Father In Law

Chapter 16

"Warren!" I greet him as soon as I see him in my boutique.

He smiles wide and pulls me into a hug.
"Hey Char, let me look at you."

He pulls back and looks at my face.
"Still as gorgeous as ever."

"And you're still a sweet talker as ever."

He looks around my boutique and smiles.
"Charlotte's Secrets huh? I've heard a lot about it."

"Good things I hope."

"All good things, but I've found out your secret. A super successful business, and you got married." He whispers with widened eyes.

"Well I've found out your secret too. Accelerate, and you're about to get married." I smirk at him.

He laughs then.
"Oh come on, it's not me who's getting married. It's my cousin."

"Oh." I look at him sheepishly.

"Yeah oh. I was hoping you'd be able to plan her wedding."

"Of course, but she'll have to meet me for the all the specifics."

"She lives in Chicago. I'll let her know."

I think about it and realize I do need to go to Chicago and talk to the coordinators there. A few of my suppliers are based there too.

"No need. I'll just go to her. Just give me her number."

He gives me his cousin's number and smiles.
"Do you do that for everyone?"

"Not always. But, when I have business in other states, I meet up with them instead, if they happen to be living there."

"That's sweet. Why don't we catch up sometime?"

"That'd be great Warren. How about you come over to my house whenever you're free?"

"Sounds good. I'll let you know."

He leaves the boutique and I see Harper blushing.
"You have a crush on Warren?" I wiggle my brows at her.

She gasps. "Of course not!"

I laugh. "It's okay if you do. Warren's a great guy."

I check the time on my watch and decide to take lunch to Anthony and Sebastian.

I make a quick stop to the house, grab the lunches, kiss Julia on the cheek and drive to Crosswalk Industries.

"Hey Linda. Are they up?"

"Mr. Anthony is up. Mr. Sebastian has a visitor." By the way she looks at me sadly, I know Adeline is up there with him.

I smile big for Linda because I don't want her feeling sad for me. I don't even feel sad about it. Why would I? When I'm just happy that Anthony is alone.

I get into the elevator to the 25th floor and go still because Bertha is at her table in tears.

Even though she's pretty much awful to me, I go to her anyway.
"Bertha, what's wrong?"

She sniffles. "Why do you care? You can't do anything about it."

I huff out a breath.
"Well, you'll never know unless you tell me."

She sniffles again.
"My nephew got caught in a drug case. He wasn't taking any, but he got caught transporting it. Now, no lawyer will take up his case because they're afraid of the cartel he was working with."

"Where did he get caught?"

"In Minnesota."

I think about it for a while and an idea immediately pops up. I call a number and wait for the other person to pick up.

"Charlotte?"

"Hey Ramara. How have you been?"

"Never better babe. What about you?"

"I'm great. I was just wondering if you could take up a case."

"Sure, but you know I'll have to talk to the client first."

"Well, let me say it's a bit complicated."

I explain the details to her and she tells me to hold on for a minute.

There's some muffled words and she shrieks.
"Fuck's sake Geo! I already can't sit properly, you psycho."

I blush. I don't even want to know what he did.

"Yeah, sorry about that. Geoff said he'll talk to her."

"Thanks a lot Remy. I owe you one."

"Eh, it's fine. Just bring your apple crumble over next time for  Thanksgiving."

I always go to her place for Thanksgiving.

I laugh. "Of course."

We hang up and I give the number Ramara texted me to Bertha.

"Here, you'll have to talk to him. He's the best defense attorney in Minnesota."

"Thank you." She whispers.

I nod and knock on Anthony's door.

"Come in."

I step inside and close the door behind me.

"I brought lunch."

He just stares at me. The longer he stares at me, the darker his gaze becomes. Before I start to squirm, he gets up.

"Why do you come here every day? Is it that you have nothing else to do? Is your little business that lacking of customers?"

I gasp and drop the bags.
"I just thought it would be nice. A way to bond." I defend.

"Well Charlotte, it is not nice. In fact, I don't see any bonding happening. I just see a girl who's desperate for some morsel of affection. I saw the way your Daddy treats you. That's the reason, isn't it Charlotte?"

Anger, shock, embarrassment and hurt slam into me all at once. There's a lot to say, but I don't want him to hear the tremble in my voice, so I turn on my heel and leave. Bertha doesn't smirk at my expression and when I go down, Linda looks at me in confusion.  I manage a smile for her and get into my borrowed car.

I drive to my boutique and Harper immediately glances up from her computer.

"Three clients came in today, Charlotte."

"Yeah, just put their files on my desk. I'll be in my office."

Long after I've calmed down and worked for hours without a break, Anthony's words still float in my head. Desperate for affection, he'd said.

Now I know where Sebastian gets that asshole attitude from. Anthony is just better at concealing it. I don't feel like going home yet, so I call Sebastian, but he doesn't pick up.

My only other option is to call Anthony, even if I want to avoid it. But, I gave him my word that I would always call if I came home late.

He picks up.

"I'll be late." Straight to the point. No pleasantries.

"Will you be late every time I say something you don't like?"

My neck heats. I've had enough.

"You know what I think Anthony? I think you need to get off your high horse. You think your words affected me? I'll be running late because I want to be late. What are you? My jail warden?"

Silence. Well, now he knows how I felt.

"Yeah, that's what I thought." I say.

I hang up and feel much better. The great Anthony Crosswalk, at a loss for words. I smile and continue to work.