Charmed by the Billionaire CEO

"Because this doesn’t seem like you" Ashley opened the beer can and took a sip.

Alice knew it was useless to act normal in front of Ashley when she knew her inside out and it will only make her lie to her if she keeps ignoring her claims.

"People do change Ash... and it’s time for me to change too" Alice joined her while she kept ignoring her eyes.

Alice couldn’t argue because Ashley was right when she talked about her habit but that wasn’t related to her getting bothered by something. She wouldn’t have taken the privilege to even pick a spoon on her own but Noah’s face came flashing into her mind when he saw how messed up her house was.

Even though he didn’t voice his thoughts but she could tell that he must be thinking how unwomanly she was who didn’t even know how to keep her surroundings clean.

Ashley looked at Alice who turned quiet all of sudden, and shook her by her shoulder bringing her out from the trance.

"What are you thinking so much," she asked looking her daze look.

"Uh... it’s nothing" she brushed off her thoughts and enjoyed the drink with Ashley.

*****

Karl’s apartment

Entering his room Karl walked towards his bed and slumped down in tiredness. His mind couldn’t stop thinking about Luke’s behavior around Gwen when they went for lunch this afternoon.

Though it was a purely business-related meeting since he couldn’t ignore how Luke was trying to act around Gwen.

"Why does he have to be like a bee around Gwen" Karl closed his eyes in frustration and slammed his hand on the bed in anger.

It wasn’t just him but also Tristan who noticed Luke’s extra friendly behavior towards Gwen. As they walked out Tristan informed him to keep Gwen away from Luke. And why wouldn’t he ask so because he was her brother but why was he getting so bothered with Luke approaching over-friendly with Gwen.

Getting up from the bed in defeat he entered the bathroom to take a shower but stopped when his phone started to ring. He picked up the phone to see Gwen’s name flashing on it and he sighed.

Karl knew his mood wasn’t that pleasant and he didn’t want to sound rude to her. Keeping back the phone on the table he let it ring and entered the bathroom.

Inside her room, Gwen finally stopped pacing and slumped on the couch in defeat. She wanted to talk with Karl who was again ignoring her since morning and that kind of upset her.

Even when they went on lunch he didn’t even speak to her once and that make her think if he was upset with her again or something. But now, when she called him he wasn’t even answering her call which made her give up and she sighed closing her eyes.

It was so difficult to understand Karl’s behavior sometimes. He was like a closed book that didn’t want anyone to read him but even she was adamant to know what was bothering him.

Thinking for a while she stood up slamming her hand on either side of the couch and said with determination," If you don’t talk with me then I know how to reach you"

Gwen dashed out of the mansion and entered the car. After a lot of thinking, she finally came to this decision and she couldn’t stop herself from reaching his apartment.

Standing in front of his door she took a few deep breaths before she rang the bell. Her heart was pounding inside her chest because she didn’t know if coming here was the best thing she did but she couldn’t handle his ignorance.

She looked down at the ground tapping her feet in nervousness when the door opened and Karl stood in front of her.

Gwen stood like a statue looking at his after-shower look and she got completely mesmerized by his handsomeness. His half-wet hair fell on his forehead completely knocking her heart and she gasped before shutting her mouth.

"Miss Gwen, what are you doing here" Karl was surprised to see Gwen stand in front of him.

After she stopped calling him, he thought she got tired of him but he was wrong.

Gwen who stood there watching him broke her trance and her eyes turned stern," Why aren’t you answering my calls?" she asked pushing him away and entered the house.

"You know how weird you are Mr. Assistant" she turned and saw him stand there by the door in surprise.

"Are you going to stand there as a statue, answer me, Karl..." his frozen state compose when he heard his name from her mouth for the first and his heart bloomed with happiness.

Shutting the door close he walked toward her and stopped in front of her," You came here because I didn’t receive your call" startled by her visit Karl found him more surprised when she said the reason on her own.

His words baffled her and she opened and close her mouth like a dumb person. She didn’t know how to respond and kept standing there biting her lower lips.

Karl’s lips curled up finding her actions cute. He didn’t realize that he was smiling until she looked at him and nod her head.

"Y-you didn’t pick my calls and were even acting distant since morning" Gwen stuttered ignoring his intense gaze as she started feeling hot all of sudden.

Was this man always so intimidating, she thought as she could feel his eyes on her.

Karl tried to suppress his smile feeling shy all of sudden. Gwen was too cute to ignore and her actions around him made him smile a lot.

Gwen chewed the inside of her mouth waiting for him to say something but when he didn’t she finally looked up and saw him already staring at her," I-I think I should go" she said and turned to leave when Karl stopped her holding her wrist.

"Do you know your behavior sometimes confuses me, Gwen" Karl walked and stood in front of her but never let go of her wrist.

"You coming to my place just because I didn’t answer your call. What does that mean?" Karl had a serious look because he wanted to know why was she affected by his ignorance and why she always wanted him to talk to her.

Gwen felt her throat run dry with his question. How was she supposed to tell him that she liked him and him being ignorant of her always made her do things which she never imagined.

Karl took a step close to her and let go of her hand taking it to her chin as he lift her face," Tell me Gwen?" his voice sounded so soft that she felt herself getting melt into his tender words.

Gwen could see a thousand emotions swirling into his eyes as he bore into her making her feel ticklish. She knew if she didn’t tell him now then he would keep his distance from her and she didn’t want it.

Closing her eyes she took a deep breath and said," I like you Karl" her words left her mouth and her eyes opened looking deep into his shocked ones.

She didn’t know why but the look in his eyes scared her. Karl was the very first man who captured her heart with his kindness. He wasn’t like those who like to fool around and flirt with a woman. His caring and understanding side made her like him.

She remembered when she started to see him apart from her brother’s assistant. He was so generous and polite to her whenever they cross their paths. She didn’t realize when and how she started to feel for him. It wasn’t the time she became his assistant but it was way before she when she lost her heart to him.

Karl was shocked by her response and his hand under her chin fell looking at her in complete surprise. How can she like him, he wasn’t even her status. Rather he was her brother’s assistant who worked for them all these years.

How can she start seeing him like this? Karl didn’t want her to see him that way because he knew he wasn’t capable enough to provide her with the life she was now living.

"No, you can’t," he said and took a step back.

"You can’t like me, Gwen. It’s not right, I’m your brother’s assistant dammit" Karl didn’t face her because he knew she must be hurt by his words. But wasn’t he saying the truth?

He wasn’t capable of her. He was just a mere assistant who lived a normal life and he knew the difference between them.

Gwen’s eyes welled up when he said those words. She felt her heart rip when she saw how he brought their status.

"I didn’t see you that way, Karl. I knew from the beginning that you are my brother’s assistant and it doesn’t make any difference for what I feel for you" Gwen’s voice broke when she conveyed her feeling for him