Chapter 30: Frederick's Decision
She hesitated for a long time, her slender fingers gently brushing over her phone, before finally replying to him half an hour later.
[Sorry, Mr. Hawkins, I fell asleep.]
On the other end, Frederick held a glass of wine and chuckled softly when he saw Charlotte's message.
Ms. Russell's reserve was cute.
He didn't reply, just sipped his wine slowly.
For the next few days, Frederick didn't show up, but he occasionally sent Charlotte some messages. Sometimes it was a photo, other times just a sentence or two, always with that lazy yet mature vibe.
Charlotte didn't always respond.
But their interactions were laced with a tantalizing ambiguity, a dance of unspoken intentions.
One morning, on her way to work, Charlotte got a call from Frederick.
She hesitated before answering, "Mr. Hawkins?"
Frederick was sitting in his car, a file on his lap—the William case file.
When Michael had given it to him the night before, he smiled knowingly. "Frederick, why the change of heart? Because of Ms. Russell? She seems great. Oliver really likes her."
Frederick had smiled faintly and told Michael not to mention it to Charlotte yet.
He said he needed to think it over.
Now, flipping through the file, Frederick said to Charlotte, "I have to go on a business trip for a week. Let's meet when I get back. I have something to discuss with you."
Charlotte couldn't guess what it was, but she knew that maintaining a good relationship with Frederick wouldn't hurt.
She softly agreed.
Frederick's heart softened, and in a hushed, almost intimate tone, he murmured, "Why are you so kind and tender? Do you realize how easily men could exploit that?"
Charlotte blushed and couldn't find words to respond.
Frederick chuckled and let her off the hook.
After hanging up, he stared at the file for a long time. This decision wasn't just a business transaction; it was mixed with a sense of pity for Charlotte. He thought of it as a way to make it up to her.
Charlotte put down her phone, wondering what Frederick wanted to talk about in a week.
She was so lost in thought that she almost missed her stop.
Rushing to the music center, she noticed her colleagues giving her strange looks. Confused, she was finally pulled aside by a friendly coworker who whispered, "Charlotte, the director found out about your side job. She'll probably want to talk to you soon. I heard it was Tina Anderson who told her. You and Tina started here at the same time, but you teach better, and all the top students want you. She's been unhappy for a while and finally got her chance."
Charlotte was stunned.
The coworker continued in a low voice, saying everyone understood her situation and sympathized.
Just then, Bernice Garcia's assistant came over and politely asked Charlotte to follow her.
Charlotte followed her to the director's office on the second floor. The assistant knocked. "Bernice, Ms. Russell is here."
"Come in," a woman's voice called.
Charlotte opened the door and stepped inside.
Bernice, a sharp and capable woman in her forties, was sitting behind her desk, looking at some papers. She gestured for Charlotte to sit down.
Charlotte tried to explain, but Bernice interrupted her with a gesture. "Yes, it was Tina who informed me about your part-time job, yet I chose to feign ignorance out of empathy for your circumstances. But starting yesterday, many parents have been finding out about your side job, and they want to replace you. My phone has been ringing off the hook. You know, the kids who learn here come from wealthy backgrounds. Even I can't afford to offend these people."
Charlotte understood.
She didn't want to make things difficult for Bernice, who had always been kind to her. But she couldn't shamelessly stay. Charlotte gently took off her work badge and placed it on the desk, saying softly, "Thank you for taking care of me all these years."
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