Chapter 863 Fannie's Arrangement
Charles rolled up to the swankiest joint in Sunset Bay, following the address Fannie had shot him. He found himself at the door of a VIP room, feeling a bit out of place.
He nudged the door open and immediately took a step back. "Whoa, sorry, wrong room," he blurted out, ready to bail.
But then a voice from inside called out, "Hey, you Charles? Fannie's brother? You're in the right spot. She invited me."
Charles froze mid-step, peeking inside to see who was talking.
There she was, a woman with slightly curly hair tied up in a messy bun, lips curved in a sly smile, and a tear mole by her eye that looked like a poppy in the night. She was drop-dead gorgeous, the kind of beauty that made it hard to look away.
She stood up and offered her hand, "Mr. Watson, right? I'm Bethany Roberts, Fannie's friend. Nice to meet you!"
Charles, feeling a bit awkward, shook her hand, "Yeah, I'm Charles Watson."
Bethany's heart was doing somersaults. Fannie had shown her a pic of Charles, but seeing him in person was a whole different ball game. He was tall, lean, and had those chiseled features that screamed perfection. The guy had an aura of cold confidence that was hard to ignore.
Not only was he a looker, but he was also loaded. The eldest son of Martin from the Langley family, the richest clan in Country Z, and the CEO of IntelliMerge Technologies, the top dog in mobile gaming. This guy was the real deal.
Fannie had really hooked her up this time. Bethany knew she had to make a move; even if he wasn't rich, that face alone was worth the effort.
Charles, used to being ogled, kept his cool. He didn't let his annoyance show.
Bethany snapped out of her daze, glanced at the door, and grinned, "Mr. Watson, my job's kinda high-profile. Let's close the door, just in case some paparazzi get a shot. It could mess things up for you."
"Sure," Charles nodded and shut the door. Honestly, with his clout, even if pics got out, it wouldn't faze him. But for Bethany's sake, he played it safe. He didn't care about his rep, but he knew most women did.
The table in the room was huge, so Charles made sure to sit at the far end, keeping some distance between them. Bethany, ever the social butterfly, didn't mind. She just smiled, all relaxed and easygoing.
"Fannie always talks you up," Bethany said, breaking the ice. "She says her brother and sister are super good-looking and talented. I thought she was exaggerating, but seeing you now, she wasn't kidding. You're even better in person."
Charles, intrigued by her theatrics, raised an eyebrow, "Oh yeah? What else did she say?"
Bethany started ticking off on her fingers, "Well, she said you're the most handsome guy she's ever seen, that no one else even comes close. She also said you stopped wetting the bed at six months, started talking at nine, walking at eleven, could recite books by one, and were a computer whiz by three. She even mentioned the first virus you made hit your dad's company and cost him nearly two million bucks."
Bethany rattled off the list, one thing after another.
Charles's mouth twitched, veins popping on his forehead, and he clenched his teeth. Fannie had spilled everything to Bethany. Stuff he didn't even remember himself.
He couldn't take it anymore and cut her off, "You know all this about me, but I don't know squat about you! Your name's Bethany, right?"
Bethany nodded like a bobblehead, "Yep, that's me."
Charles's eyes narrowed, "You a celeb like Fannie?"
Bethany blushed and nodded again, "Ms. Watson is like my mentor. We've done three dramas together, and now we're pretty tight."
Ms. Watson? Fannie? Charles's lips twitched. Was Fannie really that big of a deal?
Then he asked the question that had been bugging him since he walked in, "Bethany Roberts, is that your real name or a stage name?"
Bethany whipped out her ID card and grinned, "It's my real name! My stage name is also Bethany. Didn't change it when I got into showbiz. If you don't believe me, check it out."
"No need, just curious," Charles said, waving it off. But since she showed her ID, it was probably legit.
Bethany put her ID away and said shyly, "I always thought someone like you would be all high and mighty, but you're pretty chill. In the dramas, CEOs are always cold and bossy."
She thought for a second and added, "Basically, they're all jerks."
Charles chuckled, "I can be serious too, but it depends on the situation."
Sometimes, you gotta be cold.
Bethany nodded, "I get it! Like in business, interviews, or meetings, you gotta be tough. Otherwise, no one takes you seriously, right?"
Bethany had a knack for keeping things light.
She was genuine, and Charles didn't feel bored or awkward at all.
They kept chatting, and after a while, Charles offered to drive her home.
Bethany and Fannie lived in the same neighborhood.
When Fannie had made enough dough and got her first big payday, she bought a 2,000-square-foot flat in this area.
Seeing his puzzled look, Bethany explained, "I moved in two years after Ms. Watson. She lives in building five, and I'm next door in building six. This place is perfect for us because the management is top-notch, and no reporters can sneak in. It's safe."
Charles nodded, getting the picture.
Bethany kept the convo going, trying to get closer to Charles without making it weird.
Charles drove her to the underground parking lot.
As soon as the car stopped, his phone buzzed in his pocket.
Charles pulled it out, and Bethany waved her phone at him, "Ms. Watson gave me your Facebook yesterday, but I haven't had a chance to add you!"
Given the situation, Charles couldn't say no, so he accepted her friend request right there.
Fannie had given her his private account.
This account was only for family and Hannah.
After coming back to Sunset Bay, his old phone had been turned off and stashed under his pillow. When he went out earlier, Patricia had turned it on and slipped it into his pocket, and he hadn't checked it until now.
After accepting Bethany's friend request, he glanced at Hannah's profile picture.
There were several unread messages.
Had she been messaging him all this time?
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