Chapter 4

Alexander dropped Rosa off. It was just the two of us left in the car.

"Charlotte, sit up front. I'm not your driver," Alexander said.

I opened the door, about to order a ride and head out on my own.

He added, "If you leave now, don't bother coming back to Hayes Group."

With a sigh, I canceled the ride app on my phone and moved to the passenger seat.

Alexander reached for a cigarette, paused, then put it back. He asked coldly, "That hothead from the bar. Do you think he can really keep up with you?"

"That's my business," I shot back.

"Huh, never pegged you for someone so bold." Alexander smirked.

I let out a sarcastic laugh. "Alexander, are you seriously catching feelings after all that? Can't stand the thought of losing me, huh?"

Alexander paused, looking genuinely lost in thought. 'Why do I even care about all this?'

After a while, he gazed out the window and said, "Charlotte, I still don't get it. Wasn't things between us just fine the way they were?"

I opened the door and got out. "Alexander, don't back out now," I said.

I headed to Alexander's office to ask for some time off.

Someone had gotten there before me, chatting with Alexander for a good half hour before finally leaving.

Alexander even walked them out himself.

The man leading the group glanced my way. It took me a moment to realize it was Kenelm Eland.

In the legal world, his name was everywhere.

Kenelm was a powerhouse in the courtroom. He'd take on any case, always coming out on top.

Too bad, though, Kenelm was the villain everyone loved to hate.

He defended only the wealthy. Didn't care if they were saints or sinners.

So he ended up as a VIP wherever he went.

*****

Finally, I got Alexander to sign off on my leave. So I headed home for a blind date.

Mom hovered over me, making sure I only wore a touch of makeup.

I went with an understated Chanel-inspired outfit and grabbed a small crossbody bag.

Staring at my reflection, I barely recognized myself as perfect good girl, so proper it felt almost foreign.

Mom reminded me. "Don't give him a hard time. Just being friends is fine, you know."

I nodded quickly. "Got it. Got it."

My blind date was already there when I arrived. He was a bit older than me, wearing rimless glasses.

There was an unmistakable air of privilege in everything he did. It was Kenelm.

Kenelm got straight to the point. "Charlotte, I'm not looking to get married."

I matched his honesty. "What a coincidence. I'm not either. But I do need a boyfriend in name only."

We locked eyes for a moment and clinked our glasses. "Cheers to our partnership."

Kenelm wanted me to come home with him for a casual dinner, just to keep his family off his back.

And we knew our moms were card buddies, which was how we ended up getting set up.

But staring at the stack of files Alexander handed me, I felt completely overwhelmed.

"Kenelm, I'm really tied up right now," I said.

Kenelm paused on the phone, thinking for a moment. "Is this about Hayes Group's latest acquisition?"

"Wait, how do you even know about that? That's supposed to be insider info," I said.

"Seriously, no one told you? I'm heading up Hayes Group's legal team now," Kenelm replied.

Seemed like someone's making things hard for me. There was a new boss, and I had no clue.