Loving Madeline

Chapter 348: No Turning Back

Jack’s POV

I don’t know if I laughed or cursed after Charlotte turned her heels and left me standing in the kitchen, speechless. Her words shocked me, and I was pissed with her. I was curling my fists when Cecily got inside the kitchen.

"Is everything alright?" She asked, and I shook my head.

"I thought everything was under control, but your friend is unbelievable," I responded, and Cecily furrowed her forehead as she looked at me with confusion on her face.

"She came here and reprimanded me like a child. I am her business partner, Cel, not her helper." I responded.

"How could she tell me to stop entertaining our guests whenever they asked for the chef? It was my duty to face the customers, right?" I asked and narrated to her what happened.

"Why are you smiling like that?" I asked our friend, who was looking at me with a wide grin on her face.

"Can’t you read between the lines, lover boy?" She asked.

"I don’t understand what you mean," I replied since I didn’t follow her.

"Oh boy! I couldn’t believe you didn’t know she was jealous of those women who flirted with you." Cecily responded.

"Are you sure about that?" I asked.

"Of course I am." She responded with a mischievous smile; you better kiss her and end her misery.

"I don’t think kissing would resolve our issue, Cel. Charlotte is always angry with me." I insisted.

"I am sure a sweet kiss will do. It would be enough manifestation of how you feel for her, Jack. Charlotte was only jealous, and you have to stop her misery by doing what is right." Cecily said.

"Don’t doubt about anything, Jack. She likes you." She added, and I felt relieved but nervous.

"What is the right thing to do, Cel?" I asked, feeling unsure of what to do.

" I can’t believe the hottest chef in the country is asking me for love advice. This is crazy, but I love this moment, Jack; look at your face; you look like a schoolboy who is nervous about meeting his first love." Cecily teased me.

"Just follow what your heart tells you, Jack, and everything will be all right. You don’t need to sweat anything since Charlotte is already in love with you." She added.

"You don’t need to worry about her actions or those words she threw at you because it was merely because of her jealousy. You have to believe me." My friend continued.

"Okay, I admit, I am so confused right now that I wanted to go away just for a while and think things over," I responded, and she shook her head.

"That is a big no, Jack. Don’t do that, and she will only get angry with you if you will run away now. You have to face her and tell her how you feel," Cecily responded.

"Thank you, Cel. I admit, I feel so confused right now and don’t know what I will do without you," I stated, and she smiled.

"That’s what friends are for, Hot Chef," she replied with delight on her face.

"Come on, stop calling me that," I responded.

"Everyone calls you that; even our guests were asking for the hottest chef in the country," she continued teasing me, and I knew I was blushing good time.

"I better go to my room now. I wished to speak with her, but I am sure she would only shun me." I declared.

"Yes, give her time to make her temper evaporate; tomorrow morning is the best time to speak with her. I could tell she avoided you since she hadn’t left her office. I haven’t seen her around." Cecily said.

"I know Charlotte was still upset with me. I was hoping you were right; what if she only wanted to protect her business and not because she was jealous of me," I answered.

"Come on, Charlotte is a Divenson, and she is used to dining in the best restaurants in Alcois; she knew you have to face the customers if they ask for you; that’s how it works," Cecily responded.

"All you need to do is make her feel secure, Jack; that is what the heiress needs." She added.

"Okay, I just hope she will not get angry with me more. I hope she really likes me, too." I replied.

"You are doubting your appeal? Come on, have you seen those women? They are crazy about you and wish you would give them your slightest attention while they are here in Barcelonia." Cecily declared.

"I could say it is good for the business, but it seems like the owner doesn’t like it; she doesn’t want to share," she added and laughed, and I couldn’t stop laughing with her, hoping she was right.

I went straight to my bedroom after my heart-to-heart talk with Cecily and took a hot shower. I put on my sweatpants and sleeveless tank top. I lay on my bed for a long time since I couldn’t stop thinking about Charlotte.

It felt so easy to follow what Cecily had advised me to do, but I realized as I looked at the ceiling it was harder than I thought. With Madeline, it was painful, but it was clear she didn’t like me at all since she told me right away her heart only belonged to Hunter Divenson.

For the second time, I fell in love, and I am grateful for this chance, but it was hard since Charlotte was giving me mixed signals; there were times I could tell she liked me, especially the kisses we shared. She kissed me back without hesitation; she didn’t slap me, which meant she liked it too.

But most of the time, she is angry with me, which infuriates me. And Cecily was right, and I needed to do something about us, or I would go crazy. I told her I could wait, but I can’t anymore. I want Charlotte to accept me as her boyfriend.

And if she rejects me, I don’t have a choice but to pack my bags and leave Barcelonia and pay back Hunter for the breach of contract and say goodbye to my dream of expanding my restaurant chain.

I woke up early the following morning to have my early run, and I didn’t expect to find one of the guests named Jen running on the fields, and she joined me in my morning run. And I couldn’t believe my luck when we rounded the corner and came across Charlotte.

Best timing ever; her face turned sour the moment her gaze landed on us, but she quickly smiled at Jen and greeted her with too much enthusiasm, showing her professionalism. It was just great, and I was standing there beside Jen like an idiot.

The worst thing I did was to convince my boss to allow Jen and her company to extend their stay. I only wanted to help her generate additional income for her business without realizing she hated the idea of extending their stay.

It was clear to me now that Charlotte was jealous of those girls; Cecily was right. I wished to speak with Charlotte, but I got busy preparing their food, and she avoided me again.

I couldn’t stay away since the guests requested me to deliver their food and explain to them the menus personally. I knew they were buying time to speak with me, and I didn’t care at all, but Charlotte’s reaction bothered me. I hope she would understand that I was doing all this for our business.

When the night came, and she didn’t show up at the dining room to eat dinner, I made the decision to go into her room and invade her privacy.

I knocked on her door and got worried when she didn’t answer. I was about to leave when her door opened, and my eyes widened as I looked at her in her night dress. It looked decent, but I could see her perfect curves beneath her flimsy gown, and the beast inside me roared.

I wanted this woman, and I love all about her, including her flaws. I was enchanted by her beauty. Charlotte’s words contradicted the longing that I could see in her eyes. She wanted me to.

Charlotte tried to drive me away, but I could no longer stop myself from claiming her mouth. It felt so wonderful to taste her soft lips against mine. Her resolve melted as I curled my arms around her tiny waist without breaking our kiss.

She tried to get away from me, but I was determined to win her heart. I continued to devour her sweet lips, and when she kissed me back, I knew there was no turning back for both of us.

I was still kissing her as we got inside her room, and I used my right foot to close the door. Our kiss became so intense that I couldn’t remember how we ended up on her bed.

"Jack, wait!" She said with panic in her voice as she pushed my chest. Her face turned bright red as she sat on the bed looking at me.

"I am sorry, Charlotte," I said as I held her hands and slowly pulled her up with me.

"I can’t wait another day not to tell you how I really feel. I can’t fight this feeling anymore," I added.

"I am helplessly falling for you, and I understand if you have your doubts or if you will drive me away, but I can’t let this night end without telling you how much I feel for you," I continued.

"I love you, Charlotte, and please be my girlfriend," I stated with a trembling voice, and her face lit up as she raised her hands and cupped my face with a beautiful smile on her face.

"I will not drive you away, Jack. I feel the same way, too," she said as she tiptoed and kissed me on the lips.