Chasing Love (Dark Love 1)

“Look, Mr. Edwards, my team will only sign this proposal if you can commit to your side of the contract. We also now request that the majority of the work be done in London.”

Fuck! My gut had me thinking it would boil down to this, with long fucking hours at their main headquarters. How am I ever going to see Charlotte if I’m in London?

Maybe Charlotte doesn’t actually give a fuck about me?

Maybe she just needed a retribution fuck?

Maybe she was me two weeks ago? The Lex Edwards who would sweet-talk ladies when he needed a quick fuck. The type who would disappear in the middle of the night without even a quick goodbye or “thanks, I had a lovely time sticking my dick in your pussy.”

But then I think of the times when she’s let her guard down.

When she asked me to look her in the eyes. How emerald green is still her favorite color. And when she told me there would be a next time.

There’s hope that she still feels something.

“This is a one-year contract, Mr. Edwards. Do we have your commitment that this will be carried out in that specified timeframe?”

A fifty-million-fucking-dollar business deal, and I question it because I don’t want to leave the States. She hands me the papers with a pen, eyeing me, waiting for a reaction. I hesitate, looking at Kate who’s watching me puzzled by my delayed reaction. I grab the pen and begin signing the documents, the weight of the world now resting on my shoulders.

Kate announces that she’ll make copies and return in ten minutes. Leaving me alone with Victoria, I dread where this conversation will lead.

“It will be nice to have you back in London,” she beams, playfully. “We should have dinner when you’re back to discuss any other ideas you might have.”

“Look, Victoria, this is strictly business. You know I don’t mix business with pleasure.”

“Oh, please, Lex, like you haven’t fucked your little assistant, Kat, Kathy, or whatever her name is,” she sneers.

“Her name is Kate, and no, she’s a valuable employee. I meant what I said. Don’t play games with me.”

Kate returns with the copied documents. We wrap up the meeting with Victoria advising she’ll email me a confirmation of when the project will begin.

Walking up to my suite in small steps, I hang my head with an empty feeling inside of me. The last twenty-four hours have been heaven and hell in equal measures. I want Charlotte so fucking much, yet I can’t overcome the rage over Samantha, Julian, and the fact I’m still second best.

“Mr. Edwards, you look exhausted. Let me take care of things for the rest of the day. I suggest you have a good sleep,” Kate offers.

She has a point. Even though it’s close to lunchtime, I have no problem getting some sleep. I’m never this worn out, but right now, I’m no nearer to answers to the questions that are remaining. And working until three this morning has only made matters worse.

I have to refocus with a plan of attack.

Jesus Christ, I’m treating this whole Charlotte thing like a goddamn business proposal. But maybe I need to tackle it that way? The only thing I’m sure about is that she’s mine, and no one is going to take her away from me.

Not now. Not ever.

Still, I can’t shake my hostility toward her for forgiving Samantha.

Why did she do it?

What about me?

Why won’t she forgive me?

CHARLIE

The rain doesn’t deter me from my usual morning run. Instead, it cools me down, allowing me to run even harder.

I stop off at my usual bench trying to catch my breath. The last forty-eight hours have been draining, to say the least. Apart from a heavy workload I was struggling with due to my unstable personal life, I have Lex to deal with.

“Hi again!” The familiar blonde girl stops by the bench.