You are not going anywhere
Charlotte’s POV
I had never felt so out of place in my life. As the sleek car glided into the wealthy neighbourhood, my hands grew clammy on my lap. The road curved gently between towering walls and elegant homes, each one larger and grander than the last. Everything sparkles, perfect hedges, polished gates, golden lights lining the streets like stars on the ground. I sat in silence beside Luther, unable to tear my eyes away from him as he tapped a card on a scanner. The gate opened with a quiet hum, revealing a private world that clearly belonged to people who had more money than they knew what to do with. He did not even glance my way. Two guards in uniform stepped up as we rolled in. Luther lowered his window with calm ease.
“Evening, sir,” one greeted.
“No one comes in,” Luther replied flatly. “Not even Mateo George.”
The guard blinked. “Right. Understood, sir.”
Luther tossed his keys to one of them and stepped out. I hesitated, then got out too, hugging my arms around myself. His silence was heavier than the air around us. Since that charged moment in the car earlier, he had barely looked at me. Not a word. Not a glance. Nothing. I had told him to be quiet, but I did not expect him to vanish behind that silence.
I forced a smile at the staff waiting near the entrance and scurried after him like a stray. He said nothing, just walked ahead, polished shoes clicking against marble, until we stepped into a house that looked like it had come straight out of a magazine.
“Welcome home, sir. Welcome, madam,” a warm female voice greeted us as we entered.
The woman reminded me of my grandma, gentle, kind eyes and a motherly smile.
“Take her to the room next to mine. West wing. Make sure she has everything she needs,” Luther said, his tone distant. He did not even glance back before heading up the stairs.
My chest tightened. I stood there, watching him go. Why did his silence sting so badly?
“This way, miss,” the woman said softly. I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.
We passed through an open space under the staircase where a fireplace stood surrounded by two beautiful armchairs. There was a blue love seat tucked perfectly into the curve of the wall, with tall vases of white orchids on each side. I barely took it in. My mind kept circling back to him. She stopped in front of a grand double door. “Here we are.”
She opened it, revealing a room far bigger than the sitting room back at my house. It was stunning, clean, elegant, and expensive.
“Thank you,” I murmured, my voice dry.
She looked at me kindly. “If you need anything, just ring me. My number’s saved as Nanny on that phone over there.”
I gave a small nod. Once she left, the silence rushed in again. I stood in the middle of the room, staring blankly at nothing. I did not understand what I had done wrong. One moment he was teasing me, eyes full of heat, and now… this. With a heavy breath, I walked to the foot of the bed, dropped onto the soft white rug, and leaned back against the frame. I had come all this way. And yet I had never felt more alone.
“I should not have come with him,” I muttered, trying to hold back the lump rising in my throat. No matter how harsh he was, I kept falling deeper. I hated how easily he pulled me in with the smallest gesture. A part of me craved his attention more than I wanted to admit. Even when he said nothing, his silence spoke louder than any insult.
Lost in my own spiral, I barely noticed the door creak open. Luther walked in, now wearing only a pair of grey shorts and white Nike socks. My breath hitched. His toned stomach, the faint line of hair leading down his abdomen, I stared longer than I should have. He stopped in front of me and cleared his throat, forcing me back to reality. Without a word, he handed me his phone. Confused, I looked at the screen, my mother’s name. Oh no. In my rush to escape the chaos at home, I had left without my phone.
“Mom?” I said softly, already knowing the questions that were coming.
“Luther told me you’re safe. Is that true?”
I closed my eyes, dragging in a breath. “Yes… I’m okay.”
“Stanley’s checking how they got into the house. Did you see anything? Anyone?”
The moment she asked, all the fear I had pushed down came rushing back. Thoughts of my father, of the intruder, clawed at my mind.
“I… I don’t want to talk about that right now.”
“Charlotte, how are we going to figure anything out if you will not help?”
Her voice tightened. I could feel the tension stretching between us.
“What is the difference between you and the police, then? I thought you did not want me to be questioned!” I snapped, pressing the phone harder to my ear. My chest burned, my voice shaking.
“Watch your tone,” she warned sharply.
“Then stop pushing me, Mom! Just give me some space, please,” I said, biting the inside of my cheek to keep from sobbing.
There was a pause before she responded, cool and clipped. “Fine. I will see you tomorrow.”
The line went dead. I lowered the phone and turned to Luther, anger bubbling to the surface.
“Are you enjoying this?” I asked, my voice brittle.
“Why ask me to come if you were only going to shut me out? You should have left me at home.”
He did not answer. His silence made it worse. My eyes stung as I blinked away the tears that were threatening to fall.
“You are unbelievable,” I whispered, throwing my hands up. “Crying over a man like you when I have bigger problems… I must be losing it.”
His voice came quietly but clearly. “You were the one who told me to stop talking to you, remember?”
I turned slightly as he continued. “You said I was messing with your peace of mind. I thought giving you space was what you wanted.”
My shoulders dropped, my heart twisting.
“Charlotte,” he said, his tone softer now. He gently placed his hand on my shoulder, turning me to face him. Somehow, just his touch eased something tight inside me.
“I need to use the bathroom,” I blurted, immediately regretting how foolish it sounded.
He chuckled and stepped in my way. “No, you do not.”
“Move,” I said, trying not to look at his bare chest. My fingers itched to touch him, but I clenched them tightly by my sides.
I pushed his phone against his chest, forcing him to grab it. His hand landed on mine, and I tried to pull away, but he tightened his grip slightly, keeping me close.
“You are not going anywhere,” he said, placing two fingers gently under my chin and tilting my face up to his.
My heart pounded so loudly I could barely think.
“Not when I can see now that you want me to look at you.”
“I do not..” He kissed me and just like that, the thoughts in my head vanished.
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