Charmed by the Billionaire CEO

Alice watched him stand casually without reacting, which sank her heart.

"If you want, you can scold me. Put brain in my head, punch me-" she stopped and watched him arch his brow.

"Ahem... I mean, think this punching bag as me and pour all your anger on it until you are ready to listen to me," she said and again lowered her head.

Noah found her way of apology too weird. Who on earth would’ve thought Alice would come up with this idea and bring him to the gym so that he could vent all his anger against her on this poor punching bag?

’How on earth did he fall for a clueless soul’ Noah sighed and walked to her, making her look up and meet his eyes.

"Why are you so desperate for my forgiveness Alice?" his voice was calm, but it was enough to stir her mind.

’Why?’ she asked herself while her eyes tried to find the answer in his grey ones.

Alice knew she liked him as a friend and his presence gave her peace. But after last night, she started to feel more than a friendship for him.

The way his alluring lips tempted her and how without any second guess, she tasted it made her feel a spark within herself. The way she was desperate to make a move further than a kiss, even when she never once had sex in her life, made her question her claim.

’Was he just a friend she liked, or was it more than that?’ Alice suddenly felt her body stiffen. There was no way she would come to like him that way. She had sealed all her feelings because she knew it didn’t bring any good to her.

Her eyes fluttered, trying to speak, but she couldn’t answer him. It should’ve been easy for her to say that she wanted to be his friend, but she couldn’t utter a word when her thoughts began to shake.

Taking a step back from him, she composed herself. No, she couldn’t have any such kind of feeling for him. She had long forbidden them from invading her peaceful life.

Noah observed her ignoring meeting his gaze. He was expecting her to speak what she felt for him and not label their relationship as only friendship when he felt something more than that brewing between them.

"Tell me, Alice? Why are you so desperate to gain my forgiveness" he again questioned, and this time, he took a step toward her.

Alice could feel her heart race because of the closeness, making her fall weak. Her eyes started to well, and she held her arms tightly until they turned red.

She was finding it hard to breathe when the memory of her past flashed in her mind, and she started trembling.

Noah was alarmed by the sudden change in her behaviour, and something clicked in his mind.

’Panic attack’

Horror crawled in his heart; he pulled her into a bone-crushing her even more before she could harm herself.

Alice kept shivering even when his hold around her tightened. ’No, the past can’t repeat. She can’t make a fool out of herself again’ Alice’s mind was in chaos while tears kept streaming down her cheeks.

She closed her eyes, trying to stop that creepy feeling surge. She couldn’t go through that again. She tried to shove them, but it started playing in her mind until she heard Noah’s soothing voice next to her ear, and she froze.

"Alice... relax", Noah called her gently, knowing she wasn’t in the right state.

The day he learned about her sleeping disorder, the doctor told him about her suffering from nightmares that had deeply engraved in her heart, and sometimes she ended up harming herself.

Her body relaxed in his embrace while his words kept ringing like a soothing melody, and she closed her eyes, falling limp in his arms.

****

Gwen was waiting for Karl a few distances from the office building, making sure her brother would still find her outside the company.

She was still upset with Tristan for ruining their breakfast and calling Karl for an important job. She wanted to join them as she was the assistant too, but her brother forbade her from that meeting which pissed her even more.

Like a jobless lady, Gwen began playing with her legs swaying and waiting for Karl’s arrival when she heard a honk and her mood brightened.

She quickly raised her head to see the person but stiffened, and her smile froze when she saw Tristan’s car next to her.

"Gwen, what are you doing, standing here alone, and where is your car," Tristan asked, looking at his sister, who looked at him like she had seen a ghost.

Looking at the time, he then looked back at her," Get in. I will drop you home. I am heading there too," he said and opened the door for her to hop in.

"I was too waiting for the driver to arrive", she lied and stepped into the car.

Gwen couldn’t let Tristan know about her and Karl’s relationship. She couldn’t put Karl into a difficult position when he had asked for some time.

She closed the door and turned to see Tristan, who got busy with his phone. She, too, texted Karl and informed him about her departure before her brother caught her chatting with his assistant.

Clicking the send button, she sent the text and immediately kept her cell phone in her bad watched the car move out from the company’s gate.

Karl rushed out of the building when his phone buzzed and saw it was Gwen’s message. Reading the text, he heaved a sigh and raised his head only to see the car drive away.

"Sigh!! It’s so hard to date my boss’s sister" Karl dropped his shoulder in defeat and turned to head towards his car.

****

Noah’s apartment

Bringing the fainted Alice into his house, Noah immediately called the doctor to check on her.

"It was a panic attack. Luckily she stopped herself from breaking down and passed out as soon as she composed if not, she would have had a stroke" listening to the doctor’s words, Noah’s eyes widened in shock.

"I am prescribing some medicines. Make sure she takes them and does not stress herself" the doctor gave him the prescription and left from there.

Noah walked towards the bed and sat next to Alice’s sleeping figure. Gently holding her hand, he looked at her pale face, which made him feel miserable even to get angry with her.

"I’m sorry," he said and leaned down to kiss the back of her palm when something irked him.

Her behaviour in the gym had left him with many questions he wanted to ask her.

But watching her current state, he held back, hoping he would ask her when she was fully awake.

****

Karl’s apartment

"I am sorry, I couldn’t fulfil even one promise" Karl slumped on the couch and heaved a defeated sigh.

After getting a text from Gwen, he returned home and got fresh when he received a call from Gwen.

"It’s okay. I could understand. It’s not like you did it purposely" Gwen wasn’t angry with him because she knew what it meant to be an assistant to her brother.

"Anyways, let’s not get upset with it. We have our entire life to have breakfast together," Gwen tried to change the topic.

"I know", he came out of his mouth with ease, which somehow made Gwen swell with happiness.

"So you agree with me," she asked.

"Yes..." he again said without pondering on her words carefully.

"Hmm... so you also think we have our entire life to spend and have our meals together" her words then struck in his mind, and he started to cough.

Gwen grinned and so wanted to see his flushed face. She knew he only agreed with her without paying attention to her words earlier, and now when he did, he was embarrassed.

"Karl" she called his name, but he didn’t answer.

Karl was feeling a sudden heat on his cheeks. He didn’t hear it before, but now that she had rephrased it, he felt giddy. Their being together the entire life felts so blissfully that he starts imagining their future together.

"Hmm... I am listening," he said, brushing his face and trying to ease his pounding heart.

"You didn’t answer me," she asked, and this time he felt shyer.

He doubted he could keep up with her frank behaviour and open flirting. She spoke whatever she had in her mind, flattering him until he felt his stomach churning.

"I am waiting..." she said from the other side, breaking his composure.

"Gwen... I... don’t..." he stuttered, trying to answer her when he heard her laugh.

"Ow... Karl, you are so adorable" Gwen laughed at his struggle. She could tell he was so flattered by her that he was suddenly feeling shy.

Karl pouted, listening to her laugh and heard," You don’t have to say anything because I know we are going to spend our life together because now, I don’t intend to leave you" her words were severe with the glint of determination in them, and that was enough for him get knocked.