Chapter 210 079
BOTH Marcus and Julian turned sharply the moment Charles breathed out the name.
“Shantel,” he had said.
Marcus’ brows shot up. Julian’s mouth slowly curved into a knowing grin.
Charles turned slightly away from them, lowering his voice.
“What do you want?”
On the other end, a soft chuckle floated through the speaker. That smooth, familiar and dangerous one she was good at giving.
“Yo! Is that how you answer your woman?” Shantel teased. “After all this time?”
“I am not your—” He cut himself off, teeth clenching. “What is the meaning of this nonsense? How dare you call my number again after I warned you?”
“My love…” she cooed, stretching the words lazily.
Charles stiffened and glanced at the boys. Julian leaned closer, shamelessly trying to overhear.
“Stop calling me that,” Charles hissed under his breath.
“Why?” Shantel’s voice dropped into something softer. “You used to like it.”
“That was before,” he snapped quietly. “Before you decided to become a problem.”
“Oh please,” she laughed lightly. “Can you stop this wall you are building around yourself? It is exhausting.”
“There is no wall. There is distance. Learn the difference.”
Marcus mouthed silently, ‘What is she saying?’
Charles waved him off.
“Why are you calling?” he demanded again.
“I missed you,” she said simply.
He scoffed. “Miss someone else.”
“Charles…”
The way she said his name made his jaw tighten.
“I have been thinking,” she continued. “We need to talk. Please.”
“There is nothing to talk about.”
“There is everything to talk about,” she countered smoothly. “Closure. Or maybe… continuation.”
He shut his eyes briefly.
“Shantel, listen carefully,” he said in a low warning tone. “Whatever fantasy you are cooking in that head of yours, kill it. I have moved on.”
“Moved on?” she echoed. “To her?”
He didn’t respond.
She laughed again, but this time there was a slight edge beneath it.
“Come on, love. You don’t sound happy.”
“That is none of your business.”
“Meet me,” she said suddenly.
He froze.
“Excuse me?”
“Let’s meet. Just once. Public place if you insist. No drama. Let’s talk like adults.”
“Are you insane?” he whispered harshly. “Meet you for what?”
“Can you calm down?” she said, amused. “You are shouting like someone caught stealing.”
He pulled the phone slightly away from his ear, breathing out sharply.
“There is nothing to discuss. Don’t call this number again.”
“Charles—”
He ended the call.
The room went quiet except for the faint noise of the muted television.
Marcus leaned forward immediately.
“What is she saying?” he asked, even though his expression suggested he had caught most of it.
Charles ran a frustrated hand through his hair.
“That we should meet. Can you imagine? This girl just wants to shatter my plans, shatter everything I have been building. She should better steer clear.”
Julian snickered.
“Bro, meet her.”
Both Marcus and Charles turned to him.
“What?!” they said almost in unison.
Julian shrugged casually.
“Hear me out.”
Marcus stared at him.
“Have you lost your mind?”
“No,” Julian said calmly. “I’m thinking.”
Charles folded his arms.
“Thinking rubbish.”
“You need money,” Julian continued. “She wants you back. Both of you are desperate—”
“I am not desperate,” Charles snapped.
Julian raised a brow.
“Your account is red.”
Silence.
Julian leaned back slightly.
“You can do this to your advantage.”
Before Charles could respond, his phone buzzed again.
Shantel calling.
He stared at the screen for two seconds before declining it immediately. Then he switched his phone to silent and tossed it onto the table like it had burned him.
Julian didn’t flinch.
“You need money now,” Julian continued steadily. “She wants access to you. That is leverage.”
Charles laughed dryly.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“She thinks I’m loaded,” Charles shot back. “That is the reason she is calling. That is the reason she has been itching to come back into my life. She feels I’m now loaded, don’t you get?”
Marcus rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Julian nodded. “Exactly.”
Charles blinked. “Exactly?”
“Yes,” Julian repeated. “Use that.”
“How?”
“You appear untouchable. Comfortable. Not needing her. That gives you power.”
Marcus slowly caught on.
“You are saying…”
“I’m saying,” Julian continued, “let her prove herself.”
Charles stared at him.
“You have money,” Julian said deliberately, playing along with Charles’ narrative. “So you are not after whatever she is going to give you. But if she claims she wants you back? Let her invest.”
Marcus let out a low whistle.
“That is cold.”
“It is strategy,” Julian corrected.
Charles shook his head slowly.
“You are crazy.”
“Am I?” Julian challenged. “Or am I practical? You said it yourself— anything that would bring you money, you are ready.”
Charles didn’t answer.
The silence stretched.
“But I have to tread with caution,” Charles finally muttered. “What if I get caught by Amelia somehow? I have tried so hard to keep clean records. You know she hates cheating.”
“She won’t find out,” Julian said easily. “Except you let her to.”
Marcus nodded reluctantly.
“Keep it controlled and be strategic.”
Julian leaned forward, lowering his voice slightly.
“And think about it. You are not even sure Amelia is coming through for you anytime soon. You are guessing. Waiting and hoping.”
Charles swallowed.
“This,” Julian gestured toward the silent phone, “is someone willing to do anything for you.”
Charles’ gaze shifted toward the phone on the table.
“She is reckless,” he said quietly.
“She is obsessed,” Julian corrected. “And obsessed people are useful.”
Marcus shot Julian a look.
“You sound like a villain.”
Julian shrugged.
“I sound like someone who doesn’t want our friend broke.”
Charles exhaled slowly.
“She thinks I’m rich,” he repeated, almost to himself.
“Good,” Julian said. “Maintain that illusion.”
“And if she asks questions?”
“Deflect.”
“And if she wants… more?”
Julian smiled faintly.
“Control the pace. You are the prize, remember.”
Marcus leaned back.
“Just don’t get sloppy.”
Charles stared at the table, mind racing.
Red account.
Developers waiting.
Deadlines looming.
Amelia distant.
Shantel eager.
He hated how logical it sounded.
“I can’t let emotions enter it,” he murmured.
“They won’t,” Julian assured. “This is business.”
Charles hesitated for a few more seconds.
Then he slowly reached for his phone.
Almost as if on cue, it vibrated again in his hand.
Shantel calling.
The three men exchanged looks.
Julian gave him a small nod.
Marcus sighed but didn’t object.
Charles inhaled deeply, adjusting his expression, smoothing his voice, calculating already.
He swiped to answer instantly.
“Hello.”