Charmed by the Billionaire CEO

Stepping out of the restaurant, Karl stopped midway before he turned to Gwen and asked, " Did you see her face"

Karl was quite surprised by Gwen’s boldness in handling the situation calmly, never giving Linda the chance to even degrade her.

He thought he had to step between them as he already sensed the situation heading in the wrong direction. He was worried Linda might upset Gwen once again with her insensitive words.

Gwen was being so active all of sudden made Karl want to drag her away from there, but he was glad that Gwen didn’t let them stay there any longer and found an excuse to get out there.

"She must be cursing me" Gwen scoffed feeling proud of herself.

She wanted to show Linda much more, but she did want her to have the chance to woo Karl.

She didn’t know why but had suspicious that Linda had some kind of liking towards him, as she could tell by the way she looked at him.

But because of her presence, Linda tried to suppress the urge. She wasn’t that stupid to not understand her gaze, and she could tell that it was her purpose to attempt to get close to Karl.

Karl could only let out a satisfied smile before he held Gwen’s hand and they walked away from there.

*****

Tristan stepped out of his study, heading towards his room when his eyes fell on Dante’s room as he walk past and stopped.

Turning, he stood in front of the door and knocked. He knew there wasn’t any formal need when it came to meeting his grandfather but Tristan knew Dante must be spending his alone time mentally preparing himself for the upcoming surgery.

"I hope I didn’t disturb you, grandpa," Tristan asked as he walked inside.

Dante was resting on his rocking chair, moving it back and forth, paused when he heard Tristan’s voice and he slowly opened his eyes.

"When did you become so formal, Tristan? Did the vacation in Country X took a toll on your brain" Dante teased him playfully and in return, he let out a chuckle.

"I was being nice, but guess you didn’t like it" Tristan’s words made the old man laugh. His grandson was being playful again and as always he didn’t mind it.

Dante had been spending most of his time inside his room, brushing off his nervousness.

Even though he had already prepared himself for the surgery still, the anxiousness inside his heart stayed a little. He only hope for a positive outcome, so he could spend the rest of his life with his people.

After spending some time with Dante, Tristan then returned to his room, only to find Ashley reading something.

"What’s that?" he asked walking to her and joining her on the couch.

" A script for a movie," Ashley said turning her attention towards Tristan.

Raising his brows in amusement, Tristan looked at the pile of papers in her hand and pouted," Do you have to read it now" he asked.

Sensing the hesitation in his actions, Ashley shook her head and kept back the paper on the side table saying," No, I don’t have to" facing him she raised her brow in asking.

Tristan shrugged his shoulder not understanding her hint and watched her move closer to him with her side resting on the backrest and her right arm moving to his shoulder.

"Did you watch the commercial already?" she asked fully understanding why he sounded so grumpy.

"Hmm, I like you in that," he said bringing her palm closer to his lips and kissing it continuing," But that man, I didn’t like him. He isn’t that handsome" his words lazily making Ashley chuckle with amusement.

"It was all his back that was visible in the video. How can you say he isn’t handsome, you haven’t even seen him" Ashley could smell the jealousy in Tristan’s words. She could feel that even in his actions.

Tristan glared at her when she defended the man and turned to face her," So you think he is handsome?" he asked getting cranky.

Ashley pursed her lips finding it quite amusing to see Tristan losing his cool over a person whom he didn’t even see.

"Ahah... I didn’t say anything. It’s only you who is finding him unattractive even though you haven’t seen his face" she tried to explain.

"I can say he isn’t that attractive even without seeing his face. I have very sharp eyes" Tristan exclaimed getting grumpy once again like a kid whose words weren’t taken seriously.

This time Ashley could hold back her laughter and burst only to receive a glare in return.

"Laugh as much as you want, but I know what I am saying is right" Tristan whined like a child, turning around and crossing his hand over his chest, ignoring her laughter.

After a contagious hilarity, Ashley finally calmed down slowly composing herself before she reached her hand and ruffled Tristan’s leg, finding his actions so adorable.

"You should be getting grumpy so easily Tristan and trust whatever you said isn’t the truth at least for the people who are finding him attractive even by looking just at his back," she said bringing up her cell phone and showing him the comment of the teenage girls who were going gaga over his little glimpse.

Tristan just rolled his eyes, and pushed the phone aside," I don’t care what others think about him but for you..." he stopped and pulled her onto his lap and said," But for you, it should always be me, The most attractive man. Do you get it" though his words weren’t serious since that was a gleam of warning lurking around them.

Wrapping her arms around his shoulder Ashley looked into those deep blue orbs and slowly leaned forward before pecking his lips." You will always be the most handsome and charming man in my life with whom I fell in love with!... Are you happy now" she asked.

Tristan’s lips curled up into a satisfied smile and he boobed his head like a child. "Happy..."

*****

Noah stopped the car when he and Alice reached the studio. It had been two days since she last met her mother and in those two days, she heard a lot of things that happened to them.

Her father’s company was on the verge of going bankrupt. No one was ready to help him and the entire news channel had the same info flashing all over. She was so disturbed that she distanced herself from work or meeting anyone. And just spend her time at home.

Noah stood by her side, comforting her and keeping her away from all the outside shit that was happening around the Keller’s.

"Are you sure you would be fine?" Noah asked plugging off his seatbelt and turning to face Alice.

"Hmm... I am good. You don’t have to worry so much Noah" Alice felt the concern lacing in his voice. So she passed him an assuring smile along with calming words.

Noah was still not convinced," Fine, I won’t stress but let me be with you," he asked her earlier if he could spend his time with her at her studio, but she was too reluctant to agree.

Without pushing it further that time, he asked her now when they were in front of her workplace.

Alice looked at Noah sadly. She knew why he was asking her permission and his concern was justified. Even she didn’t know how she would spend her time not thinking about things that happened in these two days.

If not for Noah by her side, she would have drowned herself in depression by recalling the past events.

Noah waited for her response and after a lot of thought, she finally nodded. "But only on one condition. You have to behave" she strictly warned him, very well knowing how he would try to distract her.

Noah let out a chuckle and bobbed his head in agreement," I promise to behave my lady" saying they both stepped out of the car and walked inside the studio.

As the couple entered the building, someone parked a car across the street and slide down the window watching them enter in.

Avera glared at the retreating back and fumed," She doesn’t seem to be bothered by her father’s company facing a crisis" turning her attention to the man sitting next to her she said.

Dylan smirked, looking at them before he averted his gaze at Avera." Now you understood why I told you that Alice isn’t the way she shows herself in front of others"

His eyes turned dark as he looked at Avera who pursed her lips and bobbed her head agreeing with him.

"I should have understood it before but was blinded by her kindness," she said recalling how Alice defended her man, disclaiming all the accusations she put on him.

She thought seeking help from her will stop Noah from targeting Dylan but she was wrong. They had already caused enough damage. If not for stubbornness, her father wouldn’t have helped her and also revenge on the Keller’s.

She thought that by targeting her parents, she would get even with Alice, but she seemed to be least bothered at all.