Yasmine was clearly <b>trying </b>to defend herself.
Charlotte <b>fixed </b><b>her </b>with a piercing stare<b>, </b>her eyes sharp as des<b>, </b>as <b>if </b>she could bore a hole straight through her.
“You should be thanking your lucky stars I was there today. If <b>I </b><b>hadn’t </b>stepped <b>in</b>, and Jenny had been killed by that man, you would’ve been looking at a murder charge<b>.</b><b>” </b>
Yasmine bit her <b>lip </b>and said nothing<b>, </b>her face drained of all color.
Just then<b>, </b>Jenny tugged <b>gently </b>at Charlotte’s <b>sleeve</b><b>, </b>her voice full of concern.
“Miss Riley, your arm… <b>it’s </b>still bleeding. You need to get to the hospital.”
Charlotte’s arm had indeed been shed. While the wound wasn’t life–threatening, it had bled a lot. Her entire left sleeve was stained red.
Without another word to Yasmine, Charlotte turned and left the firm for the hospital.
She had just picked up her prescription after getting her wound treated when she ran straight into Wendy.
Wendy’s expression was tight, her tone sharp.
“Charlotte? What are you doing here?”
Charlotte was a little surprised to see her.
So Wendy hade to Jersey City too.
Then again, it made sense. Wherever Zac went, Wendy always followed. He probably couldn’t bear to leave her behind in Harbor City. Charlotte didn’t want to waste time arguing. She simply walked around Wendy and kept going.
Wendy red after her, eyes full <b>of </b>spite.
She narrowed her eyes. “Like a bad penny,<i>” </i>she thought. “Always turning up.”
Then she thought of Zac.
They hadn’t <b>even </b>finished their trip in Silverridge when Zac suddenly booked a flight to Jersey <b>City</b>. Was it because of Charlotte?
And were the injuries he gotst night rted to her too?
The more Wendy thought about it, the tighter she clenched her fists.
As soon as Sean saw the breaking news about the attack
<b>at </b>S&G<b>, </b><b>he </b>immediately <b>called </b>Charlotte.
“Lottie, <b>I </b><b>just </b>saw the news<b>–</b>someone <b>caused </b>a <b>scene </b><b>at </b>your firm, and <b>people </b>got stabbed. Are you okay? Where are you? <b>I’ll </be get you<b>.</b>” Charlotte was holding a bag of medication and pressing <b>the </b>elevator <b>button </b>as she answered, “I’m fine. I’m actually at <b>the </b>same hospital you’re in. I was nning to <b>stop </b>by <b>your </b>room.”
Sean sounded visibly shaken.
“How bad is <b>the </b>injury?”
“Nothing serious. Just a cut on <b>my </b>arm. Surface wound. <b>I’ll </b><b>be </b><b>fine </b>in a few days.<b>” </b>
When Charlotte entered the hospital room<b>, </b>Sean saw the bandage <b>wrapped </b>around her arm. His expression darkened with concern.
“That looks serious,” <b>he </b>said quietly, his voice full <b>of </b>pain.
Charlotte caught the look in his <b>eyes</b>.
<b>If </b>he was this worried even after <b>the </b>wound had been cleaned and <b>wrapped</b><b>, </b>how would <b>he </b>have reacted if he had seen her earlier when her whole <b>sleeve </b>was soaked in blood<b>? </b>
“I’m hiring a bodyguard for you,” <b>he </b>said, his tone firm. “<b>Being </b>awyer is clearly <b>a </b><b>dangerous </b>job. I won’t feel <b>at </b>ease unless <b>you </b>have <b>someone </b>with you. And don’t even think about saying <b>no</b>. I <b>don’t </b>ever want something like <b>this </b>to happen again<b>.</b>”
Charlotte pressed her lips <b>together </b>and nodded.
<b>“</b>Okay<b>.</b><b>” </b>
Sean gently <b>took </b>her hand<b>, </b><b>his </b><b>voice </b>soft.
<b>“</b><b>I’ll </b>pick someone <b>good</b>–someone with real skills.”
<b>“</b><b>One </b>is enough<b>,</b>” she said. <b>“</b>Today was an <b>exception</b>. Things aren’t usually this dangerous<b>.</b><b>” </b>
Sean wasn’t budging.
<b>“</b><b>I’m </b>still notfortable with just one.”
“Alright,” Charlotte said, looking up at him<b>, </b><b>hesitating </b>slightly. “But… I have <b>to </b>go to work. Having a bodyguard with me all the time might get in the way.”
“That’s easy,” Sean replied. “I’ll speak to the senior partners at S&G<b>. </b>Have them set up a private security office at the firm. He can be stationed <b>there</b><b>, </b>posing as a regr security guard.“.
“That actually sounds doable,” Charlotte admitted<b>. </b><b>“</b>Especially after today<b>, </b>I’m sure the firm will take security more seriously.”
Her eyes drifted <b>to </b><b>the </b>small table beside his hospital bed, where hisptop was sitting.
She frowned slightly.
“You’re still working? <b>You’re </b>supposed to be resting.”
“There’s an important project going on at thepany,” he said. “I don’t trust anyone <b>else </b>to handle it.”
Charlotte <b>gave </b>him a look.
<b>“</b>Just promise me you’ll take care of yourself.”
Sean’s dark <b>eyes </b>softened, rippling with affection.