Chapter 23 - Repercussions

"Seriously, though, how much trouble did I just cause for you two to look so grim?" Eric asked as the three of them sat together in the living room.

Charlotte took his hand in his lap. "It doesn't matter; we'll deal with whatever comes at us..." She tried to smile, but knowing Dean, she knew something bad was bound to happen.

"Hmph," Timo huffed, his arms crossed, and frowned at them.

"Eric, why don't you head to bed? It's been a long night."

"Shouldn't I be saying that to you?"

"I want to talk to Timo for a moment first."

"Oh, okay. Goodnight, then," he kissed her on the cheek and avoided eye contact with Timo as he headed off.

"Office," Charlotte nudged her head towards it and headed upstairs, with Timo right behind her. "So, how do we fix this?" She paced around her office.

"I thought you didn't think it was a big deal if people knew about you two. If anything, I was expecting you to spread the word or something with how open you've already been with it."

"I don't think it's a big deal, but I can't help but worry Eric will be on Dean's bad side now, and get targeted. I can only protect him so much."

Timo sighed. "I really wish it was the other way around; he should be protecting you."

"If anything, it should be both ways..."

"Right you are. Now, I'll do what I can to hide the origins of your relationship with Eric, but it might be hard. We didn't actually report the accident, but there are records of Eric's injuries at the hospital. They know he was in a traffic accident, and that you visited him many times. If they find out when he moved out of his place and into yours, they might put everything together."

"I can... make a substantial donation to the hospital for them to scrub the records."

Timo's eyes widened. "It's normally me who suggests anything underhanded... I guess you are changing more than I thought."

"Am I?"

"The smiles and practically throwing yourself at Eric are quite different from your usual methods. To be honest, you're normally on the cold side outside of the house. Or at least that's how you present yourself. Anyone who knows you on a deeper level knows how kind and caring you are, which is both good and bad."

"I... don't think I've ever felt this way about someone," a light blush tinted her cheeks. "He's different from the rest. He's so sweet and caring, but I wish he'd have more confidence in himself."

"Considering his past, I'm not surprised he isn't. While you both lost your parents when you were young, he ended up in a different situation than you."

"I know I got lucky. I've worked hard for this position, but I can't say I didn't get help from my parents."

"And that's okay. There's no reason to do everything on your own. People who work hard like you should be able to accept a helping hand. On that note, how about we get their help with Dean?"

"Are you kidding? I can't ask them to help with that."

"Why not? They're as powerful as the Belloff family, but you never want to use them."

"I hate using people like that, and they're the ones who wanted us together originally."

"But they'll want to help them; you know they will. They've always wanted to help you, but at some point, you refused to take their outstretched hand. They messed up with Dean, but that doesn't mean you should turn away from them completely."

"They're retired; leave them be in peace."

"It might surprise you, but many retirees get bored, and hope for a chance to help their kids, and make them feel more important again."

"But then... won't they know what I did? They'll know what happened with Dean, too... They'll want to know the whole situation."

"Which you should have told them about years ago. If you had, they might've dealt with him then, and they wouldn't have been disappointed you broke it off."

Charlotte rolled her eyes. "I can't go to them for every little thing."

"Little thing? Charlotte..." Timo shook his head. "It wasn't a little thing, no matter how much Dean tried to say it was. I understand your pride doesn't want you to bring it to light, but what other options do we have? You two run in the same circle, and considering how much he puts on a facade around other people, they'll probably side with him over the stoic-appearing woman who doesn't kiss enough butts to compare to him."

"Ugh... He was a suck up with me when we first started out, too."

"You didn't see it as that; you thought he was sweet."

"Timo..." she growled at him.

"I know, I know. You're not the naive girl you once were. So, if you're refusing to go to your parents—"

"At least for now."

"Then what do you plan to do? You've made it clear you want it known that Eric is your boyfriend, and I'd be okay with that if it wasn't for the incident. He essentially came out of nowhere, and now he's both working in your office and living in your home. People will have questions. Dean has these questions. Your parents could probably get rid of the evidence—"

"Stop! Timo, please... I don't want to go to them over this. They've helped me enough through the years already."

"You just don't like when it seems like you didn't earn every single thing with your own two hands. You were even so stubborn you started your own company and started running theirs when they retired! They're your parents; they love you and want to help support you. At least think about asking them. In the meantime, I'll see if I can try to get rid of the records..."

"How?"

"Bribery or thievery, take your pick; there's no nice way to go about it." Timo turned to leave. "Both, if I might add, would be bad if found out as well." He closed the door behind him.

"I know..."

Eric paced around his room as he thought back to the restaurant. He clenched his fists and teeth as he resisted the urge to yell. "How is anyone supposed to deal with such an infuriating man?"

Can't help but think it'd be worth slugging him... but I know Char wouldn't be happy about me being put in jail for assault. There has to be something I can do. If I marry her, then they can't try to force any of their sons or whoever onto her. But... Eric blushed up to his ears. We haven't been together long enough for that; there's no way she'd agree.

He looked at the books and tablet sitting on his desk. I guess the only thing I can do right now is become better. I have to improve and be worthy of her. He sat down and turned on the tablet. Becoming a better assistant isn't much, but... what else can I even do?

"Studying, are you?" Timo showed up beside him and he nearly jumped out of his seat.

"I'm too riled up to sleep, and I didn't know what else to do. I just... want to be worthy of her."

"And you think studying will help you with that?"

"Yes, because what she needs is more support. I doubt I can be like these other guys, and rise to the top, but I don't think that's what she wants from her boyfriend."

Timo smirked. "I guess you do understand her a bit. Charlotte doesn't need a man to take charge and make decisions, like Dean seems to think; she needs one to support the hard decisions she makes. She also needs someone to come home to, who she can talk to and be herself around."

"Doesn't she have that in you?"

Timo raised an eyebrow. "To some degree, but not on the level she needs. I'm closer to a guardian, but she needs a partner," Timo poked him in the forehead. "Do your best. If you become more of a hindrance than you're worth, I'll find a way to dispose of you."

Dispose? "What does that mean...?" Eric trailed off when he saw Timo had already left. Mess up and I'm dead? He couldn't have meant that. I'd probably just get the boot from my new home... Surprising even to him, he'd grown attached to the place quickly. He was lost before Charlotte came into his life, but now it felt like things were coming together.

"I can't let him ruin things for Charlotte."