9 The Confession

Charlotte met Rachel in the canteen and they found seats together. Charlotte couldn't help but notice that a lot of people seemed to be eyeing her. Some of the stares from the women seemed unfriendly.

"Rachel, is there something going on that I'm not aware of?" Charlotte asked her new friend.

"Just ignore them, Charlotte. It's just a bunch of idle gossipers!" Rachel said with raised voice as she glared at a table or women nearby.

"But it's only my second day. What could I have done to offend them?" Charlotte asked.

"Some of them saw you come down the CEO's elevator and get in his car with him yesterday." Rachel explained.

"So? What's wrong with that?" Charlotte asked.

"Some of them are jealous. Mr. Zhou is said to have never had a girlfriend or even a close relationship with a woman before. Some are afraid. They think you're not just his woman, but here to spy on them and report back. Some are mad because they wanted your position as his personal secretary and they assume if you're close to him that you came in the back door." Rachel elaborated.

"Great. That's great." Charlotte muttered sarcastically. "Wait, then why don't you hate me?" Charlotte further asked.

"Because I know your relationship with our boss is nobodies business, including mine. And I like you. You have a fun personality. A good aura." Rachel said sincerely.

"Thanks Rachel." Charlotte said.

———————

Charlotte hurried back to the CEO's office after lunch to take her measurements. She was so angry about the employees talking badly about Mr. Zhou and herself that it was hard to keep it off her face.

Gordon noticed immediately.

"Did something happen?" He asked. Normally he'd not bother to ask someone about it, but...this was Charlotte.

"I'm not sure if I should tell you." She said honestly. His eyebrows raised.

"Now I'm going to insist you tell me." He said in a firm and commanding tone. Still she resisted.

"But... I like you. And I like being around you. If I tell you what's going on, you may treat me differently." Charlotte had always been straightforward. She didn't think to hide the feelings she had for him. She just poured out what was on her heart.

Her words about liking him and liking to be with him set off fireworks in his heart. His breathing became irregular and he suddenly felt it much hotter in his office than it had been.

He didn't know how to respond or how to react. He assumed that even if he ever found a woman he was actually interested in getting to know, that she would find him rather boring. All work and no play, as the saying goes. And this little wildcat practically just confessed to him the second day she'd known him. Part of him was absolutely terrified and the part of him wanted to grab her in his arms and kiss her until they were both breathless. However, his long silence confused her. She assumed he was angry or insulted by her words.

"Finally he simply asked, "What happened?"

She sighed. "People saw us leave together yesterday. They are angry with me. I found out when I walked into the canteen at lunch and pretty much got stared down by seventy percent of the employees. I mean, I don't care about me. I have nothing to hide and did nothing wrong. I don't owe them anything. But they said things about you that made me angry because I know you did nothing wrong. I don't want you to avoid me though. I guess I'm selfish to an extent. But I really enjoyed yesterday evening and I don't want their foolish words to cause you to stop coming over." Charlotte poured it all out, fighting tears.

He was silent as he tried to digest all that she was saying. He stood up and joined her on the sofa.

She turned her head away, trying to hide the tears that were slipping out. She didn't want his pity. And she was afraid he might be angry with her. After all, he was a great and powerful CEO from an honorable family and she was a simple woman from an ordinary family. She wasn't even qualified to spend time with him outside of work.

"Charlotte." His deep, cold voice commanded in attempt to turn her back to him.

"You're going to fire me aren't you? I deserve it. My mouth gets me in trouble. I speak my mind too much. I've been warned about it all my life and everyone is right; Charlotte doesn't think before she speaks they say. I know, right? How dare I think those things about you, much less say them. I have no right. I'm not qualified. I mean, who am I? I'm no one." She talked while tears silently fell from her eyes.

Gordon frantically grabbed her hands as though gripping a life raft.

"Who says you're not qualified?! Who calls you a no one?! Bring them to stand before me!" Gordon growled.

"But—" Charlotte was cut off. Before he could fully realize what he was doing, he grabbed her in his arms and kissed her hard. His thin lips devoured hers. He pushed his tongue in her mouth and pulled her closer. He deepened his kiss. She didn't reject him. Slowly she began to kiss him back in her own clumsy way. This only fueled his passion. He pulled her into his lap and she threw her arms around him. He groaned. She was torturing every ounce of his self control.

Just then the door opened and Gordon's assistant walked in. Charlotte tried to extricate herself from his arms.

"Don't you dare." He growled in her ear and then bit her earlobe.

His assistant saw the scene and quickly ran out of the room and slammed the door behind him.

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