by L. L Hunter
Charli
I woke at seven and was ready in half an hour. I deliberately slowed my morning ritual down to procrastinate. I was the worst procrastinator. When I didn’t want to do something, I procrastinated like there was no tomorrow. But I had brought this on myself this time. Normally, I would give Mia credit for that. When it was seven forty-five, I grabbed my handbag and slipped out the door. I lived on campus, so the coffee shop was only two minutes away. When I could see the coffee shop up ahead, I began to panic. Crap! Why hadn’t I asked what this guy looked like or what he would be wearing? But if he were a typical guy, I would probably have received some innuendo. I’m glad I hadn’t asked. I wished I knew his first name. I would have looked it up on the student network. But no, I didn’t know his first name. Again, I told myself for the millionth time this morning, I got myself into this, so I had to dig myself out.
I pushed open the café doors and stepped into the warmth. It was autumn and the air was getting cool around campus, so this was the most popular place to be. Glancing around, I see that there were only a few other students in the café this time of morning, but I didn’t see anyone on their own. Again, I told myself to relax, that it was early. He would come. I stepped up to the counter and ordered my usual—a soy caramel latte. I added rainbow sprinkles then made my way to a low red couch in the corner near the window. This was so I could see anyone coming into the shop. Plus, I loved looking out the window at the changing colours of the autumn leaves. At exactly one minute to eight, the door opened and a draught of freezing air wafted in towards me, causing me to shiver. Man, it had gotten colder. I was about to glare at the person who had done it, but the sight of the sexiest hazel eyes I had ever seen met me. I was mesmerised. I hadn’t realised I was staring like a dummy until he spoke.
“You’re prettier than I would have imagined.”
I shook my head. Had he just spoken to me? Wake up, Charli! The gorgeous owner of those sexy eyes had just spoken to you!
“Um… excuse me?”
“You’re C.J., aren’t you? You’re the only lonesome girl in this place and it’s exactly eight.”
I blinked. “Uh… yeah. It’s me. I mean… yes, I’m C.J.” Oh My God, I was stuttering like an idiot.
He chuckled and draped his jacket over the back of the chair opposite me, and then stepped up to the counter to order his coffee. When he had paid, he came back to my table and sat. He was lean, had dark hair, which was longer on the top and shaved on the sides. A light dusting of stubble covered his chin. I had to snap out of it. This was a part of my Plan Rebellion. I leaned forward.
“You must be F. Scott.”
He put a hand against his clavicle and grinned, flashing his pearly whites. “In the flesh.”
“So, are you going to tell me your full name?”
He chuckled again. “You get right to the point, don’t you?”
“I don’t like waiting. Or wasting time.”
“If you put it that way…” He got up to grab his coffee after the barista called out the name Frankie.
Frankie. I smirked. I knew his name. When he turned back, Frankie saw that I had heard and smirked, too.
“So, I, uh… I guess my secret is out. Time for yours to reveal itself.”
“You’re relentless, Frankie,” I said, drawing out his name, adding a smile for good measure.
He sat down in his chair and reclined back, draping one leg over the other. One arm was draped over the side of the chair and the other hand held his coffee. A wickedly seductive smirk covered his face. I shook my head and laughed. He was impossible.
“Fine. But before I tell you. I want you to tell me where you met my friend, Mia.”
“Whoa. Is one accusing another of a crime?” he asked, putting his hands up in surrender.
“What?” This man was odd to say the least, and to be honest, I was a little wary. Seeing my expression, he leaned forward and reached out for my free hand across the table, startling me.
“Relax, Charli.” He said my name in a low and seductive tone. I froze. How did he know? “I know.”
I promptly pulled my hand from his and stood up, gathering my things. “Look I don’t know who you are, how you know my name, or how you know my friend. But…” but, what? What was she going to say? That he was a creep? That I was out of here? All of the above? Thankfully, to save me from my internal debate, Frankie spoke.
“I’m sorry. Please sit down, Charli. I mean you no harm.”
I hesitated, but looking into his dreamy greenish-brown eyes, I couldn’t help but reconsider. I sat back down, switching off my conscience.
“Let us start over. My name is Franklin James Scott, but I prefer Frankie. I met your friend, Mia, through a mutual friend at a campus party, and she happened to tell me about you.”
“I’m going to kill her,” I growled. Frankie chuckled.
“I bet she also happened to tell you I was single?”
“She may have also slipped that in.” His smile was so seductive and charming I couldn’t look at it for fear of being entangled in his trap.
“Bloody hell. I hate it when people try to set me up on blind dates,” I exclaimed.
“They’re just looking out for your wellbeing.”
“My wellbeing? Yeah, sure.”
It was then I felt his hand on mine again. Damn him. I was falling, falling…
“I’m not saying we have to fall in love or anything straight away, but I would like it if you would go out with me.” Falling faster.
I raised an eyebrow. “Are you asking me out, Mr Scott?”
He leaned closer so that when he spoke I felt his breath against my face. “Yes.” His breath came out as a whisper, wafting the scent of coffee and something minty towards me.
He had me. Hook, line and sinker.
“Well? What will it be?”
This time I didn’t hesitate. “Sure. One date.”
Chapter Four
Nathan
“Alright, boys, I’m out of here,” I said as I pushed back my chair and stood up from the desk. I stretched and grabbed my jacket.
“Alright, man,” Replied my co-worker. He continued typing away then paused, turning towards me.
“Hey, wait, Nath. What’s the status of that fraud case you’re working on? Any hits?”
I paused mid-step and turned back around to face him. “Nah, man. He’s dropped off the grid. But it won’t be long until he pops up again.”
“Okay. I just hope he isn’t preying on innocent young girls again. The guy’s relentless.”
“I don’t doubt it. Night, Mark. I have a date to get ready for.”
“A date? With whom?” Seeing my obvious anxiousness, Mark didn’t pry. He knew I was eager to get out of there so he waved me off. “Just tell me about it tomorrow.”
“Sure thing!” I called as I walked out the door.
* * * *
Being the head of the fraud division for the Australian Federal Police meant I was involved with some interesting people, including, more often than not, the extremely rich. The majority of the people I worked with accumulated their wealth illegally, some through other means. For example, dining with the District Attorney of the State. That’s where I was headed tonight. I pulled up at the bottom of a steep drive leading to one of the many mansions lining the cliff face of the Eastern Beaches. This one was all white and had white columns, which gave it a colonial feel. I know Mr Jayne had an obsession with everything American.
As I made my way up the driveway and towards the front door, I went over every bit of information I had on the Jayne’s in my head. It was something I always did, which made me very good at my job, but something that annoyed me immensely. I checked my breath. Once again, thankful for the breath mint I had popped earlier after the onion-riddled hamburger I had consumed for lunch. Once I was positive my breath was up to standards for these people, I pressed the doorbell. The sound of dogs barking inside could be heard, and a few minutes later the door opened.
>
“Officer Wright, I’m so glad you made it. Please, come in.” Susan Jayne was a petite woman with shoulder length, sandy blonde hair with salon-style highlights.
“Mrs Jayne, please, I’ve told you. Call me Nathan.”
“Well, on that note, you should call me Susan.” Susan pecked me on the cheek, welcoming me inside.
In court, Susan and Stephen Jayne were like Dobermans—appealing to the eye, but ruthless attack dogs. I was curious to see how they acted in their own home.
Susan led me through the foyer and into a large living space. To the right was a state of the art, open plan kitchen with stainless steel appliances, and to the left, where she now led me, was an elegant formal dining room. The entire colour scheme of the house was white. Didn’t these people believe in colour?
“Officer Wright, so nice of you to join us!” beamed Stephen Jayne. Mr Jayne stood six feet tall with obviously died black, thinning hair, and a tanned complexion. Both Mr and Mrs Jayne were still wearing work attire, which made me feel uncomfortable about my appearance. I worked as an undercover cop so my appearance was casual, to say the least. But I had made sure to bring my best leather jacket with me.
“It’s my pleasure to be here, sir.” I looked around at the empty chairs and couldn’t help but think of the reason they’d asked me here in the first place.
“Please, call me Stephen. We’re working together, the least you can do is be a little more casual, Nathan.” He paused on my name, looking me in the eye as he handed me a glass of whisky.
“My apologies, M… Stephen.” I corrected, following his glare. As I sat down in the seat next to Stephen, I couldn’t wait to ask the question that had been bugging me since I arrived. “Will your daughter be joining us this evening?”
At that moment, Susan walked in the room holding a bottle of wine. She hesitated in the process of twisting the lid. “I’m afraid she can’t make it this evening,” she said apologetically.
“Oh, that’s a shame.” My heart sank. After being single all my life, I really had secretly jumped at the chance when the Jayne’s asked if I’d like to come over and have dinner, and to meet their daughter. I knew she was beautiful and close to my age.
“She said she had homework, but I know better. She’s probably hanging out at one of those college dorm parties,” Susan said, waving the hand around that wasn’t holding the wine. She poured herself a glass and sat down opposite me, fixing me a stare, which seemed to unnerve me a bit.
“But that’s not the reason I asked you here.”
My stomach clenched. So they did have a hidden agenda.
Stephen chuckled, making me flinch.
“Don’t look so nervous, Nathan. We’re not here to interrogate you.”
“Oh, good.” I smiled nervously and took a sip of my whiskey. I needed this tonight.
“We have a proposition for you. And don’t worry; we cleared it with the AFP.”
I almost choked on my drink. “What do you mean?”
“We want you to work with us. Exclusively.”
“Uh… I don’t mean offence, Mr and Mrs Jayne, but as the head of the fraud division, I’m swamped.”
“Oh, don’t worry. This is related,” Susan added casually with a flip of her hand as if it were nothing.
“Related?” I glanced at Stephen to see if he would elaborate. He did.
“We want you to work for us… watching our daughter.”
Were they kidding? “Oh, sir, that’s not really what I do…”
“It is now,” added Susan. I glanced over at her, suddenly afraid. Her tone was firm, like her gaze, meaning finality. They were not kidding.
"Beginning tomorrow, you will be working undercover acting as a college student at the University of Sydney.”
“But…”
“No but’s, Nathan. It’s done.”
As I left the Jayne house that night, Stephen’s words echoed inside my brain. I was playing the part of a pawn on a chessboard. I was the pawn, and Mr and Mrs Jayne were the king and queen.
“Make sure you get close to Charlotte. Make her notice you.”
I didn’t know if this was their intention all along, and I didn’t know what their motive was, but I had to play along.
Chapter Five
Charli
As soon as I left the coffee shop, I dialled Mia. I couldn’t wait to tell her about Frankie. Her phone went straight to voicemail.
“Maybe she’s hung-over or passed out,” I mumbled to myself as I headed back towards my dorm. Mia had a tendency to party too hard and miss her morning classes. It wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. I tried contacting her again, but as I began texting, someone pushed hard past my shoulder, throwing me off balance and making me drop my phone. I landed on the cold ground next to my phone. As I tried to get back up and tell off the person who had shoved me, a hand appeared in front of my face.
“I’m so sorry. Are you okay?”
I glared at the stranger. It was a guy who looked to be a bit older than I was with dark blonde hair and blue eyes. He was waiting for me to take his hand. How could I be mad? I took his hand as he pulled me up.
“Thanks. You should watch where you’re going next time.” I cringed and mentally kicked myself after the words came out of my mouth. They had sounded far more bitter than I had intended.
“I really am sorry. Are you hurt?”
“No. I’m fine.”
“Oh, that’s good. Were you going somewhere? Let me buy you a coffee to make up for being such a jerk.”
“Thanks, but I’ve already had my coffee today.” I gave him a small smile and turned to leave.
“Wait, I didn’t catch your name,” he called out.
“I didn’t give it to you,” I returned before I pushed open the glass doors to my building.
Twice in one day. I couldn’t believe it. Before this, I couldn’t even get one date. I was, as some would call, un-datable, according to all the kids at my high school. It’s probably because they were scared of my dad with him being the District Attorney, and all. Turns out that not everyone cared about money these days. They cared about labels.
Running back to my dorm, I unlocked the door, and quickly grabbed my book bag as I hurried back out again. I had precisely five minutes until my first class, and my professor hated tardiness.
Nathan
So, that was Charlotte Jayne.
She was even more beautiful in person than in the photographs I had seen at her parent’s place. As I stared at the doors she had disappeared through, I smiled and though thought how funny life was. In many ways, our fates were entwined together. As I turned, my shoe struck something on the ground, causing the object to slide across the stone pavers. I looked down and almost laughed.
Yes. It was definitely fate.
And fate loved the fearless.
I picked up her phone and slipped it into my pocket.
Charli
My Social Studies professor was already at the front of the lecture hall when I walked in, but he hadn’t started talking yet, thank God. I quickly found a seat in the lower half of the auditorium and unpacked my laptop. As soon as I open my notes, I felt someone sit down next to me. I didn’t think anything of it until they began speaking. His breath is hot against my neck, and he smelt familiar.
“Somehow I knew you would be here,” he said in a low almost-whisper. His voice was sexy as hell, and it made me shiver. I turned to look at him, and my heart faltered.
“Are you stalking me?” I whispered.
“Always so quick to accuse. I love the study of society,” he said with a smirk. I rolled my eyes.
“Why are you really here?”
“To see you.” His voice was a complete whisper this time. He fixed his hazel gaze on me. My stomach flipped, and I began to sweat nervously. Damn him. I swallowed and looked back at my computer.
“I have to take notes. This is one of my majors.”
“What’s your other major?” he asked. But I didn�
�t get to answer because we were interrupted by the sound of the door opening.
“Oh, you must be Mr Wright. Good of you to finally join us,” Professor Stanley boomed sarcastically. Everyone turned to look at the newcomer, and my heart did a little flip when I saw who it was.
“Sorry, Sir. There was a mix up with my dorm key.”
“Take a seat anywhere and start making notes. As I was just saying, one of the key factors to studying any aspect of society is observation. To observe is to study. And that’s what your first assignment is.”
That’s what I was doing right now. I was observing the handsome stranger who had helped me to my feet. And he was observing me in return. But he wasn’t the only one observing me. In that moment, I felt like a goldfish in a bowl as Frankie was also observing me. Observing me observing the stranger. When I turned back to look at him, I saw something flash across his face. Was it jealously?
Chapter Six
Charli
After class ended, I intended to talk to Frankie, but when I turned to pack my laptop into my bag, he had disappeared. The guy was so mysterious I wasn’t sure whether to trust him or not. A part of me wanted to get to know Frankie, but another part of me was screaming that I should be careful. I wanted to listen to the less rational side of my brain, because this was all part of my plan. Plan Rebellion couldn’t work if I was rational. I exited out the top door and came up against a wall of muscle.
“Two times in one day. I really mustn’t start making a habit of this,” he joked.
I stepped back. It was the guy who had knocked into me earlier this morning, making me fall on my butt and lose my phone, the new guy in class, a Mr Wright, was it?.
“Or maybe it was intentional,” I smirked, raising an eyebrow at him. I hugged my coat and scarf tighter around my body, and continued down the ramp.
“Hey, I have your phone.” He called out. I stopped and turned back. The stranger was standing a few metres away and coming closer. “You dropped it when I knocked you over earlier. Again, I’m sorry about that. I’m Nathan, by the way.”
