MARK HOTEL***
Charles clenched his jaw as he continued staring at Stephanie. The hurtful memories he had long buried were suddenly awakened.
He was mad at her for doing that to him, all his life he had h@tëd the name Stephanie McKenna. But now, he was suddenly grateful to her because she made him realize all women weren’t like her. She made him realize not all women were after his money… Women like Hailey.
He looked at the woman beside him. The woman he has grown to love, the woman who wouldn’t leave his mind for once. His sëxy baby… Hailey.
“Are you okay?” Hailey asked whilst staring at him.
He nodded with a smile. He couldn’t resist placing a short kiss on her lips.
“The day I met you was the best day of my life, baby. I’ll cherish you for the rest of my life” he whispered lovingly.
Hailey stared at him, wondering what he suddenly meant by that.
She stared at Stephanie who wouldn’t stop looking at Charles.
She frowned. Can’t she just take her eyes off him?
Well, she just needs to show her Charles is all hers.
“Baby, let’s leave here. Seems some girls are not satisfied with what they have” she eyed Stephanie.
Charles faced Alberto and Stephanie with a smirk on his face.
“Enjoy yourself,” he said.
He held Hailey by the waist and they both walked away.
Stephanie watched as they walked away, her eyes lingering on Charles’ hand which was on Hailey’s waist.
Somehow, she felt jealous. Jealous that Charles already has another lady who’s far prettier than her by his side.
“He’s just so full of himself. Watch as I cut off his wings” Alberto said beside her.
She wasn’t even listening to him, her mind was far away from him.
She remembered how Charles looked at Hailey affectionately.
She clenched her fist. Alberto has never done that to her. He’s never appreciated her presence in his life.
“Are you here?” Alberto said, bringing her back to reality.
She faced him and she suddenly found him ugly. Was it because Charles was hotter?
“Let’s go over there. I need to talk to some of those men over there” he said.
“Okay baby” she faked a smile.
***
“Everyone seems to be talking about you Charles” a man said to Charles. There were three of them and they’re his business associates.
“He has a beautiful woman beside him, why won’t they?” Another one said.
“If I can have a beautiful woman like in my life, I’ll never look at another woman” the third one said.
Charles frowned. He h@tëd the way they were all staring at Hailey.
Was coming here a bad idea after all?
“Let’s talk about what we’re here for,” he said.
***
Hailey watches as Charles speaks with some of his business associates, she’s getting bored as the time passes.
They were just discussing and she rarely understood what they’re saying.
She sipped the wine in her glass and sighed loudly, this was the fourth glass she’ll be taking.
Charles glanced at her.
“Are you okay?” He asked.
“Yes, I am” she lied, forcing a smile at him.
“Are you sure?” He asked.
“Yea, you can continue. I’ll just sit there” she pointed at a chair.
Charles nodded and pecked her cheek. She stared at him and he smiled at her in return.
“I’ll join you soon,” he muttered.
She nodded and walked to the chair.
Charles faced the men and frowned when he noticed they were busy staring at Hailey.
“Take those eyes away or I pluck them off for you” he growled slowly.
“Sorry, she was so beautiful and I couldn’t help but to stare” a man said.
“You’ve got a pretty woman here, Charles,” another one said.
“Are you here to talk business or…” He raised his brow.
“Sorry” they chorused.
****
Hailey sat on the chair, looking around the beautiful place. Everywhere was beautifully decorated but it looked dull to her as she was so bored.
Her eyes locked with Alberto and she scoffed with the way he was staring at her lustfully.
“Füçk off” she mouthed at him.
Alberto smirked before looking away.
Hailey shook her head in disgust. There was something about the way he was looking away, Charles has never looked at her that way and it’s creeping her out.
A guy walked to her and sat beside her.
“Hi damsel,” he smiled.
Hailey looked around before looking at him. Was he actually talking to her?
“I’m talking to you and no one else” the guy said as though he understood her thoughts.
“Oh… Hi” she muttered.
“Why are you alone? Are you also single just like me?” He asked.
“You came alone?” Hailey asked.
The guy nodded
“I thought… Each man was to come with a lady” Hailey said in surprise. Did Charles actually lie to her?
“Oh, you knew about that” the guy itched his head, laughing foolishly.
Hailey stared at him with a creased brow.
“Actually, I came with someone but she already left,” he said.
“Ohh” Hailey mouthed.
Soon, it was time for the dance and Charles was nowhere to be found. Everyone was already dancing with their women beside them.
Hailey looked at the table, there were various dishes on it but she wasn’t interested in the food. All she wanted was Charles.
Crazy, right?
“Do you mind dancing?” The guy asked.
She’s totally forgotten he was beside her.
“No, thanks” she declined with a smile.
“Why? It’s not gonna hurt, is it?” He asked.
Hailey sighed. Why not just dance with him since Charles was not in sight. Besides, he’s been the one keeping her company.
“Okay” she muttered.
The guy smiled and led her to the dance floor. He placed his hand on her back as they started to dance to the beat.
***
Charles looked around impatiently, the men wouldn’t stop talking and it was beginning to bore him.
He had to excuse himself. Hailey will be all alone and he wasn’t happy with that.
He was still in search of Hailey when Stephanie approached him.
“Charles, it’s been long, isn’t it?” She asked with a smile.
Charles scoffed. He tried to walk away but she held his hand.
He looked at her hand on his before staring at her.
“Take that hand away,” he said.
“Are you still mad?” She asked.
“Why would I?” He smirked.
“Oh, you think you’re still special to me, right?” He cackled at her silliness.
He bent towards her ears.
“Not anymore, because I found someone who’s far better than you. She’ll never leave me for another man all because of money, someone who’s prettier and better than you in all ways” he stood upright and looked ahead of him to find Alberto coming closer to them.
“Enjoy yourself with your newfound lover” he smiled before walking away.
Stephanie clenched her fist. Charles’ words hit her a million times.
“Why are you talking with that ÇOçky bastard?” Alberto asked Stephanie with a frown.
“I was just looking if I can get some information from him,” Stephanie lied.
“Are you done talking to them? Did they agree to invest with you?” She asked.
“No, they all insisted on Charles. I don’t know if he bribed them or something but I’m never giving up” he scowled. He’ll never go bankrupt… Never!
***
Charles got to the chair when he saw Hailey sitting earlier and he couldn’t find her there.
“Where’s she?” He panicked silently.
Did she get lost? He’ll never forgive himself if something bad should happen to her.
He searched everywhere for her and when his eyes caught her dancing with another man, it suddenly got red.
He marched towards them in anger.
He pulled Hailey from the guy roughly and landed a heavy punch on his face which alerted the people’s attention.
“How dare you try to touch her?!” He yelled, hitting the guy for the second time.
“Charles!” Hailey called.
“Stop it please!” She begged.
Charles threw the guy to the floor angrily and grabbed her hand, he dragged her out of the hotel.
“Wait… Let me explain, huh? You shouldn’t have hit him that way” Hailey kept saying but he ignored her till they got to the car.
“Get in,” he said, trying his best not to yell at her.
“I’m not till you tell me why you had to hit that innocent guy” Hailey said.
“Innocent guy, you say? Get in Hailey, now!” He half yells.
When Hailey saw how angry he was, she had no choice but to enter the car. Charles sat beside her and the car drove out of the hotel.
Throughout the drive to the hotel, Charles was silent which bothered Hailey a lot.
Immediately the car drove into the hotel and parked at the garage, Charles stepped down from the car and went in without a word.
Hailey went after him.
“Why are you suddenly angry?” She asked.
Charles turned to her in anger.
“Are you seriously asking me that? You were dancing with another man and he was touching you?” He yelled.
“Do you know how much I h@të when they touch what’s mine? Do you?”
“It was your fault too, you left me alone not caring if I was bored” Hailey said.
“And you had to go to another man? You should have called me! That bastard was Füçking touching you!” He yelled.
He roughed his hair aggressively.
“Do you know how much I love you? Do you know how much it breaks my heart when I see you with other men? Do you know how much I get jealous when other men stare at you? Do you?”
Hailey was shocked by his confession. He loves her?
Charles loves her?
“I love you, Hailey. I do very much and it’s driving me crazy!”
He moved closer to her and pulled her closer, his hot breath fanning her face.
“I love you so much, Hailey. And I’m willing to wait till you love me back. I know you may not believe my feelings for you because of our first encounter. But believe, my feelings for you is love not lust” he said.
Hailey stared into his eyes which held love in them. Her heart was palpitating seriously and there was only one thing on her mind and that was….
She raised her legs on tiptoes and crashed her lips on his.
Charles was surprised by her actions but he couldn’t let that opportunity slip by. He pulled her closer to him as he kissed her back hungrily.
TBC
