The Cherished Wife (Noelle and Charles) novel Chapter 11

Sebastian caught on to what Charles was hinting at almost instantly. His face tensed for a split second before he regained his composure. "Noelle just got back from a trip, so she’s still mixing up timezones! Hey, Charles, you might as well stay for dinner since you’re here."

He waved May over. "We need some groceries, May. Noelle and Charles are both dining in tonight, so make it snappy!" Sebastian handed her a wad of bills.

May had been with the family long enough to read between the lines. With a knowing squint, she grabbed the cash and headed out the door. "You three have a good chat."

Seizing the moment while Sebastian was busy giving May instructions, Noelle's gaze fixed on Charles. How on earth did Charles know her granddad?

Charles's eyes, which were sharp and narrow, met Noelle's with a light-hearted laugh. "Ms. Shaw, you look like you’ve seen a ghost."

"Give me a break. Aren't you the least bit shocked? You're really my granddad's student?" Noelle's skepticism was palpable. After all, Charles was no regular Joe.

With a quirk of his eyebrow, Charles played it cool. "Do you think I would lie to you about your granddad?" he asked, leaving Noelle biting her lip and at a loss for words.

Sebastian's eyes, deep and dark, sparkled with cunning glee as he glanced between Charles and Noelle. "Charles, meet Noelle, the girl I’m always talking about. She's been a star student since she was a kid, and now she's all grown up and killing it as a company director."

"You..." Noelle's cheeks turned a bright shade of pink, a clear sign of her mortification. She would be the biggest fool in the world if she had not already figured out why her grandpa summoned her home today. However, she neverexpected him to be this desperate to get her a new man. It was just a breakup, not the end of the world. Out of everyone he could have chosen, he had to go with Charles.

She had just turned him down yesterday, but now, Grandpa was practically throwing her at him. She wondered what Charles must be thinking of her now as she said, "Don't make a mountain out of a molehill. Grandpa's just got too much time on his hands. Don't sweat it!"

She had more than enough men to choose from. She was young, for crying out loud. There were plenty of fish in the sea. "Mr. Hoffman, isn't this a bit... suffocating?" Noelle gasped for air, her hands pushing against Charles's chest. "Could you back off a little? Give me some space!"