Loving Madeline



Charlotte's POV

"So, are you okay with my idea?" Cecily asked.

"Yes, of course, I haven't thought about it; you are a genius, Cel. I really loved it," I responded, then my face fell.

"What is wrong?" She asked when she noticed the expression on my face.

"Nothing, it is just if I will proceed with our plan. I have to call my brother and ask his permission." I answered.

"Come on, Char. Hunter is your brother, and you told me he is a good person; you couldn't stop being envious of him." She replied.

"Yeah, I don't like to reach out to him. I hate him for freezing my cards." I replied as I pouted my lips.

"Hey, I am sure Hunter only wanted you to learn from your mistakes, and he was teaching you a lesson. Believe me, Charlotte, when you surpass all this, I am certain you will thank your brother." Cecily responded.

"No, I will never thank him," I answered.

"I know you are not like that," she mumbled, and my face softened. Cecily could really make me calm down, and I like her for being with me. She makes me feel like I am really a good person.

"I will try," I softly said, and she beamed at me.

"You will call him now if you want to realize your dream; you will run your own resort. Who knows, Hunter will finance you someday once you show him your determination, and you can build a five-star hotel someday, and you will be the president." Cecily said excitedly.

"You want to have your own business, right?" She asked, and I nodded my head.

"But I know nothing about running a hotel," I replied.

"I will help you. You don't need to worry about anything; for now, all you have to do is make a single call." She declared.

"What if he will not answer my call?" I asked.

"You have to call him again; he is a busy man, and you know that. Be patient. I am sure your brother will take your call." She responded.

"Why do you feel so confident he would answer me?" I asked.

"I may not know your brother personally, but I could tell he is a good person. He married Madeline, who came from nothing; he didn't know at first that she was an actual heiress, but it didn't stop him from marrying her." Cecily declared.

"He could have married someone from the elite family in Archois, but he chose him because he had a good heart." She added.

"You didn't know his intention at first; he only did it to anger my parents," I replied.

"Whatever reason he had, the fact that he fought his love for Maddie was amazing, and I am falling in love with him, too." She stated, and I laughed.

"Now, do it," she added as she handed me my phone, and I could feel the trembling of my hand as I took it from her.

"Hello, Charlotte. Are you okay?" Hunter answered right away, and I didn't expect him to take my call with one ring. And I could feel the worries in his voice.

"Yeah, I am fine even if I have nothing left," I responded sarcastically while Cecily shook her head.

"Look, I am sorry if I have to be hard on you. I was only doing all this for your sake." He replied.

"I know," I mumbled, and he sighed softly.

"You do?" He asked.

"Yes, of course, I knew I was such a bitch, and you hated me for hurting your wife. I am really sorry, Hunter. I came to realize what I had done to Maddie and you." I replied.

"I had been heartless. I listened to Kaye; she poisoned my mind, and I believed in her." I added.

"I have forgiven you. Do you need money?" He asked, and the old Charlotte would say yes right away. But I am now a different woman. I wanted to stand on my own.

"No, I have to survive on my own and show you and our family that I deserve a second chance. I have to work hard to achieve what I want in my life. I want mom to be proud of me." I said.

"Oh, Charlotte, I don't know what to say." My brother responded.

"Just say yes," I responded, and he laughed, and I realized how much I missed my elder brother.

"I don't know what you asked that I should say yes," he responded with confusion.

"I need something from you to start my own business," I said.

"Okay, how much do you need?" He asked.

"I don't need your money, just your approval. I want to turn this place into an exclusive resort," I said and discussed my plans with him.

"Okay, you have my approval, and good luck; there is only one thing I want to ask from you." He replied, and I suddenly felt nervous.

"What do you want?" I asked.

"I will be the first guest to rent the entire place." He said, and I smiled.

"Are you serious?" I asked, and he chuckled.

"Of course I am; just tell me when it will be available," my brother replied.

"You are busy," I said.

"I will find time for you, sis," he responded, and I kept my tears at bay. It felt like music in my ears when I heard Hunter call me Sis; it meant a lot to me.

"So, I could tell it is a yes?" Cecily said and nodded. Then, we were both jumping and screaming.

"Now, we need to hire a good chef," she added. I was thinking about Jack, but I didn't tell her about the hot chef I was crushing with, and I will never lower my pride and ask him to help me.

I felt so ashamed that I drove him away, and I couldn't ask him to stay, for he might think I was only using him.

"I don't know where to find a good chef here in Barcelonia," I replied.

"Don't worry. I handle the recruitment, and I know someone who might interested in the job." She responded.

"Really?" I asked.

"Yes, and I think you will like him too; he is young and too handsome to be a chef. He could be a celebrity." She responded, and I wanted to tell her I had someone in my heart already.

"Okay, I will leave it to you," I replied.

"I can be your first employee. I will resign from my job and help you." Cecily declared.

"No, don't resign; what if this business will fail?" I asked, and she only smiled at me.

"Don't worry. I am sure my boss will take me back when I beg him to take me back." She answered, and I looked at her with wide eyes.

"Don't worry about me, Charlotte. I will be fine." My friend assured me.

"I already texted the chef, and he invited us to eat dinner with him at the capital." She said as we stated the furniture in the living room.

"Wow, that is fast," I replied.

"Of course, leave everything to me," she proudly said, and I was smiling as we continued cleaning the house. I don't feel tired at all since I was looking forward to meeting with the chef cook. And I was hoping Cecily's friend would say yes.

"Wow! You looked so beautiful," Cecily said the moment I opened the door for her.

"You told me to dress something nice to make the chef say yes," I replied after I closed the door.

"You have a car?" I asked and smiled at her.

"I borrowed it from my brother. I am not sure what time we will be finished talking with the chef, so I have to make sure we have a service." She responded.

"Send my thanks to your brother," I said.

"No need. I told him I have a date," Cecily responded, and I laughed.

I climbed into the passenger seat and realized I had missed driving so much, and I wished I had money to ask some mechanic to come over and look at the car. I need a car if I will have my own business.

"Do you know a mechanic around here?" I asked.

"Of course, I've got connections," she responded.

"When I have the money, I want to use one of the cars in the garage, but I don't have the money yet to pay for the expenses," I replied.

"I know someone; he doesn't charge much. Maybe I can ask him to look at your car tomorrow. Maybe there is nothing wrong with your car, or I can ask him if he has a spare battery. I am sure the battery of the car is the only problem." She declared.

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"It is possible, and let us hope for the best," she answered, and I nodded as I leaned back on my seat as Cecily drove away from the manor.

"Wow, he is inviting us to one of the expensive restaurants in Barcelonia. Are you sure he will pay for our dinner?" I asked, and Cecily laughed.

"Of course, don't worry, you are not going to pay for anything." She responded as we walked inside the restaurant.

My stomach was crumbling since we didn't eat snacks because we were having dinner. I missed dining in fancy restaurants like this, and I couldn't stop smiling until the waiter brought us to our table. My eyes widened in surprise as I was face to face with the handsome chef who looked so hot with his denim pants and plain white t-shirt, no other than Jack Morigan.