Chapter 36 - Comeuppance

"Char..." Eric watched as the video from Charlotte's meeting with Dean showed up on the large screen in front of everyone. She's getting everything out in the open? "This... this is too dangerous..."

"I actually agree with you there. I understand what she's doing, but not having someone else right there, I can't help but wonder what she's thinking," Kal's brows furrowed. "Maybe she has a guard outside the room."

"Can we really wait and chance her getting hurt? You can tell how agitated he's getting," Eric kept inching closer to the stage. "But how do we get back there?" He looked off to the side to the entrance to the backstage. Guards stood in front of it, though they seemed baffled by the situation as well.

"She should know how unhinged he gets, but maybe that's what she wants."

"What? Why?"

"It would be even stronger evidence against him than a confession."

"I can't let that happen. She doesn't deserve to get hit; she deserves to be cared for and protected. Can you... distract them while I run to her?"

"But you don't know what room she's in, or if it's even unlocked."

"Kal, please; I can't let this continue on, even if she wants more evidence. I think his confession should be enough..." Though I don't know what this means for Timo now, but I'm sure he was in on it, anyway.

"Fine, I'll distract them. Stay off to that side once we get to the door," Kal waved his hand towards the wall.

"Got it."

Once Kal was near the front, he gripped his chest and stumbled off to the side, away from the door. "Help," he let out a strained voice.

He better be acting. Eric watched as the two guards rushed over to Kal, who laid on the floor, groaning as he continued to clutch his chest.

Please be open. Eric rushed through the door to the back. Down the hall, he spotted Timo. She must be in there. "Timo!" Eric yelled to him and skidded to a stop when Timo blocked his way. "What are you doing?"

"She wished for no one to disturb her."

"Do you understand what she's doing?"

Timo gritted his teeth and took a deep breath. "Yes, but this is her wish."

"Aren't you supposed to protect her, even from herself? We don't have time for this; let me in there."

"Eric," Timo kept his arms out as he looked away.

"I'm sorry," Eric said as he reached for Timo.

"What— Arg," Timo groaned as he hit the ground, tossed over Eric's shoulder.

Luckily, the door was open, so Eric rushed in. "Char!" It felt like everything went in slow motion. He saw Dean with his fist up, ready to strike Charlotte. With no time to think, he stepped in between them.

Crack.

The impact of Dean's fist on Eric's face sent him stumbling back into a clothing rack.

"Frig, that hurt," Eric groaned as he tried to get to his feet.

"Eric!" Charlotte gasped and knelt down, reaching out for him.

"You! What are you doing here?!" Dean growled.

"That was enough evidence, right?" Eric asked Charlotte, who nodded. "Good, then we're done here." He dragged himself to his feet and faced Dean. Hopefully, I haven't damaged the camera.

"Like that would count for anything; you ran into the way of my fist," Dean rolled his eyes.

"Pretty sure every person in the crowd would agree that you were swinging that fist with the intention of hurting Char. It doesn't matter if I took it instead."

Dean cracked his knuckled, a vein popping out of his forehead as his face turned red with rage. "If I'm already going down for assault, then I might as well make it worth it." He took another swing at Eric, but this time he caught it.

"Char, I'm allowed to defend myself, right?" Eric asked.

"He swung first, so yes, as long as you don't go too far..." Charlotte answered.

"As if you can actually do anything to me," Dean spat and ripped his hand out of Eric's grasp. Without a moment to lose, he swung at Eric again.

Timo's training kicked in once again. Eric dodged, grabbed Dean's arm, and twisted it around his back as he slammed him into the ground.

"Wow..." Charlotte's eyes widened. "I couldn't have done better myself."

"Arg, get off me!" Dean struggled, his face pressed to the floor, and Eric's knee was on his back.

"Get security, or the cops," Eric said to Charlotte without looking back. I can't let up until someone's ready to cuff him.

"They're here," Timo said from the doorway and stepped aside to let security in. "Take him away, boys."

The two security guards grabbed Dean, and Eric backed off of him.

"I'll make you pay for this," Dean yelled as they dragged him away, kicking. "I'll make all of you pay!"

"I hope I didn't mess up your plan too much," Eric said as he turned to Charlotte. "Oh!" He exclaimed as Charlotte lunged into his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, squeezing her tightly. "Are you okay?"

"Of course I am; you took the hit for me."

"I still can't believe you baited him like that. You could've gotten hurt again."

"It would've been worth it."

"And you invited me here," Eric buried his face in her hair. "Did you really want me to see you get hit? Or did you hope I'd run in like I did?"

"I wanted you here because I wanted to be in your arms as soon as it was safe to be. I've missed you too much to be forced to wait any longer."

"I've missed you too, Char," Eric sighed, the tension releasing from his shoulders as he hugged her.

"I'm sure the audience is enjoying this, but I'm not sure you want to so publicly display your affections," Timo said from the doorway, standing with his arms crossed. "You two are too much sometimes."

Once Eric realized what Timo said, he tried to let go, but Charlotte wasn't done yet, and her grip tightened.

"I don't care," Charlotte mumbled. "I worked hard to get him back; I deserve at least this much."

"I suppose I'll deal with the camera," Timo walked over to the clothing rack and picked up the camera. "Now you all see the truth, and how sickeningly in love they are. What kind of heartless monster would want to tear them apart?" He pointed the camera at the two of them for a brief moment. "Make sure Dean Belloff pays the price for his actions, like he should have years ago. Now, how about we give them some privacy, and I'll do the real announcement you all are here for?" Timo turned off the camera.

"Wait, you're going to announce it?" Charlotte asked, her voice muffled because she still didn't want to let go.

"Since you can't seem to drag yourself away from him, yes; someone has to. Now, I don't want to keep them waiting. You two can stay here, or join me; it doesn't matter to me." Timo walked away.

"Are you sure you want to let him do it? I mean... technically he doesn't even work for this company; he works for you, right?"

"But he knows just as much about it as I do. Using him as my butler still after all these years, even while he helps me with my parents' company without real recognition, feels like undercutting him, but... he never wanted anything more. I guess I'm lucky that way."

"I'm not sure it's luck; you helped him before, and now he helps you. You two have basically become a family, and he wants you to thrive."

"Well, I hope to officially add a certain someone else to my family, hopefully not too far into the future."

"Uh... Do you mean me?" Eric asked.

"Who else? And I don't mean now, or even this year, but someday."

"Oh, so you weren't proposing to me right now."

Charlotte pulled away and gazed up into his eyes. "Does that mean you'd say yes if I asked?"

"Of course I would. Do you have any idea how crazy I went being away from you? And Kal's been cramming it into my head that I shouldn't worry about my status so much, but rather our feelings for each other."

"Well, Kal is a smart man. And I'd love to ask, but I also want to stay on Timo's good side."

"Uh, does that mean Timo doesn't like me?"

"No, it means he's protective, and has his own timeline that he refuses to let me break."

"I hope it's nothing outrageous..."

"No, it's quite reasonable. How about we see how everything's going?"