Chapter 2 · No Longer His Charity

I pushed open the rusty iron door and made my way down the cramped stairwell.

Eric was leaning against the car door, his suit jacket draped over his arm, tie loosened enough to look disheveled.

He looked clearly frustrated.

"You've really got some nerve, huh? " he snapped.

"Ignoring my calls, canceling your bank card, and even secretly changing your college choices to the middle of nowhere. Charlotte Linwood, are you really willing to throw away your future just to get back at me? " he went on.

I looked at him and dropped the heavy box at his feet, it felt like it weighed a ton.

"These are the designer clothes and the pen you bought for me. Take them back, " I said.

Eric glanced at the box, his brows furrowing.

"Seriously, what's your problem now? Mya got back to the Clark family, she needs people to help her build her network. Of course I'm gonna give her more support. You're a charity case, so why are you so hung up on trying to prove yourself. " he said.

A charity case.'

Those words were like an invisible brand, always putting me on display for everyone to judge, making me feel like I wasn't even worth the air I breathed.

But now, watching him act all self-righteous and play favorites, it didn't even faze me anymore.

I stepped back to give myself some space.

"You're right, Mr. Hart. So I'm out, " I said.

He froze for a second.

He sneered, then swung open the car door.

"Fine, Charlotte. Hope you stay stubborn, " Eric shot back.

"When it's time to pay your tuition in a few days, don't come begging me for help, " he added.

The car door slammed shut.

The black Maybach sped off down the narrow alley, leaving a cloud of dust swirling in its wake.

*****

The next day, the sunlight was harsh and glaring.

I was heading to the Azure Lounge to drop off my resume for a part-time gig as a server.

My phone lit up with a notification from Mya's social feed.

In the photo, she was dressed in a designer gown, champagne in hand, standing among a group of industry big shots, her smile dazzling.

The first comment was from Eric: [Keep a close eye on Mr. Lee's project. If anything comes up, let me know.]

The likes were piling up.

I scrolled past the post, expressionless, not feeling a thing.

Two years ago, Eric brought me along to a business dinner like that.

I had no clue how to hold a wine glass, and the waiter called me out right in front of everyone.

Eric barely glanced at me and said, "She's clueless about this stuff. Just let her wait outside. "

That day, I stood shivering in the drafty hallway for three hours straight.

Now that it was Mya's turn, he was bending over backwards for her, making sure every connection she needed was handed right to her.

I put away my phone and slipped into the staff corridor of the lounge.

*****

After dropping off my application, I slipped out through the staff exit at the back of the lounge.

At the end of the corridor, there was a semi-open-air smoking area that connected to the VIP section.

Through the waist-high greenery, I caught a glimpse of Eric, holding a glass of wine and making introductions for Mya to an investor.

Mya looked effortlessly confident, her smile smooth and natural, while Eric's eyes were fixed on her, protective and making sure she was the center of attention.

I tore my eyes away and headed for the side door, ready to slip out unnoticed.

The glass door swung open.

Eric stepped out for some air, phone in hand, and stopped in his tracks.

His eyes landed on my faded jeans.

"What are you doing here? " he asked, looking down on me like he owned the place. "Running low on cash? "

He casually grabbed a bottle of premium water from the cooler and handed it over.

"How's the part-time hunt going? If it's not working out, just admit it. No need to pretend you're fine, " he said.

The bottle was covered in tiny droplets of condensation.

I let it hang there, not bothering to take it.

My eyes drifted to his raised arm.

The platinum cufflinks on his shirt sleeve caught the light with a cold gleam. Mya had given them to him a couple of days ago as a thank-you gift for her college send-off.

A faint trace of perfume drifted around us.

Mya came out of the private room and slipped her arm through Eric's, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

She flashed a sweet smile. "Hey Eric, what brings you out here? "

Then she tilted her head toward me, pretending she'd only just noticed. "Oh, you're here too? Looking to get a job as a server or something? "

I looked at the designer evening dress she was wearing.

At the Clark family party last month, their relatives mocked me for looking like some cheap maid.

Eric shrugged and said, "She doesn't know any better. She's from a poor background. "

Last week, I pulled three all-nighters to finish an industry analysis report.

Without a second thought, Eric passed it to Mya, and she used it as her ticket to impress the family elders.

Meanwhile, I didn't even have the right to set foot in the conference room.

"I won't bother you, " I said, barely glancing at them as I turned away.

Eric frowned and held out the water bottle to me again.

"Take it. Don't make me say it twice, " he said, his voice brooking no argument.

He was still acting like he owned the place, giving orders like I was supposed to jump at his every word.

He thought that tossing me a scrap of attention would make me come running, just like I used to.

I left his hand hanging in the air, acting like I didn't even see it.

I didn't bother to take it.

Without a second thought, I turned and walked straight into the dimly lit staff corridor, not even sparing them a glance.

The heavy fire door slowly closed behind me.

It sealed off the decadent chill of the corridor, and Eric's stunned stare, shutting them out in the quiet beyond.

*****

The evening air was thick and muggy.

As I stepped out the back door of the Azure Lounge, the Clark family's car was parked at the corner.

It was another one of the Clark family's routine dinners.

As the unwanted girl they sponsored, I was always expected to show up.

Eric was there too, the man who'd spent ten years funding me through the Hart Foundation, and for the last three, had basically kept me at his beck and call.

Chapter 2

I pushed open the rusty iron door and made my way down the cramped stairwell.

Eric was leaning against the car door, his suit jacket draped over his arm, tie loosened enough to look disheveled.

He looked clearly frustrated.

"You've really got some nerve, huh? " he snapped.

I looked at him and dropped the heavy box at his feet, it felt like it weighed a ton.

"These are the designer clothes and the pen you bought for me. Take them back, " I said.

Eric glanced at the box, his brows furrowing.

A charity case.'

Those words were like an invisible brand, always putting me on display for everyone to judge, making me feel like I wasn't even worth the air I breathed.

But now, watching him act all self-righteous and play favorites, it didn't even faze me anymore.

I stepped back to give myself some space.

"You're right, Mr. Hart. So I'm out, " I said.

He froze for a second.

He sneered, then swung open the car door.

"Fine, Charlotte. Hope you stay stubborn, " Eric shot back.

"When it's time to pay your tuition in a few days, don't come begging me for help, " he added.

The car door slammed shut.

The black Maybach sped off down the narrow alley, leaving a cloud of dust swirling in its wake.

*****

The next day, the sunlight was harsh and glaring.

I was heading to the Azure Lounge to drop off my resume for a part-time gig as a server.

My phone lit up with a notification from Mya's social feed.

In the photo, she was dressed in a designer gown, champagne in hand, standing among a group of industry big shots, her smile dazzling.

The first comment was from Eric: [Keep a close eye on Mr. Lee's project. If anything comes up, let me know.]

The likes were piling up.

I scrolled past the post, expressionless, not feeling a thing.

Two years ago, Eric brought me along to a business dinner like that.

I had no clue how to hold a wine glass, and the waiter called me out right in front of everyone.

Eric barely glanced at me and said, "She's clueless about this stuff. Just let her wait outside. "

That day, I stood shivering in the drafty hallway for three hours straight.

Now that it was Mya's turn, he was bending over backwards for her, making sure every connection she needed was handed right to her.

I put away my phone and slipped into the staff corridor of the lounge.

*****

After dropping off my application, I slipped out through the staff exit at the back of the lounge.

At the end of the corridor, there was a semi-open-air smoking area that connected to the VIP section.

Through the waist-high greenery, I caught a glimpse of Eric, holding a glass of wine and making introductions for Mya to an investor.

Mya looked effortlessly confident, her smile smooth and natural, while Eric's eyes were fixed on her, protective and making sure she was the center of attention.

I tore my eyes away and headed for the side door, ready to slip out unnoticed.

The glass door swung open.

Eric stepped out for some air, phone in hand, and stopped in his tracks.

His eyes landed on my faded jeans.

"What are you doing here? " he asked, looking down on me like he owned the place. "Running low on cash? "

He casually grabbed a bottle of premium water from the cooler and handed it over.

"How's the part-time hunt going? If it's not working out, just admit it. No need to pretend you're fine, " he said.

The bottle was covered in tiny droplets of condensation.

I let it hang there, not bothering to take it.

My eyes drifted to his raised arm.

The platinum cufflinks on his shirt sleeve caught the light with a cold gleam. Mya had given them to him a couple of days ago as a thank-you gift for her college send-off.

A faint trace of perfume drifted around us.

Mya came out of the private room and slipped her arm through Eric's, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

She flashed a sweet smile. "Hey Eric, what brings you out here? "

Then she tilted her head toward me, pretending she'd only just noticed. "Oh, you're here too? Looking to get a job as a server or something? "

I looked at the designer evening dress she was wearing.

At the Clark family party last month, their relatives mocked me for looking like some cheap maid.

Eric shrugged and said, "She doesn't know any better. She's from a poor background. "

Last week, I pulled three all-nighters to finish an industry analysis report.

Without a second thought, Eric passed it to Mya, and she used it as her ticket to impress the family elders.

Meanwhile, I didn't even have the right to set foot in the conference room.

"I won't bother you, " I said, barely glancing at them as I turned away.

Eric frowned and held out the water bottle to me again.

"Take it. Don't make me say it twice, " he said, his voice brooking no argument.

He was still acting like he owned the place, giving orders like I was supposed to jump at his every word.

He thought that tossing me a scrap of attention would make me come running, just like I used to.

I left his hand hanging in the air, acting like I didn't even see it.

I didn't bother to take it.

Without a second thought, I turned and walked straight into the dimly lit staff corridor, not even sparing them a glance.

The heavy fire door slowly closed behind me.

It sealed off the decadent chill of the corridor, and Eric's stunned stare, shutting them out in the quiet beyond.

*****

The evening air was thick and muggy.

As I stepped out the back door of the Azure Lounge, the Clark family's car was parked at the corner.

It was another one of the Clark family's routine dinners.

As the unwanted girl they sponsored, I was always expected to show up.

Eric was there too, the man who'd spent ten years funding me through the Hart Foundation, and for the last three, had basically kept me at his beck and call.