Chapter 13
+15 BONUS
Noelle gritted her teeth and turned to Sebastian, who gave her an awkward glance. She huffed, “Grandpa, I usually go along with your ideas, but not this. This is about who I spend. my life with, and I can’t afford to make that decision light! I don’t want a repeat of the Xavier disaster. That would just be… tragic.
Sebastian did not know what else to say. He had hoped that introducing Noelle to Charles. might ignite a spark, but with Noelle so against it, he could not push it. “Okay, okay, I won’t mention it again. But you should know that Charles is a great guy, and…”
“Grandpal” Noelle’s frown deepened. “If you keep this up, I won’t visit you again!”
Noelle cut off Sebastian, saying, “We should head out. It doesn’t feel right to leave Mr. Hoffman by himself in the living room,”
“You and your stubbornness…” Sebastian sighed, resigning himself to her will.
As Noelle and Sebastian emerged, Charles’s eyes twinkled with a teasing glint as he looked at Noelle. His lips curled into a sly smile. “Mr. Jenkins.”
“Charles, you finally made it to see this old man, and here I am, not even offering you a proper welcome,” Sebastian said, his face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and regret. After all, he had played a part in setting up today’s meeting. “May, would you start on dinner, please?”
Charles and Noelle ended up staying for a meal and spent the afternoon chatting with Sebastian, When Charles got a phone call, he had to excuse himself.
Sebastian could not help but notice how his little girl and Charles looked like a couple straight out of a romance movie. They looked like a perfect pair, and he did not want them to miss out on a great opportunity. “Noelle, it’s getting late. You should head home. Charles, you wouldn’t mind escorting Noelle for me, would you?”
“Grandpa…”
“I would be delighted,” Charles chimed in, his eyes twinkling as he gave Noelle a smile that seemed to melt all resistance. Noelle’s brow furrowed slightly. For some reason, she was not a fan of Charles’s charm. However, it was too late to back out without seeming rude.
With a forced smile, Noelle said, “I guess I’m in your hands then, Mr. Hoffman.”
“No worries at all!”
After bidding Sebastian farewell, Noelle and Charles descended the stairs together. Noelle was quick to part ways, however, saying, “Mr. Hoffman, you don’t need to go out of your way. I can just get a cab.”
“Ms. Shaw, you seem to really dislike me!” Charles quipped, arching an eyebrow at her hasty retreat. “Or could it be that you have a little crush on me?”
+15 BONUS
Noelle could barely keep from laughing at Charles’s wild reasoning. “Look, Mr. Hoffman, don’t read too much into it. We’re strangers, so let’s keep it that way, okay? You’ve got stuff to do, and I don’t want to be a bother.”
She tried to make a quick exit. Charles, however, was faster, catching her hand in his.
Charles squinted, a smirk spreading across his face when he saw Noelle’s cheeks turn pink with irritation. “It’s not a big deal, and I promised our teacher I would be reliable. Can’t go back on my word or ditch a lady, can I? That wouldn’t be very gentlemanly of me.”
Charles might have looked like a pushover, but he was anything but. His grip on Noelle’s hand tightened just enough to show he was not about to let go.
Her eyes were fixed on her hand in his, her face burning with anger as she hissed, “Charles, let go!”