Chapter 7
Charles's POV
Meanwhile, in the CEO's office at Luminex Group, Charles yanked off his tie in frustration and tossed it onto the couch.
He leaned against the big floor-to-ceiling window and stared out at the endless stream of cars below.
But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake the image of Emily's calm, distant face from his mind, along with those cold, formal "Mr. Goodman" she kept throwing at him.
He grabbed his phone and dialed a number. "I need you to look into someone for me," he said. "Emily Shaw, an intern at WindRush Advertising.
"Get me everything on her from the past month. Every record, every detail. The more thorough, the better."
*****
Half an hour later, a confidential report landed in Charles's inbox.
He clicked it open. Inside, it tracked everything Emily had done since leaving the Goodman family.
It told him which rundown apartment complex she was living in and how much rent she paid each month.
It revealed how she had cut down to two meals a day to save money.
It listed how many job applications she had sent out and how many rejections she had received.
She had dragged her suitcase through the streets late at night, searching for a place to live by herself.
She had gone to interviews alone while running a fever.
The words were cold, but they cut into his heart like a dull blade, each sentence twisting deeper.
He had always assumed that after she left him, at least she wouldn't have it too hard.
He thought someone with her skills could find a job easily.
He had no idea she had suffered so much.
And when she was at her lowest, he, the one who always claimed to love her, had been completely in the dark and had done nothing.
He had even gone along with his mother's arrangement to meet a woman named Vivian.
Overwhelming regret and guilt nearly swallowed him whole.
At the end of the report, James was mentioned.
It said he was the youngest planning director at WindRush Advertising, a well-known talent in the industry.
He was the one who gave Emily a chance when she had no other options.
And today, in the lobby, he had quietly stepped in to protect her.
A jealous fire flickered in Charles's eyes because he'd always believed that the place by her side was his.
He picked up the internal line, his voice cold. "Let everyone know. Have WindRush Advertising keep working on their proposal. I'll attend the next briefing myself."
After hanging up, Charles grabbed his car keys and rushed out of the office.
Before he knew it, he had driven straight to the apartment complex where Emily lived.
It was already dark.
The old building had no elevator, and the hallway lights flickered on and off.
He parked in a quiet corner and looked up.
Finally, he spotted a small window on the fifth floor with the light on.
That was her room, tiny and dark.
It was nothing like his own bedroom with its sweeping view of the garden.
He suddenly remembered when they were kids.
She was scared of the dark and always needed a nightlight on to fall asleep.
He would stay with her until she drifted off.
But now, he wondered who would be there for her if she got scared in this unfamiliar city, in this lonely corner.
Charles spent the whole night sitting in his car.
He watched the light in that window, waiting until it finally went dark.
He knew he couldn't wait anymore.
He couldn't let her go through any more pain alone where he couldn't reach her.
He had to find her. No matter what it took, he was going to bring her back.