Chapter 4

Nathan slid the document toward Charlotte. "I've studied abroad for several years and led teams too. Summers & Co. is starving for fresh talent right now."

Linda let out a cold scoff. "Feeling confident, aren't you?"

Ignoring her remark, Nathan went on. "Charlotte, I don't need an overly senior position. I plan to start out as the deputy general manager."

Emily spat out a mouthful of oatmeal. "How modest of you."

Charlotte flipped open the document.

I saw the words on the first page: onboarding proposal.

Nathan had prepared everything thoroughly, as if he was certain Charlotte would say yes.

"Which divisions do you want to oversee?" Charlotte asked.

"Procurement and retail store operations," Nathan replied.

Emily slammed her fist on the table. "No way."

Linda seconded her. "Outsiders can't get their hands on those two departments."

Nathan turned toward me. "Do you object too, Mr. Sinclair?"

"I have no say over the company," I said.

Nathan smiled. "That's right."

Charlotte picked up a pen. Emily lunged forward to snatch it away.

"Charlotte, have you lost your mind? Procurement and retail are our family's lifeblood," she said.

Nathan's voice deepened. "Emily, you can't act like a child forever."

Emily pointed a finger straight at his face. "You've barely been back one day and you're going after our family's lifeblood? Do you take us for fools?"

Nathan looked back at Charlotte. "Charlotte, if you don't trust me, I'll leave right now."

He stood up slowly, as if fully expecting someone to stop him.

"Sit down," Charlotte said.

Emily's eyes stung with anger. "Charlotte!"

Charlotte said to Nathan, "You can try it for one month on a trial basis."

Linda slammed a pot lid back onto the stove. "Charlotte, if you sign that paper, I am taking Andrew back to our hometown today."

Nathan raised an eyebrow. "Mrs. Summers, is that a threat against Charlotte?"

Linda glared at him. "I'm trying to save her."

Charlotte signed her name. The pen scratched sharply across the paper.

Emily froze.

Linda fell silent as well.

Nathan picked up the document with a polished smile. "Charlotte, you won't regret this."

He glanced over at me. "Mr. Sinclair, with me at the company, Charlotte will get more breathing room. We'll still count on you for all the household chores."

I nodded. "Alright."

Emily shouted at me. "Alright? He's basically walking all over you."

"This is just division of labor," Nathan said.

Charlotte snapped the cap back onto her pen. "Andrew doesn't care about any of this."

I set my bowl down. "That's right."

Emily gave the coffee table a hard kick. "Can't you stop picking on the nice guy?"

Nathan turned to her, a hint of irritation in his tone. "Emily, you hold far too much prejudice against me."

"I'm allergic to hypocrites," Emily retorted.

Charlotte said coldly, "Emily, apologize."

Emily stared at her in disbelief. "You want me to apologize?"

"Nathan will be part of Summers & Co. from now on," Charlotte said.

"He was asking whether you'd wait for him yesterday, and today he's part of Summers & Co.," Emily shot back. "Is he going to be your lover tomorrow?"

Charlotte stood up. "That's enough."

A brief hush fell over the living room.

I stepped forward and pulled Emily behind me. "Stop fighting."

Nathan straightened his cuffs. "Mr. Sinclair certainly knows how to keep his composure."

He walked toward the entryway, then suddenly bent down and dragged the red bucket out from under the couch. "This bucket is an eyesore sitting here. How about I throw it away for you?"

Linda shrieked. "Put that down!"

Emily lunged for him too. "Don't touch that bucket!"

Nathan looked taken aback by their reaction.

Charlotte's expression shifted as well. She stared at the bucket. "Nathan, put it back."

Nathan's smile faded. "It's only a beat-up old bucket."

I reached out to take it. "I've got it."

Nathan would not let go. He looked straight at me. "Mr. Sinclair, hanging onto old junk only reminds you how poor you once were."

"I used to be poor. There is no shame in that," I said.

He lowered his voice. "But you make Charlotte look bad standing beside you."

Emily swore under her breath.

Linda charged over and grabbed a slipper, ready to strike Nathan.

Nathan stepped back. The bucket slipped out of his grip and slammed against the edge of the coffee table. The worn old apron tumbled out, along with a small notebook wrapped in a clear plastic bag.

The second Charlotte spotted the notebook, her eyes changed. She hurried forward to grab it.

I beat her to it, picked up the notebook, and stuffed it back inside the bucket.

"What is that?" Nathan asked.

"It's none of your business," Charlotte replied.

He kept his gaze fixed on her. "Charlotte, why are you so on edge?"

Charlotte said nothing.

I lifted the red bucket. "I'm going for groceries."

Linda blocked the doorway. "Andrew, you don't need to get groceries today."

Emily clung to my arm. "Andrew, don't leave."

Nathan laughed all of a sudden. "Your family is something else. Why does everyone act like the world is ending because a man is heading out with a bucket?"

I glanced at him. "You'd better not get curious, Mr. Goodwin."

He stepped aside, his tone dripping with condescension. "I'm curious anyway."