Wait what? Just like that? With no convincing? No discussion?

“Are you serious, sir?” I asked to be sure he meant business, even though the look on his face already told me what I needed to know.

“Yes, I am, and I am a man of my word, so you don’t have to worry. Just make sure you listen to my advice, Will.” He paused for a moment, placing his right hand on my left shoulder, looking at me with sincerity and complete seriousness. “Don’t lose that gem that God has given you. You have found a good thing. Don’t let it go.”

His words had a certain effect on me. They seemed to stir something within me that I had hidden and buried for so long.

“I won’t, sir. Thank you very much. You would not regret doing business with us.”

“I trust that I won’t. Come on, let’s go meet your fiancée. She must be lonely without her better half.”

I smiled at his statement, knowing well that the opposite was the case.

Upon reflection, it seemed as though Elizabeth was the sole reason he agreed to this contract. To some extent, I felt as though I was cheating him, considering that my involvement with Elizabeth was purely business.

As we walked back to the house, I spotted Elizabeth as she picked up a scented candle to her nose to smell. The expression on her face after being satisfied with the scent of the candle was so pleasing. I had not even realized I had paused in my steps as I watched her smile genuinely.

The relationship we had could have been fake, but I knew for sure that her experience and her display of emotions since we got here had been so genuine. Now, I wished she could be like that with me—happy, free, and open, just as she had been with Charles.

Taking in a deep breath, I moved in my steps with my gaze still fixed on her. “Having fun without me, I see?”

As she looked at me, I could see through her eyes that she had raised a wall. The smile was still there, but it lacked the previous warmth, and honestly, it hurt.

“Thank you very much, Charles. You have such a beautiful home,” she said.

Pushing thoughts of Elizabeth behind me, I turned to face Charles, saying, “Thank you for hosting us. Hopefully, one day, when we have the opportunity, we get to host you as well.”

“Now, I would love that, but in all sincerity, I hope the next time we meet will be at your wedding,” Mr. Charles replied.

“We hope so, too.” I smiled as I shook his hands before we left.

In a jiffy, we were back into the car, driving out of his compound. The night, despite its success, turned out totally different from what I had expected.

Chapter thirteen

Elizabeth

As Will drove me back home, I could not help but reminisce over such a wonderful time I had just had at Charles’s place. He was the total opposite of what I thought rich men were like.

Most rich people are known to be arrogant and snobby. I mean, Will was an example, but Charles was different—he was so down to earth!

God, now I wished I could be adopted as his daughter. I could not even remember the number of rooms his assistant had mentioned that he had in his home.

Being his daughter won’t be a bad idea! I joked to myself as I looked out the window, admiring the scenery as Will drove.

Speaking of Will, he had been silent since he began driving. Not like he spoke a lot, but I could tell he had something on his mind.

It was at that moment it occurred to me that he had gone there for business.

Now, I was curious but, at the same time, scared to ask him if he was able to seal his contract. They barely had time to talk over dinner because Charles and I conversed so much.

Oh, oh, hope I didn’t ruin things for him, I wondered as I suddenly recalled that he had been silent through most of our conversations as well.

As we approached my home, I summoned courage within me, making up my mind to ask him once we were parked.

In less than five minutes, we had reached my apartment building.

“Thank you for tonight,” I said.