First Move

Charlotte was surprised at how he touched her hair that casually. She gently pushed his hand whenever she remembered how a certain man touched her. She shuddered a little. She looked at the clock and curses.

"I need to go." She grumbled.

"Take your time. Your shift is at 7, right?"

"Yes," She answered, meeting those beautiful green eyes.

"I will visit the area, don't worry," Donovan said casually. She's not worried about that but about him visiting her.

"That will stir up gossip." She mumbled and slipped off of the bed and went to the bathroom. She quickly washed up, put her skincare products on quickly, and when she went to the closet, her uniform shirt was there but not the pants. "Oh, crap." She mumbled. The door opened as she frowned at Donovan.

"Hmm,"

Good that she's wearing a robe.

"Don't you knock?"

"No. It's not my thing."

"Oh, please. Have some respect."

"Just get whatever pants are there." He said.

"You don't have to drive me there. Jace can."

"Why do you keep asking for Jace?" He rolled his eyes. "Come on, now."

She searched on the denim pants as she pushed him out and closed the door. Then, she quickly dressed up and admired the high-waisted pants with her shirt tucked in. Her buttocks look good on it. She searched for her coat but didn't find it. So, she picked up one of the black leather jackets and went out. She didn't find him, so she quickly grabbed her bag and her phone and called her colleague in the office.

"Hey, sorry. I might get late. I'm currently in the Makati area."

As soon as she came out, someone took her bag and she stared at Donovan's back. He's wearing a black leather jacket almost identical to hers. Puzzled, she followed the man.

"Yeah, don't worry. I was always late. Take your time." Her colleague friend said.

"Thanks."

"Why are you in Makati?"

"Long story short. I'll tell you later."

She stopped and cursed when she didn't find her shoes she went back upstairs to search for them. She grabbed a box with a note on it. 'Use me' She did put it on with the socks and dashed outside to the garage.

"Wow, looking good." Lesley smiled.

"This is your plan after all. Don't worry, I will give the clothes back~~"

"Nope. That's yours. Or else I'll throw it away." Lesley said. When she saw him, she froze and looked at her shoes and his. "Oh, you guys looked like a couple!"

Donovan stopped and stared at her outfit and his outfit. He sighed and shook his head as he handed the helmet. She took it, put it on and she took her backpack and put it on.

"You don't want dinner?" Lesley asked.

"No. I'm already late. Thank you, Lesley."

"Come again tomorrow."

"No…"

The drive was swift. He made sure that her arms were wrapped around him. Her heart was calm and when they arrived at the facility, he stopped at the exit near his office. The security from the closed van office approached them as she hopped out and removed her helmet.

"Ma'am Charlotte."

"Hello," She smiled as she looked at Donovan who was waiting. "You should go back."

"Let's have dinner together." He said.

"What?"

"I'll call your boss."

"No." She stopped him from pulling out his phone. "Stop that, right now. Do not call him. It's embarrassing."

"Huh," he titled his head.

"Really? I don't know why you are involved in this big incorporation but? Stop doing that, please." Charlotte pleaded.

"Alright, how about your dinner.?"

"I'm a big girl. I'm independent. I am fine. So, goodbye."

"I'll pick you up tomorrow."

"No. I'm not going."

"Hmm," Donoval stared at her for a long time and finally closed the shield of his helmet. She smiled and waved at him, happily pushing him to leave.

After that, she finally went back inside as her partner looked at her.

"I thought you'd be late?"

"Motorbikes drive faster than any other vehicles in this area." She said as she sighed and sat on the chair. "I'm tired. What's your turnover?"

"You are always tired," Ryle said as she listened to whatever the takeover was. There's not much to do but hourly situation reports from twelve facilities. Then, she can take a nap or work on something. She likes to see that handsome face again but she's scared. However, she will work hard, earn money, and enough to sustain herself until she grows old. She won't worry about stuff and just live her life. She needed a house not a rented one.

"Hey, I have turned over everything now, tell me what happened."

She told everything that happened that left Ryle baffled.

"Oh, my gosh! Are you gonna have a boyfriend finally?"

She shook her head. The last time she got a boyfriend, it left her bankrupt. The guy opened up a credit card under her name and she reported it to the police. They caught the guy and made him pay for everything and those times, she nearly slept with him. She hated him and wanted to curse him for bad things.

"No." She said. Although Donoval is super rich, she doesn't want to get involved with him. A lot of bad things will happen. Consequences of being with a handsome rich man. She's also sure that Donovan won't like her. She's not perfect. She's chubby and she's not that tall. She's also weak.

She went on with her work as she couldn't blink an eye after that. She had thought that maybe it was because of Autumn and Zoe. Her other personality. It's been like months since she last had a session with her psychiatrist. She doesn't know what happened but it seems that her life will get darker than it was.

<><><><><><>

Donovan meets up with the psychiatrist. One of the best in the country. He needed to know more about her and although they had stolen a lot of her files back from the doctor that she spoke with and had two sessions with he wasn't satisfied. He needed to learn more about her. Maybe it's his way of helping her. It might be too rash and straight, but he wanted to activate the two personalities. First was Autumn and second was Zoe.

"We can use hypnosis." The psychiatrist said. "But I don't perform one."

"Why does she have it?"

"It can be because of trauma, hereditary and abuse."

"Abuse," Donovan mumbled. He nodded his head.

"How are you?" Dr. Blanche asked. "Have you been sleeping well?"

"Hmm, a lot better than before."

"That's good."

"Mostly, I don't sleep at all. Because of her." Donovan mumbled. "I had bought a big share in that company that she's working with. She's just a contractor though. I bought it so I can find out more about her."

"And what else?"

"It is creepy of me to watch her sleep." He mumbled. "I don't want her to leave the house. I don't want her to work."

"You are getting possessive of someone that's not yours." Dr. Blanche said.

Donovan looked away as he gritted his teeth.

"Remembering how they torture me and she's the only one, a little lady, helped me… I will protect her with my life and wealth."

"I think you should woo her rather than forcing her. You can't force anyone to love you and be with you."

"No. That will take a long time." Donovan said. "I'm out of here." He stood up as the clock beeps. Just in time after their session. Then, he drove back home just to see Jace and Lesley in the living area drinking and laughing. He approached them and took one cold bottle of beer and opened it.

"What happened? Didn't you take her on a date?"

"No. She doesn't want to."

"How about I surprise her there? So she can't say no and won't get grumpy because of you? Tomorrow is Sunday and she might have an off day. Right?"

"Yeah, do that." He went upstairs.

"Bro, come on! Don't be sad. We need to calm down. You are scaring her."

Donovan stopped from taking a step as he turned to Jace.

"She's been sexually harassed in the office and although it was a long time, it might be fresh in her mind. We don't know what else she's been through, let's have some empathy in this matter, right?" Jace said.

"Yes, do that. Find everything about her. From her childhood."

"But, I am still holding the case of Da Silva."

"I will do that. Do her background."

Jace rolled his eyes as Lesley shook his head.

"You are giving Jace too much work. Both of you need to chill out sometimes." Lesley said. "And stop forcing Charlotte. I can visit her myself."

Donovan didn't listen to Lesley. He planned to force her all along. This is how he is. For him to protect her. He can put her in the most luxurious room and won't let her leave if it is meant to protect her. He would do the same to his sister.

He went to bathe and instead of sleeping in his room, he went to the room that he provided for Charlotte. Clothes, beauty products, and everything are here. He somehow manipulated Lesley a little for this. And he knew well she was excited with everything. Organizing the room and shopping for clothes. It's like she had an instant sister.

He reached his head as he remembered what happened that night. The night he nearly died after being beaten up badly and got stabbed.