Chapter 149
Half an hour later, the black Bentley pulled up in front of the imposing Harris Group headquarters.
Charlotte stepped out of the car, her business suit making her look even more aloof and untouchable.
Ignoring the gossiping stares from passersby, she strode directly into the opulent first-floor lobby.
The lobby bustled with Harris Group employees coming and going. When they got a clear look at her face, surprise flashed across their features.
"Look, isn't that the woman from the trending topics?"
"It's her. What's she doing here?"
"Either looking for Mr. Harris or Benjamin, obviously. After all, isn't she the one tangled up with both of them?"
Despite the murmurs around her, Charlotte's expression remained unchanged as she clicked across the marble floor in her heels toward the reception desk.
"Hello, I'm here to see Alexander."
At those words, the receptionist's eyes filled with disdain, along with a gleeful anticipation of drama.
"I'm sorry, miss. Do you have an appointment?"
"No. Just tell him Charlotte is here."
"I apologize, Ms. Johnson." The receptionist's smile grew even more artificial. "Mr. Harris isn't in the office today."
Not in the office?
Charlotte's brow furrowed.
Given Alexander's work habits, this was prime business hours—he should almost certainly be in the office handling company matters.
So the receptionist was obviously lying.
Though she realized this, Charlotte didn't call her out. She simply nodded coolly.
"Fine. Then I'll wait here for him."
At such shamelessness, the receptionist pursed her lips and picked up the internal phone.
Time crawled by. Charlotte sat on the sofa, restless, glancing at her watch every few minutes.
People passing through the lobby kept shooting looks her way, making her increasingly anxious.
But outwardly, she remained perfectly calm, her face slightly tense, revealing not a single emotion.
With a soft 'ding,' the CEO's private elevator doors slid open.
Charlotte instinctively looked up and saw Alexander's tall figure stepping out.
For a moment, her face lit up.
But the next instant, her expression froze.
A woman walked out beside him.
She wore an elegant Chanel-style suit, the soft pink color lending her an air of gentle refinement. She was turned slightly toward him, saying something with a faint smile on her face.
Alexander had his head tilted down slightly, listening attentively, the corners of his mouth curved in a subtle smile.
From a distance, they looked like a perfect match.
Not only that, but Alexander was also gentlemanly hovering his hand protectively near the small of her back—an intimate gesture.
At that moment, Charlotte felt an indescribable chill and sourness surge from the depths of her heart, rapidly spreading through her entire body.
She had become a joke.
Alexander wasn't 'out of the office' at all. He clearly had a beautiful companion and didn't need his troublesome girlfriend, so he'd told everyone he was unavailable.
Charlotte let out a cold laugh, her eyes full of mockery and grief.
What was the point?
She took a deep breath, forcing herself not to cry and become everyone's entertainment.
But she also didn't want to stay here any longer. She stood abruptly and strode quickly toward the exit.
Just as they passed each other, Alexander finally seemed to notice her. Surprise flashed in his eyes, immediately replaced by barely concealed delight.
"Charlotte?"
"What are you doing here?"
He abandoned his companion, catching up to her in a few strides, his tone full of urgency and joy.
"Did you come to see me?"
Hearing his questions, Charlotte clenched her jaw, feeling her eyes begin to burn.
She stared straight at the gleaming marble floor, her voice cold as ice.
"Sorry, Mr. Harris."
That simple sentence, like a response to his words, made the joy on Alexander's face completely freeze.
"I was just passing by. My apologies for interrupting your time with your companion. I'll leave now."
With that, Charlotte walked directly around him, heading toward the door without looking back, her posture absolutely resolute.
Alexander stared at her retreating figure. Instinctively wanting to hold onto something, he rushed after her.
Finally, just as Charlotte's hand reached out to push open the glass door, he caught her wrist.
"Charlotte, what exactly are you so upset about?" His voice mixed confusion with urgency. "What do you want? Just tell me, okay?"
Charlotte frowned, trying to pull her hand back, but his large palm was like a vice, locked around her slender wrist.
"Let go!" Charlotte's voice was even colder than before, with an added note of irritation. "Mr. Harris, please maintain some propriety! This is the Harris Group lobby!"
"Propriety?" Alexander's heart ached at her ice-cold attitude, his words coming through gritted teeth. "A few days ago in the parking garage, that's not what you said."
"Charlotte, what are you running from? Do you know that these past two days..."
He'd used every connection he had to trace her mother's whereabouts after her disappearance. She was now in a private sanatorium in a city near Imperial City.
He'd planned to take the information and find Charlotte, then rescue her mother together, but before he could finish speaking, Charlotte cut him off with a cold laugh.
"I know what? That these past few days Mr. Harris has been thoroughly enjoying himself with a beautiful woman?"
Eyes reddening, she stared coldly at the man before her, her gaze full of mockery and distance.
"If I'd known, why did I even come?"
"When Mr. Harris has a beauty to keep him company, why would he think of anyone else?"
Finished speaking, Charlotte seemed suddenly exhausted. She lowered her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Whatever. There's nothing more for us to say. Let me go. I'm leaving."
Watching Charlotte vent her anger indiscriminately without letting him explain, now wanting to leave, Alexander's frown deepened.
"Charlotte, what are you making a scene about?"
"What beautiful woman?"
"She's just a business partner! We were discussing work, nothing like what you're imagining!"
"Oh really?" Charlotte scoffed, her eyes icy. "Discussing work requires you to personally escort her down? Requires you to protectively hover over her? Looking so concerned someone might hurt her?"
"Mr. Harris, I had no idea you were so attentive and considerate with your business partners."
Charlotte's mockery was like fine needles, constantly pricking Alexander's heart.
He wanted to tell her it was just basic business courtesy, but seeing those eyes that had already decided he was lying, he suddenly didn't know how to explain.
They stood at an impasse.