Just one night
Luther' POV
"What do you mean you are not coming?" I asked Stanley over the phone, glancing at my wristwatch.
It was just past 7 p.m. He should have arrived by now.
"My wife needs me. I am sorry," he said.
That piqued my curiosity. "Is everything alright?"
"Not really. Sophie is turning the whole house upside down. She says something important was stolen."
"Something?" I asked, trying to stay calm.
"She will not say exactly what was taken, but she is panicking. Says it is a matter of life and death." I could hear her screeching in the background, shouting at Stanley to keep searching.
"Maybe she just misplaced it," I said, even though I had a pretty good idea of what she was looking for, her documents.
"Have you called the police?" I asked on purpose, wondering if Stanley was starting to question her strange behaviour.
"She is refusing." Just then, another loud scream came through the line, making my ear ring.
"I will make it up to you for tonight’s dinner," he said quickly. "I have to go."
He hung up. I put my phone down for a moment and switched to the live camera feed. Charlotte was in the steam room, taking a break after a stressful day. I had told her I needed to make a quick call and gave her some space. But now that Stanley was not coming, I figured I would ask one of the cooks to prepare dinner on the balcony near my room in the left wing.
I was still watching Sophie lose control on the screen when I heard Charlotte’s voice behind me.
"What has you so focused?"
I looked up and patted the space next to me on the couch in my room, inviting her to sit. Her face twisted with concern as she heard her mother’s voice shouting, followed by Stanley’s calmer tone trying to calm her down.
"Why are they fighting?" she asked, sitting beside me and turning her eyes to the screen.
"Take a guess," I said, sliding my arm gently around her back.
"Umm..." she murmured, watching Sophie open drawers, slam them shut, then pull them out and toss them on the floor.
"She knows the documents are gone," Charlotte said softly, covering her mouth with her hand.
"But she has not told Stanley what exactly is missing," I added, hoping to ease her tension.
"Oh," she replied, her brows tightening.
I placed the phone aside. Her closeness made it hard to focus on anything else. Besides, part of me felt bad for watching my brother’s private chaos, even if it was necessary.
"Trust me. If she tells Stanley it is her documents, he will start digging. And once he finds them, the truth comes out. She cannot risk that."
I placed my hand on her left thigh and rested it there, gently stroking her smooth skin. She lowered her gaze to my hand.
"We need to act fast before she finds out we are behind it," Charlotte said quietly.
"The lawyer already filed for an injunction on the property. Mateo has a private jet ready for tomorrow morning. We will go to Utah first."
Her eyes lit up as she looked at me.
"Are you serious?" she asked, suddenly smiling.
"Yes. We need proof that she is still married to Sanders. Mateo is already there and has the address."
If I had known telling her about the trip would cheer her up like this, I would have mentioned it earlier, before she walked into my office in tears.
"But..." she started, biting her bottom lip as the smile slipped from her face.
"What is it, baby?" I asked gently, still caressing her thigh in slow, teasing circles that moved higher with every stroke.
"What if Sanders refuses to help us?" Her voice sounded tight, like the words were hard to push out. I could tell the thought had drained her hope in an instant.
"He will help. Do you know why?" I leaned closer, placing my other hand beneath her chin and tilting her face up. I was grateful she had her hair up in a bun, it made her beautiful face impossible to miss.
"Tell me," she said, her eyes locked on mine. The look she gave me sent a rush of heat through my body. I was already halfway aroused from imagining her underneath that towel.
"He does not know she is still alive," I said slowly. "Now imagine what he will do when we tell him that the woman who stole his money and his stepson is not only alive, but still scheming."
Charlotte tilted her head slightly and then gave a soft smile of understanding.
"I just hope it works, because..." Her voice trailed off. She ran her tongue across her lower lip, moistening it. I watched every move closely, drawn in.
"I do not know how I will live with myself if my mother succeeds again. She gave birth to me, but all I feel now is burning hatred. Is it wrong that I want her to pay for everything she has done?"
Her eyes began to water as she spoke. I could see the war going on in her heart. She was still trying to process everything, probably still in shock and unable to fully admit it. I knew that once the truth sank in completely, she would break. And I was ready to stand beside her through it all.
"You are not wrong. You are looking for justice, for your father and for everything your mother destroyed. From the stories you have told me, and the way you reacted when she married Stanley, it is clear you truly loved him. You still do."
I traced my thumb gently along her lip, trying to pull her away from the heavy thoughts.
"I loved him so much, Luther. And to think that..." She paused, unable to finish. When she opened her mouth again, I placed my finger gently on her lips and cupped the side of her face.
"Nobody wants to believe their own parents could kill. It is even harder when they do it for money, and even worse when they destroy someone you loved so deeply."
I never thought I could feel again after Brittany used me. But somehow, I had fallen hard for Charlotte, and now, every tear in her eyes hit me like it was my own pain.
Her joy was my joy. Her sadness crushed me. And her anger made me feel completely powerless.
"I am here for you, baby. I know I have hurt you before, but right now, all I want is to make you happy, to help you heal from everything Sophie has done. We are going to stop her, and we are going to make sure she never hurts anyone again."
Mateo was always the one doing the talking, but lately, I had found myself opening up more when I was around Charlotte. She had me under her spell, and honestly, I did not want to break free.
"Thank you." She sniffled and climbed into my lap, resting her head against my chest.
We sat in silence after that. The kind of silence that felt warm, where words were not needed. The only problem was the growing pressure below my waist. Her body against mine was not helping. Especially when she started shifting slightly, grinding her hips over my lap, completely unaware or maybe fully aware, of what she was doing.
"Stop," I said through clenched teeth, holding her by the waist.
"No," she said softly, lifting her towel and revealing her bare skin underneath.
"Charlotte, please... this is not the right time," I said. My voice came out low and strained. I was trying so hard to stay in control.
"Please do not take this away from me," she murmured. "This is the one thing that can help me forget, for a little while."
She brushed her hands slowly over my shoulders, even through my shirt, I felt the sparks her touch left behind. A rush of heat spread through my body, deep and intense.
"Charlotte..." I looked into her eyes, full of pleading and want. I knew I could not say no to her.
"Just one night. One moment. That is all I am asking for," she said.
And just like that, I gave in.
Like a man who had no power against the pull of the woman in his arms, I surrendered. I only hoped we would not lose track of time and forget we had a flight to catch at dawn.
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