Chapter 41
While Hudson was having a troubling heart–to–heart in Keith’s office, Neil handed Cherise her keys and everything else when they met at the lobby of the Regal Apartment.
“Neil, you are really efficient,” Cherise praised. She really couldn’t stop praising this assistant of hers… Or her brother’s assistant, to be exact.
Not only did he give her all the keys and passes, but he also handed her the deeds to the apartment and even led Logan and herself up to the penthouse as he had surveyed it before they arrived, courtesy of
Julian’s order.
“It is what I am paid to do, Miss Cherise,” Neil responded in his usual professional attitude and words.
“Do you have any other words to reply other than those?” Cherise couldn’t help but tease him.
Logan chuckled and ruffled Cherise’s hair. “Stop teasing him, Cherry. Can’t you see how red his ears
are?”
Cherise giggled while Neil quickly swiped the key card to the penthouse to hide his fluster. It was difficult to maintain his professional, stoic face in front of his new, beautiful, friendly, and teasing boss. God help him, he thought to himself.
When Cherise took a look at the penthouse, she squealed in delight, “Oh my God.
is gorgeous!”
Even though the penthouse was still empty of furniture, but the wall–to–ceiling windows allowed her to look at the city, and she knew it would be a sight to behold at night with the lights from the buildings and bustling streets.
The penthouse, of course, had an open plan floor, and there was already a granite kitchen island. The kitchen top was also made from granite, and the floor was covered by soft carpet. She could already envision how homey it would be once all the furniture was moved in.
She and Logan moved around the penthouse to see that it was actually a two–level penthouse. It was larger than she had imagined.
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There were two guest rooms on the first floor, and the upper floor was the main bedroom, complete with a vast en–suite wardrobe and bathroom with a large tub. She would be delighted to live here. Julian really knew her preference.
“Mr. Julian asked me to help you in choosing the furniture, Miss. Cherise,” Neil said once Logan and Cherise went back to what would be the living room.
Cherise thought about it for a while and smiled brightly at Neil, “I’ll let him decorate for me. He knows my preferences, and with your help, I can move here faster. I’ll tell him about it. You don’t need to do it.”
Neil nodded but had already made a mental note to let Julian know about Cherise’s choice.
“You are really a spoiled princess, aren’t you, Cherry?” Logan chuckled again and shook his head. “Asking your brother to do everything for you.”
“Oh, he loves it,” Cherise laughed. “And I know you’ll do anything for me too.”
“You are right about that,” Logan smiled gently at her. “You gave me life, and in return, my life is yours.”
“Drama queen.” Cherise rolled her eyes but she had a teasing smile on her face.
“Only for you,” Logan whispered and k*ssed her temple adoringly.
After they exited the penthouse, Logan frowned and looked at the opposite side of the apartment that housed the other penthouse.
“Who lives there?” he asked Neil.
the bridge of his nose. “The Regal
“No one so far,” Neil replied as he pushed up his glasses sitting on Apartment is still empty, except for a few tenants on some level downstairs, and they do not have access
to this floor.”
Cherise knew what Logan was worried about and wanted to say. She rolled her eyes and elbowed him lightly on his waist.
“Don’t ever think of putting b*dyguards on the floor below this one,” she warned.
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She knew Julian and Logan might just buy the whole apartment room on the floor below her and let b*dyguards live there to protect her.
“And don’t even think of moving also,” she added another warning. “You live in the Jennings Mansion, and Julian lives in the Alster Mansion. It is the best arrangement for now.”
Logan’s forehead creased even more. He didn’t like not knowing who would live across from Cherise and knew Julian wouldn’t like it either. He should talk to Julian about it.
“Furthermore, you do realize I was once a Taekwondo Junior champion, right?” Cherise asked with sparkling eyes. “I still can knock guys easily.”
“Oh yeah?” Logan asked with a raised brow. “It has been a long time, Cherry. And I’m sure you didn’t practice during the last three years.”
“You are doubting my ability?” Cherise gasped and raised her brows exaggeratedly. “Then let’s spar tomorrow, and I’ll show you my moves.”
Logan was about to decline, but in the end, he agreed because he needed to see if Cherise could protect herself just like she said.
“Deal. I’ll pick you up tomorrow,” Logan said, and they left the apartment together.
When Cherise reached home, she found Julian sitting on the couch with a laptop on his lap, seemingly waiting for her.
She plopped down beside him and took a peek at his laptop screen to see what he was working on, which only brightened her eyes.
He had started buying furniture for her!
As usual, Cherise leaned against her brother and praised him, “You are the best, Julian!”
“I gather you like the penthouse?” Julian asked with a smile.
“Much more than I thought I would.” Cherise nodded. “Can’t believe Neil told you about the furniture picking, though.”
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Julian laughed. “I’m his big boss, and you are his little boss. Of course, he would tell me everything.”
“Then I have to be more careful about how I behave around him, or he’d go around telling you what I’ve done,” Cherise pretended to grumble.
“I’d be happy if you lived more carefreely,” Julian laughed.
“You are such a strange brother.” Cherise rolled her eyes. “Other brothers would not want their sister to get drunk or partying, but you will be happy if I do it.”
“You deserve it, especially after marrying a bastard,” Julian scowled. “But you have to have at least one b*dyguard with you if you decide to go partying.”
“I always have Katherine, Paula, and Logan,” Cherise replied. “Don’t look down on three females, Julian. When people try to mess with us, we’ll get our claws out and scratch the hell out of them.”
Julian couldn’t help but bark out a laugh. “Such a female thing to do when fighting. But as long as Logan is with you, I’ll hold back on the b*dyguards.”
Cherise let out a secret breath of relief. At least she wouldn’t have b*dyguards following her. “Oh, I plan. to spar with Logan tomorrow. Wanna come with us?”
Julian’s brows knitted together. He knew how strong Logan was, and even if he did not mean to injure Cherise, it could happen during a spar.
“You also forgot I used to be a Taekwondo Junior Champion!” Cherise accused her
her.
“You want to show us that you can protect yourself,” Julian said, more of a statement than a question.
“You are right.” Cherise nodded.
“Alright, I’ll allow it,” Julian finally agreed. It was a good thing if his sister could protect herself. “But don’t forget to bring the balm for bruises. And if Logan hurts you too much, he’ll be dealing with me.”
Cherise’s mouth twitched. She was happy to have two protective brothers, but sometimes they were just too much. She didn’t doubt Julian would punch Logan if he hurt her, even if they were brothers.
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Wanting to change the subject, she fixed her eyes on his laptop screen and pointed to an expensive letter L couch in a soft yellow color. “I want this!”
Julian, knowing Cherise just wanted to get out of being over–protected and just let her be, and the siblings started choosing furniture for her new place.
The next day, big news splashed across Country B – Hudson Amery, the CEO of the Amery Group, was engaged to his first love. The announcement was made through the official Amery Group’s website, and they had a press conference ready for it.
Hudson sighed as he looked down from his office toward the crowd of reporters below, ready for the press conference.
His mom didn’t waste any time in announcing his engagement. It was all his mom’s work, and truth be told, he hated it. He hated how his mother just made decisions for him without consulting him.
When he agreed to the engagement the day before, he didn’t think it would be announced this soon, but there was nothing he could do now.
“Hudson, we should go down now,” his mother bustled into his office with Emely, who was wearing a pretty soft pink dress with white fur draped across her shoulders, making her look extra gentle.
“And wipe that frown and sternness off your face,” Dahlia scolded her son. “This is supposed to be a happy day. At least smile for the cameras.”
Hudson ignored her and stepped toward the elevator. Everyone knew Hudson nev cameras. He never even did any exclusive interviews.
liled for the
“Can’t you at least hold Emely’s hand?” Dahlia hissed at him. She knew her son was as stiff as a block and didn’t care for her opinion, but shouldn’t he be happy that he was finally engaged to Emely? She
knew he had been pining for her even when Emely was with Luis a long time ago.
And where did his gentleness toward Emely go? Why did it feel like he treated her differently now?
Emely, sensing the changes in Hudson’s attitude, took the first move. She linked her fingers with Hudson’s, startling Hudson and making him look at their fingers together.
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He finally saw the big diamond ring around her ring finger, but it wasn’t what he noticed. What he really noticed was how much different the feeling of Emely’s fingers was around him compared to Cherise’s.
It just didn’t feel… right. Emely’s hand holding him didn’t feel right. And that ‘diamond ring also didn’t look right. So he moved her hand to the crook of his arm instead.
Dahlia was too busy telling his son and Emely what to say during the press conference that she didn’t notice Hudson’s gesture. Even if she did, she wouldn’t complain because it was still a gentlemanly act.
Emely, on the other hand, bit her lower lip. She could really feel Hudson distancing himself from her. Could it be because she was no longer pregnant that he wasn’t as gentle anymore? If that was the case, then she needed to get to his bed soon and, this time, get pregnant with his baby instead.
Hudson kept quiet during the whole elevator ride. He wondered when he changed. He wondered why
he didn’t want to hold Emely’s hand anymore while, just a few weeks ago, he was okay with it. He wondered why he couldn’t seem to bother with this engagement. Was it because it was just a responsibility for the promise he made to Luis on his deathbed?
Suddenly, the image of the wedding rings Cherise had created for them flashed through his mind, as did his conversation with Keith the day before.
He knew now why he felt uncomfortable being with Emely. She was his brother’s beloved. Just like Keith said, there were other ways for him to take care of her rather than marrying her. He thought. marrying her would ensure that he was keeping his promise to Luis, but he was wrong. It was wrong for him to marry his late brother’s girlfriend.
They wouldn’t share a bedroom together. They, for sure, would NOT have children together but everyone would expect it, just like Keith said. Why didn’t he think of all these before? To think of sleeping with a woman his brother loved until his last dying breath was just… disgusting. He wouldn’t stoop that low. He would never cross that line.
And there was also his feelings for Cherise… He really didn’t know why he hated seeing her with other men. They had divorced, but he still felt possessive about her. Why? Why did he feel that way? Was Keith right? Was he jealous?
He felt like he was a mess right now, not knowing what to do. But what could he do now? His engagement had been announced, and as much as he felt it wrong to marry Emely, he tried to tell
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himself it was the right thing to do.
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They stepped onto the podium, especially placed in front of the Amery Group’s building, and he let his mother do most of the talking while Emely played the shy bride–to–be.
Hudson himself was silent throughout the press conference, no matter how many questions were thrown at him, but the reporters were used to it.
What they didn’t know was that his silence this time was not because of his aloofness but because his heart was empty, and his mind was picturing the two wedding rings he had placed in his bedroom’s vault – a place where he placed everything dear to him.
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