Next to Me

Chapter Six: Parting Ways

“It’s safe for you to go home,” Stefan said as he finished checking Sergio over, he smiled at his boss who didn’t seem thrilled with the idea of leaving; he ignored the look that Sergio gave him as he packed away some of his things.

Running a hand through his hair, the Sevillian thought about what would happen now; he had gotten close with Charlotte and now he would have to leave her behind, ever since they had slept together things had been different.

“Your padre will be pleased… he was beginning to wonder if maybe you were avoiding your responsibilities,” Stefan joked as he looked at Sergio, who nodded his head; Charlotte was at work and he hated that he wouldn’t be able to say goodbye to her in anyway.

Sergio shook his head as he tried to ignore the guilt that built in his stomach at the idea of leaving without saying goodbye to the blonde that now meant so much to him; he wished that there was so way that he could see her again.

“So I will contact David and organise for you to travel back to Seville this afternoon,” Stefan said before Sergio shook his head, he knew that there was no way that that he could just leave without saying his goodbyes to Charlotte.

Stefan looked at the younger man wondering what was going on, he knew that José María wasn’t going to like the idea of his youngest son staying in Madrid for no reason.

“I can’t just leave… I have to say goodbye to Charlotte,” Sergio said as he ran a hand through his hair, he knew that he was going soft but she meant a lot to him and he couldn’t leave without saying goodbye to her after everything that she had done for him.

Stefan looked at Sergio concerned, he could see that the Sevillian had gotten attached and he wasn’t sure if that was a good thing; the blonde had no idea who he really was and what he did for a living.

***

Stepping into her home after work, Charlotte looked around confused for a moment before she spotted Sergio; she swallowed at the look on his face and knew that it was time for him to leave.

“You’re still here?” the blonde asked as she looked at him confused, she had expected him to leave without saying goodbye to her; Charlotte brushed some hair from her face as Sergio nodded his head and approached her.

“I couldn’t leave without saying goodbye,” he said as he stopped in front of her, he watched her wondering how he could leave her behind; his heart ached at the thought of never seeing her again.

Charlotte took a deep breath as she tried to wrap her head around the fact that she would never see him again; tears stung her blue eyes as she looked away from Sergio, who sighed as he ran a hand through his hair.

“I don’t know how to explain it but you mean a lot to me Charlotte and I’m sorry that I have to walk away,” Sergio said shaking his head as he watched her, he could see that she was upset and he wished that there was something that he could do but there wasn’t and he didn’t want to put her in any danger.

“It’s okay… I understand you have a life that you have to get back too,” Charlotte said making Sergio’s heart lurch, he swallowed as he carefully tilted her head up to look at him; he hated that he was hurting her like this.

Sergio kissed her softly on the lips, he wished that there was some way that he could be with her; she was in danger right now and it only made his desire to leave strengthen.

“I would give anything to be with you Charlotte… you mean a lot to me and that’s the reason I have to go,” Sergio said as he held her close, he knew that he was running out of time and he wanted to make it count; his father already wasn’t pleased with the fact that he was already delaying his return home.

Charlotte nodded her head before she kissed him again, her hands moving to wrap around his neck knowing she didn’t have a lot of time before he would leave her behind forever.

“When do you leave?” the blonde asked as she allowed him to back her towards her bedroom, she nibbled on his lip knowing what was going to happen; she allowed her to led him knowing that they both needed this.

Sergio carefully started to remove her top, his hands skimming along her stomach as he pulled her top over her head; his lips separated from hers for a moment before he kissed her again.

“Two hours,” Sergio breathed as ran his fingers through her hair, he held her close as he kissed her again knowing that he had to make this count; the blonde meant a lot to him and he didn’t know when he would see her again.

***

Pulling on his shirt, Sergio looked at Charlotte who was sleeping in bed as he prepared to leave her; he swallowed knowing that he wouldn’t be able to see her again soon.

The Sevillian swallowed as he pulled a small box from his pocket and chewed on his lip as he watched the blonde sleep unaware what he was about to do; he didn’t want her left completely unprotected and this was the only thing that he could give her.

Sergio opened the small box and pulled out the 9ct gold one carat diamond bracelet that he had asked David to prepare after he had grown attached to the blonde; careful that he didn’t wake Charlotte he slipped it onto her wrist.

Sergio checked that he hadn’t woken Charlotte before he pressed a kiss to her head, he lingered for a moment the pulled back and watched her sleep.

“Be safe,” Sergio whispered before he collected his jacket and offered the blonde one last look as he left the bedroom; he closed the bedroom door behind him, he leant against the door for a moment as he wondered if he could do anything to make sure that she was okay.

The Sevillian shook his head as he made his way across the hallway and slipped out of the front door, he nodded at David who was waiting for him; he knew that his father wouldn’t allow him to remain in Madrid when he was needed back home.

“I want you to keep an eye on her,” Sergio said to his head of security, he dreaded the thought of something happened to her; he looked at David, who seemed less than pleased with the idea but nodded his head as Sergio moved away from the door.

The Sevillian knew that none of this was ideal and he wished for the first time in his life that he could turn his back on his family and be with Charlotte; there was something about her and he wished that he didn’t have to go.

“Are you ready?” David asked as they started to walk away from Charlotte’s apartment, he didn’t know why his boss had become attached to the blonde but he couldn’t see anything but trouble coming from him getting involved with someone like Charlotte.

“I don’t really have a choice do I?” Sergio said bitterly as he walked ahead of his head of security, he knew that he didn’t have a choice and this was for the best; he just hoped that everything was going to be okay.

David paused as he looked at his boss, he had never seen his boss like this before and it concerned him since he had gotten attached to someone that didn’t belong in his world and had no idea what he did.