“Think it over,” Katherine said, shoving a manila envelope at her. “I’ll expect you to meet me this weekend. If you fail to, I will plaster these pictures all over the Internet.”
Katherine released her arm and strolled away, disappearing into the coat clad crowd.
Charlie stood there outside the building, the snow collecting in her hair as it fell. She was in shock over the illicit photos Katherine had in her possession. If Charlie didn’t do what she asked, those photos became public Her parents would see them. Declan’s family would see them. Everyone at work would see them. It could very well mean the end of her promising career in the publishing world. And Declan’s reputation would suffer.
She gathered the takeout bags to her chest and entered the building. Her heart ached; it was beating so painfully she couldn’t think. Charlie rode the elevator, dread increasing with every passing moment. What would she do? What was she supposed to do?
Declan was off the phone by the time she had gotten to his office. As soon as she walked in his door, he was at her side, concerned.
“Charlotte, you’re shivering. How long were you outside?” Declan took the bags from her hands, discarding them without a second glance. “Are you all right? What’s going on?”
“I’m just cold,” she stammered. “I ran into an old friend and chatted, not realizing how cold it was out. It’s fine, really.”
“You’re freezing. Let me take you home and get you into some fresh clothing. You’re going to make yourself sick.”
Charlie shook her head, stepping back. “You’ve a meeting you need to go to,” she said. “There’s no need for you to go with me.” I can go home, take a hot shower, change, and be back in an hour and a half. Promise.”
Declan shook his head no. “I don’t want you coming back in. Go home and get warm. I’ll be there as soon as my meeting is done.”
Charlie nodded, the cold gripping her more firmly and she shivered uncontrollably. She did her best to keep it together or he’d know that something was wrong. He buttoned up her coat and then rubbed his hands up and down her arms. “I’ll walk you down. Make sure to call me if you need anything.”
“I’ll be fine.”
She hated lying to him.
***
The bone-deep cold coupled with the enormity of the decision she faced began to unravel her. Charlie needed time to think. She needed time to think and figure this out. She had tonight and all of tomorrow before Katherine released the photos. If she didn’t agree to her demands, she’d destroy them both. Charlie couldn’t wrap her mind around it. She walked into the house, sat on the couch, trembling. Staring at the door, she waited, barely breathing, wondering when Declan would arrive, and if she could hide things from him. Charlie wanted to curl up in a ball and cry herself to sleep, then wake up in some other place far away. She wanted Declan there. Charlie needed him to wrap his arms around her, tell him about the blackmail, and have him tell her it would be okay. Charlie wished he could make this all go away. He was powerful, right? His family had money and yes … maybe …
No. Throwing money at Katherine wouldn’t work. No amount of money could convince her to change her mind, especially if she realized Charlie had told someone about the blackmail scheme. There was no possible way she could risk that. She just couldn’t.
***
Declan knocked on the door once more, before removing the spare key to Charlotte’s house from beneath the crazy Christmas gnome on the front porch. He let himself in and frowned when he saw that it was completely dark.
She must be asleep already. Was she coming down with something? He thought back to when they had gone into the office together that morning. She was bright, smiling. She didn’t seem sick before she’d left to retrieve lunch. What happened? What wasn’t she telling him? When she left the office, she looked tired. Had he been too hard on her? Was he the reason she was coming down with something? Dread pooled in his stomach. Was their relationship proving to be too much for her?
He stepped into the living room and turned on the lamp finding Charlotte fast asleep on the couch. A manuscript and a red marker lay on the table next to her, and blankets covered her from head to toe. He leaned in closer to her, intending to feel her for signs of a fever but instead discovered that her eyes were swollen from crying.
Checking his watch, he winced. Declan arrived much later than he’d planned on. It was past the dinner hour, and he wondered if she’d even eaten her lunch takeout. He walked into the small kitchen to find his answer on the counter. The bag was untouched. The box inside unopened. He cursed quietly. She needed to eat. Charlotte’s kitchen cabinets had food, but it was of little use to him. Declan knew how to burn water, but that was the extent of his culinary expertise. He picked up the phone and called in an order for delivery. After being assured his order would be delivered as quickly as possible, Declan ended the call, walking quietly back into the living room. Charlotte’s blankets had slid down, uncovering the upper half of her body, so Declan covered her back up, tucking the edges of the blanket under her body. He kissed her forehead lightly, pressing his lips against her skin to check for any sign of fever. She was warm, but not terribly.
The doorbell sounded, and Declan met the deliveryman at the door. He signed the card slip, thanked the man, and took the bag into the kitchen. He poured the steaming hot soup, Charlotte’s favorite Swiss Cheese Cauliflower, into a bowl, and placed the slices of pumpernickel toast to the side. He put the soup, toast, and drink on a tray and carried it into the living room, placing it on the table in front of her. Declan hated to wake her, but she needed to eat, and he needed to figure out if she needed medical attention.
“Charlotte,” he said in a hushed voice. “Charlotte, wake up, my dear, I brought you something to eat.”
Charlotte stirred, muttered a sleepy protest, and turned her head to the other side, her eyelids fluttering. “Charlotte. Wake up. You need to eat something. Please.”
She opened her eyes, and her sleepy stare encountered his. To Declan’s surprise, fear registered on her face, along with worry perhaps. What the hell was going on?
Charlotte yawned and sat up. She pulled the covers around her as though she were trying to protect herself. Declan fought the urge to demand answers right then. She seemed so fragile, like the night she’d seen that jackass, Griffin. He couldn’t possibly be a threat now though. He couldn’t possibly be quite that stupid, could he?
“There’s my sleepy girl,” Declan spoke in a gentle tone. “I ordered you some soup. Your favorite. I noticed you didn’t eat your lunch.”
Charlotte grimaced. “I was freezing. I couldn’t get warm. I just wanted to burrow under the blankets.”
“Are you feeling okay? It’s not like you to let takeout from Ciatti’s go to waste.”
She shook her head. “I’m fine. Seriously. As soon as I crawled under the blankets, I was so sleepy that I could barely keep my eyes open. But, I’m fine. I promise.”
Declan didn’t quite buy her story, but he wasn’t sure why. There was something off. Maybe he was overreacting. “Are you hungry?” he prompted.
Charlotte glanced over at the tray on the coffee table, nodding. “Absolutely. I’m starving.”
Declan held out his hand to help her as she started to get up and move forward. Charlotte laced her fingers through his, pulling herself to a sitting position on the edge. He watched her as she ate. The unquenchable urge to protect her from whatever had caused her distress grew with each passing minute.
Charlotte pushed off her cocoon of blankets when she finished eating. To Declan’s delight, she curled up tightly next to him, wrapping herself around him. Declan buried his nose in her hair, content to have her so close and safe.