Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 156029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
I stare at her.
“Your father didn’t talk to you for eight weeks because he didn’t get his own way, Charlotte.” She throws her hands in the air. “What does that tell you about this fucked up situation? How can you not see it?”
“Stop it, you’re upsetting her,” Lara demands.
“Where was Spencer?” Beth snaps. “Where was Spencer when you needed him?”
I drop my head into my hands as my emotions boil over.
“That’s right, Lottie, Spencer was right by your side the whole fucking time. Never once have you doubted his love for you.”
Wyatt walks around the corner after hearing our raised voices. “What’s going on here?” he asks.
“Nothing.” Beth sighs in disgust. “I’m going to bed. These two and their lack of priorities are making me sick.” The door slams behind her as she disappears.
Wyatt frowns, and his eyes flick to me in question.
“You go to bed, too, Lars. I’ll be up in a minute.” I sigh.
She kisses my cheek and walks inside the house.
“Are you okay?” Wyatt asks softly.
“I hardly know anymore,” I whisper.
He sits on the step at my feet, and we both stare out over the property and into the darkness of the night. He doesn’t say anything, and he doesn’t try to talk me into his way of thinking.
He just stays, and in this moment, that’s all I need.
Spencer
Bang, bang, bang!
What on earth?
It’s two days after Christmas, and after possibly the most depressing Christmas I’ve ever had, I’m packing for Santorini.
She’ll come.
I know she will. Our love was too strong. She won’t forget that, no matter what’s happened.
She’ll come.
I have to believe that. I have to believe that she’ll be able to move past this because the reality is that if she doesn’t, it’ll be more than I can bear.
Bang, bang, bang!
I open the door in a rush.
“Where is she?” Edward growls, looking past me and into the room.
“What?” I frown. Him and Harold barge past me and walk into my apartment. “Please, do come in,” I mutter with an eye roll.
Assholes.
“Where is she?”
“What are you fucking talking about?”
“Don’t act dumb, you know exactly where she is.”
“I haven’t seen her since the restaurant, you know that.”
Harold pinches the bridge of his nose. “She could be anywhere. She’s taken off.” He falls onto the sofa.
“Her guards aren’t with her?” I ask in confusion.
“She’s… Charlotte is completely alone,” Harold stammers in a panic. “She snuck out in the middle of the night.”
“This is all my fault.” Edward groans. “Why did I…?” His voice trails off.
“What?” I frown. “What happened?”
He shakes his head and drops next to his father on the sofa. “We fought.”
“You fought with her?” I snap. “She’s hurt enough, why the fuck would you fight with her?”
“I don’t know. I was angry with Penelope for taking off and I...” He shakes his head at himself.
“What did she say?” I begin to freak out.
“She left a note saying she would be back soon,” Harold tells me quietly.
“What note?”
He digs around in his suit pocket and pulls out a piece of paper. He hands it over.
Dad,
I’m confused and I need time alone to think.
I’m taking a TTT Trip. Don’t worry, I’m safe.
I’ll see you in two weeks.
I love you,
Charlotte.
My heart swells with hope and pride.
That’s my girl.
24
Spencer
If she’s gone for a TTT trip in its truest form, I think she’s gone to Maui and will be staying at the Four Seasons. If she left in the middle of the night, she won’t even be there yet.
She’s at my special place.
I want her to have time to think. I want her to be able to make this decision on her own. But then… I look at the worry on Harold’s face and I can’t do that to him.
“Just a minute.” I walk to the kitchen, grab my phone, and Google the hotel. When it pops up, I dial the number.
“Aloha, Four Seasons,” the receptionist answers.
“Hello, can I be put through to Maxine, please?” I ask. “Tell her that it’s Spencer Jones calling.”
“Of course, sir.”
I wait on the line until the phone connects to another line.
“Hello, Spencer.” Maxine laughs excitedly. “It’s been a long time.”
“It has, and I’m due for a trip very soon.” I glance up to the two men in front of me. “I have a friend arriving there tonight. Can you check if she’s arrived yet for me, please?”
“Sure thing. What’s her name?”
What would she have used? I think for a moment while Harold and Edward watch on.
“Lottie Preston.”
“Just a minute.” I hear her tapping away on the keys at her computer. “Ah, yes. She won’t arrive until later tonight. Can I leave a message?”
“No, thank you. I’ll call back later,” I say before hanging up.
I turn to them. “I know where she’s going.”
They both place their hands over their chests in relief. “Thank God. Where?”
I stare at them for a moment. This is my only leverage and I need to use it.