Mr. CEO(59)

It’ll be fine. I’m fine.

I walk to her door, a gold 22 on the plate on her door, and I knock three times. I take in a steady breath and nervously straighten my jacket as I wait. I can just barely hear shuffling noises from inside her apartment and then a click of the lock.

It takes a long moment of waiting with bated breath before she opens the door slowly, only a few inches at first, and then a bit more.

My Rose.

The dark circles under her eyes make my heart sink. She looks tired and unhappy. Her lips are paler than usual, and her eyes are red and slightly swollen. My poor Rose.

“Rose,” I say and start to reach out to her, but she pulls away quickly and the soft lines of her face harden.

“Logan,” she says, leaning her body slightly forward and making it obvious that she’s not going to let me in. I’m caught off guard. I know she left me, but this seems... uncharacteristic.

“I just want to talk,” I tell her.

The expression on her face changes slightly, showing her sadness, but only for a second. A split second so fast it makes me think I imagined it.

“Talk then,” she says in a clipped voice.

I swallow thickly. I didn’t anticipate discussing this in the hallway. I didn’t think she’d be so defensive either. I debate on asking her why, but then I think better of it. Whatever she’s comfortable with will work for me. “Public relations' suggestion is to carry on and essentially pretend this never happened.” Her eyes pierce into me as though they’re daggers. I clear my throat and stand a little straighter.

“The lawyers are going to make sure that he pays for doing this to you.” Her eyes narrow, but she doesn’t respond. She’s sizing me up and I can see she’s going to snap at me. She’s just waiting for a chance. I welcome it though. I need something from her. I’d take anything right now, but she’s giving me nothing.

“I’m going to handle this, Charlotte.” She stands in her doorway, pulling the door closer to her. “He won’t get away with it.” I’m doing my best to convey that I’ve done everything I can do. “I promise you.” I put as much emotion as I can in my voice, but her body language is still tense. My heart squeezes in my chest.

She looks at me with complete distrust, and I don’t understand it. I don’t know where this animosity is coming from.

“Please forgive me, Rose,” I whisper and put my hand up to push her hair out of her face, but she flinches and moves away, leaving me to let my hand fall.

I clear my throat and let the silence pass between us. She looks past me, and doesn’t say anything.

“I’ll keep you updated on the legal matters.” Her eyes dart to mine. “We can sue him for harassment at least. I’ll bury him financially. Taking away his social circle, bankrupting him, it won’t be enough.” My heart beats frantically as the adrenaline pumps through my veins. I will make him pay for what he did. I stare into Charlotte’s baby blue eyes, but she gives me nothing in return. Cold as ice.

“I’m sure Patterson will have his legal team try to shut down the case, but my legal team is far better than anything Johnny Black can throw at me.”

“Who?” she asks, with her forehead pinching, her demeanor changing slightly.

I nod my head, realizing I jumped into this without explaining much. Fuck. I wish she’d just let me in so I can talk to her without this awkwardness between us. “His name is Chadwick Patterson. He’s the one who sent the emails, it was his IP address and it’s not the first-”

“No, Black. Johnny Black.” She says his name with a harsh edge and a bit of distaste. It’s odd, he has a reputation, but I’m surprised she’d know anything about him or his shady legal tactics.

“Yes, Patterson uses Black for his legal defense and I’m sure he has him on retainer.”

She looks me dead in the eye as her breathing picks up. Her grip tightens on the door as her face reddens and her bottom lip trembles with a mix of anger and sadness.

“I’m so tired of being lied to and not knowing what to think.” She spits out her words with venom. She’s practically shaking, and I’m not sure what to make of the situation. I put my hands up in surrender.

“Rose,” I say and try to keep my voice gentle and calming, “I’m not lying to you. I’ve never lied to you.”

She throws the door open and turns her back on me. The doorknob hits the wall, sending the door flying back at me. I put my hand out to keep it from shutting and cautiously take a step forward. She’s not okay and she needs me, but I’m not sure what the hell is wrong with her.