Chapter 4 The Sneak

"Mr. Chase, Penelope said as she approached Chase, walking down the stairs. Your wife asked me to give you this, sir, she said, handing him a letter that Charlotte had previously written.

"What is it?" he asked, examining the letter.

No clue, sir. She ordered me to give it to you as soon as you came down, Penelope replied, her head slightly bowed.

"You can go," he dismissed her, continuing to study the letter as he walked back upstairs.

*****

Are you finally warming up to Mr Thompson, sir? David asked as he drove Charlotte's parents home.

Nothing like that. I just want to humor her, Chase said, rereading the letter Charlotte had left for him for the umpteenth time. As his car pulled into the compound, he heard a scream from inside the house.

"Busy house," Chase remarked as he got out of the car. He approached the door and knocked, but no one answered. "Please!" he heard Charlotte cry from within, prompting him to open the door immediately.

"Stop!" he shouted as he entered the room. "Stand behind me," he instructed Charlotte, who managed to get up and position herself behind him.

Charlotte's parents looked at Chase in surprise, clearly not expecting his presence. Mrs. Thompson quickly dropped the needles she was holding and stepped back in shock.

"What are you doing to my wife?" Chase snapped.

Please have a seat, sir. I didn't expect to see you here today, Mr. Thompson lied with a forced smile.

"I asked you what you were doing to my wife," Chase repeated, his eyebrows furrowing.

Nothing, Mr. Benjamin," Mrs. Thompson said. "We were just disciplining our daughter; it's not a big deal," she added, smiling nervously and wondering how much he had seen.

Chase turned to look at Charlotte keenly. Her hair was down and a bit messy. "Did they hurt you?" he asked gently.

"No," Charlotte replied, her eyes red from crying.

"You have just disrespected me by hurting my wife," Chase said, grabbing her hand. No one except me can punish her. The next time you hurt her, you will have to answer to me. He then led Charlotte out of the house.

*****

"Drive," he ordered as he helped Charlotte into the car.

"Why did you come, sir?" she asked, still shaken from the pain.

"You asked me to," he replied, looking out the window with his arms crossed.

"I thought you wouldn't come," she said in a small voice, glancing at him before sinking back into her seat. As her back touched the chair, she winced in pain.

"Turn around," he ordered. She looked at him, confused and wondering if she had done something wrong again. He squinted at her coldly, and she quickly turned to face the other window of the car.

She heard him let out a deep breath, and then she felt him moving closer. Suddenly, he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her closer to him.

"I said turn around, not move to a different country," he said, his face just inches from her neck.

Chase looked at her, noting how her hair rested on her back. He gently moved her hair aside and unbuttoned the back of her shirt. Uncomfortable and not expecting this, she shifted uneasily.

"Stop moving," he commanded, and she settled back down. He opened her shirt and found the needle scars on her back. " Who did this to you? Chase asked, observing it.

My ...parents'' Charlotte replied, knowing lying would be useless at this point.

Chase lightly brushed his hand on her back, touching each scar, only avoiding the ones that looked recent."And they were going to do it again a while ago?" He asked. Charlotte and nodded.

" What is the reason for this? He asked again out of curiosity. Charlotte didn't say anything. She just winced in pain as he touched the scars that still hurt.

He buttoned her shirt back up and placed her hair on her back. "Sit properly", he ordered, and she obeyed immediately.

As they got home, all the housekeepers stood to greet them. I will get a doctor's test in your room. He'll be with you soon", Chase said, without looking at her.

Charlotte nodded and also turned around. Hello Ceecee '', a voice said in a playful tone. Charlotte looked around and realized it was coming from upstairs. She looked up and found a woman in Chase's shirt and shorts, and it revealed her toned shapely thighs with long slender legs.

Were you in my room? He asked.

"Ceecee? You can at least say hi. Are you mad at me for not visiting sooner? She said, walking seductively down the stairs. "I have been married to my work and I couldn't leave out of the blue." She said as she walked and attempted to hug him.

He quickly put his hand on her head to stop the hug. " Marry your work, your pillow, or a snake for all I care. How does that concern me? He said, pushing her away. "This is my wife, Mia," he said, pulling Charlotte closer. Elizabeth looked at Charlotte as if she couldn't believe her ears.

"You got married?" Elizabeth asked, holding Chase's arm. She had always thought she and Chase would end up together, but now he'd married without her knowing.

"Hello, Elizabeth," Charlotte said, relieved that the woman who might help her avoid performing marital duties had finally appeared.

Elizabeth was at a loss for words, her world crumbling before her eyes.

Chase noticed his shirt on Elizabeth. "Don't go into my room without asking again," he said coldly. I accommodate you because my father ordered it. Finish your business and leave. Ask Penelope to show you to your room, he added as he walked away.

"Mia!! He called as he walked upstairs. She and she quickly ran after him.

Elizabeth watched Charlotte walk behind Chase, her heart racing. She couldn't believe it, she didn't want to believe it. Her whole world crumbled.

*****

It was the first time she had entered his room. It was much larger than hers, a sleek minimalist space with walls painted in a deep shade of gray, adorned with textured wallpaper. "Sit," he said, gesturing to his bed. Charlotte obeyed immediately, sitting quietly and watching him without a word. She observed him keenly, wondering why he had invited her in. She closed her eyes as she realized he was taking off his shirt.

Elizabeth walked upstairs to see Chase. He heard one of the maids stop her from going into her room. He threw the shirt he was trying to put on the bed. He moved over to Charlotte, raised her from the bed, and put her on his lap. She tried to get up, but he pinned her down.