Chapter 237: How Many People Are There Around Charlotte?
Chapter 237: How Many People Are There Around Charlotte?
2:50 PM.
George's car pulled up right on time in front of Elysian Designs.
David was sitting in the back seat with Miranda, her school bag still on her shoulders. She'd been picked up early today.
"Daddy!" Miranda spotted George and reached out her little hands.
George turned around and lifted Miranda out of the back seat, planting a kiss on her chubby little cheek.
"Did you miss Daddy?"
"Yes!" Miranda nodded hard and threw her arms around George's neck. "How come you're picking me up so early today?"
"Because I want to take you to see Mommy." George smiled. "Happy?"
"Yes!" Miranda's eyes lit up. "Let's go find Mommy!"
George held Miranda and turned to head inside.
"Mr. Summers." David quickly called after him. "Are you really taking Miranda up there?"
"Obviously." George shot him a look.
"But," David hesitated, "what if Ms. Blake gets upset?"
George paused for a beat.
Honestly, he was a little nervous too.
But —
For the sake of his position, he had to go for it.
"Let her be upset." George took a deep breath. "Better than letting some other guy steal her away."
David went quiet.
Fine.
As long as George was happy.
George held Miranda and walked into the building with his head held high.
The receptionist saw him and quickly smiled. "Mr. Summers, welcome."
George nodded. "Is Charlotte in her office?"
"Yes, she is," the receptionist said. "But Jerald is with her right now. They're in the middle of a meeting."
George's expression cooled instantly.
So he actually showed up.
"Got it." George said flatly, and carried Miranda toward the elevator.
The elevator reached the top floor quickly.
George walked up to Charlotte's office door with Miranda in his arms.
He was about to knock when he heard a man's voice from inside.
"Charlotte, I'm genuinely serious about working with you on this."
"I really think this project is going to be a great fit for both of us."
Jerald's voice.
George smirked and pushed the door open without knocking.
Inside, Charlotte was seated behind her desk. Jerald sat across from her.
At the sound of the door, both of them turned.
When Jerald saw George, he froze.
Him?
The guy from downstairs this morning?
Why was he back?
Jerald looked George over, his brow furrowing slightly.
"Who are you? You can't just walk into someone's office like that."
George ignored him and walked straight over to Charlotte, setting Miranda down on the floor.
"Mommy!" Miranda called out happily and ran into Charlotte's arms.
Charlotte caught her.
"I picked Miranda up from school and thought I'd stop by to talk through the project with you." George smiled, his tone as easy as if this were his own office.
Charlotte glanced at him but said nothing.
Jerald stood up and stepped toward George.
"Have we met somewhere before?" Jerald looked him over with a frown. "This morning, downstairs — that was you, wasn't it?"
George gave him a cool look. "It was."
"Are you a friend of Charlotte's?" Jerald asked, probing.
The corner of George's mouth lifted into a small smile. He reached over and put his arm around Charlotte's shoulder.
"I'm her husband."
Jerald's jaw dropped.
He stared at George, wide-eyed and speechless.
His gaze drifted to Miranda.
This was Charlotte's daughter?
He hadn't even noticed her until now.
Jerald looked at Miranda, then at George, then at Charlotte.
Back and forth, several times.
Hm.
Miranda did kind of look like George.
No, no. He must be seeing things.
That's impossible.
Jerald shook his head, refusing to believe it.
He crouched down in front of Miranda and forced what he thought was a warm smile.
He cleared his throat. "Miranda, who is this man?"
He pointed at George.
Miranda looked at George, then at Jerald.
Then she broke away from behind Charlotte and launched herself into George's arms.
"That's Daddy!"
Her clear little voice rang out in the quiet office.
Jerald froze. The smile on his face vanished completely.
Daddy?
Miranda called him Daddy?
How was that possible?
Jerald shot to his feet and looked at George, his expression full of disbelief.
"You actually got Miranda to call you Daddy?"
"That's disgusting."
George's face went cold.
"What did you just say?"
"I said you're disgusting." Jerald pointed at George, voice rising. "Manipulating a little kid into calling you her father — that's pathetic. That's a dirty trick."
"Let me tell you, there are plenty of men who want to be with Charlotte. Don't think you can pull something like this."
George was shaking with anger.
He held Miranda and fixed Jerald with an icy stare.
"I'll say it one more time. I am Miranda's biological father."
"I am Charlotte's husband."
"Who the hell are you to come in here and tell anyone what to do?"
"Biological father?" Jerald let out a scornful laugh. "Who are you trying to fool?"
"I've known Charlotte for a long time. She never once mentioned a husband."
"And the man who's always been by her side? It sure wasn't you."
"So stop making things up."
George was about to step forward and hit him.
Then the office door swung open again.
A calm, measured voice came from the doorway.
"Jerald. It's been a while."
Jerald spun around.
When he saw who was standing at the door, his eyes went wide.
Alaric?
What was he doing here?
Jerald stared at Alaric, too stunned to speak.
"Mr. Kingsley?"
"What are you doing here?"
Alaric smiled and walked in.
"I'm here to talk to Charlotte about something."
He glanced over at Jerald. "What were you saying just now? Something about a man who's always been by Charlotte's side?"
Jerald opened his mouth. Nothing came out.
He looked at Alaric, then back at George.
Both of them.
Both closely tied to Charlotte.
What was going on here?
Just then, Miranda peeked out from George's arms, spotted Alaric, and her face lit up.
"Mr. Kingsley!"
She stretched out her little arms and lunged toward him.
Alaric stepped forward and caught her, pulling her into his arms.
"There she is."
He gently patted her on the head.
Jerald's mind went completely blank.
Just how many people did Charlotte have around her?