His Lies Ch 5

Chapter 5 Good to See You
Charlotte bit down on the straw, nodding vigorously, as the conversations of her colleagues about Zimmerman Group filled her ears.
“The president of Zimmerman Group is so mysterious, he’s never been exposed.”
“But Thomas is incredible. Zimmerman Group is unstoppable in his hands.”
“Did you hear? Thomas is getting engaged.”
…
Charlotte paused for a moment, her chewing on the straw stopping.
Engaged just one month after the divorce? That‘s truly something.
But Charlotte couldn’t help but speak up, “What’s so special about a second-hand man?”
A colleague couldn’t help but glance at Charlotte.
Charlotte cleared her throat and quickly laughed it off. “Look, Thomas never shows his face. He’s probably incredibly ugly. You all are just romanticizing him because you read too many novels.”
“Well, he’s rich, after all.” Her colleague nodded, pragmatic.
Charlotte remained silent. Well, true. Three years ago, I married for money. Even if he were an ugly monster, I’d have had to accept it, after all.
The conversation, originally about Thomas, somehow shifted to Charlotte.
“Charlotte, where are your earrings?” a colleague suddenly asked. “I always see you wearing them, but now I haven’t seen them. It’s a bit strange.”
Charlotte took a deep sip of iced Americano and instinctively touched her earlobe.
“They fell off,” she replied quietly.
The night of the divorce, Charlotte came home and couldn’t find her earrings.
She had wondered if they had fallen in Thomas’ car.
But since she had blocked his contact, she felt too embarrassed to unblock him, leaving the matter unresolved.
Her colleague comforted her a bit but didn’t say much else.
Charlotte lowered her head and continued drawing furiously.
On the side draft paper, there were countless instances of Thomas’ name, crossed out repeatedly.
…
At 9 p.m., Charlotte finally finished work.
But instead of going home, she headed to a nightclub in the city center.
The person in charge of the Zimmerman Group project preferred to discuss things in places like this.
If the client wanted it, Charlotte had no choice but to endure.
After all, she was the lead designer on the project.
Franklin Quinn parked the car and, looking at Charlotte’s baby face, sighed. “Charlotte, I feel like I’m committing a crime every time I take you out.”
“Well, then you could go alone, record it, and tell me later?” Charlotte raised an eyebrow.
“Ms. Charlotte, please don’t,” Franklin replied, half-joking.
He was genuinely worried that Charlotte would just turn and leave, so he had coaxed her all the way into the nightclub.
Charlotte, though made up, still couldn’t hide her youthful face, and even the security guard at the entrance gave Franklin an extra look.
Franklin shuddered under the gaze.
However, Charlotte remained unfazed. “The design here is outstanding.”
“Ms. Charlotte, you really have an eye for detail,” Franklin said, impressed.
No matter where she was, Charlotte’s focus was always on architecture, nothing else.
Charlotte didn’t respond to Franklin. “I’m going to the restroom. See you in a bit.”
“Don’t get lost,” Franklin said, somewhat concerned.
Charlotte rolled her eyes. “It’s a nightclub, but it’s legally operated. What are you worried about, Mr. Franklin?”
After a moment’s thought, Franklin agreed.
Charlotte quickly walked toward the restroom, her head lowered, her steps fast. It wasn’t until she bumped into someone that she looked up, apologizing, “Sorry…”
As the words left her mouth, Charlotte felt a bit awkward.
She waved her hand, smiling brightly, “Mr. Tom, good to see you.”
There was no hint of hesitation or guilt for blocking his contact.
Thomas didn’t expect to run into Charlotte at the nightclub, and his brow furrowed.
Without thinking, Thomas walked up to her, his voice tinged with a hint of accusation. “What are you doing here?”
This place was legally operated, but beneath the legal surface, it was involved in many gray industries. Any well-raised girl wouldn’t easily be found here.
The women here were either mistresses or waiting to be taken out as escorts. Charlotte didn’t belong in this place.
Yet tonight, Charlotte was wearing makeup, quite different from the completely bare-faced woman he had seen a month ago. She was both innocent and seductive.
Charlotte frowned at Thomas’ question. This guy is too nosy.
She didn’t offer much of an explanation. “Work.”
With that, Charlotte tried to walk toward the restroom.
But Thomas was quicker, gripping her wrist tightly. “What kind of work requires you to come to a nightclub?”
His tone was disapproving, even a little grim, as if he were scolding a kid.
Well, he was only six years older than her.
“Well, it has nothing to do with you, Mr. Tom,” Charlotte said with a forced smile.
She didn’t say anything more, trying to pull her hand away, but Thomas held on so tightly she couldn’t even struggle.
Now, Charlotte was completely at his mercy. “Mr. Tom, please have some respect.”
“At a nightclub, you’re asking a man for respect?” Thomas found it amusing.
Charlotte couldn’t be bothered to explain.