Loving Madeline



Jack's POV

I clenched the phone with my fist after Charlotte hung up on me. I couldn't believe that she only called me to tell me that she wanted to know if I gave her a legit number; I couldn't believe her.

I felt so excited that I received a call from her only to find out that she only wanted to ensure I was not playing with her. I shook my head as I slowly turned around to walk toward my room.

"Aren't you going to tell me what she wanted with you, why she called you at this hour, Jack?" Cecily asked, and I let out a frustrated sigh before I turned around and faced her.

"I am sure it was rude of me to turn around without saying good night, Cecily," I responded.

"Come on, Jack, I don't care if you would say good night or not. I am talking about Charlotte because I really wanted to help you with this; I don't have work at this moment since I was only waiting for Hunter's instructions." She answered, and I could see the frustration on her face.

"It was not, and I really hate that she called me," I replied.

"Oh, you seemed excited when you picked up her call, chef," she said, and I shook my head.

"There is nothing to be excited about, Cecily. Hunter's sister only called me to make sure she was calling my number. She thought I had given her the wrong number." I said, and she looked at me with tenderness, but suddenly her face lit up.

"You are so naive, Jack, she wanted to tell you something, but her pride took over once more. You need my help with this one." She said, and Cecily looked excited as she got up from the sofa.

"I will go to the bus stop tomorrow," she added.

"Why? I asked.

"I am sure she will go to the town center, and I couldn't wait to introduce myself to her." She explained.

"No, you can't do that; I will be waiting for her at the archway of their estate," I said.

"Jack, she may like you a lot, but her pride is greater than the mountains of Barcelonia. I am sure she needed a new friend, and I don't think a suitor is what she needed right now." Cecily declared.

"Don't worry, and I am doing this all for you, and I want to help you to carry over with your job." She continued.

"I never thought this job could be this hard; dealing with Charlotte was harder than I thought," I responded, and she beamed me.

"Well, she is a Divenson, Jack, don't ever forget that. You have to be patient with her, and she will let you stay in there; just wait for the perfect time." She replied.

"I don't know why with Charlotte, I lose my patience every time I am with her," I said.

"It is simply because you want to be with her," she said, winking at me.

"Cecily, she is only a job for me, and it frustrated me that until now, I couldn't convince her to let me stay in the manor.

"Well, believe me, you will have your chance soon," Cecily said, and by the grin on her face, I could tell she didn't believe that it was all because of the job that I felt this way.

I said good night to Cecily and made a beeline to my room. I find it hard to sleep since I can't stop thinking about Charlotte, and I hate myself for reliving the kiss I shared with her.

I had kissed women before, but this kind of feeling only happened to me with Madeline; I never expected I would experience this type of emotion once again, and it terrified me to my core.

"You don't need to take me to the bus stop, Jack," Cecily said when she found me waiting for her in her driveway.

"It is far from here, and before you make it to the bus stop, sweat will cover your body," I responded as I opened the pickup door.

"Thanks," she mumbled after she settled on the passenger's seat.

"I know you only wanted to see her; that is why you insisted on driving me to the bus stop," Cecily said as I drove away from her house, and I half laughed.

"Do you think I would fall for her? Yes, Charlotte is beautiful, but I couldn't deal with her attitude; once you know her personally, you will understand what I mean." I said, and she was silent for a while.

"Well, I must meet her in person before I agree with you, Jack. I don't judge someone based on what I hear. I want to witness it with my own eyes." She declared.

"Of course, good luck with meeting Hunter's wicked sister," I responded, and we both fell silent for the rest of the ride.

"I don't think she will go to the capital today," I said to Cecily after I parked my car not so far away from the bus stop.

"Let us wait; I am sure she will," she answered, and I gripped the steering wheel as I waited for Charlotte to show up.

"We should head back now, Cecily; we have been waiting for her for over an hour." I declared.

"You should return to the house, Jack. I will wait for her until sunset." Cecily replied, and my eyes widened in shock.

"You can't do that," I replied.

"Yes, I can; if I want to accomplish something, I will never surrender easily." She responded.

"I appreciate your help, Cecily, but I don't want you to waste time waiting for that brat to appear. I know you have something better to do." I declared, and she eyed me for a long time.

"Jack, if you want to win her heart, you must learn how to be patient and make some sacrifices. I am not doing this for you; I want to do this for Charlotte." She said, and I fell silent.

"After I learned what happened to her from my brother and Lucia, I felt bad for her, and I wanted to help her; but Hunter warned us not to help her with anything, and we are not allowed to go to tha manor unless he will ask us to do so." She added.

"Aren't you afraid Hunter would find out you are meeting her secretly?" I said, and she laughed.

"I don't think he will know I did it on purpose, I will tell him I met his sister on a bus, and she talked to me first." She answered before she opened the passenger's door.

"Bye, Jack," she added, and I didn't want her to go just yet, but Cecily had already closed the door before I could say anything

I was about to start my car when I saw her walking towards the bus stop, and I admit, Charlotte made my heart skip a beat even if I was looking at her from a distance.

She looked weary as she gracefully strode towards the waiting area and ceased walking before reaching the waiting shed.

Cecily turned around and beamed at me, and mouth, "I told you so," even if she couldn't see my face on the windshield because of the dark tint of the pickup truck.

"Whatever," I mumbled and started the vehicle before I made a fool out of myself. The urge to talk with Charlotte was too strong, and I had to follow Cecily's advice since she was a woman.

I was waiting for Cecily on the front porch of her house since I wanted to know everything. It was late in the evening, but she was not yet home. She told me she would not get off with Charlotte and that I didn't need to wait for her at the bus stop.

"Did you wait for me?" She asked when she arrived home.

"No, I wanted to inhale the fresh air," I lied, and she laughed as she sat on one of the patio chairs beside me.

"So, how was your trip with Charlotte?" I asked when I couldn't take it anymore, and her mischievous smile appeared. I should keep my mouth shut, but I couldn't wait to know if she convinced Charlotte to let me stay at her house.

"Well, I had fun with her, and I am sorry if I have to disagree with you, Jack, but Charlotte is a sweet young woman, and she is very friendly. I don't think your judgment was appropriate." She said, and I couldn't believe what I had heard.

"If you had met her before all of this happened, I am sure you would not be telling me this; she was showing you her good side because she is in dire need of money and food," I responded.

"Jack, don't say that; give her a chance; it would be unfair if you judge her by her past mistakes." Mario's sister said.

I opened my mouth to counter her, but I didn't want to upset Cecily and make her drive me away. I badly needed a place to stay near the manor, and her house was the perfect spot.

"Good night, Jack," she added and sat up and left me feeling guilty.

"Don't go to the manor and stop texting or calling her, and I know she will call you one of these days." She said as she stopped near the door.

"Why you seemed so sure about that?" I asked.

"Well, I felt bad for her since one of Hunter's men is following us while we submitted her application letters, and I am sure no one will hire Charlotte Divenson." She responded before she got inside.

I felt a pang in my chest as I remembered Cahrlotte's face, and I wanted to go to the Divenson estate and be with her; to give her comfort and tell her that I would be there for her, but I needed to stop my craziness before I lost this job.