Wife 96


    Noelle was not exactly thrilled by Charles’spliment. She gave a half–hearted smile and said,


    “So, is this the end of the road for Frotconn?”


    Charles took a moment, then looked at Noelle with a tilt of his head, a yful challenge in his gaze.


    “Why? Got a soft spot for it?”


    Noelle pressed her lips together, a little frustrated. “You know that’s not what I’m saying.” She tried


    to keep her feelings out of it but could not help asking, “Does it have to go down like this?”


    “Stay out of the business stuff. There are things I cannot share with you,” Charles replied firmly.


    “You’ll be in the loop when you need to be.”


    “Fine,” Noelle conceded, letting the subject drop.


    Noelle could tell there was more to the story than Charles was letting on. It was not just one thing


    that had him so determined. She smiled half–heartedly. “If Frotconn goes under, what’ll happen to


    me?”


    “You’re smart. You’llnd on your feet,” he said, tapping his knee as if to emphasize his point. “Take


    a left


    here.”


    Snapping out of her thoughts, Noelle gave an embarrassed smile, “Sorry, I shouldn’t pry into your


    company’s business.”


    “No,” Charles said, giving her a look that hinted atyers of meaning, “If you’re curious, I’m open.”


    Their eyes locked, and Noelle felt her heartbeat pick up. She cleared her throat, “I’d rather not. I’m


    not part of yourpany, after all.” She quickly changed the subject, and luckily, Charles did not


    press further.


    Noelle was supposed to be the cook, but there was something oddly touching about seeing him


    bustling around the kitchen. Leaning against the doorframe, she hesitated before he caught her


    gaze, quirking an eyebrow, “Something on your mind?”


    “Need a hand?” she asked, nodding towards the veggies in the sink. “I can cook, you know.”


    “Alright, you’re on veggie duty!” Charles said with a yfulmand. “You’ll have plenty of time to


    cookter. What is the hurry?” He gave her a teasing look that made her freeze for a second before


    she replied with a determined, “Okay!”


    The doorbell echoed through the house, and Noelle shot Charles a wary nce. “Who else could


    be dropping by at this hour?”


    Charles’s eyes narrowed into slits, a sly grin spreading across his face. “Go check it out!”


    Nodding, Noelle dried her hands and headed for the door, figuring it was probably one of Charles’s


    buddies. The moment the door swung open, however, she was met with a towering presence that


    made her shriek and stumble backward, her heart racing as she stared at the unexpected duo–a


    man and his dog.


    “What’s going on?” Charles rushed to the scene, alerted by themotion.


    Shaking, Noelle pointed at the doorstep invaders. “I… I got scared,” she stammered, recalling how


    the dog nearly lunged at her, only to be restrained by Sean in the nick of time.


    1/2


    +15 BONUS


    Charles’s brow furrowed, his gaze sharp as itnded on Sean. “Why are you here?”


    It was not a casual ‘how did you get here?‘ but a pointed ‘what are you doing here?‘. Sean was


    clearly not on the guest list.


    Sean just smirked, giving the dog a reassuring pat. “Thought I’d swing by for a housewarming, you


    know? Don’t worry, my dog’s just super intuitive–it only wanted to get friendly because it took a


    shine to you!”


    P


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