Chapter 116: Shitty way to start a day.
In a rage, Charles set his phone on the kitchen island table as he averted his gaze over to the meal.
Seconds later, a notification sounded from his phone, but Charles ignored it and focused on his meal—he was starving after last night’s events.
’I shouldn’t have disturbed Augustine while he was working,’ he scolded himself after finishing his meal.
Maybe if he didn’t interrupt Augustine, things wouldn’t feel this complicated now.
Charles washed his hands in the kitchen sink... under the cool stream of water, shaking off the droplets before drying them on a towel.
Without a second thought, he made his way to the bedroom, his steps slow and deliberate.
Upon entering, he shut the door behind him, twisting the lock with a soft click.
’Besides, if I don’t lock this door properly, Augustine wouldn’t hesitate to barge in unannounced,’ Charles mused, rolling his eyes as a loud hiss escaped his lips.
As the silence of the room wrapped around Charles, a heavy sigh escaped his lips—a mix of exhaustion and something else he couldn’t quite name.
With a tired sigh, he loosened the belt of his bathrobe.
Stretching his arms to the sides, Charles let the fabric slip from his shoulders, sliding effortlessly down his body before pooling onto the floor.
The cool air brushed against his bare skin, sending a faint shiver down his spine.
Sluggishly, Charles closed the distance between himself and the wardrobe.
As he opened the wardrobe, Charles swallowed hard, shutting his eyes for a moment as he tried to steady his thoughts but no matter how much he tried to push it aside, Augustine’s text still lingered in his mind, gnawing at him.
’Why the hell did he have to confess his stupid love to me?’ Charles scoffed internally, a frustrated sigh escaping his lips. ’Just because I made him feel good last night, he suddenly mistakes a night of pleasure for a night of love? Ridiculous.’
As Charles sank deeper into his thoughts, the frown on his face deepened with every passing second.
’I never should have told him I felt a sexual urge toward him,’ he scolded himself, running a frustrated hand through his hair.
If those words had never left his mouth, Augustine wouldn’t have gotten any ideas about love.
This was supposed to be nothing more than a fleeting moment of pleasure—not some foolish, sentimental attachment.
Exhaling!
Charles exhaled sharply, his eyes scanning the neatly arranged clothes inside the wardrobe.
It was only half past eight, and he needed to be at the restaurant by nine sharp.
His fingers trailed absentmindedly over the fabrics until his gaze landed on a pair of pink and blue flower-patterned shorts.
He paused, staring at them for a moment before reaching out to grab them.
Quickly, Charles pulled out the shorts from the wardrobe as he also grabbed a pair of white flowery shirts.
Exhaling!
Charles exhaled loudly again as he slipped into the clothes he had chosen.
Settling in front of the dressing mirror, he ran his fingers through his hair, his gaze locking onto his own reflection.
A sigh escaped his lips.
His mouth looked slightly swollen, and faint bite marks decorated his neck—a reminder of last night.
Clicking his tongue in frustration, Charles reached for a concealer, determined to cover up the evidence... and he did just that.
After that, Charles yanked his shirt higher, his eyes narrowing at the faint marks scattered across his stomach and chest.
"Is Augustine a fucking dog?" he fumed internally, his jaw clenching. "Why did he have to bite me like a damn beast?"
Shaking his head, he let his shirt fall back into place.
Charles doesn’t have time to dwell on this—he needed to get to work, but no matter how hard he tried to push the thoughts away, the memory of last night lingered, burning beneath his skin.
Charles ran his fingers through his hair, smoothing it with an ointment before applying a light layer of lip gloss.
His lips gleamed under the soft bedroom light, adding a touch of liveliness to his tired face.
Grabbing his backpack, he slung it over his shoulder and made his way to the kitchen.
Charles phone rested on the counter where he had left it earlier.
Charles grabbed his phone from the kitchen counter, his eyes immediately catching the flood of message notifications from Augustine.
His grip tightened around the device as he hesitated for a moment, then scoffed and shoved it into his pocket without opening a single one.
Charles took a deep breath and stepped out of the mansion, determined to ignore whatever sentimental nonsense Augustine had sent this time.
Charles hailed a cab, and after a few minutes of driving, the cab driver pulled over in front of Charles workplace.
As Charles stepped out, he paid the fare, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and made his way inside the restaurant.
The moment he stepped in, his eyes landed on Mrs. Wales, who was already watching him with a sharp gaze.
She had a mighty frown on her face like she usually does, and she was seated at a table for two.
’Gush! I don’t think I have the luxurious strength for this lady bullshit today.’ Charles thought within himself as he decided to not acknowledge Mrs. Wales’s presence.
As Charles walked past Mrs. Wales’s table, her firm grip caught his wrist, yanking him toward the empty chair beside her.
"Young man, sit your ass down. Now." Her voice was cold, unyielding, leaving no room for argument.
Before Charles could protest, she raised a hand in the air, signaling a nearby waitress.
"Please, a glass of water," Mrs. Wales requested, her tone composed yet firm.
Charles let out a silent sigh, already feeling the weight of whatever was coming next.
As the waitress bowed and walked away, Mrs. Wales crossed her arms over her chest, a sly smile playing on her lips.
’Great. What a shitty way to start my day,’ Charles thought, resisting the urge to roll his eyes.