Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Juniper lunged forward in panic, clamping her hand over Daniele’s mouth before she could dig herself deeper.
“Mr. Charrington, I am so sorry–she’s completely hammered. ease don’t take anything she says seriously” Juniper couldn’t even bring herself to look at David’s thunderous expression as she tried dragging her friend away.
But Danielle wasn’t having it. She broke free and grabbed David sleeve, her inhibitions thoroughly dissolved. “You’re way too pretty to be standing around. Have another drink with me, andsome. I’ve already paid for your time tonight.”
Oh god, Danielle, you precious disaster, Juniper’s mind raced. Of all the people to drunk–flirt with, you pick the human equivalent of a nuclear warhead?” She risked a glance at David’s face, which had darkened to dangerous levels..
His usually unflappable friends watched the scene unfold with a mixture of shock and poorly concealed amusement. None of them could remember the last time anyone dared speak to him this way.
David studied the drunk girl before him, taking in her flushed cheeks and wine–stained pout, the sweet scent of alcohol on her breath.
He’d noticed her the moment she walked in, something about her catching his predatory attention. When that thug approached her, his hands had itched to break bones before he even realized why.
Danielle fumbled with her car keys before pressing them into his chest, then lifted her arms expectantly. “Carry me home,
handsome
“Sorry about this–my friend’s completely out of it.” Juniper started to do damage control, but David had already scooped Danielle up like she weighed nothing.
“Wait… Mr. Charrington, where are you going?” Juniper chased after them.
The club manager had already cleared the place at David’s signal when Danielle started her drunken rambling. Only his
inner circle remained.
“Hold up.” Joshua gaped. “Since when does David have a thing with this girl? Never even seen him with women. And the way she treated him? How is he not livid?”
“Um, Mr. Charrington, Juniper ventured nervously, just help me get her to the car. We’ve got a driver coming.”
“No. Just tell me the address,” he commanded, his tone brooking no argument.
“Wait, what? I’m her best friend and suddenly I’m the third whee Danielle, girl, you’re really something else–passing out in some stranger’s arms like it’s nothing? Juniper wondered helplessly.
“Mr. Charrington,” she tried again, “let her crash at my place. Her family will freak if she comes home this wasted this late.”
“Get in the car too. Address. I’ll have someone return your car tomorrow,” David said. His tone left no room for argument, so Juniper reluctantly gave him her address.
The next morning, Danielle woke to unfamiliar surroundings, her head fuzzy. “Where am I?‘ she wondered.
“Get yourself hydrated; Juniper said, handing her a cup of water
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Chapter 11
“You brought me back here!” Danielle peered at Juniper.
“Want to take a wild guess what you did last night? Maybe jog tha memory a bit,” June smirked.
The phone rang, interrupting Danielle’s attempts to piece together the night.
“Sweetie, coming home for breakfast? Your Dad and I are waiting Vivian’s warm voice came through.
“No need to wait for me, Mom. I’ll grab something here at my friend’s place before heading back, Danielle replied sweetly.
“Alright honey. Drive safe
“Will do.”
After hanging up. Danielle turned to Juniper with growing dread “Who was the person last night?”
“Oh, just David Charrington, CEO of Charrington Group and possibly the most dangerous man in the business world. You treated him like a high–end escort. It was quite a show, but he still drove you back,” Juniper replied.
“Gotta go. Danielle vanished at supersonic speed.
At Charrington Group, David summoned his right–hand man. “Nathan, full background check on last night’s woman. And make sure those thugs understand Soulfield is permanently off–limits to them.”
“Got it. You have a multinational conference call in thirty minutes. Also, the Waywood Club auction is tomorrow–they’ve got the Crimson Lily listed,” Nathan Ross reported professionally
Meanwhile, after leaving Juniper’s place, Danielle sent a message to Emery: [Need everything on my kidnapping 18 years ago.]
Emery: [Suspecting something specific?]
Danielle: [Yes.]
She never questioned it before, but
ince returning to the Darlings, things weren’t adding up. How did a kidnapper dodge all the security cameras and snatch her from a crowded party? Why zero leads after all these years?
The more she thought about it, the more it felt like an inside job–someone close to the family must have orchestrated the whole thing.
Emery: (I’m on it. If someone orchestrated this, made you suffer all these years… they’ll pay 1
Back at the Darlings‘ Treeside Villa, Audrey was performing concern with theatrical precision. “Mom, where’s Danielle? Don’t tell me she didn’t come home last night! Where did she sleep?”
“She stayed at a friend’s. It’s sweet that you’re worried about your sister,” Vivian replied with a smile.
But
she just got to Soulfield–what ‘friends‘ could she have? I hate to suggest anything, but… I worry about her lifestyle choices, being so new here. I’m sorry, Mom, I just want her to resist temptation.” Audrey’s face was a masterclass in calculated concern.
08:15 Thu, Jan 16
Chapter 11
“Sweetheart, don’t apologize. Danielle knows how to handle herself, Vivian replied, touched by what she thought was sisterly concern.
Arriving home, Danielle just rolled her eyes at Audrey’s performance. ‘Should’ve gone into acting with those skills, she thought dryly.
Audrey rushed over with her worried face firmly in place. “Danielle, where were you? We were so worried! I get it- everything’s new and exciting here, and you want to experience all.
“But you have to be careful. The Darling name means something. We can’t afford any scandals”
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Danielle’s eyebrows knitted together, her expression turning ice cold as she stared at Audrey. “Your imagination must be exhausting.”
