It was already past nine when Charles finally wrapped up work and returned to the villa.
As soon as he got back, he asked about Ashley's situation that afternoon. After George's report, he gave a small nod of approval.
While they talked, Charles had already arrived outside Ashley's room.
He waved George off, and the latter bowed slightly before turning to leave.
Inside, hearing the click of the doorknob turning, Ashley instinctively tensed up by the door, tightening her grip around the utensil in her hand. Her palms were sweating, and her hands kept trembling-this was her first time doing anything like this.
With a muffled "click," the door opened from the outside, and Charles stepped in.
"Don't move!" Ashley jumped out from beside the door, hands trembling as she pointed a dinner fork straight at his stomach.
She had originally aimed for his neck-artery and all-but well, the height gap was... not in her favor.
"Sir!" The guards stationed at the door instantly rushed in, surrounding her.
"Stay back! One more step and your boss might not walk out of here alive!" Ashley yelled, pretending like she might stab him at any moment, though her hand shook visibly.
The guards hesitated, looking ready to tackle her.
"Leave," Charles said coldly, tone sharp.
"But sir..." The guards didn't dare budge, eyes still locked on Ashley's fork.
"Did I stutter? Get out." He didn't even spare them a glance; his full attention was on the woman before him. It should've been just another day, but somehow, the way she tried to kill him... made his chest ache a little.
"Yes, sir." They exchanged a few uncertain glances before stepping out, clearly uneasy.
"You going to kill me now?" Alone with her, Charles angled his head toward Ashley, eyes dark and unreadable, so intense it made her almost drop the fork on the spot.
"I didn't want this... You pushed me into it..." She shook her head as she spoke, voice cracking with emotion. Even though her knees felt weak from fear, she forced herself to appear tough, blurting out, "If you've got any sense, let me go now... or I won't be the one held responsible for what this fork might do."
Charles shut his eyes tight for a moment, then suddenly took a step forward. The move startled Ashley-she gasped, eyes wide. That fork in her hand almost jabbed into his stomach. She screamed and stumbled back, panic written all over her face. "You-you..."
"With that shaky hand, you think you can really kill me?" His voice was calm, almost bored. He stepped closer, crowding her backward until-bam-she hit the wall, hard.
He towered over her, trapping her between his chest and the wall. Looking down at the top of her head, his voice lowered with subtle amusement and something darker. "Want me to show you how it's done?"
"No need!" Ashley shrank in on herself, trying to sound fierce but it came out weak and panicked. "You better let me go right now or you'll see blood! Knife bloody in-no, wait-clean in, bloody out-ugh, whatever!"
She looked like she was going to cry from her own idiotic mix-up. Ugh! She wasn't trying to be a joke, seriously-it was just nerves!
Trying to pull herself together, she forced a straight face. "Look, this knife doesn't care who it stabs. If you get hurt, don't say I didn't warn you!"
"Really?" He let out a low chuckle, all patience gone. In one swift move, Charles grabbed her wrist, easily twisting her arm until the fork slipped from her grasp.
She barely had time to blink. Just like that-boom-he had her. For real? That fast? Couldn't she have at least gotten one hit in?
"I wasn't ready this time," she snapped back, trying to save face. "But if you keep me locked up here, sooner or later, I'll find a way to kill you!"
"You want me dead that badly?" Charles narrowed his eyes, grip tightening just a bit on her wrist.
"I'd kill you right now if I could!"
"Go ahead then. Be my guest," he said flatly. He reached over and grabbed a small fruit knife from the table, swapping it with the fork in her hand. "Take this-easier to get the job done."
Ashley stared, completely baffled. "What is this supposed to mean?"
He didn't say anything. Just took her hand, now holding the knife, and pressed the blade right over his heart.
"Just aim here. One good push-and you're free."
