Chapter 22 – She's Mine

"She's been in the bathroom for a while. Do you think she's okay?" Eric asked.

"She's not normally one to linger, so I don't think so," Timo said, their eyes glued to the bathroom door.

"That's it; I can't stand back anymore," Eric stood.

"What are you doing? You can't go into the women's..." Timo trailed off as Eric sat down across from Dean. "Dammit; he's insane."

"You... What are you doing here?" Dean growled, glaring at him.

"I'm here to tell you to back off. Char's taken, and your advances are unwanted."

Dean smirked. "You don't know anything about our world, boy. Now, run along before you say something you regret."

"I may not know much about 'your world' but I do know Charlotte, and I know about being a decent human being. Two things you obviously know nothing about—"

Dean burst out laughing. "Are you, a nobody, seriously trying to talk down to me? You have no idea who you're messing with."

"I don't care who you think you are. You're scum who doesn't deserve to be in the same room as Charlotte."

"Do you really think you deserve her? Who are you, really?" Dean eyed him in wonder.

"I'm Charlotte's boyfriend, and that's all that matters right now."

"Well, you won't be for long. She'll be mine again soon, and there's nothing a nobody like you can do about it."

Eric clenched his fists.

Dean's smile widened. "Go ahead and hit me in this busy restaurant."

Eric knew he'd sue him in a heartbeat. "As much as I'd love to, you're not worth it." I can't end up in jail. I need to support Char.

Dean's cheek twitched. "If that's all, then you can run along now."

Eric glanced at the bathroom doors to see Charlotte coming out.

"You'll never be anything more than a pet to her," Dean scoffed.

"What?" Eric swallowed hard. Does he know more than he's letting on?

Dean smirked. "What, did you think she'd actually love you for real? That you had a future together? Get real; she's out of your league."

Eric gritted his teeth. "Well, guess what? She's out of your league, too."

Dean's cheek twitched again, and he reached out to grab Eric, but Charlotte popped up between them.

She glanced at Dean and turned to Eric with a soft smile. "What's going on? Is something wrong at home?"

"At home? Are you two living together already?" Dean frowned, having not expected them to be that close. From what he had heard, no one had known about Eric until recently, so how could they be that close?

"No, nothing's wrong at home. I came because I was worried about leaving you alone with him," Eric held her hands in his, and they finally stopped shaking.

She leaned her forehead onto his chest. "Thanks," she whispered.

"Tch, don't you know this is supposed to be a business dinner?" Dean thumped his fists on the table. "This is unprofessional. My father will hear about this."

"Unprofessional? You're one to talk, with how you've been hitting on her during this 'business dinner'. Let's go, Char," Eric tugged on her hands lightly.

"This dinner isn't over yet."

"I beg to differ," Eric walked away, pulling Charlotte along.

Dean tried to follow, but Timo intercepted, keeping his disguise on as he blocked him.

"Ah..." Eric let out a loud sigh once they got to the parking lot. He swallowed hard, realizing what he had just done. "Look, Char, I'm sorry, but I couldn't sit still and watch—"

Charlotte lunged at him for a hug, burying her face in his chest. "You came for me..."

"Of course I did; I'd never leave you alone with him."

"But you didn't even see me before I left, so I thought..."

"We were getting ready to follow you right away. I'm sorry I didn't see you off. I didn't think it'd make you feel like I didn't care," Eric kissed her forehead. "So, how much trouble are you going to be in with his father now?"

"I... don't know. I can try to do some damage control. He's known for taking his son's side, though."

"I'm... sorry for all the trouble. I just couldn't stand to see you with him, especially with how disrespectful he is towards you," his arms tightened around her.

"Maybe it's not worth dealing with these types of men anymore. But, it's hard to back down, since I worked so hard to make it in this world," Charlotte groaned.

"There must be a way to continue your success without them. You're pretty powerful on your own, Char."

"But he has a lot of connections. A few words, and I'll be as good as black-listed."

"Then... we need the proof of what Dean did, and bring it to light. If everyone sees the real him, and he ends up being shown as a bad guy, then even his dad might have to turn on him. Either that, or at least he will be eager to work with you to smooth things over."

"That's easier said than done. They buried the evidence and paid off people who knew anything. This all feels so hopeless."

"We'll figure something out," he kissed the top of her head.

Flash.

"Did you just see..." Eric looked around.

The bushes rustled.

"I'll get them," Eric was about to run off when she grabbed his arm.

"Don't bother; the paparazzi know about you already, anyway."

"But... That's just wrong." I have a bad feeling about all of this.

"What are you two doing? Standing around in the parking lot," Timo shook his head as he approached them.

"Ah, you're right. This isn't the place for this. Let's all go home," Charlotte took a deep breath and stepped away from Eric.

"We should probably mention the photo," Eric whispered.

"You were caught like this already?" Timo complained.

"Who? How?" What kind of super hearing does this man have?

"Timo has super good hearing," Charlotte explained. "And I swear he has eyes in the back of his head."

"Get a move on," Timo ushered them to the car.

"We're going, we're going," Eric held the door open for Charlotte before getting into the back himself, and Timo sat in the driver's seat.

Dean stood outside the restaurant, watching them drive away. "So, have you found anything out yet?" he asked.

A woman came out from the bushes nearby. "There isn't much information on him. I know he has no family. His parents died when he was young, and he was passed around a lot between foster homes until he was old enough to move out on his own. He used to work for a well-known company, although low on the totem pole. He was recently fired, and is currently working for Miss Burne and living with her."

"So they actually are together? This isn't a ruse?"

"Not as far as I can tell."

"Tch... How did those two even meet?"

"I... I'm not sure."

Dean glared at her. "Then work harder, and find out," he leaned in close to her. "Or you'd better forget ever being employed as a journalist again."

"But—"

"But what? The information is out there somewhere, so obviously you're just not trying hard enough."

She flinched back.

"Are you giving up? Do I need to hire someone else?"

"What? No..."

"Then get to work."

She ran off, stumbling out of the parking lot.

"Something is definitely suspicious about this relationship. Char would never date a nobody like him without a reason."