at this, as I gulped.

What... the hell...???

But then my surprise lasted not for long, considering...

His lordship had provided me with the drink before I'd come here for a reason.

Because he knew I had a very distinct aim in mind:

To win over R.E.C. by as many stuns as possible.

And that was exactly what I had on mind.

Instead of Charlotte shying away as expected and fidgeting under the unyielding and unexpected dominant gaze of R.E.C....

I neared him back.

Placing my hand quickly over his muscular thigh as I neared his ear.

"Never, sir."

Using his thigh for support, I stood up the moment I saw what I was aiming at flash through his beauteous, drugging ocean eyes.

Lust.

Breathless as I kept my composure, I moved towards the door connecting my–Daisy's room to his. "I'll be excusing myself to the bathroom then." Slowing down my pace as my rational mind reminded me I couldn't know the bathroom so randomly.

Shooting Sebastian a quick glance in hopes he plays along, I didn't stop moving. "Sebastian you'd told me the bathroom is to the right, hm?"

Smoothly, the latter just smiled at me like the world was full of roses. "Correct, my dear."

I nodded as I exited the room, shutting the door behind me as I exhaled a sigh of relief.

Some steps away from me, a shadow shifted to catch my attention. I gasped. "Y-You scared me!" I whispered back.

In the perfect disguise as Daisy Reinhart, Scarlett, none other than my sister, eyed me from head to toe, a smirk twitching at the corner of her lips as she hissed back. "My, someone seems flushed."

I frowned at her, pouting as I sighed. "He's really... something else."

I mean I had agreed with Scarlett and Katy on how I should act in this encounter multiple times, and I'd even rehearsed!

But it was all still barely enough to keep up with the smartass attitude of R.E.C.!! Goddammit!

My sister shrugged, shaking her head in the process. "Yeah, yeah. We know that. But I am sure you're doing well."

Turning back to her door, Scar shot me one last glance. "Oh and bare in mind you don't have a lot of time at hand eh? I went along with your plan that you wanna visit him after that bitch's visit, but that doesn't mean you'll actually have the time to check for any difference. I care you leave before the Chairman is back from his meetings soon."

My heart clenched. "Yes, I understand."

The truth was that I didn't want to leave before I get to see some... difference in his attitude towards me.

A thin string to hold on.

After how much Reina's encounter had hurt me.

Nevertheless, I couldn't just insist on this while ignoring how in danger I was putting Scarlett and even Sebastian with every extra moment for me here.

"Anyhow, I'll try getting some info from the maids in the kitchen, so I'll get going." Scarlett entered the room at this, shutting the door behind her.

I sighed, turning back to open his majesty's door once more.

"What do you think you're doing?" A harsh, composed, and deadly voice was heard from inside the room at this, and I froze. "Have you not a single logical basis to bring her here, Evan?" 

My eyes widened in stun. This... Mr. Ellington?

A chuckle echoed back from his lordship. "And here I was thinking you'd be jumping with joy–"

But apparently the president was not in a mood for his lordship's conversational attitude.

"Cut out the foolish act. You brought her, as Charlotte Thorne, straight to the den of the man who killed her father and has her next on the list? How careless can you get."

I shuddered at the tons of blame and poison and coldness dripping from every word.

Surprisingly but not really, another laugh came from Sebastian Keith's direction.

"You marvel me, Ellington, really." The young lord's voice came smooth yet cold. "You somehow know very peculiar things about Charlotte, yet also are ignorant of various postulates and basics about her personality."

I covered my mouth not to gasp, and Keith continued.

"Charlotte had already decided she was visiting here when she contacted me." He hardened his voice. "The only choice I was left with was on whether I was going to provide her protection regardless or I was simply going to let her do it alone."

Before having the chance to register what Sebastian had stated, the ultimate and absolute command of R.E.C. came with not a spec of hesitation.

"Fair. She got what she wanted. Now, take her and leave at once." 

My eyes widened, and I felt my blood broil.

What?

And that was it, I wasn't going to listen more to this.

Without knocking or anything, I snapped the door open, stepping in with the same unfazed and calm expression I'd had earlier.

Both men went silent, and only Sebastian had his jades fixed on me with interest.

I smiled at him, "I hope I did not interrupt anything, your lordship?"

"Certainly not." Smiling back with arrogant and playful jades, he raised his phone slightly and I noticed it was ringing. "I'll have to excuse myself for an important call. Lordship duties~"

And he paced to the door coolly, exiting the room to the main corridor.

And leaving me two humans in the room.

Fuck.

This wasn't part of the plan, Sebastian???

I gulped, slowly collecting my composure as I noted the man on the bed shift at this.

Descending.

Involuntarily, I took a slight step back and in the direction of the main door of his room.

Okay Charlotte, think fast, think fast!!!!!!

But also stay cool, stay cool!!

Steps away, the president captured me in his gaze at this.

YEAH STAY COOL OKAY? WHY ARE YOU PANICKING I SAID STAY COOL!

Casually, and while still eyeing me, Mr. Ellington poured himself a glass of whiskey, taking a gulp before he turned fully towards me.

My vision blurred slightly, the effect of the scotch I'd gulped slightly evident.

"So, have you received any offers to your liking, Signorina Thorne?"

The hair at the back of my neck stood up, erect, and my eyes slightly widened as I blinked.

"E-Eh?" Did he just initiate a conversation with that unfazed and arrogant tone of his?!?!?

I quickly collected myself, my cool smile back on my red matte lips. "The offers are all competitive so far, so I'm a bit lost~" I casually cheered.

He flinched not.

My breath hitched, and yet my cheerful smile remained.

And twitched with playfulness if anything.

As I caught his eyes, my vision blurring slightly with alcohol again.

"I would have asked for your advice, but you are a man of tight time. So I think I'll be seeking his lordship's services in this, I guess."

And I turned on my heels at this, moving in the door's direction.

Whew, throw a bomb and abort the mission, Char. Go, go, go!!

I certainly can't keep up with the tension without Sebastian's hel—

I reached the door, and simultaneously, a swift and quick footsteps sound echoed from behind me. Confidently like those of a military soldier.

Grabbing the door handle, I gave my luck a shot anyway, as I pulled the door to open i—

BAM!

Familiarly enough, a hand shot from behind me, shutting the door.

And pinning me against it from the back.

"You impress me."

With nothing but a thin layer of only my clothing, Rickard Ellington Conway's muscular body stuck to mine at this.

"The audacity to show up at my doorstep." His hand moved from over the door and over my shoulder. "Into my room."

And he whipped me in his direction at this, burning friction itching between our bodies upon the contact before my back landed against the door.

"With not any man, but one of my enemies." Catching my eyes, he burried a pair of burning icicles straight into my soul. "Then proceed to announce your insolent plans of finding a new employer."

From over my shoulder, his left hand moved down to my waist, gripping their rather roughly as he pinned me back against the door.

He then lifted his other hand up.

In a first time where he, smoothly yet very dangerously...

Landed it over the side of my neck.

His thumb in a choking manner over my throat.

Shamelessly, he then moved his eyes from mine, and down to some area beneath his hand.

An area generously exposed by my shirt and highlighted by the fact that his body was stuck against mine and I was breathless.

I was sure he could feel the mad increase in my heartbeats against his chest.

With a dark twitch of clear and unmasked lust in his ocean eyes, he lifted them up and back to capture mine.

Mercilessly.

"You underestimate how dangerous I can get."

And he lunged forward at this, capturing my lips with his as the hand over my throat tightened slightly over my skin, and the thumb twitched in a clear want to... choke me.

I moaned in ultimate stun, shuddering with a shear mix of pleasure and... fear.

It was never not pleasurable to kiss him.

With that mix of lingering taste of fresh mint, cigarettes, and whiskey.

And that unfazed dominance he naturally had.

But it was the first time I felt fear paired with this sensation.

Someway somehow... because the deeply rooted effect of everything that's happened so far was... prevalent.

I'd noticed it multiple times after he got shot.

From the numb state he fell into, to the extreme coldness brewing in his eyes even against humans he valued like Bianca, to the mercilessness and darkness he did no effort to hide against his enemies like Marcus Ellington and Agatha Morray.

The Rickard Ellington Conway kissing me at this moment was not the man who'd kissed me the last time on the Compass Rose in Spain.

But one who was shot by his own flesh and blood and brought back to an estate he despised more than anything else in the world.

One that has become at a war with the world.

And so to have me walking into his room with an unfazed and cheerful attitude, alongisde one of his countless enemies...

A side of him he'd never shown me before was triggered.

One that wanted to punish me because he viewed me as part of that world he was at war with.

His mouth moved against mine with roughness I struggled to parallel, and his tongue snaked around mine in a manner parallel to his long and hot fingers around my neck.

He was devouring me.

Like I was some limited meal he was never going to have again anytime soon.

As his grip over my waist tightened further, I found my hands moving up and around his neck, keeping him close to me.

With passion, and... love.

This was the first time he kisses me after I discovered I loved him.

And amid all the roughness, possession, passion, want, and