Chapter 22 21. Worried

Chapter 22 21. Worried
Chapter 21

Worried

"Charlotte, you are here?" asked Nick, unable to hide his surprise at meeting Charlotte at Beck's girlfriend's birthday party.

Charlotte grinned. "Yeah, and you?"

Nick shrugged his shoulders. "Beck was my best friend in high school," he replied and put her arm around Vanilla's shoulders. "This is Vanilla. My girlfriend."

Vanilla smiled and nodded kindly at Charlotte. "Hi."

"Hi, I'm Charlotte," Charlotte greeted equally friendly while observing Vanilla's face.

So, this was Vanilla? Then, why is she with Nick?

Charlotte cleared her throat, she looked at Nick and Vanilla in turn. "Look, Vanilla, can I borrow your boyfriend for a while?"

Vanilla gave Nick a quick glance. "We're not lovers," she said hesitantly although she honestly regretted it after saying that sentence.

Charlotte frowned, she blinked her eyes a few times. "So...."

Nick suddenly took his arm away from Charlotte's top, he stood up and grabbed Charlotte's arm. "You talk too much," he growled cutting Charlotte off.

"Mi Amor, wait here five minutes. I'll be back, don't go anywhere. Okay?"

Vanilla grinned to hide her unwillingness for Nick to leave with the jockey girl. "Enjoy your time."

Nick landed a small peck on Vanilla's temple before he stepped up to drag Charlotte away from Vanilla. "I won't be long."



"What do you want to talk about?" Nick grumbled after they were a few meters away from Vanilla. "And... why are you here?"

Charlotte chuckled at Nick's grumpy expression. "You know, right? My mom's a insane. I was forced to work at Beck's company."

"What?"

"As you heard. Just now."

"I'm sure you made trouble." Nick looked at Charlotte, mocking. He knew Charlotte's behavior well, other than spending money she didn't want to do anything unless her family pressured her first.

"My mom wants me to learn to be independent, that's crazy."

"You're the crazy one."

"Whatever. But obviously that best friend of yours, oh my god. He's so arrogant, I can barely stand working with him" Charlotte said looking annoyed. "And I'm his secretary."

Nick laughed mockingly. "You? Beck's secretary?"

"Damn it," Charlotte swore.

"Are you satisfied?"

"The world must be upside down."

"As a matter of fact it is. Oh, my God. And you know what?" Charlotte leaned closer to Nick and whispered, "His girlriend is more arrogant than Beck."

"Gossip," Nick said. "Vanilla could get the wrong idea, I need to get back to her."

"She's not your girlfriend," Charlotte grumbled unhappily.

"Soon to be my wife."

"That soon?"

Nick shrugged his shoulders. "What's your problem?"

"Suit yourself," Charlotte grumbled again. "By the way, what does Vanilla and Beck have to do with each other?"

Nick looked at Charlotte until his eyebrows wiggled slightly. "Why ask that."

This time it was Charlotte who shrugged her shoulders. "I've heard Beck mention her name a few times."

"They were once engaged."

"Huh?" Charlotte was shocked out of her mind. "Are you serious?"

Nick raised one eyebrow. "You think?"

"So, you picked up Beck's ex? What a true friend." Charlotte's words were so sarcastic, she even gave Nick an incredulous look.

Nick gave Charlotte a warning look. "Watch your language, he's not anyone's ex," she hissed unacceptably.

"God, you're so grumpy." Charlotte scowled. "Well, congratulations on getting a virgin like her."

Nick shot Charlotte an annoyed look. "So, what are you going to talk about?"

Charlotte grinned. "Nothing."

Nick scrunched his waist in exasperation at Charlotte. "Don't even try to joke around, you'll make me miss my chance."

Charlotte glanced at Vanilla who was talking with Sophie. Charlotte secretly assessed Vanilla's appearance, she thought Vanilla was beautiful even though her appearance was not too luxurious like her but compared to Sophie, Vanilla was much more beautiful when viewed more closely and perhaps using the heart. Because Charlotte was sure, if Vanilla was just an ordinary girl like most of the girls who were with Nick and only knew how to spend money like her, Nick would not be so persistent in approaching her.

Charlotte knew very well how Nick was, the man standing in front of her did not like spending money on things that were not important.

"You'll thank me this time, trust me." Charlotte approached Nick, placed her palm on Nick's chest and kissed her best friend's lips.



Just as Nick and Charlotte moved away, Sophie came over to Vanilla.

"Vanilla," Sophie greeted kindly, and with a very gentle and graceful gesture she sat down next to Vanilla.

"Hi," Vanilla greeted no less friendly but a little flatter, she gave Sophie a quick glance.

Her attitude towards Sophie wasn't because of past problems, although at least they still existed. However, even if Beck wasn't for her later, it didn't feel right for her to be with Sophie and that feeling was very lingering in Vanilla's mind.

"Where's your friend?" Sophie asked.

Vanilla's gaze naturally went to Nick and Charlotte who were talking to each other not far away, in Vanilla's eyes they looked very close as if there was no distance. It made Vanilla feel a little uncomfortable. Like there was a furnace with a small fire in her chest that was roasting her heart.

"Oh, apparently your friend is more interested in Beck's secretary, huh?" Sophie said in a mocking tone.

Vanilla only smiled slightly in response to Sophie's words.

"I think you should also become a secretary and change your appearance to be more attractive and sexy. I'm sure you'll have a hard time finding a boyfriend if you're just a baker."

Even though Sophie's words were said in a friendly tone, they were still an insult, and Vanilla's blood boiled at her insult. However, if she was provoked and showed emotion, she could have gotten into a fight with Sophie. And if that happened, Beck would blame her, she would never be defended by Beck, not even when it came to Sophie. And Nick, too, would probably think of her as a bad girl.

Vanilla sighed softly. "There's nothing wrong with that profession."

Sophie laughed lightly. But it was a mocking laugh. "I'm just worried that you'll become an old maid because... you don't have a boyfriend yet."

"Thank you for worrying about me," Vanilla said kindly. Her feelings? Of course she was patient.

Sophie looked at Beck who was approaching them. "You see, right? Vanilla, there's only me in Beck's eyes. No matter how much you try, you can't win his heart. You can only win his parents' hearts."

Vanilla didn't want to overreact, after all, Sophie was right. She just smiled modestly as she said, "I'm waiting for you to throw flowers at the wedding."

"Of course, you can witness our wedding, can't you Beck?" asked Sophie in a spoiled tone as Beck was beside her.

Beck moved to the side and stopped right behind Vanilla and Sophie. "What's wrong?" he asked as one hand stroked the hair on Vanilla's head.

Vanilla turned to Beck, who grinned. "I want to be a witness to your wedding."

Your wedding, not yours. Because for Vanilla now, Beck could belong to any other girl, except Sophie.

"That's good. Where's Nick?"

"Your best friend is with your secretary," Sophie said, her chin pointing at Nick and Charlotte.

When Vanilla's eyes fell on Nick and Charlotte, an unpleasant sight caught her eye. Charlotte kissed Nick and he did nothing.

Beck frowned. "They know each other?"