Page 17 of Daddy's Little Cupcake

She nodded her head in understanding. They were her friends, but Charlotte always remembered that they were also her employers.

“Well, don’t hesitate to call me or Amelia if you need anything,” James said as he stood up. “Now, there’s a gentleman out in the customer area wanting to talk to you.”

Charlotte gave him a confused look. No one ever asked for her or wanted to talk to her while at work. No one knew who she was or that she was even here.

Who could it be?

Curiosity got the best of her, and she peeked her head around the corner, searching the customer area. A pair of eyes were already on her when she looked at the man in a suit.

Taking the person in, Charlotte looked at the man’s face. Her eyes went wide, and she ducked, falling to her knees.

Shit.

What was Finn doing here? Charlotte never told him where she worked.

Her knees started to throb from hitting them so hard when she ducked. She shouldn’t have done that, but she didn’t know what else to do.

Finn was in the bakery and asked to speak to her. Her!

“Charlie?” Finn called out.

Charlotte shook her head even though she knew he couldn’t see her. She couldn’t see him right now, not after not replying to him all day. What was he going to think?

She thought she had the rest of the afternoon to think about how to respond if she was going to. Now, she didn’t even have that.

Finn was here, right now. No more time to think. Maybe Charlotte could slip through the backdoor and get away before he found her back here…but he already knew she was here.

“What are you doing?” Amelia asked.

“Shhh!” Charlotte whispered loudly to Amelia. She didn’t want Finn to know she was still here.

Amelia crouched down next to Charlotte. “Why are you on the ground?”

“I’m hiding,” she whispered.

Amelia looked around, trying to find who she could possibly be hiding from.

“Do you mean him?” Amelia pointed to Finn, who happened to be a couple of feet away from them.

Charlotte let out a little squeak, and she tried her hardest to get off the floor and into the kitchen. It didn’t work smoothly like she wanted to, though.

Her foot slipped on the floor, and it was like everything happened in slow motion. She didn’t have enough time to scream or put her hands out in front of her before she crashed against the floor.

“Shit,” someone muttered.

Charlotte yelled, fat tears rolling down her face as she laid on the ground. Everything hurt, but her face especially hurt.

Hands wrapped around her body, hauling her off the ground and into someone’s arms. Sobs racked her body as the person held her tightly against them.

“You’re okay,” Finn whispered in her ear. “You’re alright.”

Charlotte didn’t feel alright. Everything hurt, and she couldn’t get away from the pain. It was unbearable.

“Huwt,” Charlotte mumbled into his chest. “Huwt so bad!”

Finn rocked them back and forth, trying to sooth her as best as he could. After a little while, Charlotte’s tears started to slow down and she became more calm.

“Still huwt.” She pulled away and pointed to her forehead and cheeks.

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