Loving Madeline

Charlotte's POV

My heart beat so fast after Jack told me he didn't have a girlfriend. There are so many questions I want to ask Jack, but I suddenly felt shy and conscious. I don't want him to know I felt happy he was telling me about it.

"You were playing Cecily's heart?" I asked, and he looked at me with seriousness.

"No, I wasn't. I was being honest with her. I told her how I really felt for you. Kissing her was a mistake. I wanted to make you jealous. I know it was unfair to Cecily, but she understands me." Jack responded, and my heart jumped with happiness, but I kept myself from smiling since I pitied my friend. I don't want Cecily to get hurt because of me.

"I asked for an apology to her, and she accepted it heartily. I know she is your friend, but you knew I liked you, Charlotte, and nothing had changed how I felt for you. It is you that I want to be with." Jack added, and I could feel the knots in my stomach as he stared at me with great intensity.

I was blushing, and I averted his gaze and looked at the food on my plate. I never felt this way towards any man. I don't get intimidated or feel shy around anyone, but with Jack, it seemed like I was always at a loss for words, and I wanted him to see me

on my best.

"Charlotte, please give me a chance," he continued as he took my hand over the table, and I could feel the pounding of my heart as I looked at him.

"Jack, I don't know," I replied.

"You are my employee, and I don't want you to hurt Cecily's feelings," I added.

"You don't need to worry about her, Charlotte." He answered.

"Do you like me?" He asked, and I was shocked by his question.

"If you do, then give me a chance, and if not, you can reject me now." He added.

"Jack, I.." I was at a loss for words since I didn't know how to answer him. I don't want to reject him, Jack, but I don't want to look cheap.

"Just reject me so I can move on," he said.

"Give me time to think this over, Jack. I am not ready to be in a relationship, and I don't want our relationship as business partners to be affected." I softly replied.

"At least you should think about it, and it is fine with me. I will do anything I can to win your heart. I know you have doubts, and there is a reason why you can't say yes to me now, but I will make sure you will be mine, Charlotte." He said with authority. I wished to throw myself at him, but I had my pride, and I needed to control myself.

His deep voice makes me feel so hot and excited. Just looking at Jack's mesmerizing eyes made me feel weak, and my legs turned to jelly. He stood up and assisted me in getting up from my chair, and I was disappointed when he released my hand and walked towards the door.

I followed him into the parking lot of the car in silence. I could feel the loud beating of my heart as we neared his car.  Jack opened the door, and I let him fasten the seatbelt for me. And I had to hold my breath as I felt his nearness and his intoxicating scent drove me crazy.

He was silent as he drove away from the restaurant, and I felt too nervous to speak.

"Thank you for the breakfast, Jack," I said after I climbed out of his car.

"You are welcome, Charlotte. Thank you for your time and the chance," he replied. And he looked so boyish as he shyly smiled at me, and my heart was racing as I was captivated by his intense gaze.

"Good morning!" Cecily greeted us with a broad smile on her face.

My friend was waiting for us on the front porch, and I suddenly felt guilty as I looked at her. I could tell she liked Jack by the way she flirted with him and by how many times I caught her looking at him with dreamy eyes.

"Good morning, Cel," Jack responded with the same enthusiasm while I was speechless.

Our guests arrived earlier than expected, and we all got busy since we didn't expect them to bring additional guests, and we had to set up three more rooms.

Jack was busy, and he acted like nothing had happened earlier that morning, and I hated myself for expecting more. I could have said yes right away.

"Hello, you are the owner, right?" One of the guests asked as I helped serve their dinner.

"Yes, but I have a business partner, the chef," I shyly replied, and her eyes twinkled.

"Oh, Jack is one of the owners," the blonde one said, and I suddenly felt jealous of the way she smiled at me.

"Is Jack single?" She asked, and I shook my head.

"Oh! He has a girlfriend, that is too bad; I liked him; he is hot and handsome." The woman responded. She is beautiful and hot, and I hated myself for hating her for giving Jack compliments.

"If she has a girlfriend, it is not a problem, Jen; men are always captivated by your beauty; you can flirt with him and make him your boyfriend. Jack would surely break up with his girlfriend." Her friend said, and their friends nodded in agreement.

What is wrong with these young people? Is it a trend nowadays to steal someone's boyfriend? Even if I was lying, I knew Jack was single, but because of my selfishness, I got angry that Jen's friends encouraged her to flirt with Jack. She was beaming, and I could see a mischievous smile on her beautiful face.

"I am sorry, ladies, but Jack is happily married," I declared out of the blue. And I wished to take it back, but I was too jealous.

"Well, there is a process we call divorce, or you can just have a one-night stand with him, Jen," one of her friends stated, and they all laughed.

I faked a smile as I excused myself. I don't want to hear them planning on how to win Jack.

"Hey, is everything okay?" Jack asked with concern in his voice the moment I returned to the kitchen.

"I think it is better that from now on, you should stay at your post. You are the chef, and you should be here in the kitchen." I replied in a stern tone.

"It is not part of your job description, nor is it your duty to entertain our guests unless you want to show them how hot and handsome you are!" I added as I widened my eyes at him. I did not care how I sounded.

Jack was surprised, and before he could recover from his shock due to my sudden outburst, I walked out of the kitchen, trying to control my anger.

I never felt this kind of emotion towards anyone. I don't get jealous because of some random girls, but right now, my jealousy is eating me up. I avoided Jack for the rest of the evening by hiding in the pool area at the back part of the manor.

"Are you okay, Charlotte?" I heard Cecily's sweet voice, and I slowly turned my head.

"Yes, what made you think I am not okay?" I asked as I sweetly smiled at her, trying to hide how I truly felt at the moment.

"I called you so many times, but it seemed like your mind was elsewhere," she responded.

"I am fine, Cel; I just feel a little bit lonely now that my brother has gone back to Neospoli Country," I responded.

"Are you sure it was because of your brother and not because of someone else?" She asked, unconvinced of my answer, and I furrowed my forehead.

"What made you think it was because of someone else?" I asked anxiously.

"You can tell me anything, Charlotte," my friend replied, and I laughed.

"There is nothing important going on in my life right now, Cel," I replied, and she looked at me with worry on her face.

"I don't think so; it seemed to me that you and Jack are not okay," she responded.

"Cel, nothing is going on between Jack and me," I lied since I was afraid to hurt her feelings.

"Okay, you don't need to be stressed about it," she declared.

"I knew you liked Jack," I replied, and she laughed.

"Yes, but he doesn't feel the same way towards me. Jack likes you, Charlotte, and I could say you looked good together. You don't need to torture yourselves." My friend said.

"You don't need to worry about my feelings. I liked Jack as a friend, nothing more. I only flirted with him since I want to test your feelings for him." She added, and I was astounded with her reply.

"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.

"I am sorry; from the moment Jack told me how much he likes you, I couldn't stop myself from being involved. I like him to be your boyfriend, Charlotte." Cecily answered.

"I don't fancy him romantically; we are good friends, and I felt guilty that I did those things in front of you. I hope you will forgive me." She added, and it felt like she lifted something from my chest.

The idea that Cecily doesn't like Jack at all made me feel happy.

"I don't hate you, Cecily," I replied with a broad smile on my face. I could feel the happiness that enveloped my heart as I realized I would not hurt Cecily's feelings if I said yes to Jack and accepted him as my boyfriend since she only liked him as a friend.