<spanng="EN">Analise’s POV


    <spanng="EN">My eye flew towards the mirror, but he had turned in the seat and had his piercing blue eyes focused on me. Frustration was all over his face, but he sounded hurt when he finally asked, “Why did you call thepany and try to have me changed out? Why are you trying to avoid me?”


    <spanng="EN">“I didn’t want you to feel forced to work with me anymore. I know that Gwen forced you into helping out. I didn’t want you to be forced into doing it again. I’m sorry that you were ced in that position. It wasn’t my intention to use either of you like that. I will get Gwen to apologize to you as well. It won’t happen again. I don’t want you to get in trouble at the security firm.” I stated before averting my eyes again.


    <spanng="EN">“Gwen didn’t force us to do anything. It was our choice, and I volunteered to work with you,” Charlie told me, and smiled when my eyes flew back to his. His low chuckle was doing things to me.


    <spanng="EN">“I need to go up, please,” I replied. I didn’t want to get into this right now. Not when I’m about to go and bare my soul to the therapist.


    <spanng="EN">“Say my name,” Charlie demanded.


    <spanng="EN">“Please, Charlie, I need to go up,” I said after a minute–long stare down.


    <spanng="EN">“That’s my girl,” Charlie said as he unlocked the doors and turned the SUV off.


    <spanng="EN">“I’m not your girl,” I muttered.


    <spanng="EN">“Maybe not yet, but you will be,” Charlie said as he approached to escort me. His hand on my lower back felt more possessive than anything else. Neither of them has touched me to conduct their duties until the photo shoot. That’s when everything changed.


    <spanng="EN">We were quiet as we headed up. I would have preferred for them to stay in the lobby, but they refused. It was hard enough to reach out for help, as there’s a stigma attached to anyone who seeks help, but why? I never asked to be bullied. I never asked for them to do what they did to me. They were the ones at fault. I was just trying to piece myself back together.


    <spanng="EN">They said nothing as we entered or while I filled out my paperwork. I deliberately sat at the lone chair in the room, leaving the sofa for them to sit at either end. Except Charlie didn’t sit on the couch; he stood directly behind my chair. Drew shot him a look, but sat on the couch. Where he could watch out for us. No one would see him until they fully entered the room. I turned my paperwork in and sat back down to wait.


    <spanng="EN">Charlie came closer to me now that I was done filling out the paperwork. I appreciated him giving me privacy, but he was now hovering over me. I knew he wanted to say something. But he knew I was actively ignoring him. I didn’t want to have this discussion in front of Drew or thedy watching him from the receptionist’s desk. She was practically undressing Charlie with her eyes, and I didn’t like it. I knew the moment I was called back, she was going to flirt with him.


    <spanng="EN">The only positive about it was that at least I wouldn’t have to witness it y out in front of me. Small blessing that was. When the doctor called me back, I didn’t want to go. I had just gone over this recently, but I didn’t want to keep having nightmares. I also didn’t want to have to battle anxiety or depression again.


    <spanng="EN">“We’ll be here when youe out. It’s okay,” Charlie shortly told me.


    <spanng="EN">I headed to the door and turned back to look at him. He nodded at me and sat down in my chair to let me know he would be waiting for me when I returned. I entered with hesitation, but knew I needed to do this. The doctor was kind to me. She didn’t dive right into it. She asked questions and let me control the speed of the session. I liked that she actually listened to me. When she asked me what had brought me here, I answered truthfully. I told her what Roger had done and about what he nned to do to me.


    <spanng="EN">I then told her about the assault Tiffany had inflicted on me on Sunday night, and that my nightmares were back. I didn’t want to allow Tiffany to be able to mentally scar me again. She let me speak, asionally asking me a question to rify.


    <spanng="EN">When our time was almost up, she spoke, “I see you don’t want to be put on any medication. I agree. You seem to be doing a good job atpartmentalizing everything. I think it would be beneficial for you to return and share your experiences. I also know that you probably only scratched the surface of what happened in order to keep from upsetting your family. I think one session a week, until you have a better handle on this, will work. I think that you’ve done so much to protect your family. It’s clear that despite what you were put through in high school. You still wanted their friendship to remain,” she advised.


    <spanng="EN">She studied me for a little while before saying, “I think being able to get this off your chest, in a no–judgement space, was a good idea on your part. When would be a good time for you to return?” she asked.


    <spanng="EN">I was surprised that an hour had passed so quickly. I had needed this. I quickly set my next appointment and headed for the door. Charlie was out there, but Drew was gone, which was weird. Charlie got up with a smile and held his hand out to me. I didn’t take it. We needed to set some boundaries. But as soon as I passed, he stepped forward and opened the door for me, before cing his hand gently on my back, as we headed for the elevator.


    <spanng="EN">“Where’s Drew?” I asked as we exited the lobby, and I still didn’t see him.


    <spanng="EN">“He left. It’s you and me today, love. I’m taking you to lunch, and then to see Attorney Griggs. He sent a message that he needed to see you,” Charlie replied.


    <spanng="EN">He led me to the SUV and opened the front passenger door for me. “I usually sit in the back,” I said with a frown.


    <spanng="EN">“I can’t reach you in the back. So you need to sit near me, in case of emergency,” Charlie replied smoothly. He seemed to have all the answers today.


    <spanng="EN">“I don’t feelfortable up here. I would rather sit in the back,” I told him when he got into the driver’s seat.


    <spanng="EN">“I know, but you’ll just have to get over it today. Drew has to work a special detail tonight, so he got sent home. I’m sorry that he’s missing. I assure you that I will keep you safe. Scout’s honor,” he said. He then held his arm up, with his thumb and pinkie together, and his other three fingers extended straight up.


    <spanng="EN">“You were a Boy Scout?” I asked in disbelief.


    <spanng="EN">“I was, I made it all the way up to Eagle Scout. I’m sure my mother probably has my sash with all my badges sewn on it stored somewhere,” He told me as he drove out of the parking lot.


    <spanng="EN">“Is Italian okay with you?” He asked after a couple of minutes.


    <spanng="EN">“I love Italian,” I replied. Still confused as to why he’s taking me to lunch, and not straight to Rodney’s office.


    <spanng="EN">“You haven’t eaten muchtely. We need to eat, and I need to talk to you,” Charlie replied.


    <spanng="EN">“We can hit a drive–thru,” I replied. I knew what he wanted to talk about, and I would rather face the conversation either in this SUV, behind the window tint, or in my office. I didn’t need a group of people I don’t even know to see me get rejected.


    <spanng="EN">“No, you aren’t someone I want to hide. You are someone to show off, someone to treasure. It would be my honor to take you out. Please allow me to do that,” Charlie told me as we were stopped at the light.


    <spanng="EN">He was looking right at me, and he seemed to be telling the truth, but clearly, I’m not good at reading people.


    <spanng="EN">Someone honked behind us, and Charlie turned and started moving forward when he saw the green light.


    <spanng="EN">Roger used to do the same thing. Act like I was important, act like he cared, but it was all a lie. I don’t think that I’m strong enough to go through something like that again.


    <spanng="EN">“No pressure, Ana. I just want to talk to you. You ran off on me and then ghosted me. I just wanted to have a meal together, it’s just a few questions,” Charlie spoke again as he pulled into Benvenuto. I stiffened, as thest time I saw this ce was in the video of Roger and his group mocking me.


    <spanng="EN">“Can we go somewhere else, please?” I asked. I must have looked bad, because he pulled right back out of the parking space and left.


    <spanng="EN">“It has the best Italian in the city. Do you not like it there?” Charlie asked as he pulled out again and drove us closer to Rodney’s building. We stopped at a steak ce, and I let out the breath I was holding.


    <spanng="EN">“I’ll show you whyter. I don’t want anyone else to see or hear it,” I replied.


    <spanng="EN">“I’ll hold you to that,” he replied. The steak ce was a little busy, but he managed to get the hostess to seat us away from everyone else. We ced our order, and when she walked away, he asked. “I heard you liked Benvenuto. Will you tell me why you have an issue with it now?”


    <spanng="EN">“When we get back to the SUV, I’ll show you. It was the video Holden sent me. The one where I found out Roger went and got married to keep me from being able to legally marry him,” I quietly answered him.


    <spanng="EN">The server came with our drinks and a bread basket. She smiled at Charlie the whole time, ignoring me. I was d when she walked away. I was getting pretty pissed at her attempts to flirt. No matter how many times he shut her down, she persisted.


    <spanng="EN">“What did you want to talk about?” I asked when she finally walked away.


    <spanng="EN">“Would you date me, Ana? Go out, be exclusive? I think you’re the one, but I want to make sure you want to be with me, too. Our kiss was one of the best ones I’ve ever had. I could tell you’re inexperienced, but you’re passionate. I’ve liked you since I met you. Unlike Holden and Roger, I knew you were a treasure. I don’t want to let you slip out of my hands. So, will you date me, officially?” Charlie asked.


    <spanng="EN">At first, I was truly stunned. Too stunned to even answer him. “I would, but my father isn’t going to allow it. He values our name, he wants to choose who I date,” I carefully replied.