Chapter 18
18
ROWAN
C harlotte had changed drastically since we returned. She wasn’t so reserved and quiet, though she still struggled with herself internally. She seemed to be taking things day by day. Respect was still an issue with some of the newer guys, but they would learn fast how things worked around here. Easily corrected in time.
As far as our relationship goes, the fact that she allowed me to touch her again and didn’t shy away was proof that she was getting better, even if she drifted from time to time. There was bound to be some backlash considering all the things that she went through, but I believe in her.
Charlotte had been pushing for me to be rougher with her over the last few weeks, but I was hesitant. I was afraid that if we took it too far, she’d revert back to square one, and I’d lose her. I’d love nothing more than to tie her up and give her what she wanted, but it was going to take time, and I didn't want her to get in over her head.
I dove into my own work when I wasn’t with Charlotte, finding myself reverting, pretending that it didn’t happen at all. It was how I'd always coped. I didn't have much free time to go down to the gym, or when I did, it was filled with those arrogant little shits, but I tried to make it when I could. I kept thinking about my conversation with Thomas and how he said that she needed to know I loved her.
I thought I’d been doing a great job at that, and we both felt closer to normal than we had since Walker took everything. Our relationship wasn’t so rocky anymore, though we had our days. I hated fighting with her, if that was what you would call them, and Charlotte threw herself harder into running the business with me by her side.
I didn’t talk much myself, only to Charlotte and those closest to us, but I couldn’t bring myself to speak louder than hushed whispers, and I didn’t know if that was for me or her. I thought it was funny that some of the newer guys questioned whether or not I spoke at all. If I didn’t want or need to, I didn’t, plain and simple.
We were becoming a true team, and I was content with keeping myself in check for the time being just to make sure Charlotte was okay. And since everything was better between her and me, it was finally time to take my own revenge. Lottie believed in mercy, she actually asked me at one point to forget about it, but I wouldn’t. She wouldn’t have the closure she needed if I d i dn’t.
So no, I wouldn’t be listening to her, and they wouldn't be receiving any fucking mercy from me.
Charlotte
I pushed open the door to my father’s study— my study; I needed to get used to that— and heard a commotion from within. My heart pounded, and I flinched a bit hearing a pounding, but I was placated when I saw Rowan on the floor with a bunch of stuff around him.
“Hey, Rowan,” I said, walking closer and taking a deep, calming breath. He glanced up at me.
“What’s up, Princess?” he asked, then got back to work shoving a wheel into a piece of metal.
“Wondering what you’re doing,” I said, cocking an eyebrow at the pencil that sat behind his ear.
“I’m giving you a new chair. You can’t sit in that folding chair forever, you know,” he said, wiping a bead of sweat off his forehead.
My eyes widened in surprise. It was completely unexpected, and completely something I could have — should have— already done myself. The air felt different in the room, almost stuffy, but warmer. I glanced around and noticed brand new glass in the window. He must have fixed that, too.
My heart swelled with gratitude. I knew he loved me, and he was showing it every single day. I watched him as he worked, the sunlight filtered through the new window pane sparkling off his chain necklace. The buttons on his shirt were loose, and without thought, his fingers moved to remove another one exposing more of his chest. I couldn’t get my brain to focus.
I felt ungrateful knowing the conversation we were about to have. I sat down on the arm of the couch, trying not to squirm as I peeled my eyes away from his form.
“Thank you so much for everything you do, Rowan,” I said, my voice unintentionally sultry.
I didn’t want to have this conversation, but it needed to be done. I held up the files I carried in my arms.
“Oh no,” he laughed. “What's the but?”
“How do you know there’s a but?” I quirked. He tilted his head toward me with a smile and rose from the floor.
“What are these?” I asked.
He took the files from me and paged through them, his eyebrows knitting together as a puzzled expression overtook him. “Why did you go through my stuff?”
He clambered stiffly to his feet.
“Why did you try to hide them? I know your plan.” I said, and he moved quickly, closing the space between us. “You don’t have to do this; no amount of bodies you drop at my feet will change what happened.”
It was suddenly hot in the room, and I wished for the breeze that used to blow through the broken window.
“You deserve justice,” he said firmly.
“You can’t play God, Rowan,” I said, my voice scolding.
He dropped the files behind me on the couch and pulled me into his embrace. He tangled his fingers in my hair and tilted my head back. My pulse raced with excitement as his nose trailed along my throat and I swallowed down a moan.
“Watch me,” he whispered menacingly. “Who’s going to stop me? You?”
I swallowed thickly, remaining in his embrace for a moment. I had to pull my eyes away from his intense gaze, peeling his arms off my waist as I stepped back. I felt his eyes burning into me as I walked around my desk and opened a drawer with a sigh. “You have already made up your mind, and I won’t stop you.”
The white mask prodded at my memories, and I shook them away as I pulled it from the drawer carrying it back to him.
“I can give you this outlet if you keep it clean and quiet,” I said curtly. “I don’t want to clean up your mess.”
He turned the mask over in his hand and nodded. “I can do that,” he said, smirking.
“I want to be there with you.”
“Absolutely not,” he shook his head, a strange look contorting his features. “I don’t want you to see me like that, plus, I don’t know if I can handle seeing you in so much pain again; like with Richard.”
I opened my mouth to protest when the door to the office opened, and I heard someone walk in. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Rowan, and by the look on his face, I wouldn’t get him to sway his decision. The meeting was about to start, though, and I had to tear my eyes away when people started filing in.
“Go put that away,” I whispered, and he walked around the desk, returning it to the drawer I got it from.
“Hey,” Nicole said.
Nicole and I seldom communicated anymore and I felt that she was embarrassed and hurt. She had no reason to be. I believed her when she said she had nothing to do with it, but she needed to come back to me on her own. I desperately wanted my best friend back, yet was thankful she was there for me in my time of need. This war hadn’t affected just myself, but many of the survivors involved. And it taught me that nobody was untouchable. I waved at her nonchalantly as I watched Rowan stand against the wall behind my desk, the position he seemed to have adopted.
He winked at me and I bit my lip, unable to control myself. I wanted him to know how much I wanted to take him right there. He raised his eyebrows, and I smirked before taking a seat next to Nicole.
“Why does he look so happy?” she whispered, glancing over my shoulder at Rowan.
“He’s found an outlet for his anger,” I said cryptically, smiling inwardly.