Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 3004

When Charlie returned home, the living room lights were on, but the apartment was dead silent.

He headed for the study, and sure enough, Emily was still there.

She had fallen asleep at her desk. The computer was still running, and the desk was littered with draft paper. The pen still in her hand had left a faint indent on her cheek, making him feel a surge of tenderness and amusement.

Charlie shut down the computer and scooped her up into his arms.

Emily leaned into his shoulder dependently, mumbling with her eyes closed, "Charlie..."

"I'll take you to bed," Charlie murmured in response.

Back in the master bedroom, Charlie laid her on the bed and kissed her cheek.

"I'm going to take a shower. Go back to sleep."

He dimmed the bedside lamp, slipped out of his suit jacket, and headed for the bathroom, loosening his tie as he went.

When he returned, Emily was in the exact same position, sound asleep.

Knowing how exhausted she'd been lately, Charlie didn't disturb her. He turned off the lights and settled into bed.

The room plunged into darkness. The moment Charlie closed his eyes, he felt Emily roll over and wrap her arms around him.

With her soft, warm body pressing against him, Charlie was instantly wide awake.

Emily kept burrowing into his chest, her small hands tugging at the belt of his bathrobe...

Charlie's breathing hitched. He flipped them over, taking the dominant position, lifted her chin, and kissed her deeply.

*

In the end, Emily never told Charlie that she had gone to the banquet that night.

She had seen Waters Earwood, and she had seen Melina Marsh, who had just returned. Instead of mustering the courage to step forward and claim her territory, she had "fled in defeat," which made her despise herself.

First thing in the morning, two assistants came in to report on their work.

Charlie, dressed in a dark button-down shirt, sat behind his massive desk. His expression was impassive as his eyes scanned the documents in his hand. He spoke in an even tone, "Who gave Waters Earwood my itinerary yesterday?"

Tanya, the new assistant, froze and quickly stammered, "I-It was me."

She scrambled to explain, "Mr. James, I didn't mean to. Mr. Dalton called to check some project data and asked if you were free for dinner. That's when I mentioned you had a banquet to attend tonight."

Charlie looked up. His handsome, refined features inexplicably radiated an intense, suffocating pressure. "Go write your resignation letter. I don't want to see you here on Monday."

Tanya panicked. "Mr. James, what did I do wrong? I was just trying to help you turn down the invitation. I did it for you."

"For me?" Charlie let out a cold scoff, his gaze dropping to the necklace around her throat. "That's a nice necklace. A gift from Waters?"

Tanya was stunned.