Chapter 64

CHARLOTTE

“You have to stop pacing back and forth.” Skyla reaches out and grabs my wrist. “Poor Autumn keeps following your movements back and forth.” I tried to leave the room numerous times, but she told me it wasn’t a good idea.

“Sorry. It’s been hours since they went to talk to the feds and their father. Why haven’t they come out yet? They sent all the staff home for the day. They have to be done already.”

I sit at the edge of Jasper’s desk, staring off into space. “Do you think Evan found a way to turn this on all the guys?”

“Charlotte, stop overthinking this. You are going to drive yourself mad if you do. This is a serious crime and interrogation takes longer.

“Also, this will be the last time they speak to their father without a crap ton of lawyers involved.”

She picks Autumn up, walking over to the window. She starts to point at different things explaining to Autumn what they are, even making the sound effects.

“Hey, Skyla.” She turns to look at me. “I’m happy for you. You finally got Jasper, and now you have Autumn too.”

Deep down inside, I wish this was my sister I was talking to. I wish that I’d gotten to meet Lily just once. I wonder if things would have been different. Would I have met the guys or even pursued a cooking career?

“I will never take her from you.”

“Huh?”

“Autumn. Jasper told me that she is your niece, and I know about Lily as well. I would never take Autumn from you, and I will always tell her how much her mommy loved her.”

She walks to me, and Autumn reaches her tiny little arms out for me. I pull her into a big hug, kissing her chubby cheeks.

I wonder what mine and Chase’s child would look like? Are we even going to have kids, now that we are going to be apart?

“Charlotte!” Jasper burst into the room, scaring all of us. I hold onto Autumn tightly. Jeez. “Charlotte, you need to come now. Chase is losing his shit.”

“What?” I hand Autumn to Skyla. “What is going on?” I am hot on his heels as we move quickly down the hallway.

“They are trying to frame you.”

“Me?” My heart drops into my stomach, and I think I am going to vomit. “But—but I was nowhere near any of this.” We near the corner and everything is quiet. “I thought you said Chase is freaking out?”

“He is.” He points to another conference room. “In there.”

“You want me to go in alone? Can you come with me?” I grab his hand. For the first time in a long time, I am scared. I don’t know what to expect, and I’m on the verge of crying. “Please?” I look at him.

“It’s okay, it’s just Chase.” He tries to reassure me.

“Please, Jasper.” My lip is trembling. “I didn’t do anything wrong. I had no idea they were embezzling money. I just got here. You believe me, right?” I use my free hand to wipe my tears. “You do believe me, right?”

He looks indifferent at me and opens the conference door slowly. I hesitate, and he tugs on my arm, pulling me into the room.

Chase looks up from his phone. The smile wipes from his face. He stands and is quickly at my side. I let go of Jasper and wrap my arms around Chase’s waist.

“I don’t want to go to prison,” I cry into his chest. “I didn’t do anything, Chase. Why are they after me?”

He squeezes me tighter. “Cupcake, what happened?” He runs his hand up and down my back, calming me—well, trying to. “Did someone say something to you out there? I swear to God, I will rip someone’s head off.”

“I am going to go,” I hear Jasper say, and then the door closes.

“Cupcake, I need to know what happened so I can deal with it accordingly.”

He loosens his hold, pulling us apart. I can’t control my crying. This is all too much for me.

I need to pull myself together, but it’s proving difficult at the moment. I know I always want to be in the drama, but this is a bit much, even for me.

“Charlotte, please take a deep breath, and if anyone is after you, they have to get through all the guys and me first.”

My chest is rising and falling dramatically. “Jasper said they were trying to frame me and I was going to go to prison—”

Chase is already out the door, screaming for Jasper. I move as fast as I can, trying to catch up with him. Turning the corner, I see Jasper hiding behind Miguel and Everett, with a sly grin on his face.

“You fucking asshole,” Chase snaps, but his tone is playful.

“It was too easy.” Jasper smiles at me. “Sorry Charlotte, no hard feelings, right?”

“Dickhead, that wasn’t cool. She has been through enough, and you want to play around.” Chase runs in Jasper’s direction, and the two of them are acting like little kids, pushing the guys, tables, and chairs around.

“Aww come on. When was the last time we had a fun, little brother?” Jasper runs to the other side of the office.

“Fun? You call that fun? Charlotte is off-limits to all the juvenile games we used to play. Don’t fuck with my wife.” Chase catches him, slamming him against the wall.

Austin stands next to me and shakes his head.

“And to think these two are going to run a company. I don’t know who I should feel bad for, but it is nice to see them reconnecting. They’re going to need one another more than ever now.”

I turn to Austin. “How did the interrogation go?”

“My mum is flipping her shit back home. She is demanding I get back on a plane and head to London. America will not corrupt me, she said.” He chuckles.

“Overall, it was okay. I have nothing to hide, so it made the process smooth. The guys and I are clear of all charges. I think they wanted us to testify... I’m not too sure about that part though.”

“That’s good, but I don’t want you to leave.”

“I’m not leaving yet. I still need to finish college. My mum wants me back in Georgia as of yesterday.”

He looks at Chase and Jasper, who are still playing around. “You would think they would be sad that their father is going to prison.”

“Everyone copes differently.” I look at the two. “Wait, you’re heading back to London after graduation?” This is new.

“Briefly. I do have a girlfriend I need to see, and my mum. I will be back though.” He exhales loudly. “So, I heard you and Chase got married.”

“Uhm…yeah…but we are going to have a do-over with all of you guys there. It was a spur—”

“No need to explain to me. I know what it feels like to be in love—true love. Nothing else matters, just the two of you. So, Mrs. Tucker, what are plans now that we are no longer interns?”

“Not su—”

“If it isn’t the lovely bride,” Darren interrupts our conversation. “I thought you would at least want me to be your man of honor.” He pouts.

“You will be, after graduation.” I playfully bump into him.

“Are these two serious?” Darren looks at the brothers.

“Yup.” Vincent answers. He walks over with Miguel, Tristan, and Everett in tow.

“Do you guys want to grab a bite?” I ask.

“What about the Hardy brothers?” Tristan jokes.

“Let them have their fun,” I say, watching the two wrestle. I know how much having his brother back means to him, and I don’t want to interrupt that. Who knows what tomorrow will bring for the two of them?

“You want me to grab Skyla and Autumn?” Miguel looks down the hallway, I can hear Autumn giggling, and I shake my head no.

“I just want to be with you guys, if that’s alright.”

“Hell yeah. I don’t remember the last time we all got to hang out with Princess Withers.” Everett bows.

I playfully rolled my eyes. “The last one to the elevators is a rotten egg.” I cheat by giving myself a head start, only to still come in last place. Damn athletes.