Chapter 39: Need time to figure things out.
"H-huh?"
"You heard me right, Charles Donald," Augustine murmured, his voice laced with certainty.
He took a slow step forward, closing the distance between them until their breaths mingled in the space between.
His gaze was locked onto Charles’s, unwavering and intense, as he lowered his face ever so slightly.
Now, barely inches apart, Augustine whispered softly. ."I think I have fallen in love with you..."
Quickly, Charles use his hand to cover the mouth of Augustine, stopping him from completing his sentence.
"I... we need to talk," Charles stated with urgency as he grabbed Augustine’s wrist, and pulled him inside the VIP room, slamming the door behind.
The VIP room manager froze, eyes widening in shock as she stared at the locked door.
Meanwhile, as Charles yanked Augustine into the room, he forcefully shoved him onto the couch.
Standing over him with arms crossed, Charles gaze darkened, lips pressing into a firm line as a deep frown settled on his face. "What was that about?"
Augustine moistened his lips, his brows arching upward in curiosity. "What exactly are you referring to? The fact that I’ve fallen in love with you...?"
Once more, before Augustine could complete his sentence, Charles quickly covered Augustine’s mouth with his hands, stopping him from completing his phrase. "Just stop it already." Charles snapped while pressing his hands onto Augustine’s lips.
*Chuckle*
Augustine chuckled as he nodded his head before trying to remove Charles’s hand from his lip.
"Augustine, before I remove my hands, promise me that you won’t say any stupid thing?" Charles questioned with a serious tone.
Quickly, Augustine shook his head sideways, disagreeing with the words of Charles.
^Slam^
Charles aggressively slammed his hand onto Augustine’s shoulder, his grip firm and unyielding. "Just admit it and stop being a jerk," he seethed through clenched teeth, his eyes burning with frustration.
’Sigh!’
Augustine let out a sigh, his shoulders relaxing slightly as he nodded.
Charles exhaled in relief, slowly withdrawing his hands from Augustine’s mouth.
What followed was a heavy silence, thick with unspoken words and lingering tension.
After a few minutes of tense silence, Charles crossed his arms over his chest and glanced at Augustine with a sharp gaze. "Why did you have to say something like that in front of the boutique manager?" he asked, his voice laced with both curiosity and frustration.
"Are you upset that I said it in front of the boutique manager, or does the statement itself bother you?" Augustine asked, his voice laced with amusement.
A smirk tugged at his lips, and mischief danced in his eyes as he leaned in slightly, eager to gauge Charles’s reaction.
Charles bit his upper lip, his gaze dropping for a moment as he sniffed and took a breath. "Can we talk for a moment?" he asked, his tone softer yet carrying a hint of tension.
Augustine raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a playful smirk. "Pookie, we’re already talking. What else is on your mind?"
The tone of Augustine sounded so playful and that alone made the blood of Charles boil in rage.
His grips around his stomach tighten and he raises his head upwards, gazing at the ceiling as he tries to control his rage.
"Arrgh!" Charles screamed in frustration, taking in a slow, deep breath as he rolled his tongue around his mouth, trying to calm himself.
He lowered his gaze from the ceiling, finally meeting Augustine’s eyes with a mix of annoyance and confusion.
"Can you behave seriously for once Augustine?" Charles demanded, his voice crisp with seriousness.
Augustine nods, creating a space for Charles to join him on the couch. "Seat down and let’s discuss." He replied with a firm tone.
Charles sat down on the couch, crossing his legs as he let out a heavy sigh. "Earlier, we almost had sex," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Augustine gave a subtle nod, acknowledging the weight of Charles words.
"Augustine, I’ve always known you as my boss—the cold, self-centered boss who never lets emotions get in the way," Charles said, his voice thick with frustration. "But right now, I’m disgusted with myself. I let you cross boundaries, and you just went along with it, all because I was curious."
He paused, his hands shaking slightly as he tried to steady his breath. "I didn’t know what I was getting into, but now I feel like I’ve lost control."
Augustine’s heart skipped a beat as panic overtook him.
He quickly reached for Charles’s hands, gently squeezing them in an attempt to calm him. "I never meant to make you feel this way," he said, his voice softer than usual. "I’m sorry for everything that happened earlier. I didn’t intend to make you feel like this... like you were pressured or taken advantage of."
Augustine’s eyes softened as he searched Charles’s face, hoping his apology would convey the sincerity behind his words. "I just got caught up in the moment... but that’s no excuse."
Charles took a deep breath, letting it out slowly, the tension in his body easing just a little. "You don’t need to apologize, Augustine," he said, his voice steady. "You didn’t force anything on me. You sought my consent, and I chose to go along with it. I made my own choices, and you didn’t do anything wrong."
He gave a soft, almost imperceptible shrug. "It’s just... complicated for me right now. But I’m not blaming you."
Augustine nervously gulped down his saliva. "Do you want some time to think?" He probed.
Charles nods, his eyelashes fluttering as he looks down. "I need some time to figure things out, and I also have to head to the company to start my cleaning duties."
Augustine sighed loudly, but he didn’t utter any more words out of his mouth.
With a tight, almost forced smile on Augustine lips, he rose from the couch.
His body felt weighed down by the tension in the air, but he masked it with a calm demeanor as he made his way toward the boutique manager’s office.
As he entered, he handed over his black card, the gesture seemingly casual, though his thoughts were still consumed by the conversation he’d just had with Charles.
His mind lingered on the uncertainty between them, even as he tried to appear composed.
"I’m paying for my friend’s clothes," Augustine said, handing over the card. "He took one pair of trousers, a boxer, a white long-sleeve shirt, and a long kimono jacket."
The manager nodded at Augustine’s explanation, quickly processing the items.
With a swift motion, she slid the black card through the payment machine, and within seconds, the amount for Charles’s clothes was deducted from Augustine’s account.
"Thanks for the patronage CEO Augustine, and I hope you continue to patronise us."
Augustine nodded, excusing himself from the manager’s office and just as he was about to make his way towards the VIP room, he suddenly received a text message from Charles.
^ I left the long jacket in the VIP room, but I’m already on my way to work ^
Immediately after Augustine finished reading the text message of Charles, another one immediately came in.
^ Thank you so much for the clothes you bought for me. I really appreciate it. I’ll see you at the office, but for now, let’s keep things professional—let’s pretend that we don’t know each other. ^
Sigh!
Augustine sighed, shaking his head sideways as he stepped inside the VIP room, grabbing the long-sleeved kimono jacket and with that, he stepped out of the boutique, heading over to his car.
Augustine opened the car door, sinking into the seat with a heavy sigh, his mind swirling in confusion.
’Why do I feel guilty for kissing him?’
A frown tugged at his brow as the questions circled in his thoughts. ’But Charles kissed me back, so why does it feel like I forced him into it?’
The guilt gnawed at him, leaving him to question not just the moment, but his own actions.
After some series of questions, Augustine decided to make his way towards his company.
After half an hour of driving, he finally pulled into the garage of his company, the tires rolling slowly to a stop.
As he stepped into the company lobby, his gaze fell upon Charles, wrapped in a tight embrace with a young lady.
The sight of them, so effortlessly close, sent a sharp pang through his chest.
The warmth between them seemed to mock the emptiness he was feeling, and for a moment, he stood frozen, unsure of how to breathe or move.
The moment they noticed the presence of Augustine, the warm atmosphere between Charles and the young lady shifted.
They immediately pulled away from each other, their heads lowering in a silent acknowledgment of his presence.
"Good morning, CEO Augustine," they greeted in unison, their voices tinged with formality, their gazes fixed firmly on the floor.
Augustine’s chest tightened as he absorbed the scene.
He glanced over his shoulder as he forced an arrogantly scoffed, ignoring them, and walking away with a cold aura of dominance.
’Why did he behave indifferently towards me?’ Charles questioned himself.