Father In Law

Chapter 23

I wait at Clover Cafe for Clara, Warren's sister. It's a fairly big internet cafe. Most of the patrons are college students and a few businessmen scattered here and there.

I go over my budget and select the wedding venue for Adeline's marriage, whilst waiting for Clara. A few minutes later, a tall brunette enters the cafe. She must be Clara, as I'm assuming the 'C' pendant dangling from her neck stands for her name.

I wave at her and she heads to my table.

"Charlotte Daymond?"

"Yes, you must be Clara." I get up to hug her.

"I'm so sorry for running late. My boss wouldn't let me go." She chuckles.

"Oh, seems demanding."

I open an itinerary on my laptop.

"He is, ever since he put this ring on my finger. Won't let me out of his sight."

I laugh and look at her diamond ring. Her smile looks blissful.

"Seems like a story I'd like to hear." She giggles and I show her my laptop screen.

"You want the wedding held here, yes?"

"That's right."

I set the dates for her venue check, cake tasting, and dress fitting.

"I have a coordinator here. Her name is Kelly. She'll be with you on all these dates. I'll give her the design for the decoration and she'll confirm it with you. Here's my contact number, if you have any problems or questions, feel free to call me."

"Thank you so much Charlotte. I really appreciate you coming all this way. Do you have a few minutes?"

I check my watch. Quarter to four.

"I'll tell you the story of how I fell for my boss." She smiles coyly at me and I laugh.

"Okay, I definitely have a few minutes."

She gets a Matcha and I get a Frappuccino. We both sip our drinks while she tells me her love story. I'm surprised when she tells me her fiancé is Tito Armanio. The CEO of Armanio Enterprises.

Her smile dims a little.
"He's been through a lot and when I catch his barely there smiles, it's like my world's lighting up."

I know the feeling. I squeeze her hand.

"What about you? Did Warren finally get the balls to ask you out?" She wiggles her brows at me and I choke on my drink.

I wipe my mouth after my coughing fit and look at her incredulously.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, so he didn't. Oops. Well, now that the cat's out of the bag, Warren had this massive crush on you as a kid, but he felt like he wasn't good enough for you. I thought he'd asked you out since he's well established now and his crush still exists."

I feel my face heating up.
"Oh. Is it a bad time to tell you that I'm married?"

Her mouth falls open and she covers it with her hands. We both end up bursting out in giggles.

"I left my wedding ring on the bathroom counter this morning."

"I'm really sorry about that. I didn't know you were married."

"It's alright." We get up and hug each other before parting ways.

By the time I return to the hotel, it's almost dark outside. I'd figured Anthony would be busy elsewhere, but as soon as I open the door, there he is, sitting on the couch, working on his laptop.

"Don't you have to be somewhere?"

He doesn't look up at me, just continues typing something.

"I don't think I told you I had to be somewhere."

"Since you flew all the way here, I assumed, you'd have places to be."

"You assume wrong Charlotte. Every time."

I don't know what that's supposed to mean, but it doesn't matter anyway. I go into the master bedroom since I called dibs on it last night. It didn't really make a difference since both the bedrooms are the same size.

I take a shower and my eyes catch on a magenta bodycon dress I'd packed. Not sure why I packed it, but I immediately strip my towel and pull the dress over my body. It has a deep V-neck and sleeves that reach my wrists. I clasp a black choker to my neck, with a star dangling from it and step into my black strappy heels. I pull my hair into a high ponytail and go for a smoky eyeshadow.

When I'm satisfied with the look, I take my phone and go to the main hall.

Just as I'm about to open the front door, Anthony's voice stops me.

"Where do you think you're going, dressed like that?"

I turn to face him and narrow my eyes.

"Dressed like what exactly?"

"Dressed like a pretty little slut."

I gasp at his words, not knowing whether that was an insult or compliment.

"Excuse me?"

He gets up from his perch on the couch and my eyes widen at the bulge in his pants. It's the second time I've seen it today.

"I'm going out to dinner. I don't see why that should bother you."

"Dinner? Or a date?"

He gets into my personal space and all I can smell is him. My body is surrounded by his heat.

"Is it that Warren boy?"

He places his palm on the door beside my head. His blazer has been discarded on the couch, more like folded neatly on the couch. He's loosened his tie and rolled up his shirt sleeves to display his sinewy forearms, which are covered in tattoos. I would have never pegged prim and proper Anthony as one to have tattoos on his arms as well. I thought they were only limited to his hands.

A lick of heat pulses in my core, but my mind immediately catches on to what he said.

"W-what? How do you know Warren?"

"Despite you being flustered by his name at your family lunch before your engagement, I make it a point to know everything."

I take a deep breath.
"Whatever, you can come with me if you want to."

The suggestion slips out so easily. I think he'll refuse, but when he fixes his attire, right down to his blazer, a deep rooted excitement flares to life.