From Desk to Altar: The CEO's Irresistible Bargain

Having been at his beck and call for what seemed like an eternity, she thought he should have a measure of her character by now She wouldn't dare to touch his desk, let alone do something as dumb as getting his papers wet with water.

A guy as sharp as him, can't he see that this trap was set up just for her?

Besides, damaging documents hurt the company's interests. He doesn't even allow workplace bullying, let alone this kind of behavior.

Liam, no doubt, was probably more eager than her to expose the troublemaker in their midst...

"Charlotte, fetch the copies," his voice cut through the tension in the office like a blade, easing the collective breath of the room. All but Charlotte's.

Her eyes widened, she couldn't believe that Liam had become so heartless.

Makes sense, though. If he didn't even care about her safety last night, why would he care about her innocence?

With a gulp of silent agony, she masked her hurt with resolve. "Alright, I'll get them."

As she turned to leave, the secretarial hive buzzed to life, following in her wake. The head secretary pulled her aside, handing her an address and contact details.

"Mr. Crowe is young and enjoys his games. This document is critical, Charlotte. Don't rile him up. We need it back or else Mr. Parker..."

"Are you in Chloe's pocket?" Her sudden accusation paled his face.

Adjusting her glasses as if to deflect her words, he feigned ignorance. "What are you implying? Chloe is Mr. Parker's fiancée, and Mr. Parker keeps family out of company affairs. Why would I be linked to her?" "But you've leaked information to her before," Charlotte countered, her words frosted with suspicion as she peeled back his pretense layer by layer.

"The dinner last night was strictly business. Such details are known but to a select few in this department."

"I..."

"Don't bother explaining. If not you, then as head secretary, you're still accountable. If I raise the alarm, Liam will surely investigate. Think you can dodge that bullet?"

she blanched visibly, then composed herself. "Chloe is just a fiancée trying to get close to her future husband. Mr. Parker won't hold it against her."

He wouldn't blame Chloe, not even if she was the architect of today's disaster.

After all, Chloe was his chosen one.

Taking a deep breath, Charlotte's gaze turned icy. "He wouldn't blame his fiancée, but what about you?"

her panic spiked. "What proof do you have against me? Besides, do you think Mr. Parker will entertain your accusations? Your words are as good as dust!"

"We'll see about that." Without another word, Charlotte walked away.

But deep down, she knew he was right. Liam wouldn't give her the time of day she couldn't even get through his office door!

Only by retrieving the copies could she hope to earn an audience with him.

On a whim, she reached for the office door, but as fate would have it, she found herself face-to-face with Liam as he emerged.

"Mr. Parker," she blurted out, knowing he was unlikely to listen. "I didn't wet the documents. I wouldn't dare touch your desk. There's something fishy going on, and I think it warrants an investigation." "Charlotte." Liam towered over her, his eyes brimming with scorn beneath his lowered lashes.

"When you make a mistake, you fix it. Don't expect me to clean up after you."

He leaned in, his voice a whisper in her ear. "Thinking you can manipulate me for your own ends? Perhaps you've overestimated your worth."

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"I didn't!" Charlotte's indignation was a torrent within her, disbelief coursing through her veins at his accusations.

Yes, she had taken his money, but she had been at his every beck and call, her loyalty not easily bought.

And now, she hadn't taken advantage of him in the least!

Even under the threat of scalding oil from Chloe, she hadn't thought to drag him into her woes, for fear of miring him in the muck as well.

How could he indict her so?

"Liam." Her heart felt shattered in her chest, "I haven't used you."

"Hmph."

Liam's response was a mere snort of contempt before he pushed past her, striding away with determined steps.

Charlotte stood there, dumbstruck, not even noticing when someone had approached her.

"Miss Perry, when I first got hired as a general assistant, everyone said I was lucky, that you need Mr. Parker's personal approval for this job. They said I was young and pretty, that I'd end up like you, close to Mr. Parker..." "Nancy, is it?" Charlotte cut her off with an icy tone: "A finance graduate from a prestigious school working as a general assistant, aren't you ashamed?"

"I..."

"And, while you may be young, you're not as pretty as me." Charlotte gave her a dismissive once-over, "I don't play your game, you rat."

"You!" Nancy's face drained of color, how did Charlotte know it was her...

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She wanted to retort but Charlotte had already walked away briskly.

Armed with the address given by the head secretary, Charlotte found herself at the base of a tech company's building.

To her surprise, she bumped into Daniel.

"Charlotte?" Daniel was just as surprised to see her: "What brings you here?"

"I'm here to get a document from Mr. Crowe."

"Mr. Crowe?" Daniel's brow furrowed deeply, "Does Mr. Parker know you're here?"

Charlotte looked down, "It was Mr. Parker who sent me."

Daniel's expression turned awkward, perhaps Thomas Beaumont's words from last night had indeed sunk into Mr. Parker's heart, his patience and fondness for Charlotte completely worn thin.

"Then go on up." He watched Charlotte ascend the staircase, hesitated for a moment, and then made a call to Liam, "Mr. Parker, you know what kind of man that Mr.Crowe is, lecherous to the core, sending Charlotte over there..." "Since when is it your place to comment on my staff?"

Liam's icy tone left Daniel feeling helpless, his anger so palpable it seemed Mr. Parker's fury towards Charlotte wouldn't subside anytime soon.

"If you don't care, fine, I just wanted to let you know."

"Hmph." Liam's cold scoff echoed again, "Why should I care about her? What does it matter to me whether she lives or dies?"

"Right, no connection," Daniel muttered, the more one protests, the more care is evident. Why couldn't Mr. Parker see his own heart?

After hanging up, Daniel cast a worried glance at the towering building.

With Charlotte's beauty, it was easy for her to get in but potentially hard to get out.