Chapter 3: Unexpected Encounters
Charlee Sullivan sat in the back of the cab, her fingers tapping nervously against her phone. The city streets blurred past the window, but her mind was elsewhere. She couldn’t stop thinking about the man from last night—his smirk, his words, the way he’d seen right through her. It was infuriating. She didn’t even know his name, and yet he’d managed to leave a mark on her.
The cab pulled up to her apartment building, and she quickly paid the driver before stepping out. The doorman nodded politely as she walked in, but she barely acknowledged him. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess, and all she wanted was to get inside, take a long shower, and forget the last 24 hours ever happened.
But as she stepped into the elevator, her phone buzzed again. This time, it was a text from her best friend, Mia.
“Hey, you alive? I’ve been calling you all morning. We need to talk.”
Charlee sighed, leaning against the elevator wall. Mia was the one person she couldn’t avoid. She typed back a quick reply: “I’m fine. Just got home. Call you later.”
The elevator dinged, and she stepped out into the hallway, fumbling with her keys. But as she approached her door, she froze. Leaning casually against the wall next to her apartment was none other than the man from the hotel. He looked as effortlessly handsome as ever, dressed in a simple black t-shirt and jeans, his arms crossed over his chest.
Charlee’s heart skipped a beat, but she quickly masked her surprise with annoyance. “What are you doing here?” she demanded, her voice sharp.
He pushed off the wall, his smirk widening. “Nice to see you too, firecracker. I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d check on you. You left in such a hurry this morning.”
She narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms defensively. “I told you, we’re done. I don’t need you checking on me.”
He took a step closer, his gaze intense. “Maybe I’m not ready to be done.”
Charlee’s breath hitched, but she refused to back down. “Well, that’s too bad. I don’t do repeats.”
He chuckled, the sound low and teasing. “We’ll see about that.”
Before she could respond, the door across the hall opened, and her elderly neighbor, Mrs. Henderson, poked her head out. “Oh, Charlee, dear! I thought I heard your voice. Is everything alright?”
Charlee forced a smile, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. “Everything’s fine, Mrs. Henderson. Just… catching up with an old friend.”
The man raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by the lie, but he didn’t say anything. Mrs. Henderson gave him a curious look before nodding. “Well, alright then. You kids have a good day.”
As soon as the door closed, Charlee turned back to him, her voice a harsh whisper. “You need to leave. Now.”
He shrugged, unfazed. “Make me.”
She glared at him, but there was no real heat behind it. Deep down, a part of her was intrigued by his persistence. Still, she wasn’t about to let him see that. “Fine. Stay out here all day if you want. I don’t care.”
She unlocked her door and stepped inside, but before she could close it, he caught the edge with his hand. “You know,” he said, his tone softer now, “you don’t have to do this alone. Whatever you’re running from, you don’t have to face it by yourself.”
Charlee hesitated, her hand still on the door. For a moment, she considered slamming it in his face. But something in his eyes—something genuine—stopped her. She sighed, stepping back to let him in. “You’re impossible, you know that?”
He grinned, following her inside. “So I’ve been told.”
As he closed the door behind them, Charlee crossed her arms, staring him down. “Alright, let’s get one thing straight. This doesn’t mean anything. You’re here because I’m too tired to argue, not because I want you here.”
He held up his hands in mock surrender. “Message received. But for the record, I think you secretly like having me around.”
She rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “Don’t push your luck.”
For the first time in days, Charlee felt a flicker of something other than anger or sadness. It was faint, but it was there—a spark of curiosity, maybe even hope. She didn’t know what this man wanted from her, or why he seemed so determined to stay in her life. But for now, she was willing to let him stick around. After all, she had nothing left to lose.
Meanwhile, outside the apartment building, a sleek black car idled at the curb. Inside, a man in a tailored suit watched the entrance through tinted windows. He picked up his phone and dialed a number, his voice calm but commanding.
“She’s with him. Keep watching. This is far from over.”