Chapter 475 Some Things Are Not a Choice
That night, Charles and Mark arrived in Gedser.
After several months, stepping into this place again, Charles felt an indescribable complexity in his heart.
"Mr. Lancelot, didn't you say you wanted me to handle the negotiations?" Mark asked after they arrived at the hotel. "Why do you come along too?"
Charles replied indifferently, "I have something to do."
"What is it?" Mark asked curiously.
Charles was silent for a long time. He stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the endless stream of cars and the illuminated buildings outside. After a long while, he said in a hoarse voice, "Something very important."
Mark, being very smart, immediately understood.
If it was something Charles considered very important, it must be related to Daphne.
"Ms. Murphy..."
"You should rest early. Just follow the plan I discussed with you for tomorrow's negotiations." Charles changed the subject, clearly not wanting to talk about it. "If the other party doesn't compromise, abandon the project."
"We won't compromise at all?"
"No compromise." Charles slightly parted his thin lips and gave his answer.
The Lancelot Group was already very successful. As long as it ran smoothly, Charles didn't care about anything else.
Mark agreed and left.
As the door closed, Charles was left alone in the room.
Charles stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the world outside—undre the twinkling stars, the crowds were busy. His gaze was fixed in the direction where Daphne was.
At exactly ten o'clock at night, Austin arrived. As soon as he entered, he saw a distant, indifferent, and lonely figure standing by the window, blending into the night outside.
Austin placed the wine on the table and walked over with light steps. "Come over and have a drink. What's so interesting outside?"
"Did you find out the time?"
"No."
Charles didn't speak again. If he didn't know, then why come?
"Why do you need to know the time?" Austin asked while pouring the wine, glancing at him. "Are you planning to cause trouble?"
It was a joke.
Austin knew very well that with Charles's personality, he wouldn't do such a thing.
Charles didn't know how to love, but after experiencing it once, he had grown and wouldn't do anything to hurt Daphne again.
Sometimes Austin wished Charles were more obsessive. That way, he wouldn't have to think too much and could just keep Daphne by his side.
But a child raised by Hayden and Laura wouldn't be like that.
Charles didn't answer. He wouldn't cause trouble.
Charles knew Daphne didn't want to see him and that his presence would cause some emotional turmoil for her and Benjamin, so he wouldn't show up.
Charles just wanted to hide in the crowd and see how she was doing, see if she was happy.
"Don't be so gloomy." Austin handed him a glass of wine, trying to cheer him up. "Although I don't know the exact time, I do have some good news."
"What is it?" Charles asked.
"Drink it, and I'll tell you."
"I've quit drinking."
Charles still spoke very little.
He used to think that drinking could make him feel a little better, but later he realized it didn't.
Drinking couldn't solve any problems. He preferred to stay sober and remember everything between them, even if it hurt to think about it.
"You're no fun," Austin put down the wine and continued. "Daisy will be out tomorrow night. If nothing goes wrong, Benjamin plans to propose to Daphne in the evening."
"Got it." Charles's eyes darkened, and his heart tightened.
Austin wanted to joke with him to lighten his mood. "Is that all?"
"Thank you."
"That's it?"
Charles glanced at Austin, his eyes clearly saying, "Just say what you want; I don't want to guess."
"I want to handle the project you won the bid for."
"I'll tell Mark tomorrow. He'll arrange it."
"When we get back, I want to take some wine from your cellar."
"Suit yourself."
"I want those limited edition cars in your garage."
"Take any except the black one."
Austin really thought Charles had changed a lot, being so generous.
"But I want the black one."
"That one was bought with Daphne. I can't give it to you," Charles explained directly, without much emotion.
Austin wanted to say more but eventually gave up. Forget it, let him be stubborn. He didn't believe Charles could stay like this forever.
"There's something I need to remind you of. The Lancelot Group needs an heir." Austin turned serious. "As the president of the Lancelot Group, you have no option on this."
Not getting married or having children in the short term was fine. But over time, public opinion could crush a person.
Austin knew Charles could handle it, but the Lancelot Group might not.
Charles's thin lips pressed together, and his heart sank. Hayden and Laura wouldn't rush him, and neither would Marcus, but the shareholders might.
"In a year or two, you will be fine. But then, you should be more cautious," Austin, familiar with this circle, advised. "You never know when someone might try to sneak a woman into your hotel room."
"Mark will handle it." Charles trusted Mark immensely.
"He also needs to get married and have children," Austin said, hoping Charles would move on. "Once he has a family, you can't expect him to be on call 24/7."
Hearing this, Charles paused.
He hadn't thought about it, and Mark had never mentioned it.
"After this, I hope you can let go," Austin said, looking at his poker face and patting his shoulder.
The reason he told Charles about Benjamin's proposal to Daphne, besides his previous promise, was mainly to help him move on.
Watching the person he liked get proposed to should make him give up, right?
At eleven-thirty, Austin left.
Charles sat in the chair, feeling more complex emotions than ever before.
He finally took out his phone and sent a message to Mark: [Do you want to go on a blind date?]
Although Mark's family background was average, as Charles's assistant, he had already amassed millions of dollars through his efforts. Not to mention, he held shares in a subsidiary of the Lancelot Group.
Seeing that Mark hadn't replied, he added: [I can arrange it for you.]
Mark was stunned when he saw these messages. Why suddenly arrange a blind date? He hadn't had any issues with his work recently.
As he was thinking this, Charles's next message came: [If you have someone you like, let me know. I'll have HR hire two more assistants so you can date and maintain your relationship.]
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