Chapter 15 Totally Crazy
A cold dread washed over me. The last thing I needed was for Lucas to run his mouth about the Grand Dance Gala.
It was no big deal. But Charles had been so temperamental and bitter toward me recently. Hearing about it would undoubtedly give him one more reason to interfere.
This performance was my ticket to a badly needed payday, and I refused to let his resentment cost me this chance.
As Charles moved to answer, I quickly grabbed his arm.
He glanced down at my hand, then back at me, one eyebrow raised. “What?”
“Um…” I eyed the still–lit screen and forced an awkward smile. “Could you not take his call?”
Charles looked a little surprised and then amused. “Okay. Give me one good reason.”
“Well…” I scrambled for an excuse. “Lucas is a total playboy. He’s probably calling to drag you out somewhere. I don’t want you to go. I don’t want him corrupting you.”
Charles stared at me, his eyes intense, like he could see right through me.
Just as I started to squirm under his gaze, he asked softly, “Why don’t you want him to corrupt me?”
“Because… I like you.”
The words were out before I could stop them. Ugh, I was such a bad liar.
“Like me?” Charles said with a slow, unnerving smile that never meant anything good.
I nodded hesitantly, unsure what he was thinking.
The phone finally stopped ringing. Charles toyed with it silently.
I was just starting to relax when he suddenly leaned close to my ear, his voice a low whisper. “You really think I believe that?”
I froze. When I turned, I saw the mockery in his eyes.
He straightened up, his tone cool and detached. “You used to like Lucas. You said I wasn’t as fun as him. That I was boring and stiff.”
“I–I never said that,” I protested. Seriously, where was this even coming from?
Charles let out a cold laugh. “Seems like Ms. Thompson has a pretty selective memory. You’ve forgotten a lot of the things you’ve done.”
The icy look on his face as he dredged up the past sent a chill through me.
Honestly, I’d forgotten most of those old moments. But he remembered everything, especially every time I’d been cruel to him. No wonder he hated me so much.
He twirled a strand of my hair around his finger, smirking without warmth. “You used to tell me to go out with him and said I should learn a thing or two from him. And now you’re worried he’ll ‘corrupt‘ me? Seriously?”
I froze. Did I really say that? I had no memory of it whatsoever.
He tugged gently on my hair and let out a low laugh. “You just can’t help but lie, can you, Anna?”
His voice was soft, but the cold gleam in his eyes scared me. I thought about saying something sweet to smooth things
over.
Then his eyes narrowed dangerously. “You didn’t want me to take Lucas’s call. Could it be you’re seeing him behind my back?”
The accusation hit me like a physical blow. His imagination was truly unhinged. Me? With Lucas? The idea was so absurd that it was almost laughable.
He kept his sharp gaze locked on me, a flicker of something cold in his eyes.
“No,” I blurted out. “How could you even think that? I would never do that. Never.”
Charles gave a faint, skeptical chuckle.
I immediately regretted everything. If I had known he’d jump to that kind of conclusion, I never would’ve stopped him from answering that call.
Just then, Lucas called again. Charles raised an eyebrow in my direction.
I didn’t dare say a thing this time–just gestured hurriedly for him to answer.
He gave a cold snort, picked up, and deliberately put the call on speaker.
“Hey, took you long enough.” Lucas’s voice blared through. “What, was I interrupting something?”
Charles shot me a look and replied flatly, “What do you want?”
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Chapter 15 Totally Crazy
Lucas tsked. “No need to be so cold. I’m not Anna. I didn’t do anything to piss you off.”
I awkwardly touched my nose. Seems like everyone knows how badly I used to treat him.
Charles smirked at me, cold and mocking, and I had to look away, cheeks burning.
Charles impatiently said into the phone, “Spit it out or I’m hanging up.”
“Alright, alright. There’s a Grand Dance Gala tomorrow night. You should come,” Lucas replied.
“Not interested.”
Hearing him refuse so bluntly, I let out a quiet sigh of relief.
I couldn’t get over Lucas. He had the nerve to say he was afraid of Charles blaming him, and then he immediately turned around and tried to get him to come. Part of me wondered if he actually wanted to get caught.
“Come on,” Lucas pushed and said, “I’ve got a surprise for you. A big one.”
“Still not interested,” Charles said, tone final.
Lucas kept talking, but Charles hung up on him mid–sentence.
I glanced at him cautiously and said, “I heard only the most beautiful girls get into this Grand Dance Gala. Aren’t you even a little curious?”
Charles raised an eyebrow. “Why? Do you want to go?”
I shook my head quickly.
He leaned in with a smirk. “If you want to go, I’ll take you.”
“No, really, I don’t. It’s just a bunch of girls dancing. What’s the big deal?” I smiled. “I’m just surprised. Don’t most guys like checking out pretty girls? But you don’t seem interested at all.”
Charles let out a short laugh. “Who says all guys like checking out pretty girls? You’re the one who can’t stop staring at handsome men.”
“That’s not true,” I shot back. He was always making things up about me.
“Oh really?” Charles smirked. “When you first saw Lucas, you stared at him for a full minute.”
“You’re lying. That never happened.”
I didn’t know if I just didn’t remember or if he was paying way too much attention. But Lucas wasn’t even as good–looking as he was. Why would I stare? Charles was definitely making this up.
Just then, Charles pinched my chin and said coldly, “Stay away from Lucas. And don’t look into that Grand Dance Gala.”
I paused. “Why?”
His eyes narrowed dangerously.
I backtracked quickly. “I mean, why can’t I check out the dance gala? The flyer says it’s just a dance competition.”
“Dance competition?” Charles scoffed but didn’t explain. “Just stay away from their events. Avoid them altogether.”
“Okay, got it.”
Whew. Good thing I didn’t tell him I already signed up for the Grand Dance Gala. With that attitude, he’d definitely forbid me from going.
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